Appeal from Pervin Jehangir of the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

[Guest guest]

Dear friends of NBA and people of Narmada, You all have been witness to the long, long battle on issues related to the Narmada dams and the Sardar Sarovar Project affected, in

particular. Lakhs and lakhs of people in the Valley to be thrown out of their generations old habitations, environs – social, cultural, and economic, based on natural resources have always received your support, your solidarity - that has helped us carry on for over two full decades. Your joining us from wherever, during the March to May 2006 struggle in Delhi, was most valuable. While neither the Prime Minister, the central government nor the Supreme Court played their role or used their authority to stop devastation, protect Adivasis and farmers, and to question the false reports and affidavits, the people had to remain firm and determined to face come what may, assert their rights…at least to just and fair rehabilitation as a precondition to dams and displacement. That is exactly what has happened since we went back to the Valley. The

monsoon, heavy enough, has brought in flooding. If it is in more than one river valley in Western India this year, it is the dams that have contributed to the floods everywhere, as we all know by now. In the Narmada, the Sardar Sarovar, even though it has been stopped at 119 mts instead of 122 mts., has caused flooding, destroying land and everything associated with it, homes and hearths, trees, and forests, gods, and graves….agriculture and forest produce. It is certainly a killer wave that has tried to finish off the river valley civilization which is the oldest in the world. Can this be acceptable? Hundreds and thousands of Adivasis have become landless, many homeless but they have shown the tenacity and perseverance to build their own houses at a higher level…up in the mountains, with small patches of farms left behind, all land drowned. They are the ones who have to continue with their struggle for survival. The government is almost absent in

this region…even today when the crisis is of survival, there are no proper rationing shops when even the right to food is at stake. The age old habitations in Alirajpur (MP), Akhalkuwa, Akrani (Maharashtra), Majh tehsils and some in Badwani (MP) are cut off from each other and much more isolated from the rest of the world today than they were before. There is no public transport and private transport by machine boats is unaffordable. There is no school (but for Jeevanshalas of NBA), no dispensaries (except the honorary doctors put up by Government of Maharashtra in a few villages on a highly temporary basis, and the floating dispensary gifted by the European Commission to Maharashtra

government, which is more stationary than mobile!). A few minimally trained health supervisors are in some villages in Alirajpur Tehsil since the last few days with meager medicine - not even any anti-snake venom. Snake and scorpion bite cases have zoomed and locating snakes and crocodiles who are yet to attack is becoming a full time occupation, since both the flora and the fauna are totally disturbed. There is no government service or government servant available except for some boats in MP, which carry food supplies for police and government employees only. In Maharashtra, there are a few police patrols and some government employees and officials who move in barges, touch satyagraha centres for dialogue on limited issues and they have made some promises. The governments have no cultivable land to offer and hence thousands of families – those who have

already lost all their private holdings and much of their common property resource base as also the others who are threatened with immanent loss – have no place to go. Still the ‘Satyagraha’ is on… the Shunglu Committee Report has been criticized and an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on this and the governments continue to be questioned through one mass action after another. You cannot remain silent at this critical point. You, along with others, have helped us sustain the movement and spread our mission. We expect you to be with us in every way to challenge the system – this callous, criminal onslaught on communities

that is happening across the country, the implementation of anti-people projects and plans, which benefit corporates, the political vested interests, the global market…whatnot, by devastating the already poor and marginalized even further. We appeal to you and all – v To come to the Valley at least once to participate in our action, express support and solidarity…the immediate dates are: August 25th at Jhabua collectorate August 28th at the Nandurbar collector’s office August 30th at Badwani collector’s

office And then other actions and programmes will follow. ‘Satyagraha’ is on …on the river bank in Chimalkhedi (Maharashtra), Bhitada (Jhabua District, MP), in Chikhalda (near Badwani, MP). v To write - in periodicals etc. and disseminate information, build an opinion on displacement caused by development, by large dams and water policy, democratic processes of planning…and other issues and challenges specific to the Narmada valley. v To

raise funds, in cash ( cheque/ DD ) or kind, support and mobilize supporters as ‘Janasahayogis’ so as to guarantee atleast survival to the struggling Adivasis, who have lost their lands/homes but not the spirit nor the struggle. (Please see our plans and the need, enclosed.) We would earnestly request you to come to the Valley yourself and relate with those victimized - not just with your support but also your love. v To challenge the government – state and the centre at whichever forum, question the representatives, write letters, hold action programmes. v Do suggest what else

you think of and can act on…of course at the earliest, before more and more people – literally lakhs of them all get drowned and lost at the altar of ‘development’. Cheques / D.D.s can be made in the name of “ Narmada Nav Nirman Abhiyan” and sent to : Pervin Jehangir 261, Jupiter Apts. 41, New Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005 Ph: 022 -22184779 Please

note that we do not accept foreign funding. With regards and awaiting an early response, Kailash Awasya, Kamla Yadav, Ashish Mandloi, Rohan, Yogini, Chetan, Vijay Siyarm, Devram Kanera, Umesh, and others Shashi Mehta , Arun Sawant, Pervin Jehangir, Vijaya Chauhan, Mohan Patidar, Suniti S.R, Dipti, Medha Patkar and many other like minded supporters. Annexure : Our Plans : A request to extend your hand to the victims of development There are at least 1000 to 1500 families in the Adivasi communities who have lost land, houses, trees, and forest access including access to potable water and ways of transport. They are landless, many of them shelterless, stranded in the 6’ x 10’ or 10’ x 10’ dark, damp, leaking tin sheds on slippery slopes. They need a hand of support, in every way. Each of these families will need - Food grains adequate for six months at least: costing Rs 6000/- per family. YOU CAN SPONSOR A FAMILY AND MOTIVATE OTHERS TO DO SO TOO. A tin boat and 3 kgs. of fishing net to be shared by a group of 5 Adivasi families – required not just for eating but also for asserting their right to the reservoir. Rs 5000 per group, 30 groups in toto. YOUR HELP CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH A LIVELIHOOD. A small packet of fishing hooks and bait…Rs 200 per family…can be supplied to hundreds. We surely need more tin boats for transport across the river, at least one per village - 70 villages, Rs 3500 per boat Plastic tarpaulins and tins are to be provided – as many as possible, up to 1000, at the earliest, Rs 700 per tarpaulin sheet of 12’ x 18’. Community kitchens where large communities are affected For children, aged, women and men – clothes, old and new, bedsheets and blankets, ‘chatais’. For schools - equipment, notebooks, and educational aids, large vessels and food grains More plans to evolve later Our Jeevanshala children reached out to the Tapi flood-affected with some teachers along with Vijay and Yogini. They too need help! At least 27 devastated villages in the Tapi basin have received no government aid or relief. Our children rose above their own grief and suffering to mobilize and collect donations from the surrounding communities to help these victims. We stand with the last, lost and left out! Clothes, grain, children’s materials, housing material to the tune of at least 4 lakh Rupees as per a rough estimate, is most urgently required in this area as well.

In solidarity, NBA Supporters. "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." -

Aurobindo.

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