The Big 3:-
Volume 1, 1, Issue 1 1 Volume Issue
The Golibar Resistance DMIC Update—Aboard the Yatra Express The truth behind World Bank’s sham ‘civic consultations’
20th 2013 20thApril April 2013
The Golibar Resistance
FootPrints
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE’S MOVEMENTS
M
edha Patkar and Madhuri Shivkar’s fast came to an end in the wee hours of 13th April, 9 days after the former had taken on an indefinite hunger strike in protest of illegal slum demolitions in Golibar. With protestors camping at his doorstep Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan finally met with Principal Secretary (Housing) and CEO Slum Rehabilitation Authority. The fast was called off after an agreement was made over demands made by the protestors. A delegation consisting of Chandrashekhar, architect Vidya Bal, editor Miloon Saryajani, writer Anjali Damania, Pushpa Dave, Sumit Wajale, Prerna Gaikwad, Ajit Gavkhedkar and residents of Golibar and other slums had also met the Chief Minister.
the case. MHADA and Government of Maharashtra will look into the matter. 3.Chief Minister agreed to halt demolitions of the 6 SRA projects till the enquiry report is submitted. They will take action on the fraudulent cases related to SRA. The enquiry has been promised to be completed by 15th May,2013. 4.Mandala will be declared as the Pilot Project of Rajiv Awas Yojana in Mumbai. Chief Minister will talk to the Central Government to implement Rajiv Awas Yojana in Mumbai. 5.Slum declaration process will be according to the earlier agreement between the GBGB Andolan and Government of Maharashtra in May, 2011.
6.Chief Minister agreed to take Mandala as the Pilot Project of Written assurances were made Rajiv Awas Yojana and to talk to and the following demands were the Central Government on RAY. agreed to:7.All ongoing SRA projects will be 1.The land occupied by Ganesh complied with all conditions of Krupa Society cannot be LOI and in cases of Fraud docuredeveloped without the consent ments, LOI will be withdrawn. of residents since they have already paid the cost of the land to the government. A Joint Inside this issue: Meeting within a week will The World Bank’s Hidden Agenda 2 decide about the development of the land. 2.The rehabilitation building has been constructed on the Defence land which is under court process. No one at the rehabilitation site will be homeless even if defence wins
Yatra Diaries—The DMIC Virodhi
6
Sangharsh Yatra Protest Updates
Editorial
9 11
(Continued on page 2)
Page 2
FOOTPRINTS
Medhatai and Madhuri call off their fast after Chavan’s government finally sat down at the discussion table
The big picture
is vicious competition amongst builders and they often resort to extortion, fraud of Mumbai’s population live and forgery. in slums. These people comprise a major part of the workforce in the service and Golibar – the battleground small-scale industries. any slums have been razed to the Slums are not ground to make Mumbai attractive 140 acres, home to 46 a result of to investors while still in their aircrafts, squatting, but in hopes of deals being struck as soon as societies and over lack of low- they land. The history of ‘redevelopment’ 26,000 families, has cost housing in Golibar, Khar is another in a long list of options. Those examples. 140 acres, home to 46 sociebeen literally gifted to a recognised un- ties and over 26,000 families, has been single private company der SRA Act literally gifted to a single private company have paid – Shivalik Ventures, by invoking a special – Shivalik Ventures. Assessment clause – 3K- of the SRA. This clause gives Tax to the gov- the builder complete rights to redevelop ernment. a large slum without inviting tenders.
60%
M
Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), the official mask of the corrupt Government – Builder partnership in Mumbai, has already snatched homes from lakhs of slumdwellers. The latter are pushed into ill constructed buildings which aren’t safe to inhabit, a most recent example being an 8 storey building in Mumbra constructed within a span of 2-3 months, which collapsed. More than 70 people were killed. The acquired land is put up in the property market. SRA gives the green signal to the builder if it can attain an approval of 70% of the concerned society. Given Mumbai’s sky high real estate prices, there
A small society of 323 houses in Golibar – Ganesh Krupa – has become the flash point for the struggle between the SRA and the Slum dwellers, ever since the latter slapped a case of fraud and forgery on Shivalik Ventures. Six forced demolition drives over the past 1 year led to the society appealing to Medhatai Patkar and Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan for help. She undertook a 9 day fast in May 2011, which resulted in formation of two committees - one to investigate corruption in SRA schemes and another to look into regularisation on slums. However the builder lobby ensured that none of these committees were made functional.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Once again, at the beginning of a new year, the bastis marched and camped in Azad Maidan for ten days. This resulted in another investigation committee under Devashish Chakravarty, Principal Secretary - Housing, to look into the matter. Some bastis were selected to implement the R.A.Y. scheme and Mandala (Mankhurd) basti was identified
Page 3
as the 'Pilot project.' Operations were to be started at the earliest, orders for demolitions were revoked. By the directions of the Chief Minster, the investigation procedures of these 6 SRA projects be carried out under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Housing. It was also decided that no evictions and demolitions would be
The World Bank’s Hidden Agenda
C
itizens’ groups, people’s movements and socio-political activists from across India organised themselves to protest and force cancel the farcical ‘civil society consultations’ of the World Bank Group in India. The World Bank has been conducting consultations for review and update of their environmental and social safeguards policies all over the world. It claims that these meetings were “announced with as much advance notice as possible to facilitate informed participation from a diverse set of stakeholders”, while none of the communities adversely impacted by bank-funded projects have been invited to these! In India, the three consultations were scheduled th in Delhi (5 April), Bangalore (8th April) and Bhubaneshwar (10th April).
I
in Delhi and Bangalore WB could not do the consultation, the Bhubaneshwar one was shamelessly conducted behind closeddoors under the protection of police and private security.
O
nce these ‘consultations’ are concluded, it is reported that the Bank will consider these areas, through Demonstrators got the internal diaWB consultants and logue, consultations, and a review team to call off global series of dialogues with and cancel two external exconsultations. perts, for reform. The core policies under review are the eight environmental and social safeguard policies namely Environmental Assessment, Natural Habitats, Pest Management, Indigenous Peoples, Physical Cultural Resources, Involuntary Resettlement, Forests, Safety of Dams – as well as the Policy on Piloting the Use of Borrower Systems for Environmental and Social Safeguards.
n Delhi and Bangalore, groups and individuals made their way into the consultations and raised objections to the way in which the WB has held the social and environmental safeguards review process. Holding placards and banners that read: “World Bank Quit India,” the demonstrators got the WB consultants and review team to call off and cancel the two consultations. In Bhubaneshwar, around 60 activists, including 10 affected persons from the IFC funded GMR Project, protested outside the Hotel Trident, the five star venue that hosted the consultation. Villagxperiences of groups and communiers affected by bank-funded projects were ties demanding genuine reform of the disallowed from participating and presentinstitution’s policies and possibly its deing their views in what is being advertised as ‘consultations with civil society’. While mocratisation, have been utterly disap-
E
Page 4
pointing. These ‘consultations’ are only used by the Bank to legitimise their destructive funding practices. When the bank continues to invest in coal fired thermal plants, mega dams and large hydropower projects, which are destroying lives, livelihoods and the natural environment, review of environmental & social safeguards is mere lip service. This round of consultations by the World Bank is facing protests in several other countries including Indonesia, Philippines, etc. for similar reasons.
I
f the World Bank is seriously concerned about the impacts of its investments, then the best test would have been to demonstrate sensitivity in their investments. In India, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Bank’s priWhen the bank continues vate sector to invest in coal fired lending arm, is complicit thermal plants, mega in massive h u m a n dams and large rights and hydropower projects, environreview of environmental & mental violations that form the basocial safeguards is mere sis of a malip service. jority of its investment. For instance, IFC funded the Lafarge limestone mining project in Meghalaya which lead to the mortgaging of tribal lands protected under the 6th Schedule of Indian Constitution to do illegal mining which was later exposed even in the Supreme Court of India. Exactly two decades ago the Bank had to get out of the Narmada Project, which was a historic development brought about by peoples’ struggles. Lakhs of people continue to suffer from the damages caused by World Bank funded dams on River Naramda.
FOOTPRINTS
E
ven while claiming to work against climate change and global warming, the World Bank endorses environmentally destructive projects by providing underthe-cover support, such as the USD 1 billion loan to the Fifth Power System Development Project, which essentially is a transmission line for huge coal based thermal power plants including TataMundra, Reliance-Sasan Power and Reliance-Krishnapatnam Power. By participating in such a manner, the Bank conveniently escapes blame for the disaster and yet benefits from financing ‘development projects.’
T
he current exercise is yet another charade to mask the true intentions of its major shareholders: France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, who are grappling with serious economic downturns and conveniently using the Bank to force open global investment opportunities with scant regard to environmental and social impacts.
T
he World Bank’s Policy on Piloting the Use of Borrower Systems for Environmental and Social Safeguards has in the past decade been a mantra to pave the way for promoting investment at any cost. Over a decade ago the World Bank funded the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests’ Environmental Management Capacity Building Project. It resulted in the massive dilution of India’s environmental and social safeguard norms. The resultant processes cheered on the administration and industry who were crying hoarse that the carefully evolved rigour of “forest” and “environmental” clearance standards in India was thwarting economic growth. Now again the Bank is offering to lend USD 1 Billion to the Ganga Action Plan following the same infrastructure-centered, governance-ignoring model that has failed over the last 25 years, while at the same time funding river-destroying hydropower projects like the Vishnugad Pipalkoti project upstream. The Bank’s funding to the Tehri
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Hydro Development Corporation has been challenged before the World Bank’s own Inspection Panel, but the Bank is indulging in propaganda against the critics rather than withdrawing from the project.
E
ven if one is to assume for a moment that the current exercise of ‘consultations’ is a genuine effort of the World Bank to consult stakeholders, the documents accessed on the range and depth of these ‘consultations’ reveal that they are highly segregated and sectoral. Moreover, participants have been carefully selected and largely include only those who may say what the Bank wants to hear. Policy documents haven’t been made available in local languages. Further, World Bank officials typically ‘consult’ bureaucrats and do not engage with Legislators or Parliamentarians.
T
he best indicator of the shallowness of this exercise is evident since the communities grievously hurt and suffering from the Bank’s lending and investment policies are not invited to these consultations. As a matter of fact, looking at things globally, the only complaint that the IFC's Compliance Advisor/ Ombudsman has processed for Compliance Audit against a Financial Intermediary lending is from a project in India: IFC’s lending to IDFC and IIF, which in turn used that money to fund a destructive thermal power project of the notorious GMR Energy. Despite a formal complaint pending review against this investment, the Bank, its bureaucracy and consultants, have not invited the complainants and affected communities to the current ‘consultation’ process, thus revealing the sham and mockery that the current review mechanism is!
I
t took peoples’ movements, grassroots networks and allied organisations across the world more than 30 years to
Page 5
pressurize the World Bank Group to formulate and have in place mechanisms that would safeguard social environmental-cultural-traditional interests of communities affected by the Bank’s financing of so -called 'Development projects.' However, it took the World Bank Group only one stroke of destructive imagination to bring in the new model of 'Financial Intermediary Lending' that wiped out all mandatory requirements posed by environmental and social safeguard principles on lending, as ‘Intermediaries’ are not bound by such standards. At a time when the FI model of lending in India by the IFC and the World Bank at large are expected to cross the halfway mark of their collective investments, it does not make any sense at all for the World Bank to be holding reviews of their environmental and social safeguards; they simply do not matter at all The shallowness of this to the actual practice of exercise is evident since the World the communities Bank group’s m e m b e r grievously hurt and agencies. suffering from the Bank’s lending and investment policies are not invited to these consultations.
T
he current ‘consultations’ are a complete sham and must be denounced by anyone genuinely committed to the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), climate justice, sustainable development through democratic decisionmaking and the Principle of Intergenerational Equity.
Page 6
FOOTPRINTS
Yatra Diaries
T
he sheer size and complexity of the Delhi – Mumbai Industrial Corridor has left many baffled. Who are the agencies accountable, what are its various sub-projects, what is its financial structure, are some of many unanswered questions. NAPM led Mumbai – Delhi DMIC Virodhi Sangharsh Yatra travelled across 5 states, visiting most project areas looking for answers. However the 11 day journey revealed just the tip of this ominous iceberg. 8th March, Mumbai The Yatra was flagged off on the occasion of international women’s day from the iconic Azad Maidan in Mumbai by women activists from Lavasa, Marathwada, Narmada, Kanjhawala, D e l h i , 9715 families of 69 Aurangabad, villages in Mangaon, Pune, Golibar and m any Roha and Tala talukas bastis of Mumbai in had received the presence notifications for land of noted Marathi writer Hiracquisition - a total of abai Daya Pawar. Only 24, 207 acres. the previous day, many of these women had bravely stood against Shivalik Builder’s goons and the police who bulldozed their homes in Golibar and Sion slums. 9th March, Karla, Lonavla (Maharashtra) A public meeting was organised by Jagtikikaran Virodhi Kruti Samit at Mangaon taluka, Raigad district along with Sarvahara Jan Andolan, Corridor Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM and other organisations. 9715 families of 69
Mantralaya: What better place to launch the Yatra!
villages in Mangaon, Roha and Tala talukas had received notifications for land acquisition - a total of 24, 207 acres under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act (MIDC). The land is for the Greenfield port at Dighi, a key project of the DMIC corridor. Although MIDC has acquired more than 13 lakh acres in the past fifty years it shows no record of utilised and unutilised land. 10th March,
Khandesh, Dhule
On reaching Malegaon, the Yatris learnt that collectively a population of 30, 000 villagers in Jodge, Jayuk, Chicharovar, Sayane BK and Sayane SH villages had been served notices. The villagers have rejected the entire project and are against this forceful acquisition without the consent of gram sabhas especially since MIDC already has possession of previously acquired land. Most displaced people are yet to be compensated, and now fresh notices have been given out to villages with dual crop farmland. MIDC has completed the formalities for acquisition of 634 hectares in Malich, Gorne, Baghode, Menane and other villagers for a textile industrial area
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
for the Dhule - Nardhana Industrial Area, despite one already functioning in the region. The people of Sonegaon allege that the collector has given away 43 acres of land belonging to the gram panchayat, to the Dhule - Itarsi Wiring Company without neither legal investigation nor the gram sabha’s consent. Similar stories were heard in Dondika and Sakri.
Page 7
12th - 13th March, Umargaon, Bharuch (Gujarat)
Gujarat is promoted as a veritable 'investment destination' but social markers like malnutrition, sex ratio tell an entirely different story. This was revealed as the Yatra touched Umargaon (Valsad), Gundiya village (Dharampur Tehsil, Valsad), Hazira-Surat, Sarbhan village (Dist. Bharuch) and Indravarna village (Dist. Narmada), meeting adivasis, fisher11th March, Aurangabad people, farmers and unorganised workers The government is keen on acquiring all of whom are threatened by the 10,000 hectares of land belonging to 24 Manmohan Singh - Modi - Ahluwalia villages to develop the Shendra - Bidkin Chidambaram nexus. Industrial Zone. Aurangabad is envisaged as a megacity for which 2, 09,000 hectares belonging to 310 villages will be taken. If 14th March, Ahmedabad things go as planned 362 villages owning discussion 2, 34,000 hectares will fall prey to these A was held on ‘development’ plans in the next few years the topic Gujarat is promoted as a even if the projects don't materialize. The proresidents are well aware that the current “DMIC: gress or de- veritable 'investment compensation rates aren’t enough to buy a struction?” at 2000 meter flat in Aurangabad. The lands destination' but social Ahimsa of MPs and MLAs are left untouched Mandap, Guja- markers like while people from the same villages are rat Vidyapeeth forcibly evicted and dispossessed. in the af- malnutrition, sex ratio Currently the Marathwada region is experi- ternoon in tell an entirely different encing severe drought conditions and the which veteran Jaikwadi dam is unable to fulfil the water Gandhian story. needs of the region as its water levels have Chunni lowered due to the dam built in the upper Vaidya, Ila Bahan Pathak, region. Rajni Dave, Sagar Rabari, Indu Bhai, Raju Purohit, Vidyut Bhai, Anand Mazgaonkar, Swati Desai and other social activists were active participants along with the Mithivirdi Parmanu Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti and farmers currently fighting against the DMIC’s Palanpur hub.
The Yatra marches on in another village, another state, against another injustice
Agitations are on in Umargaon, Bhavnagar, Mahua, Dahej, Sarbhan, Mithivirdi and Kachch. The meeting came to a close with a discussion about the establishment of a Gram Swaraj Samiti. The farmers of Palanpur and Mithivirdi participated in the Kisan Khet Mazdoor Mahapanchayat in New Delhi.
Page 8
The Yatra visited Kali Billod village near Pithampur Industrial Area, where section 4 notices under the Land Acquisition Act had been issued without intimation. The farmers came to know of it from acquaintances in Indore since the notices were published in two lesser circulated newspapers. They challenged this, sending their reservations to the collector, and even met the Chief Minister who promised that not an inch of land will be acquired without the consent of farmers. In spite of this, the collector passed the award at an extremely low rate for their land. The farmers approached the High Court, and finally got a stay on some portion of the land owing to some procedural irregularities, In Kali Billod village but the forceful acquisition section 4 notices under is still looms the Land Acquisition close. Act had been issued
Later in the evening a pubwithout intimation. lic meeting was held with Farmers came to know the intelligentfrom acquaintances in sia of Indore Medha Patkar, Indore. Bhupinder Singh Rawat, Nasreen B., Advocate Anil Trivedi, Tapan Bhattacharya, Ram Babu Agarwal, J. P Singh. At Ujjain the Yatris met people affected by the upcoming knowledge city and also those of Shewerkhedi Dam nearby, water of which will be diverted for industries. Another team of the Yatra went to Jaipur, where they addressed a press meet and a public meeting. 18th March, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
FOOTPRINTS
Burning the bill
government’s attention towards the grave agrarian crisis. Farmers from the Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers' Movements (ICCFM) comprising of independent mass farmers groups such as the Bhartiya Kisan Union and the Karnataka Farmers Movement (KRRS), joined hands with the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) to defend access to land, water, forest and seeds – the most important resources of agrarian people, and the source of food and livelihood for the Indian masses. All the farmers’ leaders collectively burned the Land Acquisition & Resettlement and Rehabilition Act 2011to show that they did not support the current version which ignored the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee and is an instrument for taking away farm land for private corporations. 19th March 2013, New Delhi The DMIC Virodhi Sangharsh Yatra culminated with the National Convention ‘DMIC: Facts and Myths-’ to share new information gathered enroute the Yatra, analyze outcomes and devise a strategy for further action. It was attended by activists, supporters and experts.
The Kisan Khet Mazdoor Mahapanchayat saw a historic gathering of over 1 lakh The first session saw representatives from farmers at Jantar Mantar to turn the each of the 6 states come and speak to the
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Page 9
audience. The speakers comprised of Ulka Mahajan, Krishnakant, Hiramand Shinde, arge scale acquisition in the 12 Balwant More and Prasad Bagwe investment regions and 12 industrial (Maharashtra), Umesh Tiwari (Madhya areas will adversely affect a great number Pradesh), Ram Krishna Alhawas (Haryana), Kailash Mina (Rajasthan) and of people and put extra pressure on land, water and forest. NAPM is of the opinion Upendra Rawat (Delhi). that the very definition of 'development' The second session had members K.B. needs to be revised. Why won’t the Saxena (former secretary GOI), Abimanyu Government work towards developing the Shreshta (lawyer supreme court), agricultural sector and small scale Himanshu Damble (financial analyst, Bank industries which even today employ the Information Centre), Soumya Dutta largest number of people instead of (environmentalist BVES) and Swati promoting mega industrial projects that Sheshadri (Researcher, EQUATION) push people towards poverty? Medha present brief analysis on the legal, Patkar critiqued this kind of forced environmental, financial aspects and on development, which she called ‘aggressive the land acquisition act and even tourism progress’ which furthers interests of cities as land grab tool. Vikram Soni cited grave alone. “The current land bill has included concerns about water scarcity and everything availability especially in the DMIC regions from highways as the strip between Mumbai and Delhi is to damns unthe driest in the country with most of its der infrastrucVikram Soni cited grave groundwater withdrawn. “Leave alone ture while peorights, we’re talking about survival,” he ple are still concerns about water said adding that Water Acquisition must without roads scarcity in the DMIC and toilets.” It also be added to people’s agenda. is a sad thing regions - “Leave alone The Session closed with a discussion on that even after steps to be taken next and formulation 65 years of inrights, we’re talking of an multi - action plan for coming dependence months leading up to the 2014 elections. about survival.” only a minority
L
Protest Updates Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Slum dwellers from all over Chennai staged a protest on 9th April in Chepauk, outside the State Guest House. More than 44,000 families will be resettled 167 kms away from Chennai, in Perumbakkam, due to the Rs 10,000 Chennai Waterways Rehabilitation Programme on the Cooum and Aadyar rivers and Buckingham canal. Around 2 lakh slum dwellers face eviction and will be resettled as far as 40 kms away from the city. These Evictions are being carried out under the Rajeev Awas Yojna which envisages slum – free cities even though 29% of Chennai’s population lives in
slums (Census 2011). Some of the demands made by the protestors were granting of pattas to those who have owned land for over 5 years and that new allotments be located 3 kms away from the city so as to safeguard educational and livelihood opportunities. They have also demanded that the slum areas be developed in accordance with provisions of the Tamil Nadu Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1971. Other demands include pakka houses for fishermen communities and accommodation for pavement dwellers.
Page 10
FOOTPRINTS
The protest, organized by the National Alliance of People’s Movement, Unorganized Workers Federation, Coastal People’s Protection and Pennurimai Iyakkam, was attended by over 100 people. The DMK government saw through the evictions of 4 lakh people most of whom are unorganized, daily wage earners. Jayalalitha earlier supported the agitations but now in power, chooses to look follow in the DMK’s footsteps.
the monstrous Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).
Raigad, Maharashtra: Villagers in Raigad dist. organised a dharna in front of the tehsil office in Mangaon protesting the acquisition of 67,ooo acres of land from 72 villages. The land has been acquired for
This is the fifth case of murder of an RTI activist/whistleblower in Bihar, making a serious note of this the Government should work towards a comprehensive law for the protection of such persons.
Each village will also submit a letter of opposition to the project to the government. Ulka Mahajan of Sarvahar Jan Andolansaid that land acquisition notices issued under the MIDC Act would destroy the farming in this area and leave people landless. Shreenivas Khandekar of Samarpan said that “The names on the title deeds have already been changed and notices Kerala: The Oomenchandy government have been sent to gram panchayats. This finally announced a relief package for En- agitation will intensify in the coming time dosulfan victims after talks with activists if the government decides to force its way.” from Endosulphan – affected People’s Front, putting an end to 38 days of hunger strike by environmental activist Mohan Muzaffarpur, Bihar: Ram Kumar Thakur, a lawyer and RTI activist associated with Kumar. MNREGA was shot dead on 23rd April The Relief measures taken include setting 2013 in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. A 6 member up of a tribunal which will provide com- fact - finding team comprising of Shahid pensation to the victims and identify the Kamal (NAPM), Ashish Ranjan (NAPM), culprits responsible for the aerial spraying Mahendra Yadav (NAPM), Ranjit Paswan of Endosulphan over cashew plantations (JJSS), Sanjay Sahni (Bihar MNREGA in North Kerala. It will also implement rec- Watch) and Arvind Kumar (JJSS) had visommendations of the National Human ited Ram Kumar's village, Ratnauli. Rights Commission which includes Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of deceased The murder was allegedly orchestrated by victims of endosulfan exposure and an in- the mukhiya's son, Rajesh Kumar Sahni. creased pension of Rs. 700 a month for The police are part of this consiparacy as caregivers of bed-ridden or mentally chal- they delayed Ram Kumar's reaching the lenged patients. Fresh medical examina- hospital and he was declared 'brought tions will be conducted to include those dead.' who were left out in the earlier eligibility Ram Kumar had been actively protesting list for state assistance. People who were the ill - implentation of MNREGA in his vilexposed to the pesticide due to wind as lage, questioning ghost names present on well as those who have relocated from afmuster rolls. This earned him many enefected zones will also be included. mies and he had even received death M A Rahman of Endosulfan-affected Peo- threats from Sahni. A letter for police prople’s Frontsaid that efforts made in ad- tection fell on deaf ears. Some of the dedressing the concerns and maintaining mands made by the fact finding team trust in the democratic process has finally included an immediate arrest of the assailended the strike. However there are still ants and a compensation of 20 lakhs for concerns over the state government’s ef- the family. fective implementation of these demands.
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 11
Editorial Colonial Legacy will Continue with the New Land Bill
H
ectic parleys with political parties have been ongoing in order to reach a consensus on the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011 for its passage in the second half of the Budget session of the Parliament starting April 22. However, given the direction of negotiations and changes in the Bill, it is clear that a bill framed by Ministry responsible for the rural development is more concerned about the industry sentiment and urbanisation needs of the country. The Bill is an improvement over the 1894 Act, but there remain serious concerns with regard to some of the issues. Many of these issues were addressed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its May 2011 report, but remain neglected by the government.
land is acquired in the country by central and state laws other than the land acquisition act, which has been listed in a separate schedule in the Bill. However, the provisions of the new bill doesn’t apply to those, which means there will be wide variations in the process of acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation across the country.
F
ifthly, the number of urban poor has increased by about 34.4% between 1993-2004, residing mostly in slums and bastis in cities. Large scale evictions and demolitions have been taking place in name of slum redevelopment, beautification, infrastructure projects and so on in the cities, but the provisions of the new Bill are inadequate to protect their rights. Hence, it becomes essential that a separate tanding Committee has very clearly legislation to address the urban displacesaid that the government should not ment is enacted. be acquiring land for private players. But astly, claims of better R&R under the the government has refused this recomlaw is far fetched since it does not promendation, saying that it is ideologically vide an alternative sustainable livelihood committed to private companies playing a options or land for land, but revolves larger role in the development of the na- around increased monetary compensation. tion. Under 1894 Act, the government was Adivasis, Dalits, workers, women who are not legally mandated to acquire land for most vulnerable and often cheated due to private corporations and PPP projects. This their ignorance and illiteracy will be furnew Bill will legitimise that. This is our ther impoverished and end up being in fundamental problem with the Bill: why penury, within years of loosing their livelishould the government become a middle- hood and migrate to cities. Bill also fails to man for private corporations? address the needs of nearly 10 crore people econdly, the new Bill in no way displaced since independence due to varichanges the framework of eminent do- ous projects and there is an urgent need to main, as a result there is no provision for establish National Resettlement and Rehathe consent of the affected people for the bilitation Commission. public purpose projects to be developed by he key issue of citizens being party to the government corporations. Hence, the the development planning in the counlegacy of forcible acquisition will continue try remains unaddressed. The 73rd and even after this law. The expanded defini- 74th Constitutional amendment which tion of public purpose coupled with doling gave power to the local self government of cash in the name of R&R will increase institutions at rural and urban level has the land conflicts in the country and rav- not yet been implemented. The new Bill age the rural hinterland by opening up the fails to strengthen these institutions and land market. Thirdly, standing committee give them the right to plan their developin its report said that more than 90% of ment
S
L
S
T
Page 12
FOOTPRINTS
Prevention Over Punishment
T
he dust has barely settled and already the city has witnessed another gruesome rape, this time of a 5 year old girl. The repeat of another Nirbhaya incident is inevitable till the time concrete measures are taken against such crimes. A few steps in this direction can began with police reforms like increasing the ratio of women police in stations and setting up all women police stations in selected localities. The city just isn’t safe for those who don’t own a car. Hence we need a system to monitor drivers and conductors of auto rickshaws, share cabs and mini buses since most working women use these mediums to commute.
B
ut history is witness to the fact that short term measures like bringing changes in law and order can only punish; they do not prevent. Civil society can't always get away with simply counting a government's deficiencies. Misogynistic
feelings develop from an early age covertly hidden in patriarchal traditions and archaic, sexist rituals. It is up to our families, schools, colleagues and peers to teach us how to treat our women better.
Footprints is an NAPM initiative towards providing our friends and supporters updated news of NAPM’s and its associates activities, analytical articles, views and interviews. The newsletter will run on a fortnightly basis and will be issued on the 1st and 16th each month. We encourage you to send in
press releases, photographs, articles,
situation updates to be featured in Footprints. Movement of India, NAPM’s English magazine, will continue as before.
National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) started as a process in 1992 amidst the Ayodhya backlash and globalization spree and took a definite shape in 1996 after a long national tour of 15 states by senior activists. It is an alliance of progressive people’s organisations and movements, who while retaining their autonomous identities, are working together to bring the struggle for primacy of rights of communities over National Alliance of People’s Movements C/O 6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 014 India Telefax : 91 11 2437 4535 Mobile: 9818411417 Email: napmindia@gmail.com Web : www.napm-india.org FB: www.facebook.com/ napmindia Twitter: www.twitter.com/napmindia
natural resources, conservation and governance, decentralised democratic development and towards a just, sustainable and egalitarian society in the true spirit of globalism. We stand against corporate globalisation, communalism and religious fundamentalism, patriarchy, casteism, untouchability and discrimination of all kinds. We believe an alliance emerging out of such a process with shared ideology and diverse strategies can give rise to a strong social, political force and a National People's movement. In its quest for a larger alliance, beyond the people’s movements, NAPM also reaches out to integrate various civil society organisations and individuals working towards similar goals.