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DAM-L LS: False Charges Against Man Dam Protesters (fwd)
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 12:03:23 -0800 (PST)
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Subject: LS: False Charges Against Man Dam Protesters
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Narmada Bachao Andolan
Jail Road, Mandleshwar, District Khargone, M.P.
Telefax: 07283-33162, e-mail : nobigdam@vsnl.com
PRESS NOTE: 25th March 2001.
FALSE CHARGES OF ATROCITIES ON ADIVASIS FILED ON THOSE FIGHTING FOR
THE RIGHTS OF ADIVASIS!
WILL ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY LISTEN TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS TO SAY
The atrocities and harassment by the State has been increasing ever
since the adivasis affected by the Man project raised their voice in
protest and captured the dam site on the 21st of March. Smt
Chittaroopa Palit, senior activist of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, who
has been organizing the project-affected people, who are
predominantly adivasis, for the last 4 years, along with few others
have been falsely charged for atrocities on adivasis. The police have
also raked up about 10 old cases filed against Chittaroopa Palit and
many of the Maheshwar project affected people who are here in
solidarity with the Man affected adivasis, and arrested them in jail
for the old cases. Narmada Bachao Andolan believes that the filing of
cases of atrocities on adivasis is not only terribly shameful but
also demonstrates the desperation of the State.
Today is the fifth day in jail for those Man project affected people
who were arrested on 21st of March. More than 90% of those arrested
are adivasis. Chittaroopa Palit and few others, who along with the
adivasis have been raising serious question regarding the
rehabilitation of the affected people for the past few years, have
been charged for atrocities on adivasis. This act of the State
clearly establishes the misuse of power by the State and the depths
of shamefulness to which they can drop to try and silence the voices
demanding justice. The fact, however, is that the State is guilty of
atrocities on adivasis considering that this monsoon 4000-5000
adivasis are slated for submergence without any rehabilitation having
been done. This inspite of the fact that the government has passed
official orders entitling the affected people to agricultural land in
rehabilitation, while the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award
clearly states that under no circumstances can lands being submerged
without rehabilitation having been done. Would this not make a good
case of atrocities on adivasis, and, should the State not be charged
on such grounds?
It is pertinent to note that there exists special provisions in the
Constitution and precise rehabilitation provisions to safeguard the
interests of adivasis. It is clearly stated in the rehabilitation
policy that the affected adivasis are entitled to agricultural land
for their land that is being submerged and also community
rehabilitation i.e. entire village rehabilitated in one place to
maintain their social fabric. It is also stated in the policy that
cash compensation can only be given to that project affected person
who makes an application for the same personally. But if this
affected person is an adivasis, then the Collector must issue a
certificate stating that cash compensation will not be detrimental to
the future of this adivasi. In 1990-91 few adivasis were coerced and
threatened into accepting small amounts of cash compensation. At that
time, not a single adivasi submitted the needed application
requesting cash compensation nor did the Collector issue any
certificate saying that this cash compensation is detrimental to
him/her. Should not the Collector be immediately charged for
atrocities on adivasis considering the above facts?
Even the President of India, Shri K.R. Narayanan has expressed deep
concern about the displacement of adivasis in ‘developmental’
projects. This year, on Republic Day, the President stated, “But the
march of development is having different kinds of impact on different
sections of our people. It tends to widen the existing inequalities
and create new inequalities…it is well known how the large valley
projects are uprooting the tribals and causing them untold
misery…When they have to be displaced the resettlement schemes should
be discussed with them and implemented with sincerity…Let it not be
said by future generations that the Indian Republic has been built on
the destruction of the green earth and the innocent tribals who have
been living there for centuries…let it not be said of India that this
great Republic in a hurry to develop itself is devastating the green
mother earth and uprooting our tribal populations…” Using these
strong words, voicing his deep concerns, the President of our country
has taken a clear stand against the indiscriminate displacement of
adivasis without even resettling them. However, in Man project, the
affected adivasis are facing imminent submergence and displacement
without any of the rehabilitation provisions being followed. Will
anyone listen to at least our President in this country?
The India Country Study, a chapter done by the World Commission on
Dams, has reported that post-independence about 56 million people
have been displaced by dam projects and out of these people about
60%-70% are adivasis. This is a very disproportionate representation
of adivasis in the population of displaced people considering that
they account for only 8% of out country’s population. The
displacement seems un-necessary in the face of the fact that large
dams account for only 10% of the foodgrains produced in our country!
Eminent people, Peoples organizations and others from different
corners of the country have written protest letters to Shri Digvijay
Singh. Retired Justice Shri. Ravi Kumar Jain, Advocate in the Supreme
Court Shri Rajeev Shukla, Ex-Commissioner of the National Commission
for Scheduled Castes and Tribes Shri B.D. Sharma, Socialist leader
Shri Surendra Mohan and Shri Kiskan Patnayak, National Secretary of
‘Lok Swatantr Sanghatan’ Shri Rajendra Sayal, Shri Praful Bidwai,
Shri S.P. Shukla, Shri Dr. Sunilam among others have written to Shri
Digvijay Singh condemning the atrocities on adivasis and demanding
their immediate unconditional release. They have demanded that the
Man Project should be immediately stopped and land based
rehabilitation of the affected adivasis be undertaken.
Alok Agarwal Govindsingh Ravat
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