Nasamaj Bacho ka Andolan

What is she fighting for ? She started out fighting against Big Dams as an environmentalist. Then when the cause was all but lost she took up the cudgels against the improper rehabilitation of the tribal population. So whats the issue ? Big Dams or Rehabilitation ? Big Dams is a non starter. To talk about the rehabilitation issue I took the liberty of extracting some information from the internet that helps throw more light on the issue.

Operations Division of World Bank in April 1990 amply clarifies this - “A widespread myth is that the tribal people to be resettled from the submergence area are living in pristine forests in a traditional manner as hunter gatherers in harmony with the environment. It is within this tribal group that there appears to be the least opposition to the dam. Out of the already rehabilitated people of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, tribal population is 99.25%, 72.5% and 99% respectively . The greatest opposition is from the more wealthy non - tribal farmers from Nimad region of Madhya Pradesh who have been exploiting the tribals for many decades. So by opposing the Project, whose cause is being championed? Tribals …. or Non-tribals”. For more on that visit FAQ Section of Official Site of Sardar Sarovar Dam.

Secondly, NBA activities has caused tremendous delay and huge cost over-run in Rs 44,000 crore (number is quoted by NBA) Narmada project.

Thirdly, Lakhs of live herd died and more than one million people were forced to migrate (from saurashtra, Kutch and N. Gujarat) due to continuos famine and NBA induced delay. Thus NBA is partly responsible for this horrendous human tragedy.

Fourthly, NBA criticizes rehabilitation efforts but NBA it-self is the biggest stumbling block in rehabilitation efforts. Moreover, R&R of Sardar Sarovar is much better then all other R&R ever under-taken in india.

Also, for NBA movement it-self is the end goal. NBA slogans like “we will give and take lives” displays fanatic passion. At this stage they are waging a losing battle just as their slogans describe and they are more damaging to the nation than all the Naxalites and Ranvir Senas combined.

Bandhs , strikes etc. are negative tactics and in an growing country such as ours they are more of a hinderance than a channelizer that they are supposed to be. Young kids must be allowed to enjoy and live their lives not put under foolish philosophical constraints. In some ways this is what has been happening here too. Fast paced development comes with its own pitfalls. But we must learn to take them all in our stride and move on.

Lastly the desserts. I recieved a confirmation letter from jammag.com which means that now i can contribute to jammag as the official correspondent from Nirma University. Cool Na. Oh! How i would love doing all that Nirma Bashing.