Narmada Valley Gets Ready for the Parikrama
Not Just a Program, But Propagation of Narmada Vision: Begins from April 4th
Parikrama (circumambulance) is a great generations-old tradition
followed by devotees. This was meant to be an opportunity to come out of
their homes and environs into the bountiful valley, get mixed up with the
various social communities to know the culture and nature.
Same is the motive behind the Narmada Sangharsh Parikrama, a program
planned by the people of Vindhya-Satpuda mountain ranges and Nimad, the
Sardar-Sarovar-Project-affected men, women and children would be on the
streets, expressing their faith in life and protest against destruction
beginning from April 4th. Thousands of people will hear the eminent
supporters of the movement coming from different states and people's
organisations. With Baba Amte, Medha Patkar and others, they will be
strengthening the vow of the valley especially when the waters can rise in
the coming monsoon to engulf thousands of fields and homes. "Why affected, we
are the benefitted souls of Ma Narmada. She has fed us and reared us. It's
the manmade demon the Dam and its disastrous impact that is killing us. We
don't accept the imposed intimidation or annihilation of our culture. We
live and will continue to, with our resources human and natural. Supreme
Court's injustice can't deter us. We vow to be with our land.
"Our vision is one of equitable and sustainable management of land and
water, energy too. Forest, the father of the rivers, is still alive in the
Narmada but it's being destroyed when the result is the vicious cycle of
drought and flood. Who is responsible? The corrupt nexus of
politicians-bureaucrats and contractors is known in cases -earthquake and
'Narmada' both. And the two are inter-related. The seismic risk in the
Narmada-Son Lineament being triggered off, as per the scientists who have
shown the fault zone in Kutch being linked to that in Narmada.
All this has made the work at the SSP-dam stop at 90 mts. The people are
determined to fight the illegality and injustice in the dam and
displacement. The wider context of inequity and other development issues of
the worst ever impact of globalisation on the farmers and labourers, the
rural populations, women..... gives the Narmada struggle an added role and
responsibility. Parikrama is not just a program but propagation of the
Narmada vision: struggle from village to WTO, for reconstruction,
regeneration and revival of people's resources and people's sovereignty.
M.K.Sukumar
Asish Mandlai
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