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T e m a s
Taking a leaf out of the Nandigram struggle against Special Economic Zones, several organisations across India are joining hands to press for people-centric approach in development. Starting January 26, the day when the country was declared a republic, they will march through various states bringing people on the ground together.
Foto: Chimalkhedi satyagraha (Sep 2007)
The Nandigram struggle has created history. The adverse impact of imperialist globalisation and the primacy of capital and market on India’s polity is clearly visible not only in Nandigram struggle but also from the struggles by farmers, workers, Dalits, Adivasis across the country.
The illusory development slogans churned out by this process facilitates assault not only on our natural resources and cultural heritage but also destroys the ethos of equity, simplicity, democracy and sovereignty.
Women, farmers, workers are engaged in major struggles to protect their lands, livelihoods, water resources and lifestyles all over the country.
The struggles sprung up all over the country to fight for sustainable development, for employment-generating village-industries, self-reliant agriculture and decentralised democratic development-planning alternatives. Anti-Narmada dam leader Medha Patkar Anti-Narmada dam leader Medha Patkar © Mukesh Jat / Narmada Bachao Andolan
But governments are hell bent on crushing this people-centric development by approving over 600 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across the country. Innumerable SEZs are devouring not only pristine agriculture, natural wealth but are also destroying people’s lives and livelihoods without providing any rehabilitation.
We have been left with no choice but to challenge the whole process of globalisation resulting in suicides of farmers.
Democratic socialism and sustainable development with people’s participation in decision-making are our fundamental commitments, which we all want to uphold.
People are questioning and seeking solutions, as they very well know that they can survive only when they are able to save human relationships, sustainable environment, democracy and socialism.
Under such circumstances, we need to relate and link not only with different struggles and organisations seeking solutions not only in India but also beyond.
We have received a fresh lease of inspiration from struggles in Nandigram, Maharashtra, Goa, Orissa, etc.
Keeping this in mind, the comrades of National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM) and Action-2007, from Nandigram, Singur, Jangal Bachao Andolan, Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Nadi Ghati Morcha, and others are to march through various states, where they will join the local struggles.
Nandigram , which has now achieved the status not only of the protest against the economic domination and state repression, but a symbol of martyrdom, will be the starting point of our jattha to start on January 26 and will pass through Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and will conclude on February 4 in Gorai, Mumbai.
People and people’s representatives, who are struggling against commercialisation, globalisation, fundamentalism, communalism, and for an alternative economy and polity, will join this jattha.
We request you all to join the jattha from Nandigram itself during the launch of the yatra. Please confirm your arrival to Nandigram soon and reach Kolkatta by January 25 late evening or the next morning.
For further information, please contact:
Saktiman Ghosh: 033-22196688
Sudipto: 09433972662 for logistics in Kolkata
Contact numbers for the tour:
Gautam Bandopadhyay: 098261-71304
Medha Patkar: 094239-65153
A detailed schedule is enclosed herewith.
Source: Narmada Bachao Andolan
