Showing posts with label Narmada bachao andolan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Narmada bachao andolan. Show all posts

Group Exposure '09 - Narmada Bachao Andolan

Condemned To Progress
"Namaste" he said and politely asked us to sit down. A thin sheet of sweat covered his limbs presumably from the laborious toil at the fields. The house was simple and clean, had earthen walls, a thatched roof and a wooden frame to support the structure. A moment's silence follows the exchange of pleasantries. On probing about the government schemes for rehabilitation and resettlement, he slowly related his tale. The government notified them that his village and its surrounding lands will be submerged in the reservoir waters of Indrasagar dam 4 years back. A few months after which a group of officers came to survey their region estimating the costs of the houses and their farmlands(section six).They claim that the estimation of cost for their farms was done by using outdated cost data, thus guaranteeing inadequate funds to the prospectively displaced people. The compensation for the lands was to be given in one of the two ways:

(i)Land for Land: The land offered in most cases was found to be hilly, infested with stones, not irrigated and so incapable of bearing harvest. In certain regions, the land being offered was found to be already being occupied by a third person. Also another issue was of an individual being granted land in two different areas, making it physically impossible to utilise both the lands and hence, rendering a part of it useless.

(ii)Monetary Compensation for land: The rate as per which money has been reimbursed is on an average 7-8 years old. Such is the situation that even the full promised amount does not reach the coffers of the poor rustics. The helpless villagers fall prey to corruption also, thus losing a part of their rightfully owned money.

A daily wage labourer had another facet to add to the picture. Since these labourers have no land to claim compensation for, they were promised 5 acre land or Rs. 38,000 compensation per working member of the family. But the scene actually is not so simple. It is claimed by the villagers that the officials have comfortably stated alive, walking and talking persons non-existent and thus kept away the rehabilitation benefits from these people.

Ah, what to say, the future of these people indeed seems in darkness. As if all this is not enough, the contractors to which the fishing rights of the reservoir had been tendered out to have already started harassing and shooing away local fishermen who are already suffering due to lower fish count in rivers which again is an example of ecological impact of the dam. Ah a bleak present and a dark future. What could be worse?

Posted in: , , , on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at at 6:09 PM 1 comments  

Group Exposure '09 - Narmada Bachao Andolan

A Rural Portrait

A kaleidoscope of colours,experiences,scents and visuals.A tradition and culture that is enduring.The mighty Narmada.Descending into the plains of Maharashtra from Amarkanth.A river that inspires awe.And reverence.Lush primordial forests,exotic wildlife,undulating hills,rapids and the infectious tune and cheerful rhythm of dharaji.......
Calm and serene,the expanse of water stood beside the undulating hill slopes covered with a lush green cover,betraying the harmony and peace that existed here.The first rays of sunlight accompanied with the regular call from the village roosters proclaimed day rise and appeared on our bright and sparking faces,which promptly responded with huge smiles.Our inquisitive eyes surveyed the picturesque surroundings,enthralled by the ethereal beauty that abounded around us.
A moment later,the truth dawned on us.We were blistering fools to admire that scenario in which we claimed to experience peace and harmony.Initially i could not fathom the sadness that pierced the entire landscape.Half a tree top lay exposed through the water surface as if yearning to stay above the surface,as if yearning to stay alive,as if…......Behold,to my horror, the water was not blue,but mildly green,as if dyed by all that lay beneath it.What a dance of destruction is this?What sort of silent torment is this?Who knew what stay in store for later?
There was a complete lack of commotion,no noise,no yelling,no confusion,nothing out of place in this pleasant environment which apparently appeared to be oblivious to the fact that its doomsday draws to a close. All the activity of the women was directed towards the two hand pumps placed strategically at the two ends of this village of Dharaji,situated on the high ground just beside the "present" river bank.Women walked towards the hand pump in pairs,with utensils on their heads and tucked at their waists.While one worked the pump,the other cleaned the utensils with a earthen mixture,and then filled them up with water presumably for the morning household chores.

Posted in: , on at at 6:01 PM 0 comments  

Group Exposure '09 - Narmada Bachao Andolan

MERE SAATH CHAL ....... The beginning

The devils were taking over,chasing the gods out of the universe.Fear-stricken gods fleeing for the fear of their life.And buzzzzz my alarm rang..six in the morning,too early to rise..but today was exceptional.4th december,the first day for the exposure camp organised by pravah.Every body managed to make it for Karm marg charitable society by eleven,and we be immediately began with the introductions.The initial phase caught on fast with sulab and deep organising silly but nice games and inculcating team spirit within the group.The aftenoon session came up with an even more exciting prospect-A Community Visit. Interaction with the simple rustics of khedi kalan,having tea with them,being offered hukka at the village were the highlights of this visit.

The orientation camp was in nature a unique experience.Dinner with the kids there and and the community interaction were catalytic in completely discarding our inhibitions about rural folk and their way of life.The sessions here laid the firm foundation to the world we were going to be propelled into.Some of us were here to create a mental picture,one in which they themselves verify the colours and diversity,of rural india,or to be more accurate a microscopical part of the rural india.Making friends,shedding inhibitions was another big hit on the wishlists .Other top hits include developing team spirit,introspection and having a ball of a time.

The inhibitions list was lot more longer.Neha had scared the wits out of us telling us about crocodiles,and snakes and emergency precautions ,essential but still monstrous.What if that happens?What if this happens?What to do in that situation?Will i be able to manage that?How will i make sure i dont panic? Will i manage to do my job in the morning itself?Will i be chased by a bull when i am doing my morning job?Ooooh too many....







And with all that in mind we settled down on our seat berths(RAC=>two on one ) squeezed against each other,fighting for the blanket like a pack of dogs being forced to share a bone.....more follows.....

Harsh Gupta
Undergraduate student
Dept of Computer Science
IIT Delhi

Posted in: , on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at at 12:48 AM 0 comments  

A Narmada Diary @ Jamia, Social work Deptt


Movie: A Narmada Diary (57 mins.)
Date: 6th October, 2009
Venue: Seminar Room, Deptt. Of Social Work, Jamia
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Subject Association, along with Pravah, held a screening of the movie – A Narmada Diary, as a part of the ‘Movies for Thoughts’ film fest at Jamia Millia Islamia University campus. The movie explores the question of development, from the perspective of the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Set in the early 1990s, when the dam was still under construction, it documents the early stages of the said project and the Narmada Bachao Andolan. It touched upon such pertinent issues as rehabilitation, traditional vs. modern irrigation techniques, transparency and disclosure, and the like.

With this in mind, the actual screening was preceded by a question for the audience – What development meant to them?? The responses ranged from sustainability, positive and need-based growth to freedom, a high HDI, and the decentralization of decision-making to the rural villages and towns. With this background, the movie commenced.

After an hour or so, the discussion began by asking the participants to revisit their parameters for development, and apply the same to the movie. While some people said that the movie could promote vested interests and bank on it’s emotional quotient, a majority felt that everybody saw development with a different perspective, and what one sees as development might not be that for another. In this context, the question of need-based growth came up, and the participants were forced to question the aims of the dam, in light of the expectations of the rural poor.

A cost-benefit analysis was also considered necessary by a few, since the benefits were to come only after 30 years, while the costs could even be borne by the displaced forever. This naturally led to the question of the stakeholders, and who was bearing the costs without reaping the benefits, and vice-versa. The issue of adequate compensation (in kind and cash), and how much is necessary for sustenance, and whether it is even measurable, was also brought up in the course of the discussion. With regard to this, the participants came up with other examples, like thermal power plants, and SEZs, where the same situation was prevalent.

Due to time constraints, the discussion could not continue further, but it proved to be a very healthy interactive space for all. The discussion did heat up at some point, but the facilitators were able to bring decorum again. It was agreed by all that there was a need for active citizenship, and understood that even having an opinion on such issues, and being confident to take a stand, is a vital part of active citizenship, and of what Pravah does.

Posted in: , , on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at at 1:02 PM 1 comments  

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