Dam-affected Adivasis Storm Collector's office; Condemn Arrest, Demand Steps Before Next Flood; Fast by adivasis to Begin From August 5th

Hundreds of adivasis in the Sardar Sarovar dam-affected villages in Maharashtra and other adivasi communities in the Satpura, stormed the Collector's office in Nandurbar district. Strongly protesting against the arrest of Noorji Vasave and other adivasis along with activists Pratibha Shinde, Kirsing Padvi, Sanjay Mahajan, Shyambhai, Chetan and others from Chimalkhedi village where an intense struggle took place during the flooding days around July 27-28, they spoke to the officials and police with anguish and determination, demanding immediate release and justice.

During the three-hour long discussion with the Collector, adivasi leaders confirmed from the Collector's own confession that hundreds of adivasis had their houses and fields affected by the flood vindicating the Andolan's position and the official Task Force Report. This, all the agitated adivasis told the officials, is in gross violation of all laws and norms. This also exposes the false replies given to questions about rehabilitation raised in the State assembly as well as in the Rajyasabha. Earlier, in a clear breach of privilege, the MLAs of Shivsena in Maharashtra and the CPI(M) Member of Parliament, Mr.Chandran Pillai were told by the ministries that all 234 families in Maharashtra and 1800+ in Madhya Pradesh in the affected zone of 100 mts were rehabilitated and hence the raising of dam height is in compliance with the legal precondition! The flood, no doubt, has flushed out the lies.

Adivasis led by Noorji Padavi, Keshav Vasave and others of NBA and Ranchchod Tadvi, Ramdasbhai, Sugribahen and others of Punarvasan Sangharsh Samiti were accompanied by Medha Patkar and other activists who declared their next move without hesitation. With the "warn and watch" period (till July 31st) having come to an end and the first flood itself having destroyed crops and communities, the next phase of Satyagraha was announced by Keshav Vasave. According to him, when the State has turned violent, they had to resort to Gandhi's wisdom and ways. Two Adivasi representatives in each tahsil (Akrani and Akkalkua) will be on relay fast from August 5th at Chimalkhadi and Nimgavan. Calling the submergence without rehabilitation as a case of utter injustice against human values and human rights, Medha Patkar expressed distress but was determined to seek whatever was granted to adivasis in rehabilitation. Describing the process of betrayal and concealment that has occurred even after the Maharashtra Cabinet approved the demands, she gave an ultimatum until the next flood. If the expected Government Resolution (GR) is not brought out and issues of undeclared families be included, ex-parte land allotment be cancelled, hundreds of hectares of good private land not located, in other words, if there is no substantial progress before next submergence/flood, then the Satyagrahis will take a different and more intensified step.

The Collector agreed to take the issues to the higher authorities while committing to pay compensation for the losses of this year (within two weeks). The most important was the decision to carry out post Task Force record of checking e rehabilitation thprocess at the village level beginning August 7th. This would lead to a long pending correction of records. The Grievance Redressal Authority has to be approached by the government itself and not by the individual oustees, the Collector was categorically told. We believe such non-violent actions are a clear indicator of the people's unity and strength to satyagraha. We also appeal to the conscience of the Nation- people's representatives, people's organisations, eminent persons and the civil society at large- to participate, support and help us attain the objective of justice.