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dam-l LS: NBA / NAPM Mourns the death of Avinash and Chaaya
NB: Avinash was one of the Indian representatives at the Curitiba
conference in 1997.
Press Note 8.1.2000
VETERAN ACTIVISTS AVINASH B.J. AND CHHAYA
DIE IN ROAD ACCIDENT IN SATARA;
MAHARASHTRA LOSE GEM OF ACTIVISTS
Avinash B.J. and Chhaya, the main activists in the Koyana Project
affected People's organisation and one of the leading activists in
western Maharashtra, died in a road accident on Friday (January 7).
Avinash and Chhaya were driving on a two wheeler in Satara town when
a speeding truck dashed them to death.
Avinash (39) and his colleagues founded 'Satya-shodh', a school for
the blind in Koregaon, in late 1980s. The school has been a novel one
for the blinds and has undertaken new schemes. However, Avinash and
his colleagues like Ravi, Chhaya and Chandrakant have been a part of
the larger movement throughout Maharashtra and India. They have been
participating in various movements like Narmada, Gosikhurd, Shoshit
Jan Andolan, tribals' rights movements, movements against the
displacement due to sanctuary, large dams, factories.
It was natural for Avinash and his colleagues to take up the cause of
the Koyana dam affected people. The people have been displaced for
last 30 years and have been living a precarious existence. The people
were organised systematically under the aegis of 'Koyana Jeevan Hakka
Samrakshan Sangathana'. The organisation has taken up the issues of
resettlement, additional land, land rights of the oustees, opposition
to the incoming sanctuary on the lands of the oustees on the fringe
of the Koyana reservoir. The organisation has mooted a new concept of
'Jan Abhayaranya' (Peopleís Santuary). The organisation has also
started the constructive work by introducing charkha spinning and
honey producing in the villages. A smooth blend of 'Sangharsha' and
'Nirman' (struggle and regeneration) marked Avinash's work and
personality.
Avinash has been taking initiative in larger work of Shoshit Jan
Andolan, of which he was a convenor for two years. He was western
Maharashtra coordinator of the National Alliance of Peopleís
Movements (NAPM). He was in forefront in coordinating the peopleís
movements against the anti-people forestry and national parks etc. He
held regular worships, camps of young activists and villagers for the
conscientisation and knowledge. He also was a writer-journalist and
good orator, poet and vigorous mobiliser. He and all the ëSatyashodhí
colleagues have been close friends of the hundreds of organisations
and activists throughout Maharashtra and India. The soft spoken,
affable Avinash and Chhaya were a really a source of strength and
confidence for all those who have been concerned with the justice and
new society. He was one of the leading figures in Maharashtra
activism.
The colleagues of Narmada Bachao Andolan and NAPM remember Avinash
and Chhaya with all the respect and affection, as a part of our
beings.
(Sanjay Sangvai) (Medha Patkar)