Prashant Reddy
Courtesy: http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/the-trouble-with-tribunals
Ever since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was first notified in October 2010 to begin operations under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, it has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, be it judges quitting for lack of resources or the tribunal being challenged for lack of judicial independence from the Government. This particular tribunal makes an excellent case study of tribunals in general because it mirrors the issues faced by virtually every such entity created in the last three decades, ever since the 42nd Amendment to India’s Constitution enabled their creation.
(The writer is an LLM student at Stanford Law School and can be contacted at tpreddy@stanford.edu)
Courtesy: The New Indian Express
India’s largest car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) urged the government on Thursday to keep the automobile sector out of the purview of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and European Union (EU). Maruti said that the India-EU FTA could have a negative impact on creation of employment in the country. For more detailed news:….http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/Maruti-wants-auto-sector-out-of-India-EU-FTA-purview/2013/05/17/article1593592.ece
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Il&FS Infrastructure Debt Fund Signs MoU with eight Public Sector Banks; need for more than one Trillion Us Dollars for Infrastructure Sector in Next Five Years; Government And Private Sector to Contribute Fifty Percent Each Speaking on the occasion, Shri Arvind Mayaram, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs said that we need about 1 trillion US dollars for infrastructure sector funding in next five years i.e. 2012-13 to 2016-17.He said that out of that, 50 percent would be funded by the Government and remaining 50 percent by private sector and financial institutions. He said that there is need for second generation reforms for infrastructure sector. Without infrastructure investment, it would be difficult to achieve the potential growth rate of 8 percent for the country, he added. Shri Mayaram congratulated the IL&FS and 8 PSBs for signing this landmark MoU which will pave the way for setting-up of more such infra debt funds and financing thereof. Earlier, Shri Ravi Parthasarathy, Chairman-IL&FS Group said that IIDF will complement domestic banks in providing required funding to infrastructure sector and would be integral part of the IL&FS Group’s efforts in taking India’s infrastructure growth story to the next level. Shri Ramesh Bawa, Managing Director and CEO, IFIN further added that we are targeting an initial corpus of approx USD 1.0 billion and hope to increase the overall corpus to USD 5.0 billion under management in the medium term. After the regulations for Infrastructure Debt Fund were announced by the Government last year, IFIN was amongst the first institutions to announce its intent to launch Infrastructure Debt Fund in partnership with Life Insurance Corporation of India. Its fund, IIDF was launched by the Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on February 9, 2013 in Mumbai. The formulation of final IDF regulations by SEBI set the stage for launching the first set of schemes of the Fund. The first three schemes of Rs. 5.00 billion each of IIDF have been assigned rating of `IND AAA idf-mf` by India Ratings. The rating denotes the highest strength of the credit protection factors embedded in a fund’s investment policies and the quality of the sponsors / investment managers
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Right to Reject Button in EVM Machine
Please sign this petition and spread the word around….
Online at: http://www.causes.com/actions/1706858-right-to-reject-button-in-evm-machine
To: election commission of india
An appeal to Election Commission of India for demand of amendment in 49(O) rule for effective Right to Reject.
What is 49-O: Rule 49-O is a rule in The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961[1] of India, which governs elections in the country. It describes the procedure to be followed when a valid…
India-EU FTA talks stuck on greater concessions …Shruti Srivastava :
New Delhi, Wed Apr 10 2013, 00:47 hrs
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are likely to find large unfinished paragraphs in their India-EU free trade agreement when they meet this week.
Despite 16 rounds of negotiations and six years of work, industry and agriculture lobbies on both sides are still working out differences in tax treatment for automobiles, dairy products and movement of professionals across borders.
While the EU companies want to participate in all government tenders, Indians are uncomfortable setting up customs control to see that no intellectual property violations occur in exports from the country. The EU also wants an assurance from India that the European banks would not be divested. According to a government official, the only way out for both the sides it to “temper” their ambitions for an early closure of negotiations. They can resume further negotiations once the deal is sealed, the official said.
Auto sector: The issues in the sector were assumed resolved but the EU has reopened them. Germany has sought an indefinite tariff rate quota on imports of cars from Europe and “an eventual zero duty on all cars while asking for greater opening up of the Indian market to suit EU’s technical regulations”. “We have not agreed to these demands as we have to ensure the interest of our auto industry, which is still at a nascent stage,” the official said.
Data secure status: India has still not got data secure status from the EU despite the fact that almost all Fortune 500 companies have entrusted India with their important data.
This has been preventing flow of sophisticated outsourcing business to India and free flow of sensitive information to India such as patient information for tele-medicine. Refusal of the EU to do so will nullify the potential benefits of any market access offered by the EU under Mode 1.
On insurance sector: Further, the EU has also sought an increase in the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector to 49 per cent from the current 26 per cent, the Bill for which is pending with Parliament. Earlier, the EU had sought opening up of the multi-brand retail sector, a demand which has already been met by India.
free movement of persons: India is concerned about the safeguard clause in Mode 4. The clause kicks in when 20 per cent of the EU’s committed number of professionals enter respective member’s territory. Also, India wants secondary mobility inside EU member states for commercial service suppliers and professionals. However, the EU is reluctant and is yet to decide.
Pharma: The EU has been pushing for rights to seize drugs transiting through its territory in case its custom authorities suspect IP violation. India has refused to give such rights.
Courtesy: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/indiaeu-fta-talks-stuck-on-greater-concessions/1100058/0
What’s the big issue?
The corruption and nexus between the Government and Builders under the cover of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) in Mumbai, that has led to lakhs of slum-dwellers struggling for the basic right to a house. The most recent example is collapse of a 8 storey building in Mumbra, constructed within a span of 2-3 months leading to death of more than 70 people.
What’s wrong with SRA?
SRA authorises private builders to redevelop slum land. The slum-dwellers are moved into vertical establishments, and the land that is thus freed up, becomes available as a free-sale component in the property market. Privatisation also means that the government is not responsible for maintaining transparency and quality. Since the money to be made from new land sales in Mumbai is extremely high, there is a vicious competition amongst the builders to woo the slum residents.
Moreover, SRA only authorises a house to those people who can show their citizenship until 1995. It also gives the power of go-ahead to the Builder if they can attain approval of 70% of the people in a society. These 2 facts are exploited by the Builders to practise extortion, fraud and forgery at the ground level, and have become the common practise to lure societies into signing a deal with them.
A date based cut-off to the Right to a House, and limited participation of a government agency, have made the SRA into a pro-Builder scheme. This needs to be rectified.
But why redevelop slums? Aren’t they illegal in the first place
Today 60% of the population of Mumbai lives in slums. Those recognised under SRA have paid Assessment Tax to the government. The people living here comprise the major part of the people working in the service industry and small-scale industries. Slums are not a result of squatting, but instead because of a lack of low-cost housing options. This big gap in housing development has left only very high-cost options that the poorer people cannot afford.
So is SRA the only scheme for redevelopment?
It is the most prominent one in place to resettle slums. Others look into Project Affected People (PAP) – people forced to move because of development of Highways, high-tech parks etc. For settlements that came into being after the cut-off date of 1995, there are currently no schemes at all.
Why now? What’s the urgency?
This is not a recent struggle. People of the slums have been fighting for their rights since 2004, when vast areas of slums in Mumbai were razed to the ground by the Vilasrao Deshmukh government to convert Mumbai to Shanghai. The Adarsh Housing Scam, Hiranandani Developers Land grab are examples of the extent to which a handful of powerful people are robbing the common man of a basic right to shelter.
Another such instance is the history of ‘redevelopment’ in Khar Golibar, wherein 140 acres of land- home to 46 societies and over 26,000 families - has been literally gifted to a single private company – Shivalik Ventures, by invoking a special clause – 3K- of the SRA. This clause gives a single builder complete rights to redevelop a large slum without inviting tenders.
A small society of 323 houses in Golibar – Ganesh Krupa – has become the flash point for the struggle between the SRA/Builder nexus and the Slum dwellers, ever since it slapped a case of fraud and forgery on Shivalik Ventures, the builder that forcefully undertook the rights to their development. 6 forced demolition drives over the past 1 year led to the society appealing to Medhatai Patkar and ‘Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao’ for help.
She undertook a 9 day fast in May 2011, which resulted in formation of two committees to look in to the irregularities and corruption in SRA schemes and another to look in to regularisation on slums. However, none of these committees were made functional under pressure from builder lobby.
Once again, when the whole world was celebrating the beginning of a new year, working class of Mumbai dwelling in bastis marched for two days to continue their camp in Azad Maidan for ten days which resulted in another investigation committee under Principal Secretary, Housing, Government of Maharashtra to look in corruption and irregularities. Some bastis were identified where R.A.Y. should be implemented. Mandala (Mankhurd) basti was identified as one of the ‘Pilot project’ being on priority and it was decided that process should be started at the earliest and the orders for demolitions were asked to be taken back. By the directions of Honorable Chief Minster, the investigation procedures of these 6 SRA projects is being carriedout under the chairmanship of Honorable Devashsih Chakravarty.
On February 7-8th, 2013 in S.R.A. Office the hearing was called out for these 6 SRA projects, under the chairmanship of Honourable Devashish Chakravarty, Principal Secretary (Housing department’s) wherein MHADA officials, Deputy Collector and Additional Collectors were present.
Directions were given by the Chief Minister, that no evictions and demolitions would be undertaken while the investigations are on, but on April 2 – 3rd, in presence of hundreds of policemen and bouncers of Shivalik builders, demolitions were carried on in Ganesh Krupa Housing Society.
On April 2nd even Union Minister for Housing and Poverty Alleviation Ministry, Mr. Ajay Maken wrote a detailed letter, asking Maharashtra government to not go ahead with demolitions but even then 43 houses were demolished. Why, when the Ministry of Environment and Forest ordered demolition of Adarsh Housing Society, over illegalities even then it stands tall on Mumbai’s coast, working class of Mumbai asks ?
CM Shri Prithviraj Chauhan on several occasions assured Medhatai Patkar and Andolan of an inquiry into the matter of Golibar demolitions, and the larger issue of redevelopment of slums in Mumbai, no action has been taken over. This has forced Medhatai to go on an indefinite fast to get justice once again, within a span of two years.
What’s the history of Ganesh Krupa Society?
The slum housing the Ganesh Krupa Society consists of 324 tenements. The slum was declared in 1997 and the rehabilitation scheme was approved in favour of M/s Madhu Construction Company, to which the slum dwellers were amenable. The Slum Rehabilitation Authority had issued a Letter of Intent bearing No. SRAIENG/819/HE/PULOI dated 3rd October 2004 in favour of Madhu Constructions, however due to financial constraints and pressure from big companies, Madhu Constructions could not undertake the project and hence entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with Shivalik Ventures Pvt. Ltd. on 3rd March 2008, without the knowledge of the slum dwellers. Thereafter Shivalik Ventures indulged in forging documents to procure the Letter of Intent bearing No. SRA/ENG/1188/HE/ML/LOI dated 20th August 2009. The crucial resolution dated 7th February 2009 of the Society approving of and giving consent to the company to carry out the development itself has been fabricated by Shivalik Ventures, in respect of which criminal proceedings initiated by the slum dwellers are pending. However, relying on the fraudulent document and consequential actions Shivalik has succeeded in obtaining favourable orders from the Courts and began forcible and illegal demolition of houses in the slum. While 167 families have voluntarily shifted, but 48 houses were demolished in January 2011, and on 19th and 20th May 2011, 24 houses in total were demolished, and 43 houses on April 2-3, 2013..
The slum dwellers have already initiated criminal action in regard to the fraudulent document purported to be the General Body Resolution dated 7th February 2009 and can always avail of the necessary civil remedies available to them, there is one another important aspect that is of mammoth proportions and consequences, and this being the link of this, and other projects of Shivalik Ventures, to the 2G scam.
Who is Shivalik Ventures?
Unitech owns 50% of shares of Shivalik Ventures Pvt. Ltd. even as per its own website and Annual Report 2009-10 (page 52). The Annual Report 2009-10 of Unitech further provides under the heading “Capital Commitment” that:
“Investment in 10,00,000 equity shares of Rs. 10 each at a premium of Rs. 9990/-per share aggregating of Rs. 1000 crore has been made in joint venture company, Shivalik Ventures Pvt. Ltd. An Amount of Rs. 442.77 crore has been paid against the allotment of fully paid-up shares. The balance securities premium of Rs.557.23 crores will be accounted for on payment.”
As pointed above, Shivalik Ventures, in turn, has entered into an agreement of Joint Venture on 2nd March 2008 with M/s Madhu Construction Company to jointly develop Ganesh Krupa slum at Golibar.
It is important to highlight the period during which Unitech has entered into re-development of slums in Mumbai since it corresponds to the period during which it illegally secured thousands of crores in the 2G scam. The Director of Unitech has been included in the charge sheet filed by CBI and has been under arrest since then. And as per the CAG report, Unitech after availing the Spectrum licence in September – October 2008 for Rs 1658 crores subsequently sold it off to Telenor company at the rate of Rs 6120 crores. According to CBI, Unitech was alloted Unified Access Service licenses in 22 circles for Rs.1,658 crores, 60% of which it offloaded to Norway’s Telenor even before roll-out.
We are apprehensive that this illegal gratification enjoyed by the Company has been diverted and invested in its 50% equity at the Shivalik Ventures Pvt. Ltd. and the same is being channeled into the developmental projects of Shivalik Ventures including the slum projects in Golibar.
Why is Medha Tai Patkar on an indefinite fast again ?
Previous attempts to initiate corrective action from the government’s side have met with no success. Along with Medhatai, a large delegation of 10,000 strong from different slums in Mumbai had even marched to Azad Maidan in January to raise the issue of redevelopment. Despite this, the police and builders men entered Ganesh Krupa with impunity and razed it to the ground with a bulldozer. An indefinite fast is now the only alternative left. Demands of the Andolan are Following :
The enquiry in respect of 6 S.R.A. Projects, under the chairmanship of Principal secretary, Housing, is in progress since 13th January, 2013. We demand that the work in all these projects should be stopped untill the report of the enquiry is completed and actions taken on the recommendations.
If demolitions are being carried out in accordnace with court rulings but the preconditions put forth are not met, main issues and allegations of corruption through forgery, fraudulent consent are not resolved etc., then in such cases project work should be stopped and no further demolitions be carried.
In cases where the residents have submitted self development projects or wish to submit the same, they should be sanctioned and encourgaed and started immediately.
S.R.A. Should ensure that in case of ongoing S.R.A. Projects all conditions in L.O.I. should be complied with.
The L.O.I. of the developer should be withdrawn wherever the developers have submitted forged / false documents or wrong information in violation of the L.O.I – as in case of Shivalik builders.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra has agreed to implement ‘Rajeev Awas Yojana’ in the slums of Mumbai instead of S.R.A., on 2nd January, 2013. However these very slums are being buldozed even today. So, the displacement of these slums should be stopped till R.A.Y. is implemented. The same was conveyed to the State Government by the Union Minister Ajay maken on April 2, 2013.
Pilot projects in respect of slum at Mandala, Mankhurd under the R.A.Y. Have already been submiited to the state as well as Central Governments. That should be approved and implemented at the earliest.
Civic amenities (like water, toilets, nallahs, roads ) should be provided to all the slums immediately as per the written assurance given by the Municipal Commissioner.
The Chief Secretary had given a written assurance on 25th May, 2011 that 19 bastis as agreed in the list, after 9 day fast by Medha Patkar, will be decalred slums within 3 months. There is no action on this assurance till date. The same should be done. The Chief Minister, and the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Housing had premised again in January, 2013 to complete this action during discussions held with them. They also gave a written assurance to that effect. The displacements that are being carried out at present are, therefore, grossly unjust and hence should be stopped forthwith.
Shri Ajay Maken, Minister for Housing and Urban poverty alleviation, Government of India has written a letter to the Chief Minister, Maharashtra state on 2nd April, 2013. The Chief Minister should declare his stand on the letter in writing.
The land of Sathe Nagar should be given for R.A.Y. . This land is currently under the hold of Bombay Soap company.
What can you do?
Join in large numbers at the dharna sthal in Golibar (nearest station is Khar Road, Santacruz on Western line) stand in support of the movement, spread the word to the wider public, media, and/or, cover the story yourself.
You must also write to them to address this injustice and the way lives of working class people are being put at stake in Mumbai and their rights to housing denied.
1.
| Shri Prithviraj Chavan,
Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra, Mantrayala, Mumbai Ph: 022-23634950 E-mail: chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in, |
Shri Debashish Chakrabarty,
Principal Secretary, Housing, Government of Maharashtra, Mantrayala, Mumbai Ph: 022-22023036 E-mail: psec.housing@maharashtra.gov.in |
2.Sh. Ajay Maken
Union Minister of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation
Phone :011 – 23061928 / 42/ 23063989 Fax : 23061780
email :ajay.maken@nic.in
3. Justice K G Balakrishnan
Chaiperson, National Human Rights Commission Delhi.
Fax 91-11-23384012
email : covdnhrc@nic.in, ionhrc@nic.in
4. Prof. Shantha Sinha, Chairperson
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
Phone : 23731583, Fax : 23731584, email : shantha.sinha@nic.in
5. Smt. Sonia Gandhi
10, Janpath, New Delhi.
Tel. (O) : 23792263, 23019080
Tel. (R) : 23014161, 23014481
Fax : 23018651
email : soniagandhi@sansad.nic.in
6. Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Oppsition
Ambala Cantt.(Haryana)
01123794344, 9868181930
7. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India
South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi. India-110011.
Telephone: 91-11-23012312. Fax: 91-11-23019545 / 91-11-23016857.
email : manmohan@sansad.nic.in
for any further detail write to us napmindia@gmail.com or call 9818905316 | 9892727063 | 9212587159
Mumbai, April, 8 : It’s the 5th day of indefinite fast by Medha Tai Patkar in Golibar Mumbai today. Madhuri Shivkar, a resident of Sion Koliwada and activists of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan has also joined her on an indefinite fast from April 6th. Many of the basti people have also been joining them on kramik anshan / relay fast everyday. (Know the full history of the case, resistance and demands here.)
Signs of weakness and deteriorating health like vomiting, body ache, back ache are now visible on Medha Tai’s health. Even then her spirits are high and constantly encouraging and tlaking to people who are coming there and meeting them.
On 6th of April andolankaris in large numbers went to S.R.A. Office with black flags protesting against the insensitivity of the concerned authorities who have refused to take note of the agitation and talk to them. The protestors demanded a meeting with the authorities responsible for carrying on demolitions even when the investigation is on. Demanding joint meeting with Shri Devashish Chakravarty, Principal Secretary (Housing); M.C.G.M Commissioner, Joint Commissioner Of Police (Law and Order), S.R.A. (C.E.O), MHADA (C.E.O) and Collector, Additional Collectors but even after waiting till 7 pm, no response was recieved. Lower level officials on duty said that S.R.A. C.E.O was away at Mantralaya and hence could not arrange for any meeting and same was the reasons given by the present Police officials on duty.
Later in evening a mashal juloos was undertaken by the basti dwellers. Slogans of protest against these gross atrocities of the builders and Government’s indifference floated in the air and generated interest in the neighboring areas.
Demands of the Andolan are Following :
The enquiry in respect of 6 S.R.A. Projects, under the chairmanship of Principal secretary, Housing, is in progress since 13th January, 2013. We demand that the work in all these projects should be stopped untill the report of the enquiry is completed and actions taken on the recommendations.
If demolitions are being carried out in accordnace with court rulings but the preconditions put forth are not met, main issues and allegations of corruption through forgery, fraudulent consent are not resolved etc., then in such cases project work should be stopped and no further demolitions be carried.
In cases where the residents have submitted self development projects or wish to submit the same, they should be sanctioned and encourgaed and started immediately.
S.R.A. Should ensure that in case of ongoing S.R.A. Projects all conditions in L.O.I. should be complied with.
The L.O.I. of the developer should be withdrawn wherever the developers have submitted forged / false documents or wrong information in violation of the L.O.I – as in case of Shivalik builders.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra has agreed to implement ‘Rajeev Awas Yojana’ in the slums of Mumbai instead of S.R.A., on 2nd January, 2013. However these very slums are being buldozed even today. So, the displacement of these slums should be stopped till R.A.Y. is implemented. The same was conveyed to the State Government by the Union Minister Ajay maken on April 2, 2013.
Pilot projects in respect of slum at Mandala, Mankhurd under the R.A.Y. Have already been submiited to the state as well as Central Governments. That should be approved and implemented at the earliest.
Civic amenities (like water, toilets, nallahs, roads ) should be provided to all the slums immediately as per the written assurance given by the Municipal Commissioner.
The Chief Secretary had given a written assurance on 25th May, 2011 that 19 bastis as agreed in the list, after 9 day fast by Medha Patkar, will be decalred slums within 3 months. There is no action on this assurance till date. The same should be done. The Chief Minister, and the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Housing had premised again in January, 2013 to complete this action during discussions held with them. They also gave a written assurance to that effect. The displacements that are being carried out at present are, therefore, grossly unjust and hence should be stopped forthwith.
Shri Ajay Maken, Minister for Housing and Urban poverty alleviation, Government of India has written a letter to the Chief Minister, Maharashtra state on 2nd April, 2013. The Chief Minister should declare his stand on the letter in writing.
The land of Sathe Nagar should be given for R.A.Y. . This land is currently under the hold of Bombay Soap company.
Ajit Gavkhedkar Prerna Gaikwad Anweri Behen Santhosh Thorat
JamilBhai Sangeeta Salwe Sandeep Yeole Madhuri Shivkar
Contact : 9892727063 | 9818905316 | nampindia@gmail.com
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National Alliance of People’s Movements
National Office : 6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110014
Phone : 011 26241167 / 24354737 Mobile : 09818905316
Web : http://www.napm-india.org
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/NAPMindia
Twitter : @napmindia
Beyond Globalisation 2012-13. Updates from Rajashtan segment
Dr. S.K. Gupta -Artical on Int’l Envt’l _Law_Corrected_on8
Environment Protection Laws in the British Era9
EnvironmentalRegulationsinIndia10
History of Nature Conservation in India1
LPPS Livestock beyond globalization1
MLPC Ranakpur Students Mining in Rajasthan-An Overview1
ProtectingTraditionalKnowledge_in_India12
The legal and regulatory framework for environmental protection in India14
NAPM Urges Anna Hazare and his Team to Call of Fast. Broaden Struggle. Collectively Develop an Alternative Political Culture
New Delhi, August 2: It is a matter of deep indignation that inspite of several movements and groups demanding a strong Lokpal, all the Central Governments have contemptuously ignored it. The present Government is no exception. We fully appreciate the dedication and hard work of Anna and his companions for this campaign against corruption which has again highlighted this movement across the country, and condemn the cynical silence of the Central Government which is refusing to give assurance that a strong Lokpal Bill will be brought in the following Parliamentary session and will also immediately initiate talks with all groups and parties in this matter.
We are concerned at the failing health of the activists on fast. It is unfortunate that the government has been ignoring decisions after many talks and negotiations on the legislation. We urge upon Anna Hazare and his colleagues to withdraw their fast in the larger interest of the struggle. The people, we have no doubt will certainly give a fitting reply to this contemptuous attitude of the Government towards the people’s demand.
The withdrawal of the fast now should lead us to broadening of the struggle with other social movements in the country and fight everyday forms of corruption ranging from massive economic corruption in various government programmes to utilisation and exploitation of natural resources by private and public corporations through laws like Land Acquisition Act, SEZ Act and so many other government policies. The effort should be to collectively develop an alternative political culture in which power will be vested with the Gram Sabhas and Basti Sabhas thus achieving the motto of power to the people.
Medha Patkar, Justice (Retd.) Rajindar Sachar, Advocate Sanjay Parikh, Maj. Gen (Retd.) Sudhir Vombatkere, Gabriele Dietrich, Arundhati Dhuru, Suhas Kolhekar, Vimal Bhai, Faisal Khan, Madhuresh Kumar.
National Alliance of People’s Movements
National Office : 29-30, A Wing, First Floor, Haji Habib Building, Naigaon Cross Road Dadar (E), Mumbai – 400 014. Phone – 022 2415 0529 | 9969363065;
Delhi Office : 6/6 Jangpura B, New Delhi – 110 014 . Phone : 011 2437 4535 | 9818905316
email : napmindia@gmail.com | Web : http://www.napm-india.org
The Jharkhand Disom Party with support of different tribal groups and the villagers of Nagri has called bandh on Wednesday against the acquisition of land at Nagri Mauza for the construction of education hub. The representatives of several political parties with Nagri villagers also took out a torchlight procession from Morhabadi to the Albert Ekka Chowk on the eve of the bandh. http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/ranchi/83285-jharkhand-disom-party-calls-state-wide-bandh-today.html
The locals near the Airport facing a similar problem have also come forward to support the bandh on July 25. “The bandh will be a landmark in the politics of Jharkhand as it will mobilise the people of the State. It is a sensitive matter and the Government must deal with it accordingly and should look for an alternative solution,” said the former Education Minister and Jharkhand Party chief Bandhu Tirky.
Tirky also said that the Government should consider the genuine demands of the villagers as cultivation is the main source of their livelihood. “The Government should shed its adamant stand in the matter and try to find out some alternative solution,” alleged Tirkey.
To attract people’s support, the villagers have also launched an awareness programme through ‘nukkad natak’ and public meetings at some of the prime locations of the city and hostels of schools and colleges. Some of the students are also said to have come in support of the agitation and participated in the torch-light procession on Tuesday.
“Some of the students have also promised us to support after the awareness program,” said Gladson Dung Dung an activist and a member of the Planning Commission of India. “People are being informed about the actual issues which we are concerned about and the role of Government and the court through nukkad nataks. They are also being convinced that our battle is not only for ourselves but for the people as a whole, if we win the battle on Nagri, its impact will be far reaching,” assured Dung Dung.
Besides the actual issues, people are also being informed about the alternatives and the offers been put before the Government to shift the construction site to the other 1,000 acre land being provided by the farmers.
The State Government however, tried to distribute the translated copy of the High Court order among the Nagri villagers but they refused to accept it saying that they are quite aware of the High Court order and will not settle on anything accept their own land-rights.
The High Court on July 16 had ordered the State Government to distribute translated copy of the High Court order so that the villagers get aware of the law related to the Land Acquisition Act in the State.
