From New Delhi, Saturday, April 8 – Sunday, April 9, 2006
PLEASE NOTE that the link for the back issues of the CACIM Delhi Demos Bulletins is as follows, and NOT as given in Bulletin 10 :
http://www.cacim.net/twiki/tiki-view_articles.php?type=article&topic=1
In a Press Release issued today, April 8, the NBA argues that “the three member team of the central ministers got the perfect taste of the Narmada valley, as thousands of people compelled it to visit the villages, presented the real picture of the displacement and rehabilitation [to them], and reiterated their demand to stop the construction work on the dam” and that “As the indefinite hunger strike by Medha Patkar, Jamsinghbhai, and Bhagwatibai from the Narmada valley entered into the 10th day on Friday (April 7), there is increasing support” from all over the country and world.
For instance, in Kerala, poet Sugathakumari, environmentalist RVG Menon, and social activists observed a fast before the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday April 7, expressing their solidarity with NBA leader Medha Patkar who is continuing her fast in New Delhi against the move to increase the level of the Narmada reservoir. http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/04/08/stories/2006040813950400.htm
And in Washington DC:
AID EVENT: Protest in Solidarity of the Indefinite Hunger Strike by Narmada activists
Venue: Mahatma Gandhi Statue, Opposite Indian Embassy,
2107 Mass Ave., Washington DC
Time: Noon to 2pm
Date: Saturday, April 8th 2006
========================================================
BACKGROUND
The Narmada Control Authority (NCA)’s has decided to increase the Sardar Sarovar dam height from 110.64 mts to 121 mts. This is in violation of the Supreme Court rulings of Oct 2000 and March 2005 that unambiguously state that further construction cannot happen until rehabilitation of temporarily and permanently affected families is completed as per the Narmada Tribunal Award.
Medha didi and 4 others from the valley on a hunger strike in Delhi. Their health is deteriorating while the government is not accepting the fact that more than 35,000 families have to be properly rehabilitated.
Come join us in the protest on Saturday! Spread the word!
========================================================
Tentative program [for protest]:
Brief background about the issue
Statements of solidarity by those present
Read names of those joining solidarity fast
Read memorandum to Government of India, signing and presentation to consulate.
Note: The demonstration is intended to be and will be managed as a civil, lawful, and peaceful event through a personal commitment of all participants. Also participants will help each other to maintain this commitment.
For further information:
Contact: Rajasekhar (301)717-1059, Kiran: (240)485-8404
Current sponsors:
Association for India’s Development & Friends of River Narmada
JS
—— Forwarded Message——
From: Initiative India
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2006 03:51:05 -0700
To: Initiative India
Subject: [initiative-india] CENTRAL MINISTERS’ TEAM TASTES NARMADA VALLEY’S ANGER
NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
* C/o B-13 Shivam Flats, Bhagwan Mahaveer Marg, Ellora Park,
Vadodara – 390023, Gujarat
Telefax: 0265-2282232, baroda@narmada.org
* 62 M.G Marg, Badwani, M.P. 451551
Telefax: T/fx: 07290-222464,
badwani@narmada.org
* Maitri Niwas, Tembewadi, Behind Kakawadi, Dhadgaon, Dist.
Nandurbar, Maharashtra 425414
Phone: 02595-220620
Press Note / April 7, 2006
CENTRAL MINISTERS’ TEAM TASTES NARMADA VALLEY’S ANGER AND RESOLVE: TEN DAYS OF FAST, INCREASING NATIONWIDE SUPPORT
As the indefinite hunger strike by Medha Patkar, Jamsinghbhai and
Bhagwatibai from the Narmada valley entered into the 10th day on Friday(April 7), there is increasing support from the nook and corners of India and from international arena for the demand to stop the
construction on the Sardar Sarovar dam.
Meanwhile, on Friday the three member team of the central ministers got the perfect taste of the Narmada valley, as thousands of people
compelled it to visit the villages, presented the real picture of the
displacement and rehabilitation and reiterated their demand to stop the construction work on the dam. The three Union ministers – Minister
for Water resources, Mr. Saifuddin Soz, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Smt. Meira Kumar, Minister of state in PMO Mr. Prithviraj Chavan – were compelled to break their official itiniery and visit the villages where people exposed the government’s claims, regarding the resettlement. The Ministers’ team had to go to Avalda, Piplud, Avali and Nisarpur. The police mercilessly beat the activists and villagers at Avalda.
The people pointed out that the Madhya Pradesh government tried to force the cash compensation with police intimidation and they refused and made the police and officials retreat. They proved that the state government had prepared totally false and ex-parte’ reports of resettlement, even when they refused to accept the cash compensation. Even the lone supporter of the dam, an old BJP worker, called for immediate stoppage of the construction work, as he sees no possibility of resettlement. Barring this isolated incident, the people made it clear that they were not ready to move out, without any credible evidence that they would be resettled with equally fertile and productive land, in a community and with all the resources necessary for living, as was put in the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal’s Award. The voluble ex-Minister Smt. Jamuna Devi invited the ire of the people in Nisarpur by her intemperate remarks.
People time and again castigated the Ministers for the Union government’s support to infamous Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, by helping his politics of raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam. They expressed their resolve not to be cowed down by fraud or intimidation and assert their right to life and livelihood.
In Delhi, indefinite fast by Medha Patkar, Jamsingh Nargave and
Bhagwatibai has entered in 10th day on Friday (April 7). Medha and
Jamsingh have continued their fast in the hospital where they have been detained by the Delhi police. On the dharna place Bhagwatibai, was joined by the two villagers-activists from Gujarat. The students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University and other institutions and organizations have been streaming up to express solidarity. The President of JNU students Union and other leaders, along with Prof. Kamal Mitra-Chenoy joined the fast as a mark of protest.
In Maharashtra, protest rallies, demonstrations, token fasts were held at number of places. In Pune, there was day long dharna on April 2, with number of organizations joining in. On April 6, three activists observed token fast and over 30 organizations and progressive parties joined them in dharna. The Communist Party of India, All India Janwadi Mahila Sabha, CITU, Republican Party (Athavale group), Rashtra Seva Dal, Maan Bachao Sangharsha Samiti, Construction workers, Dalit, Adivasi and women’s organizations, environmental groups, organizations working for alternative development and displaced people from various projects joined the dharna. The villagers of Maan, who have led a successful struggle against usurpation of their lands for IT park, observed the Black Day on April 6, as they saw the police brutality in Delhi
Similar protests took place in Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Sangli, Dhule and Mumbai. In Kolhapur, the CPI, Peasants and Workers’ party, Janata Dal joined the protests along with Vigyan Prabodhini and other groups. Everywhere, they demanded the central government to stop the construction on the dam, while calling the Maharashtra to rescind its consent for raising the dam height. In Mumbai the organizations decided to hold demonstration every day at different locality, till the central government team announces its report.
It was after a long struggle, perseverance as well as life and death situations, that the GOI was compelled to send 3 ministers (Water resources, Social Justice and MOS from PMO) to the Narmada Valley to inspect the ground realities against claims made by 3 BJP led state governments as well as by its own officials, who were entrusted the duty of monitoring all aspects of Rehabilitation in the context of the Narmada Tribunal Award. Every one knows by now that the visit of the officials and by the R&R sub-group, that is legally binding and has to be done quarterly, has not taken place for the past 5 years. The visit of the Minister of Water Resources was planned because of the PMO’s directives in November 2004. After the struggle reached its peak, ministers were finally sent, but this only marks the beginning of the governments’ compliance with its own directives as per resettlement and rehabilitation in the Valley.
Medha Patkar and Jamsinghbhai, both hospitalized at AIIMS, are continuing their fast. No I.V. has been given and nimboo pani continues to be their only intake. Both would like to thank all supporters in the country who have expressed their solidarity to the cause of “development with unjust displacement” and warn the Government that “if they betray the people of Narmada, no community in this country will ever have faith in Rehabilitation and no project should be allowed to proceed presuming displacement without facing a radical challenge. If justice is denied after all this struggle, then justice will die.”
Deepti Bhatnagar
Sanjay Sangvai
Kamla Yadav
Yogini Khanolkar
—— End of Forwarded Message
With thanks !
……………………………………………………………
THINGS TO CHECK OUT :
* FORTHCOMING in 2006 :
o Nayi Rajniti (‘New Politics’), Hindi edition of Talking New Politics, Sen and Saini, eds 2005
o Nayi Subah Ki Or (‘Towards A New Dawn’), volume 1 of Hindi edition of World Social Forum : Challenging Empires
o Are Other Worlds Possible ? Books 2 & 3 – ‘Interrogating Empires’ & ‘Imagining Alternatives’
* Open Space Webspace : www.openspaceforum.net
* WSFDiscuss – an open discussion listserve on the World Social Forum and cultures of politics in movements : Send an empty email to worldsocialforum-discuss-subscribe@openspaceforum.net
* Out in 2005-6 : World Social Forum : Challenging Empires – in German, Japanese, Spanish, and now in Hindi and Urdu !
…………………………………………………………………
January 2005 :
‘Are Other Worlds Possible ? Talking NEW Politics’
Preview : http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/2487.html
Publishers : Zubaan / zubaanwbooks@vsnl.net
Tel: +91-11-2652 1008, 2686 4497, and 2651 4772
………………………………………………………………….
In late 2004 :’Explorations in Open Space : The World Social Forum and Cultures of Politics’
Issue 182 of the International Social Science Journal
Editorial advisers : Chloé Keraghel & Jai Sen
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=showIssues&code=issj&open=2004#C2004
……………………………………………………………..
2004 Book :
‘World Social Forum : Challenging Empires’
Edited by Jai Sen, Anita Anand, Arturo Escobar, and Peter Waterman
http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/1557.html
India / South Asia distribution : Viveka Foundation,
info@vivekafoundation.org, viveka4@vsnl.com.
2005 : NOW OUT also in German, Japanese, Spanish, and forthcoming in Hindi and Urdu
……………………………………………………………
Jai Sen
CACIM – India Institute for Critical Action : Centre in Movement
A-3 Defence Colony, New Delhi 110 024, India
www.cacim.net
Email jai.sen@cacim.net – PLEASE NOTE MY NEW EDDRESS !
[+ while travelling, ALSO jai_sen2000@yahoo.com] M 91-98189 11325
T 91-11-4155 1521 and 2433 2451 – Please note change in one phone no
+
Italitar, Hattigauda
Kathmandu
Nepal
T 977-1-437 0019 and 437 0112

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UPDATE FROM JAI IN DELHI SEE HERE FOR EARLIER UPDATES.
Today has been a quiet day at the Delhi demo site – at ‘Jantar Mantar’. Summer is coming to Delhi, it is in the air, but today, out there at the site, it was still, and hot, and felt like the lull before a storm…
Though the details might seem mundane, they are of course all a part of what might build up to something larger…
Narmada :
* Three Ministers of the government of India left for the fact finding mission yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, April 6 : The Union Minister of Water Resources, Professor Saifuddin Soz; the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ms Meira Kumar; and the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Prithviraj Chauhan. While getting three Ministers in a government to make a joint mission looks and feels impressive, it took twenty-one long days of dharna (sit down demo) to get the government to agree to finally do what it should have done several years ago.
* They are therefore conducting their mission today, April 7. They are due back tomorrow, and other things being equal, the government should take its position tomorrow or latest on Sunday, April 9.
* But typically, the team has ended up cutting its mission down to a paltry two days – and it has moreover ignored the Narmada movement’s suggestions for villages and sites to visit and instead came up with its own, with a scheduled stop of just one hour in each place….
* But this, according to reports coming in so far, has not gone as the team wanted. In the very first village itself, Piplud, they were mobbed, and were not allowed to leave as they wanted and were instead sat down to listen to the large crowd that had gathered. NBA activists are confident that the same will happen at all the other villages, and even if the team is not going to all the places where they wanted them to go.
* On a personal note, I can say that if the team is human at all, and is willing to keep its eyes and ears open, then they cannot fail to be profoundly moved by even what they are seeing, and even in the short time they are giving it. Along with others, I visited several of the same villages the team is going to, as part of a twenty years’ struggle celebration rally through the Narmada valley conducted by the NBA in November last year (2005). But then, the issue is not ‘human’; it is political.
* At least one and possibly more television crews are there, accompanying the mission and bearing witness. The interest and the support of the mainstream media in this struggle has in fact been extraordinarily strong. No doubt in part because Medha Patkar resorted to a hunger strike, and since it has become a case of a public struggle of will, rather than the issue itself. But media coverage is constant, and extensive – though of the Narmada dharna, not of the Bhopal one, just across the street. At least, so far.
* The condition of Medha and the others in hospital seems stable. As reported earlier, she has refused IV. People who have visited her say that she is mentally strong.
* The condition of the hunger strikers at the site is also okay, for the moment.
* One report has it that Medha today said that the struggle at hand is now no longer only about Narmada and the rehabilitation of those being displaced by the Sardar Sarovar dam, but of all those being displaced in the country; and that this is the time for movements to come together. But normal visitors are not allowed anywhere close to her, so there is no way of checking this right now.
* The dharna site saw visitors all day, and in the evening, a major session of poetry readings.
* On Sunday, April 9, some supporters of the Narmada movement have organised an all-day artists’ day at the dharna site.
* The crowd at the Narmada site continues to spill over onto the roadway, standing all along a 200 ft stretch of footpath; along with television vans, police cars, and so on.
Bhopal :
* Few developments on the Bhopal side of the road, though the team continues to meet people in the government and try and find a chink. There is some reason to think that while there is some sympathy for some of the movement’s six demands (see www.bhopal.org and www.bhopal.net ), the Big Block is the demand for banning Dow.
* Trade union federations today held a meeting in Delhi and invited the Bhopal movement in, to present their case.
* The Bhopal dharna organised a performance this evening by Jan Natya Manch, a popular radical street theatre group in Delhi, on the median strip of the road (which very conveniently widens out to become a twenty wide stage in the middle of the road). The Bhopal struggle have also hung big banner posters in Hindi and English, saying
NARMADA AND BHOPAL IN STRUGGLE TOGETHER
* The Bhopal strikers are continuing to get physically and mentally ready for their indefinite hunger strike in support of their demands, starting March 11.
Delhi :
* Even as demolitions of workers’ settlements continue in the city, the Sajha Manch (as reported earlier, a platform for urban dwellers’ and workers’ organisations in Delhi) held a planning meeting today, to chalk out their plans for the next phase of their struggle.

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CALCUTTA TELEGRAPH – OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Indore, April 6:
The Madhya Pradesh government today braced for a possible clash with Delhi on the eve of a central team’s visit to villages around the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
The state’s BJP government is alarmed that the team, led by water resource development minister Saifuddin Soz, will be visiting “specific” villages — apparently identified by NGOs — instead of picking them at random.
Sources close to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his government colleagues have been “wrongly” briefed by NGOs and other people claiming to represent “civil society”.
The controversy centres on whether the state has rehabilitated all the people who would be displaced when the dam’s height is raised. It hasn’t, says the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) which has been protesting in Delhi for days, with its leader Medha Patkar yanked from an eight-day-old fast yesterday and taken to hospital where her condition is improving.
Chauhan’s administration has been working round the clock to find a way of placing the controversy in “perspective” when the central team comes calling. It’s wary of Delhi being “taken in” by Patkar’s fast and the hype it generated in the national capital.
Late this evening, the state had prepared a brief claiming that only a “few” did not get compensation because they chose not to take it.
The NBA, the argument goes, has been “systematically” playing politics with relief and rehabilitation operations. Out of 177 villages, only the half-a-dozen NBA strongholds have some “teething problems” — and even these are being attended to.
The central team isn’t convinced. A Union minister told The Telegraph the Supreme Court’s order is quite clear: each and every oustee must be adequately compensated/rehabilitated before the dam can be raised. “If any violation has taken place, in letter or spirit, our report will say that,” he said, adding that the team would visit Dhar, Badwani and Khagaon.
The BJP wants to first assess Soz’s mood. If the minister makes “political capital” of the Narmada issue, the state would go on the offensive with neighbouring Gujarat.
“According to the federal framework, we are committed to cooperating with the Centre. But if the Centre plays any monkey tricks, we’ll respond appropriately,” a senior BJP leader said.
The BJP plans to remind the Centre how badly Congressman Digvijay Singh had treated Medha when he was chief minister.
Lakhanpur village off the Indore-Mumbai highway was bustling with activity this evening. NBA workers were lining up a “befitting welcome” for the central team while the government was busy preparing to showcase its “achievements” in rehabilitation.
The state Congress is on shaky ground, admitting that it didn’t do enough for the oustees during its 10-year rule.
Besides, partyman Rajkumar Patel would be filing his nomination tomorrow for the April 24 Budhini bypoll, where he takes on the chief minister. The party isn’t sure whether it should be drumming up support for the central team or mobilise the crowd for Patel.
Top

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ibnlive.com
Posted Thursday , April 06, 2006 at 11:13
Updated Thursday , April 06, 2006 at 12:58
New Delhi: Medha Patkar or Medha tai (aunt) – as she is popularly known – has been fighting for the right to life and livelihood of those sections of people who get nudged to the sidewalks of life in a nation’s search for growth and prosperity.
Her odyssey, spanning 21 years, is a struggle against an unjust system that deprives common people – especially the natural resource-based communities – who pay the cost for the benefit of those who already have much more with them.

Hers is a philosophy focussed on achieving marginalised people their rights. The following words, her own, best reflect her wisdom, her vision and the meaning of life according to her.
“I have raised the issue of mega projects, the development planning, democratic and human rights, economics and corruption of monetary and natural resources by such projects and suggested that just and sustainable alternatives in water, energy and other sectors are possible,” says she.
“Most of those that I work with in the Valley are going to lose their lands, their homes, their forests, their community, their culture and indeed, their very identity because of this project. I have taken up their cause because I can feel their loss, I can identify with them they are indeed like my family. I will continue to fight for them in every forum and in every way that I can.”

Patkar was born on December 1, 1954 in Mumbai. Her father was a freedom fighter and later a trade unionist. Her mother worked in a women’s organisation named Swadhar.
After earning an MA in social work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, she worked with voluntary organisations in Bombay slums for five years as well as the tribal districts of North-East Gujarat for two years.
She left her position on the faculty of Tata Institute of Social Sciences as well as her unfinished PhD when she got immersed in the tribal and peasant communities in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat – which she eventually organised as the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

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CNN-IBN
Posted Thursday , April 06, 2006 at 07:35
Updated Thursday , April 06, 2006 at 13:05
New Delhi: The Delhi Police have filed an First Information Report (FIR) against Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar after forcibly taking her to hospital late on Wednesday night.
Patkar, who had been on a hunger strike against the Sardar Sarovar Dam for eight days, was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences as police feared for her life.
She is now in the Intensive Care Unit of AIIMS and her condition is said to be stable.
“She is out of danger. However, she has still in the ICU for observation,” Medical Superintendent, AIIMS, P K Sharma, said.
Medha was put on a drip and was administered 600 ml glucose.
Know Medha Patkar
More than a hundred other activists were also arrested and taken to the Parliament Street police station.
Most of them were later released, and some of them reportedly sustained minor injuries during the arrest.
And though Medha’s condition deteriorated at AIIMS, she was not ready to give in.
Her message to the fellow activists was clear – don’t give up.
The figure-head of the Narmada Bachao Andolan was on a hunger strike for the past eight days protesting the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
She has also been demanding proper rehabilitation of the people displaced from the dam site.
On Wednesday, as her fast enetered Day 8, Medha’s condition deteriorated rapidly and started suffering from bouts of nausea.
The doctor who examined her said the next 48 hours would be critical for her.
Meanwhile, the activists supporting Medha’s cause held the Government responsible for not handling the situation properly.
“Instead of addressing the situation, Government is focusing on ending the strike itself. They are simply not bothered,” Activist Kavita Srivastav, says.
Meanwhile, political reactions are also trickling in. Left was, as expected, the first to react.
“Government should have taken this matter more seriously. Medha Patkar has shaken the conscience of the people,” CPI-M leader, D Raja said.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet had discussed the issue and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tried to persuade her to give up the fast.
The Government Review Committee is due to visit the dam site on Thursday and take stock of rehabilitation measures taken so far.
This announcement was made by Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz and came after Medha’s strike entered the eighth day.
“Tomorrow, three Cabinet ministers will go to the Narmada dam site. The rehabilitation programme for those displaced by the project would be fully implemented as per the Supreme Court decision,” Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said.
Former prime ministers V P Singh and I K Gujral have also written to the PM, asking him not to let Patkar’s condition worsen.

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