The protests at the Narmada Valley have taken an all together new turn as villagers from numerous villages in the locality have come together to begin a new satyagraha against the agony that the construction of the dam has caused to them. The villagers have all gathered in Bhopal and this time they hoped to make their voice stronger and more determined towards bringing about transformation into their lives.
The movement has managed to gather more than 1,500 people who have beeb displaced and affected by the construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam. The satyagraha organised by them consists of an indefinite hunger strike demanding adequate compensation and rehabilitation. The Satyagraha is being organised right outside the Narmada Valley Development Authority’s(NVDA’S)Bhopal office.
What is deeply inspiring to see is that the agony and the agitation among the people have been converted into a sustained people’s movement in the Valley and people from villages across Madhya Pradesh have walked for kilometres to take part in it. The districts that have seen the largest representation include Bargain, Dhar, Kargone and Alirajpur. This satyagraha is part of the brand banner of the Narmada Bachao Andolan(NBA)spearheaded by Medha Patkar.
Medha Patkar is an ardent champion of the movement and has been fighting against the atrocities faced by the people of the Narmada Valley for close to three decades. The protesters have come together to ask for rehabilitation and compensation in tune with the Supreme Court’s guidelines and they are determined that until and unless the government gives them a satisfactory answer they will not go back. It is expected that the protest will only grow stronger in the coming days. It is expected that the state officials and the protestors would mutually arrive at some kind of a negotiation or a promise for further talks would be made by the government. Leaders of the movement are scheduled to meet the NDA authorities for a dialogue on November 18.
