Aug 21-23, Janmorcha in Delhi in opposition to the New Land Acquisition Bill and for Land Rights organised by SANGHARSH

Our Country is not for Sale !

Janmorcha

In opposition to the New Land Acquisition Bill

For Land Rights and Consent of Gram Sabha in Development Planning

Jantar Mantar, New Delhi | 21-22-23 August

Various Programmes, Marches, Demonstrations Across the Country too …

Comrades, Zindabad!

For many years now, the government has been trying to bring in a bill on land acquisition and resettlement and rehabilitation. The country’s farmers, fishermen, landless workers, Dalits, tribals, rural folks and urban poor have been consistently giving their feedback and suggestions regarding this and engaged the government in negotiation on its provisions. The struggles for protection of natural resources continue in every corner of the country. No part of the country has been untouched by people’s struggle including Narmada, Tehri, Damodar, Koel-karo, Singur, Nandigram, Sonebhadra, Chhindwara, Lakhimpur, Bhavnagar, Mundra, Kashipur, Raigarh, Srikakulam, Wang Marathwadi, Fatehabad, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, mining areas of Central India, Mumbai, Patna, Delhi, Bangalore and other urban settlements. The list of martyrs protecting their own land from the government is steadily increasing and the number of our friends in jail is also on the rise. Thanks to mass struggles, the government and corporate interests have not been successful in their nefarious intentions.

As a result of mass struggles, land acquisition has now become a political issue. What we need now is a law that emerges out of political consensus, not a biased pro-capitalist law with a superficial name change that only increases land acquisition. The Ministry of Rural Development has introduced a combined bill and named it “Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Transparent Land Acquisition Bill, 2012”. Trying to reflect the commitment of the government, the Bill claims to provide a legal guarantee to project affected people and ensure transparency in the land acquisition process. However; these claims are nothing but empty !

Showing complete disdain the Ministry of Rural Development has rejected the suggestions of people’s movements and recommendations of the all party Parliamentary Standing Committee. Our struggles are not only for protecting land, water, forests and minerals but over the years been proposing a truly democratic Development Planning / Land Protection Act. The government will have to understand that infrastructural development and the foundation of urbanization cannot be laid on the graves of citizens of this country.

We reject the proposals of the Ministry of Rural Development which are in complete contrast with the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, such as :

•  Government will acquire land for private projects and for PPP. We believe government must not have any such role, it can’t transfer the most valuable livelihood resources such as land, water to the profiteering bodies in the garb of ‘public interest’ and ‘public purpose’at the cost of the livelihood of the nature based sections and working class section of society.
• · Only multiple crop agricultural land will not be acquired. Since, 75% of the agricultural land in India is rain fed and most of it single cropped, mostly held by Dalits, Adivasis and marginal farms and so it t is essential to protect them and all farm land for food security, which comes not from PDS but self sufficient agriculture.
• The provisions of new act will not apply to 13 out of 16 central Acts including Industrial Development Act, Land Acquisition (Mines) Act, National Highways Act. This means that the forcible land acquisitions and injustices will continue unabated.
• If the acquired land is not used for five years then it will go to State Land Bank. Concept of land banks are illegal and land unutilised must go back to owners or distributed among landless people.
• In key decision making bodies and processes, participation and consent of Gram / Basti Sabha is not recognised by the Ministry. We demand that consent and direct involvement of majority of the Gram Sabhas must be there in every project, including public projects for public purpose.
• The provisions of Act will not apply retrospectively which means nearly 6-8 crore people who have not received proper R&R in various cases of displacement will not get justice. We demand that a National R &R Commission be formed to look in to all unsettled claims of R&R since independence.

Unfortunately, Once again the Bill has no provisions for the Urban Evictions and Displacements …

Neither the Ministry nor the Standing Committee Report has actual looked at the displacement in urban spaces. Most of these are not directly land acquisitions but they are cases of forceful evictions in the name of urban infrastructure development and beautification. We have witnessed large scale demolitions and evictions without any resettlement and rehabilitation in metros and smaller cities as well. In the name of real estate large tracts of land occupied by urban working class is being acquired, negating all provisions of the urban land ceiling act. We demand that let there be separate act which addresses the specifics of the urban conditions and ensure protection of land rights in the urban areas. Since, this Bill fails to deal with the urban situation, let this be called a ‘Rural Bill’ only.

So once again struggling mass movements from across the country will join in theLokmorcha in New Delhi from August 21 to 23. Programs will be conducted by the Gram Sabhas and movements on those very days in respective areas warning the government against bringing anti-people laws and our resolve to protect the country’s natural resources from acquisition for private profit. The government must bring out a white paper with information of usage of all the land acquired since Independence, people displaced as a result, rehabilitation efforts and details of incomplete land reform and only then there can be any discussion on the land use changes even for public purpose. We won’t let the sacrifices of those martyred protecting land, water and forests in various struggles go waste, their families will be part of the country wide events and we will hold the government accountable.

Let us come together at Jantar Mantar, in front of the Parliament; and in our farms, villages, districts, cities and struggle areas and tell the government that we will not allow displacement in the name of development and will not allow the legislation of any destructive or pro-capitalist laws in our name. Do join in force with your banners, flags, slogans, struggle photographs, films, and literature. Let us show the capitalists and ruling classes that sacrifices for community control over natural resources will continue whenever they will attempt forcible acquisition !

We will fight for our freedom, for our community rights!

Required for the program: Volunteers for different tasks and support for food, tent, organising, etc. Please stay in touch for more information.

In solidarity, SANGHARSH members

Medha Patkar - Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM); Ashok Choudhary, Munnilal - National Forum of Forest people and Forest Workers (NFFPFW); Prafulla Samantara - Lok Shakti Abhiyan, NAPM, Odisha; Roma, Shanta Bhattacharys, Kaimur Kshetra Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, UP – NFFPFW; Gautam Bandopadhyay – Nadi Ghati Morcha, NAPM, Chhattisgarh; Guman Singh – Him Neeti Abhiyan, HP; Ulka Mahajan, Suniti SR, Prasad Bagwe - SEZ Virodhi Manch and NAPM, Maharashtra; Dr.Sunilam, Aradhna Bhargava - Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM, MP; Gabriel Dietrich, Geetha Ramakrishnan – Unorganised Sector Workers Federation, NAPM, TN; Shaktiman Ghosh- National Hawker Federation, NAPM; Bhupendra Rawat, Rajendra Ravi, Anita Kapoor – Jan Sangharsh Vahini and NAPM, Delhi; Akhil Gogoi - Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, NAPM, Assam; Arundhati Dhuru, Sandeep Pandey - NAPM, UP; Sister Celia - Domestic Workers Union, NAPM, Karnataka; Sumit Banjale, Madhuri Shivkar, Simpreet Singh – Ghar Bachao, Ghar Banao Andolan, NAPM, Mumbai;Mata Dayal - Birsa Munda Land Rights Forum and NFFPFW, MP;Dr.Rupesh Verma - Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM, UP; Manish Gupta- Jan Kalyan Upbhokta Samiti, NAPM, UP; Vimal Bhai - Maatu Jan sangathan, NAPM, Uttarakhand; Vilas Bhongade - Gosikhurd Prakalpgrast Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM, Maharashtra; Ramashray Singh- Ghatwar Adivasi Mahasabha, Jharkhand; Anand Mazhgaonkar, Paryavaran Suraksh Samiti, NAPM Gujarat; Rajneesh, Ramchander Rana, Kadma Devi, Tharu, Aadivasi, evam Tarai Kshetra Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Manch, UP, NFFPFW

For more details contact : - Sangharsh, C/O, NAPM 6/6 Jangpura B, New Delhi – 110014

Sheila – 9212587159/9818411417, Sanjeev – 99958797409, Shweta – 9911528696

email : action2007@gmail.com, napmindia@gmail.com

Read Full Post »

RELEASE OF ’3 MILES TO GORAKHPUR’ directed by PREM PIRAM AT ISI on 20th October

Media collective & Delhi Solidarity Group welcomes and invite you to the release of “3 mile to Gorakhpur…“

Directed by Prem Piram, the film is about the proposed Nuclear Power Plant in Gorakhpur village of Haryana.  Its 30 minutes long and the film will be followed by adiscussion with the affected people from Gorakhpur village who have been protesting against the proposed plant for the last fifteen months.

Date- 20th October 2011

Language- Hindi with English Subtitles

Venue- Indian Social Institute, 10- institutional area, Lodhi Road, behind Sai Baba Mandir.

Time- 4.00 PM

For any queries

contact 011-26680883/ 914

9868769256

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5macXnt4qg

Read Full Post »

Sangharsh invite – Aug 3-5 Delhi Dharna against Land Acquisition demanding replacement by comprehensive legislation

SANGHARSH INVITATION

National Action against Land Acquisition Act, 1894
AGAINST Amendments, demanding new comprehensive legislation

&
TO PROTECT Jal, Jungle, Jameen, Khaneej & Livelihood Rights
Sansad Dharna 3rd – 5th August, 2011, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

Dear Comrades,

Forced displacements and land grab have been the curse of our country, since colonial days and which has continued even after ‘independence’ under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Today, the use of the legislation for land grab by corporates aided by the Indian state has got us on the verge of nothing less than a civil war in India. It is nothing but a national shame that we have democratically elected governments who neither know what has been the magnitude of the misuse of this legislation, nor understand the affected people’s plight. Movements who have been opposing LAA have also been for long demanding community control over natural resources and the right to livelihood – some of it achieved under comparatively progressive legislations like the PESA Act, 1996 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Unfortunately, these very legislations are today under threat of being not implemented or worse misused for distributing land titles to some.

Sangharsh collective has planned a National Action to be held at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi against Land Acquisition Act 1894, for repeal and replacement of the same with pro-people comprehensive legislation, along with other pressing people’s demands. The dharna will be joined by adivasis, dalits and other marginalized sections including farmers, forest workers & forest people, fishworkers and other marginalized sections of India’s rural people. The working class poor from the cities who face eviction on a daily basis from their dwellings and their livelihood and those who are threatened by various developmental activities too will join the dharna and so are the peasants whose land is constantly being taken by the urban development authorities for urbanisation.

We will be assembling at Jantar Mantar, from the 3rd to 5th August 2011, during the monsoon session of the Indian Parliament, in New Delhi, demanding the repeal of the existing colonial Land Acquisition Act and demanding its replacement by a comprehensive legislation that takes care of the need for land, the land use alterations that are required for genuine public purposes and for land reforms for distributive justice. The strategies of this national action were decided and discussed at various dialogues between the people’s movements working at different stages on the mentioned issues, the latest being the National Consultation held on May 6th 2011 on the issue, in Delhi.

The process of Sangharsh was initiated in 2006-07 by various people’s movements who were working on the issues of land rights and forced land acquisition. We came together with a charter of demands in Sangharsh 2007, which was one of the first such collective actions by hundreds of Indian movements together in front of the Indian parliament with a comprehensive political positioning. Since then, the collective has been also demanding a white paper from the government, on all the land acquired since independence along with a current status of all the displaced. We also have been demanding a moratorium on new acquisitions until a parliamentary review is complete.

If one just looks at the last decade, people’s movements have successfully resisted land grab in Kalinganagar, Niyamgiri, Singur, Nandigram, Sompeta, Jashpur, Latehar, Chandrapur, Haripur, Raigad, Karla, Kulu valley, Narmada Valley, Jagatsinghpur, Mumbai and hundreds of other places. Farmers, peasants, landless labourers and others have together fought to protect their land and livelihood rights. In the same vein communities dwellings in forests have fought to claim their rights over the land they have been residing for generations and earning their livelihood from. These farmers, adivasis, dalits and working class people have given their life, while trying to defend their right over the natural resources which supports their livelihood and to which they belong against the state’s notion of ‘eminent domain’ and development.

After recent  incidents in the Greater Noida region, an environment has been created whereby every political party is demanding passage of amendments to the existing Land Acquisition Act and the UPA government proposes to do so in Monsoon Session of the parliament. However, UPA leaders from Manmohan Singh to Rahul Gandhi have not been making it clear as to how some superficial amendments will change the basic structure of this colonial anti-people process and approach. They are only exploiting the lack of clarity among the political parties on the issue and trying to turn a blind eye to the long standing demands of the people’s movements. They are also capitalising on the World Bank and DFID/USAID supported land policy documents backed by certain sections of the Indian civil society that similarly demand repeal the land acquisition act, but for the purpose of aiding the corporatization of land. Hence this dharna is more significant at this juncture when the government needs to listen to the clear voices from the ground. The recent announcements by the new Rural Development Minister Sri Jairam Ramesh accepting formulation of one comprehensive law and not two separate legislations is a welcome move, but this is only the first step.

Other than the general focus on Land Acquisition Act repeal and replacement with a comprehensive legislation, the dharna would also address specific issues around: Dams (in Narmada Valley, North East India, Himachal and Central India), Thermal & Nuclear Power projects, Urban displacement, Forest Rights and Community Governance, struggles against Corporations (POSCO, Jaypee, Adanis, Tata, Coca Cola, Vedanta, Mittal, Reliance, Jindal, etc), and protecting livelihood rights of rural and urban communities in the form of statutory government entitlements such as demanding a Universal PDS and adequate beneficial rights to BPL members and oppose any move at introducing cash transfers.

In this journey, apart from the initiators of the Sangharsh collective, last year Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti-Assam and some new groups joined the collective process. This year along with comrades from more than 15 states, friends from Narmada Bachao Andolan, Khandwa ; Lok Sangharsh Morcha, Jan Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti-UP; POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Ekta Parishad, Jan Kalyan Upbhokta Samiti and some farmers’ groups from NCR have offered to join Sangharsh, agreeing to the demands of the collective. They will also be mobilizing for Sangharsh 2011. We heartily welcome their participation and expect that this will strengthen the overall process.

We invite you all to join us in Delhi at Jantar Mantar from August 3rd to 5th to resist forced displacement and land acquisitions across the country and demand for a comprehensive legislation on development planning that will end the regime of forced displacements. Do send in your confirmations for the same and also support our efforts in whatever ways you can. We are looking for volunteers for various things and also resources for meeting the expenses of the programme. For details do get in touch. All the campaign documents are available at http://napm-india.org/node/326

In solidarity,

Akhil Gogoi – KMSS, Assam
Arundhati Dhuru, Sandeep Pandey, J P Singh, Manesh Gupta – NAPM, UP
Ashok Choudhary, Roma, Munnilal – National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers
Bhupender Singh Rawat, Nanu Prasad – Jan Sangharsh Vahini & NAPM-Delhi
Bilas Bhongade – Gosi Khurd Prakalp Grasht Sangharsh Samiti & NAPM – Maharashtra
Chitranjan Singh – INSAF
Dayamani Barla – Adivasi Moolwasi Asthitva Raksha Manch, Jharkhand
Dr. Sunilam, Adv. Aradhna Bhargava – Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, MP
Gabriela Dietrich, Geeta Ramakrishnan – Pennuruimai Iyyakam & NAPM-Tamil Nadu
Gautam Bandyopadhyaya – Nadi Ghati Morcha, Chhattisgarh
Guman Singh, K Upmanyu – Him Niti Abhiyan, Himachal Pradesh
Rajnish Gambhir, Ramchandra Rana – Tharu Adivasi Mahila Kisan Manch & NFFPFW, Lakhimpur Khiri, UP
Manju Gardia – Nawa Chhattisgarh Mahila Sangathan & PSA – Chhattisgarh
Mata Dayal, Rani – Birsa Munda Bhu Adhikar Manch & NFFPFW-MP
Medha Patkar – Narmada Bachao Andolan & National Alliance of People’s Movements
Prafulla Samantara – Loksakti Abhiyan & NAPM Odisha
P Chennaiah, Ajay Kumar, Ramakrishna Raju, Sarasvathy Kavula – APVVU and NAPM Andhra Pradesh
Rajendra Ravi – NAPM, Delhi
Shanta Bhattacharya, Rajkumari Bhuyian – Kaimur Kshetra Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Samiti & NFFPFW, UP
Shaktiman Ghosh – National Hawkers Federation
Simpreet Singh – Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan & NAPM-Mumbai
Sister Celia – Domestic Workers Union, NAPM – Karnataka
Sunita Rani, Anita Kapoor – National Domestic Workers’ Union & NAPM, Delhi
Ulka Mahajan, Suniti S R, Prasad Bhagwe – SEZ Virodhi Manch & NAPM – Maharashtra
Vimalbhai – Matu Jan Sangathan & NAPM-Uttarakhand

for information contact :
Seela Mahapatra: 9212587159, Madhuresh Kumar: 9818905316, Vijayan M J: 9582862682
c/o: 6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi – 110014   # 011-26680914, 26680883
email : action2007@gmail.com Web : http://napm-india.org/node/326

Read Full Post »

PROTEST AGAINST EVICTIONS IN GOLIBAR, MUMBAI

PROTEST AGAINST EVICTIONS IN GOLIBAR, MUMBAI

PROTEST AT MAHARASHTRA SADAN, COPERNICUS MARG, NEAR MANDI HOUSE, NEW DELHI

24th MAY 2011 [TUESDAY]10.00 AM ONWARDS.

Dear Friends

In the wake of the brutal arrests, violence and forcible demolition of houses at Golibar (Khar), involving the involvement of the notorious Shivalik Ventures hand in glove with the administration, National Alliance of People’s Movements calls for an “immediate halt to slum demolitions” at Mumbai’s Golibar colony. Medha Patkar of NAPM has entered into her fourth day of fast along with with the displaced families who are on a relay hunger strike have been demanding to the government of Maharashtra to

- Issue urgent instructions to the district administration to stop these demolition and evivtion drives and instead institute an inquiry into the fraud and illegalities committed by Shivalik Ventures and take prompt legal action against it.

In solidarity with the demands put forward by the evicted families at Golibar and Medha Patkar, various peoples organizations and support groups in Delhi calls  for a protest meeting at the Maharashtra Sadan, Copernicus Marg Near Mandi House on 24th May 2011 at 11.30 am.
PROGRAMME FOR SOCIAL ACTION joins NAPM, SUCI Delhi, DSG, INSAF, Jan  Sangharsh Vahini, Shahri Mahila Kamgar Union, Rashtriya Gharelu Kamgar Union and others.

Contact : Rajendra Ravi : 9868200316, Shyamal :  9868573409, Bhupender Singh Rawat:01120506929, Anita Kapoor:9810787686, Anil Tharayath Varghese – 9971170738

Read Full Post »

Massive Demolitions in Jharkhand

Dear All,

You all must have read about the ongoing demolitions in the various cities of Jharkhand from April onwards on account of the High Court order. Jharkhand Government has done done nothing to come to relief of the lakhs of people. Overall nearly 5,00,000 people are slated to be evicted or affected by these evictions in coming times. In this heat many of the people are forced to live out on the street. An attempt at challenging the verdict in Supreme Court has also failed and was referred back to High Court.

To protest the inaction by Jharkhand State Government and its complicity in carrying out the evictions in name of removing encroachment is highly condemnable.

To protest the inaction and lack of any relief to the already evicted people we propose to do a demonstration infront of the JHAKRKHAND BHAWAN on May 19th, Thursday, at 10:30 am. The address is :

Jharkhand Bhawan, Opposite Indian Airlines Colony, near PVR Priya, Kushmpur Pahari, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi-110057

Please do join and spread the word around.

In Solidarity,
NAPM, SUCI Delhi, National Hawker Federation, AISA, AICCTU, DSG, INSAF, Jan  Sangharsh Vahini, Shahri Mahila Kamgar Union, Rashtriya Gharelu Kamgar Union and others.

To see the photographs of the demolition click : https://picasaweb.google.com/maju.varghese/DemolitionsInJharkhandApril2011#

Read Full Post »

National Consultation on the Proposed Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill and Resettlement & Rehabilitation Bill (draft)

National Consultation on the Proposed Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill and Resettlement & Rehabilitation Bill (draft)

September 23, 2010, Indian Social Institute, New Delhi

Dear Comrades / Friends / Colleagues,

Greetings !

Struggles against Land Acquisition have in fact become the most common phenomenon of our times. People across the country have been opposing efforts by the state and corporates to dispossess and displace them from the natural resources, esp land and forests, they possess. Movements have been also struggling to retaining the right over the land they have occupied, resisted attempts at evictions or displacements due to large infrastructure projects, submergence by dams or deprivation / landlessness by any means. The demand for a comprehensive Development planning legislation, that will not have forced displacement has been ongoing for close to two decades now. Despite that, there has never ever been a serious effort by the Government to bring about a national legislation that will replace the colonial Land Acquisition Act nor bring about a new era where people will not be made oustees in their own land.

There has been numerous consultations, meetings, dialogues, demonstrations in Delhi and all across the country however, the government has failed to address the genuine concerns in all these years. In the wake of the recent protests by farmers against unjust acquisition of land in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, there has been again a vociferous demand made by different political parties to bring in the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill.

However, it needs to be noted that the agitation by farmers in Aligarh and elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh are not isolated incidents. Struggles against unjust land acquisition have been intensifying across the country. The only response of the government has been a brutal suppression of these struggles using its police force. In July this year, the Government of Andhra Pradesh fired at, killing three persons, and lathi-charged hundreds of peaceful protesters in the Sompeta Mandal of Srikakulm district, who were resisting the forcible and unjust acquisition of land for the 2640 MW thermal plant by Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd. In mid August then private goons of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. beat-up villagers who were peacefully protesting the forcible acquisition of land, in Tapranga, Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, by the company for coal mining. There are innumerable instances of such acts of harassment, exploitation, dispossession all across the country. In the whole adivasi belt of central India, land acquisition is being masqueraded by anti-movements repression and the infamous ‘Operation Greenhunt’.

The Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill were tabled by the UPA government during the winter session of 2007 and just a day before the monsoon session of 2009 ended. Introduced purportedly to strike a balance between the ‘need for land for development’ and other purposes and protecting the interests of the persons whose lands are statutorily acquired, both the Bills in fact facilitate the handing over the land, rivers, forests, minerals to the big corporations, both public and private, for mining, big dams, thermal, nuclear and other power projects, SEZs, etc., without effectively addressing the fundamental issues that have been raised by the resistance movements that are raging across the country. If enacted, both the Bills will have far reaching impact on the lives on millions of people across the country, their livelihood and access to natural resources—land, water and forests.

The issues of both Land Acquisition and Resettlement and Rehabilitation have been discussed and debated for several years now. The government has brought forth several policies, especially on the latter issue. However no process of thorough stock taking has yet been initiated by the government. In fact even the most basic information, which is crucial for determining the areas and direction in the laws and policies that need to be formulated and amended, is not available.

The earlier consultations by several civil society groups and movements culminated in a draft that was later used by the National Advisory Council to form the basis for the ‘National Development, Displacement and Rehabilitation Bill’, which was passed by the NAC in 2006. Since then the draft remained pending with the Central Cabinet on the excuse that there were questions and barriers to be faced and clarified, before it could get its sanction. Further, the present draft Bills were introduced in complete negation of this draft and the consultations with people’s movements and groups at different levels.

We do hope you will be able to join us for a National Consultation on September 23rd, Thursday, at Indian Social Institute, Lodi Road, New Delhi with your colleagues in the movements and groups so that we can discuss all these issues in detail and work on a better draft of the Comprehensive Act.

In solidarity,

Ashok Chaudhary, Prafulla Samantara, Medha Patkar, Gautam Bandopadhyay, Sandeep Pandey, Anil Chaudhary, Dr. Sunilam, Ajit Jha, Dayamani Barla, Guman Singh, Mamata Kujur,  Simpreet Singh, Roma, Vimalbhai, Rajendra Ravi, Anand Mazgaonkar, Bhupendra Singh Rawat, Vijayan M J, Madhuresh Kumar and others…

Delhi Contact: 6/6, Jangpura B, New Delhi – 110014; Mob: 9818905316/ 9582862682

Ph: 011- 26680883/26680914; Email: napm.madhuresh@gmail.com; bipincc@gmail.com

Read Full Post »

Dharna and people’s parliament at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 23-24 July, 2009. DO JOIN !

PEOPLE’S MOVEMENTS TO DENOUNCE FORCIBLE LAND GRAB

SHELVE THE LAND ACQUISITION AMENDMENT BILL AND NATIONAL REHABILITATION BILL

BRING IN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ACT WITH RIGHTS TO THE PEOPLE

People’s Movements to present their position before Public, Parliament and Government

Dharna and people’s parliament at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 23-24 July, 2009

ALL ARE INVITED

THE UPA GOVERNMENT IS AGAIN TRYING TO put up the two Bills, amendment to the Land Acquisition Act and the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill before this Parliament.

The amendment is worse, since it incorporates ‘private’ purpose into ‘public’ purpose and rehabilitation offered is without any guarantee of land and alternative livelihood to those displaced.

The Acts would not bring in fair and just rehabilitation but push and facilitate more displacement than ever!

The Draft Development Planning Act, approved by the National Advisory Council and its Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi in January 2006 had consent of the people’s organisations but that is shelved and weak anti-people draft is brought up by the ‘Empowered Group of Ministers’ including Kamalnath, Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar and others. WHY? We must ask.

Let’s gather in large numbers at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on July 23rd and 24th to assert our right to land, water, forests, fisheries and minerals.

Demand a decentralized development planning based on Article 243 of the Constitution, PESA 1996 and Forest Rights Act, 2006.

We should compel the Government to:

• Repeal Land Acquisition Act of British Legacy •
• Issue a White paper on land acquisition, displacement and rehabilitation for the last 60 years.
• Shelve the two Bills and hold a national consultation on the NAC approved draft along with the displaced people and the people’s organizations.
• Institute a Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee for the discussion on the two Acts.

The detailed Invite, background documents and contact details follow.

With regards and In Solidarity,

Medha Patkar, Anand Mazgaonkar, Ashok Chowdhary, Gautam Bandopadhyay (09423965153) (02640-220629) (9868857723) (9826171304)

Guman Singh, Simpreet Singh, Madhuresh, Vimalbhai

(9418277220) (9969363065) (9818905316) (9891814707) **********************************

Proposed Land Acquisition (Amendment) And Rehabilitation & Resettlement Bills Will Only Accelerate Displacement Not Rehabilitation

People’s Movements to present their position before Public, Parliament and Government

Dharna and people’s parliament at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 23-24 July, 2009

Thursday, July 23 2009

12 noon – 200 pm : Inauguration of the Dharna.

Remembering the movements, peoples, martyrs in the anti-displacement movement in past 62 years since independence.

Surendra Mohan to light the torch of Resistance.

Medha Patkar to give an introductory history of resistance covering the struggles since post independence and talking about very well known and also less known important struggles, remembering people and their courage.

 Sharing on the struggles and the key questions raised by the anti displacement movements across the country. Ashok Chowdhary, Gautam Bandopadhyay, B D Sharma and others. Kuldip Nayar, Rajendar Sachar, Ramaswamy Aiyar, Prashant Bhushan, Usha Ramanathan and other supporter friends from Delhi to join.

 Lunch 2-3 pm

3.00-6.00 pm : Assembly of Movements

Movement groups to narrate their experience of the displacement, struggles, and the displacement.

7.00 pm onwards Dinner and film screening

Day Two : July 24 Friday

Peoples parliament / Jan Sansad Begins 9 am onwards Starting with a presentation on the points from the Bills and our proposals for the National enactment. Presentation to be made by Vimal Bhai MPs from different parties to join too.

Movement groups to make presentation linking LAA and R&R Bills with the Forest Rights Act, Agriculture Policy, Coastal Zone issues, Tribal policy, Trade and Climate Change.

2.00 – 3.00 pm Lunch

3.00 – 4.00 pm Further strategy planning

4.00 – 5.00 pm Press Conference

Read Full Post »

National Convention – National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers, 10-12 June 2009, Dehradun

National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers

National Convention

June 10-12, 2009, Dehradun, India

The struggle for establishing community rule and control over the forest resources got a new boost when the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, was passed in 2006 by the Indian Parliament. It was a historical moment for the struggling communities despite some inherent lacunas and problems in the Act when finally on December 31 2007 the Act was notified and procedures led out for its implementation all across the country. This is also a historical event, for the first time ever rights of forest dwellers over forest has been given a legal and political acceptance by the State and their role in conservation and development of forests recognised. Today, after more than 60 years of independence, for the first time, these communities feel independent having suffered exploitation and humiliation at the hands of Forest Department and feudal & elite forces, all due to this Act, which promises liberation and dignity.

However, the numerous problems encountered by the communities in implementation of the provisions of the Act are well known since it challenges the domination and interests of forest department and other feudal & elite forces. These forces have been creating problems of various kinds and also colluding with the machinery of State to deny the rights due to communities. This has been duly recognised by the communities and in past two years there have been innumerable instances of conflict and resistance against the ill machinations of the forest department and feudal interests. This is going to be a bitter and long struggle for the communities to achieve community control over the forests, which has been clearly enunciated in the preface of the Act itself. Hence, the biggest challenge in front of the communities and social movements today is how to achieve Community Governance over the forest in these circumstances,which will ensure community control over natural resources in the long term. Movements need to decide collectively about how to build up Peoples’ Institutions for community governance.

Our experience says the strategies to deal with the circumstances can only be formulated by the activists and awakened leadership of forest rights movements in the country and none else. The wisdom and knowledge of the communities engaged in struggle for their survival and conservation of forest has to play an important role in these strategies. This also requires that the local organisations need to be strengthened so that they could actually implement the mandate thrust upon them – of conservation and sustainable livelihood – by the Act in long term. These people’s organisations, autonomous bodies and cooperatives of the forest dwellers have to be run by them under their leadership alone.

It was in this context that the NFFPFW’s second national conference in Ranchi in October 2006 passed two important resolutions which would determine the future strategies of the struggles :

• To establish control over the forests of the communities dependent on them.
• To oppose commercialisation of the forests.

In last two years important steps have been taken to implement these two resolutions in some of the regions. It was also decided in the Ranchi conference that to counter these challenges it is imperative that community leadership in the movements has to be strengthened and struggles given new energy and direction which is arising from the aspirations of the people.

Even as we plan to meet in Dehradun, after the General Elections, Congress led government is already formed at the Centre. However, it need to be understood that the Congress led UPA government has got majority support from all the sections of society but they could not attain absolute majority, since poor people of this country are too aware that none of the political parties actually stand for pro-people politics and development and they can’t be trusted. History stands witness to the fact that Congress has been always supported by the feudal and capitalist classes and that’s why they have always represented their interests in favour of the millions of the poor who keep reposing their trust time and again. The newly formed UPA has to face many challenges now to keep its promises to poor classes. We must know that in future the capitalist economic agenda will be pushed with much more force by UPA government necessitating a re energised protest from the people’s movements all across the country. We will have to collectively embolden our struggles and ensure communities control and rule over the forest and weaken the forces of the capitalism.

We need to understand that the failure of all the parties in opposition (national or regional) with exception of few can be attributed to the fact that they failed to build any substantial opposition and movement on people issues, which would have earned them support from people. Since there was no viable alternative available in front of people they voted for Congress, which was not a majority vote. There is a lesson inherent in this election for all other political parties and also for the Congress. It is to be observed that this time Congress is neither giving much weight to the allies within UPA nor making any attempts at formulating a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) as they did in the previous government. The congress might have to pay heavy price for not constituting the CMP in near future, since CMP is not only about the agreed mandate of parties within the government but is directly linked with the aspirations of the masses. Therefore it is very clear that CMP simply means that the government doesn’t want to leave any political manoeuvring space on the political and social matters for social movements.

In such a situation we need to understand that the people’s movement can’t wait for the government for stricter and effective implementation of the historical Forest Rights Act. As there is lot of pressure on the present government from environmentalist lobby and the Forest Department, therefore it is very necessary that we will have to build up the struggle and strategize for establishing the communities control over the forests by sustained pressure on the government machinery. The year in which this Act was passed by the government the efforts at commercial exploitation of the forests were also enhanced, and this needs to be conveyed to the people. It is only when we are aware of the government’s intentions and initiatives at commercialisation that we can formulate strategies for establishing governance mechanisms which will stop the commercial exploitation and degradation of forests.

The need of the hour is that the active supporters and activists of the movements of the forest dwelling communities struggling for forest rights sit together and work towards developing strategies which can ensure community control and also stop the commercial exploitation of forests. In this process only we can strike a long term collaboration of the forest rights movements, climate justice movements and other rights based movements. Today there is a sense of fragmentation within the larger movement which is giving space to capitalist forces to extend their influence over the forest and other natural resources which is creating wider environmental and social crisis in the society. The capitalist forces in their effort to maximise profit are trading the environmental crisis for their narrow economic gains rather than finding sustainable long term solutions.

It is to counter the influence of these capitalist forces that the around the world the toiling and working classes are mobilising themselves, be it disrupting the gathering of G-20 in London or ASEAN’s meeting in Bangkok, or UNFCCC 2007 in Bali, Indonesia. This year thousands of workers, indigenous people, women and marginalised masses raised slogans at various deliberations at the World Social Forum, Belem demanding climate justice for everyone and demise of capitalism. In India also there is a need for internal cohesion at various fronts amongst the numerous movements against the capitalist development and also a greater need for establishing linkages and coordination with the movements at the global level.

It is to discuss these important issues that NFFPFW is holding its annual convention. Today the government of India is executing all kinds of trade and commercial agreements with capitalist nations worldwide which impacts the millions of working and toiling masses. However, information on none of these agreements are available to people, the convention will critically discuss such agreements and other international matters of direct relevance to forest people.

In addition to the constituent groups of NFFPFW, other organisations, friends and supporters working on forest rights are also invited to this convention so that a more informed dialogue can take place and effective strategies could be formulated.

The agenda of the convention will focus on following issues :

• Effective implementation of Forest Rights Act by the community led groups and organisations establishing community rule and control over the forests and other natural resources.
• Building effective and sustainable community led groups and organisations.
• To strengthen campaigns against the commercialisation of the forests and oppose G-20, European Union, WTO, ASEAN and other international bodies pushing capitalist agenda globally.
• To organise masses for achievement of the fundamental rights enshrined in the national constitution and international rights charters etc.
• To unite the groups all across the world struggling against capitalist development for climate justice.
• To establish effective coordination and understanding with the global movements for climate justice.

With revolutionary greetings !

National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers

Read Full Post »

Conversations on Elections’09, UPA’s Second Term and Challenges to People’s Movements

Conversations on

“Elections ’09, UPA’s Second Term and Challenges to People’s Movements”

May 22 Friday, 4-7 pm at India Social Institute, Lodi Road, New Delhi

On behalf of Delhi Solidarity Group, we, take this initiative to invite you for a people’s movement specific analysis and reflections on the General Elections 2009. We have received overwhelming response from friends all over the country for the meeting and a request for documenting the proceedings. We are trying our best. THANKS !

We will have with us today Ashok Chowdhury, Aunradha Chenoy, Bhupinder Singh Rawat, J John, Pamela Philipose, Praful Bidwai, Seema Mustafa, Suhas Borker, Sumit Chakravarty and some more friends who will share their opinion and perspective on the elections and the new government briefly (5-7 mins. each) to be followed by open house discussion for two hours. Amit Bhaduri, Kavita Krishnan, S P Shukla, Shanti Ranjan Behera, Uma Chakravarty and some more friends have sent notes for the meeting and expressed their solidarity.

We hope you will join to make this discussion more meaningful and futuristic.

With regards,

Madhuresh (9818905316), Vijayan (9868165471) and others

On behalf of DSG

***************

“UPA wins, NDA loses, Left finished, resurgence of Congress, end of coalition regimes, third front days are over, end of caste based identity politics, vote for stability, vote for markets…”

Captions and headlines roar…

As the UPA government prepares to form their new government on the strength of the renewed mandate;

As the electronic media turns away from what was their business for the last three months to a the new one – IPL cricketainment;

As the election pundits count their cash for the season;

Can we – the members of the activist fraternity sit together and reflect on what happened in these General Elections?

We know the Left has lost much ground;

We also know that the BSP did not gain much;

We know the Trinamool Congress did;

We know Nitish’s politics worked and Lalu’s did not;

We know Naveen did well after all that and that Amma did not sweep Tamil minds;

But do we know that it is people’s resistance movements who played an important role in the victory of several of these surprises?

Of course, we have heard of Singur and Nandigram victories… BUT

Do we know that the Pathanamthitta constituency (where the Chengara land movement is going on against the wishes of CPM leaders) has been lost by CPM?

Do we know that CPI, the party leading the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, has won the elections from Jagatsinghpur?

Do we know that the Forest workers movement in UP has played an important role in the victory of BSP candidates from constituencies like Saharanpur?

And how many more seats and constituencies where our groups have played an active role in defeating anti-people parties and policies??

But what does all this hold for us in the 15^th Lok Sabha! Is the renewed mandate going to make UPA more arrogant and hence more pro-corporate and anti-people?

See you there !

Read Full Post »

Sanjay Sangvai Memorial consultation – II

SANJAY SANGVAI MEMORIAL CONSULTATION – II

Media and Development:

Challenges and Possibilities in the Present Context

11th and 12th June, 2009, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

The history, role and nature of media has become an issue of open debate in recent times, alongside the paradigm of development itself. The media is still considered to be a potent tool in giving shape and direction to social change, in times of increasing marketization and decreasing democratic spaces. The role of media, therefore, becomes that much more important and relevant, than ever before, since, the influence of the market over the media has also tremendously increased.

However, beyond this complexity, it is still necessary to gauge the saved space for and impacts of the positive and progressive outlook of media and analyze the consequences, especially in the face of rapid social, political, and economic changes, considering human justice as the ultimate goal. Whilst on the one hand, conspiracies are being hatched to debilitate peoples’ movements and struggles, on the other, any honest attempt by the media, to create a favourable environment in that direction, is discarded, by branding it as ineffective and futile. Both ways, fervent attempts are being made to maintain the status quo and scuttle any efforts for concrete change. Till the recent elections, our experience has been that the electoral politics, which is devoid of people’s issues and priorities, did use the media to a great extent, but the people’s politics have to have to depend more on the alternative media rather than on the mainstream. Can this discrimination be mitigated or need not be? These and many similar questions reverberate in the minds of both the sensitive media persons as well as activists.

Many of you would be aware that we had organized a Joint Consultation last year in memory of our revolutionary journalist colleague Sanjay Sangwai on the theme Media and Development: Present Context and the Future and propose to hold this as an annual memorial event. Sanjay Sangvai was one of those journalists, who always openly took the position that whatever may be its nature and direction, the media should never divorce itself from people’s movements and struggles and vice versa. Only an in-depth and frank dialogue can achieve this.

Sanjay Sangvai was not only an academic journalist, but had carved out a space in the mainstream of journalism all through. He had served in newspapers like Sakaal, yet on coming into contact with people’s movements, he devoted rest of his life to critically supporting communications and building people’s struggles, giving them an idiom and medium both. He was associated with the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements until his last breath. Not only did he closely observe and understand peoples’ movements and struggles, but had become one of the most effective voices of those. The aim of this Media Consultation, which is being organized in his memory is also to stir up a more intense debate on people’s issues and analyze both the history and future of the role of the media vis-à-vis peoples’ movements and struggles for planning some new steps for which this post-electoral time is a good opportunity.

The proposed theme of this two-day Media Consultation to be organized at Bhopal on the 11th and 12th of June, 2009 is Media and Development – Challenges, Possibilities and Present Context. Jointly organized by Sarvodaya Press Service, Narmada Bachao Andolan and Vikas Samvad, the Consultation shall weave together different facets of print, electronic, film and web-based media by analysing the challenges and exploring the possibilities in the present context. There shall be three major sessions in these two days and we shall attempt to concretize our future action plan in the presence of senior media persons and activists.

The Consultation would bring together many sensitive journalists, young and old, with a few eminent media persons including your esteemed self. This consultation being a humble collaborative effort, we would take care of your lodging-boarding and would try to arrange for your travel upon confirmation, though we would greatly appreciate if you can make travel arrangements and meet the costs at your end.

Kindly do inform us of your willingness to participate in the Programme by way of telephone or e-mail, which would enable us to organize the logistical and other aspects of the event. May we hope that you would spare two days of your valuable time for this meaningful dialogue to realize our collective aspirations for justice and equity.

Thanking You,

Yours sincerely

Medha Patkar  (Narmada Bachao Andolan)

Chinmay Mishra   ( Sarvodaya Press Service)

Sachin Jain      (Vikas Samwad)

Consultation Contacts:

Vikas Samvad, Bhopal

Phone: 0755-4252789

Sachin Jain: 09977704847

Raju Kumar: 09839252617

Prashant Dubey: 09425026331

E-mail: vikassamvad@gmail.com , sachinwrites@gmail.com

Narmada Bachao Andolan, Badwani

Phone: 07290-222464 Fax: C/o: 07290 – 222549

Medha Patkar: 09423965153 ; Ashish Mandloi: 09424855042

E-mail: nba.medha@gmail.com , nba.ashish@gmail.com

Sarvodaya Press Service, Indore

29, Samvad Nagar, Naulakha, Indore – 452 001

Phone: 0731-2401083 Fax: 0731-2404114

Chinmay Mishra: 09893278855, Kumar Siddharth: 09425086228, Samyak Kumar: 09827265544

E-mail: indoresps@gmail.com , chinmay.saroj@gmail.com

Read Full Post »