appreciate the role of Narmada bachao andolan
Answers
Jawaharlal Nehru had once said, “If you are to suffer, you should suffer in the interest of the country.” For a very long period of time, India has looked at infrastructural development at par with economic growth – which has led to some sections of society benefitting at the expense of the woes of the other sections.
Various establishments at the Centre have invested in the construction of dams, railways, roads and multi-purpose river valley projects. The purposes of these projects have been wide-ranging – from beautification, recreational purposes to harnessing resources for optimisation and meeting the increasing demand of the human populace.
But these developmental projects have come at the cost of exploiting nature and displacing the people who live in the regions.
Amongst the ousted population, tribal groups and Dalits are very badly affected. They pay a heavy price for the resource-rich regions they inhabit, and are pushed out of their lands without proper rehabilitation.
The Annual Report (2015-2016) by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs states that 85 lakh people were displaced due to ‘mega projects’ like dams, mines and industries.
Till 1990, tribal people constituted 55% of the total displaced population in India, even though they comprised only 8% of India’s total population. These displacements comment upon the failure of tribal welfare laws such as the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Even the Fifth Scheduleof the Indian Constitution has failed to protect the indigenous tribal communities of India.
The number of people displaced due to development is considered to be the largest in the category of internally displaced people (IDPs). The states are majorly responsible for these displacements. State run projects are responsible for displacing a majority of India’s displaced populace, whereas the private sector plays a comparatively miniscule role in this.
Narmada Bachao Andolan
One of the longest struggles against development-aided displacement is the famous ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)’.
The state governments of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, along with the central government, decided to invest in a multi-purpose river valley project along the Narmada river. The dam in question was the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
According to an estimate, 42,000 peoplewere rendered houseless due to the construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam, but non-governmental organisations (NGOs) associated with the NBA claim that 85,000 families or 5, 00,000 people were affected.
The movement started in the year 1985, when the government had planned to build 30 large, 135 medium and 3,000 small dams to harness the water of Narmada and its tributaries. The project promised to create employment opportunities for the people, irrigate agricultural land, provide drinking water and generate huge revenues for the government. But it neglected the effect it would have on the lives of thousands living near the project sites.
People were displaced due to the construction of the dam and these displacements led to loss of livelihoods, social disintegration, psychological struggles, homelessness and led to pauperism.
Development-induced displacements are a gross violation of human rights, including the right to live with dignity. In this case, the people who were being displaced were neither given proper rehabilitation nor compensation for what they had lost.
Answer:
Narmada bachao
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is an Indian social movement spearheaded by native tribals , farmers, environmentalists and human rights activists against a number of large dam projects across river Narmada, which flows through the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Medha Patkar has been at the forefront of the movement. She has organised several fasts and satyagrahas, and been to jail several times for the cause.
NBA's slogans include - Vikas Chahiye, Vinash Nahin! (Development wanted, not destruction) and "koi nahi hatega, bandh nahi banega!" (we won't move, the dam won't be constructed).
Narmada Bachao Andolan was also joined by several NGOs with local people, professionals, and activists as the founders with a non-violent approach. It was led by Medha Patkar. Nationally, they wanted an alternative structure of development and internationally, they wanted to build pressure on the World Bank to take accountability.
Reasons that cause Andolan
ᐅThe natural progression of the river has extremely affected the river which moreover causes poor deposit.
ᐅExtreme sedimentation at the underside of the lake has produced frigid stream beds.
ᐅReservoirs swamp the actual vegetation and soil which began to its disintegration over time.
HOPE THIS HELPS YOU
: