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

By A 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

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

Beyond Lata: How Asha Bhosle redefined the female voice with her underrated versatility

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The news of iconic Asha Bhosle’s ‘untimely’ demise has shocked music lovers across the country. Asha Tai was 92 years young. Normally, people celebrate a passing at this age, but Asha Bhosle—much like another legend, Dev Anand—never made us feel she was growing old. She was perhaps the most versatile artist in Bombay cinema. Hailing from a family devoted to music, Asha’s journey to success and fame was not easy. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, had already become the voice of women in cinema, and most contemporaries like Shamshad Begum, Suraiya, and Noor Jehan had slowly faded into oblivion. Frankly, there was no second or third to Lata Mangeshkar; she became the first—and perhaps the only—choice for music directors and all those who mattered in filmmaking. Asha started her musical journey at age 10 with a Marathi film, but her first break in Hindustani cinema came with the film "Chunariya" (1948). Though she was not the first choice of ...

Maoist activity in India: Weakening structures, 'shifts' in leadership, strategy and ideology

By Harsh Thakor* Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

From Manesar to Noida: Workers take to streets for bread, media looks away

By Sunil Kumar* Across several states in India, a workers’ movement is gathering momentum. This is not a movement born of luxury or ambition, nor a demand for power-sharing within the state. At its core lies a stark and basic plea: the right to survive with dignity—adequate food, and wages sufficient to afford it.

Midnight weeping: The sociology of tragic vision in Badri Narayan’s poetry

By Ravi Ranjan* Badri Narayan, a distinguished Hindi poet and social scientist, occupies a unique position in contemporary Indian intellectual life by bridging the worlds of creative literature and critical social inquiry. His poetic journey began significantly with the 1993 collection 'Saca Sune Hue Kaï Dina Hue' (Truth Heard Many Days Ago). As a social historian and cultural anthropologist, Narayan pioneered a methodological shift away from elite archives toward the oral traditions and folk myths of marginalized communities. He eventually legitimized "folk-ethnography" as a rigorous academic discipline during his tenure as Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute.

Why link women’s reservation to delimitation? The unspoken political calculus

By Vikas Meshram* April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

Catholic union opposes FCRA amendments, warns of threat to Church institutions

By A Representative The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as growing threats to religious freedom, minority rights, and constitutional safeguards in India, warning that recent policy and legislative trends could undermine the country’s secular and federal framework.

'It's power grab, not reform': Uttarakhand hills fear marginalization under new delimitation

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The proposed delimitation bill, coupled with the women’s reservation bill, is a calculated attempt to divert attention during state elections while laying the groundwork for long-term power consolidation through a north Indian hegemony. India’s constitution-making process was arduous, but it was guided by leaders deeply committed to unity and integrity. They ensured no community felt betrayed, and the foundation of modern India was laid on inclusivity. Any attempt to alter this balance must be approached with caution and respect for that legacy.

Search This Blog