NAPM - YATRA REACHES AURANGABAD

By Dilip -
National Alliance of People’s Movements

 The DMIC Sangharsh Yatra arrived in Aurnagabad, Marathwada after visiting Khandesh and were welcomed by the Farmers Rights Committee and SEZ DMIC Virdodhi Sangharsh Samiti. Vijay Diwan, organizer of the Marathwada leg of the Yatra, said that "People of Aurangabad were suffering from cancer and other incurable diseases and many have lost their lives." Apparently the state government hasn't or rather refuses to take note of this.

In 2000 the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) had already acquired 902 hectares of land. Those affected by the 'Paithan/Jaikawadi' dam have neither been allotted land in the Command area nor have they received employment in spite of repeated assurances. Only 50% of the factories in the MIDC phase are operational and the wait is for the right time to sell them off as residential flats.

However, the government is keen on acquiring 10,000 hectares of land belonging to 24 villages to develop the Shendra - Bidkin Industrial Zone. City and Industrial Development Corporation or CIDCO has already made plans to acquire 15,000 hectares of land belonging to 28 villages. Meanwhile the DMIC envisages Aurangabad as a megacity for which it would require 2,09,000 hectares belonging to 310 villages. If things go as planned 362 villages owning 234000 hectares will definitely fall prey to these development plans in the next few years even if the projects don't materialize.

Subhash Patil said that the Marathwada region is experiencing severe drought conditions and the Jaikwadi dam is unable to fulfil the water needs of the region as its water levels have lowered due to the dam built in the upper region. Even at a crore per acre, compensation wouldn't be enough to buy a 2000 meter flat in Aurangabad and the affected people are well aware of this fact. All the MLAs and MPs of the region are engaged in this conspiracy. Their lands are left untouched while people of the same village are forcible evicted and dispossessed.

Nasreen B. of Mumbai's Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan and Pemabhai from the Narmada Bachao Andolan together stressed on the fact that the fight, whether in cities or in villages, is the same - to protect land rights. "We will continue our decades old struggle to ensure a dignified life and to protect our rights from Capitalist and State forces bent at taking that away from us."

Medha Patkar addressed the audience saying that the fight isn't against development but against the current status of fundamental rights in this supposedly free country. "Is it constitutionally or legally right to negate the gram sabhas, basti sabhas, labour rights and environmental laws guaranteed by the constitution to acquire land for development projects like the DMIC? Development should be planned keeping in mind prevailing conditions and the livelihoods of the people and not as a tool to further international capitalist aspirations. This project, funded by the Japanese government and international institutions, poses a serious threat to food security and will further escalate the agrarian crisis.

After meeting people from different regions over the last 3 days Lingaraj Azad of the Niyamgiri Suraksha Parishad (Orissa) feels that all the land acquired so far for various development projects haven't been fully utilized. What then is the need for further acquisitions? He said that the situation in Orissa was no different from Maharashtra and that the people have no other option than to fight this injustice.

NAPM is of the opinion that the very definition of 'development' needs to be revised. Why doesn't the Government work towards developing the agricultural sector and small scale industries which even today, employs the largest number of people instead of mega industrial projects that push people towards unemployment and poverty. It is a sad thing that even after 65 years of independence only a minority of the population enjoys freedom while the majority unprivileged classes continue living in shackles.

The NAPM's Sangharsh Yatra was flagged off on 8th March from Mumbai's iconic Azad Maidan. Over the last 4 days the Yatra has been participating in different movements in various districts of Maharashtra. Tomorrow the Yatra moves to Gujarat. 

The schedule for the Gujarat leg of the Yatra is given below:-
12th March - Umargam, Tapi river jod pariyojna shetra
13th March - Surat investment region, Hazeera, Garudkeshwar, Rajpipla
14th March - Kheda, Ahemdabad

Raj Singh, Vedvati, Prasad Waghwe, Suhas Kolhekar, Yuvraj, Pratap Gaekwad,
Suniti S.R., Madhuresh
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please log on to www.napm-india.org for more information and Yatra contact Madhuresh 09818905316

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