Following R-Day protest off Narmada, tribal women ensure stoppage of "illegal" work on Garudeshwar weir

By Our Representative
Protest against the construction of the Garudeshwar weir across Narmada river, about 12 kilometres downstream of the Narmada dam, took a new turn on the Republic Day when senior activists of the environmental group Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, Vadodara, and women’s NGO Sahiyar succeeded in convincing the affected villagers about the need to intervene and stop the work which has begun. The result was, following a village-to-village campaign on January 26, on January 27 a team of women from several villages reached Narmada river along the Garudeshwar village and succeeded in ensuring a stop on the ongoing work.
A statement declaring the “great success” achieved on the occasion, issued by the Sitter Gam Adivasi Sangathan (Seventy Adivasi Villages’ Organization), said, “The villagers, mainly women, succeeded in stopping the work was going on, singing songs and raising slogans against the illegal nature of the weir. They asked the contractors to stop work, failing which they would again return to protest on January 31. They told the contractors that they should not be party to the illegal activity of the government. Contractors stopped work.”

The NGOs and mass organizations of the seventy villages argue that the work on Garudeshwar weir has begun without taking into account the prerequisite of environmental hearing of the affected villages. They cite the view of a senior member of the Narmada Control Authority (NCA), the statutory body which provides environmental clearance for the Narmada project, who has expressed strong exception to giving clearance to the Garudeshwar weir without eco-clearance. The weir’s water is to be used for tourism purpose, on one hand, and to provide water to the industries in the Dahej-Bharuch area.
Things began to shape up soon after the Republic Day ceremony, held by the villagers on January 26, where villagers from the nearby villages had gathered at Indravarna. “Elderly women from Nana Pipariya village, Shantaben, Gajraben and Gangaben, unfurled the tricolor and spoke on the occasion. Trupti Shah of Sahiyar spoke about how India achieved independence and how the tribals fought against the British rule, including during the 1859 War of Independence. She also spoke about their active participation in non-violent struggles, on one hand, and in revolutionary movements, on the other”, the statement said.

“Mangrol’s Bhartiben spoke on the importance of January 26. It was suggested that the Constitution of India provides equal rights to all, whether they are women, tribals or Dalits”, the statement said, adding, “Subsequently, several women, including Nana Pipariya’s Kuntaben, Kevadia’s Sharadaben and others took the lead in discussing issues related with land, forests, river and livelihood. They discussed on how to ensure that the work begun by the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd on the weir is stopped.”
“Following flag hoisting and the meeting, the villagers began leaflet distribution. The police officials, in the meantime, continued their video shooting”, the statement said, adding, “This was particularly surprising, as the police department had no other work to do and the government was spending its precious time, energy and money for a work it is not supposed to do. The government is refusing to answer simple questions. The adivasis are not demanding anything but holding a non-violent struggle for the protection of their constitutional rights, protection of the environmental law by stopping the illegally of the weir’s construction.”

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

Search This Blog