CNS: Articles of Medha Patkar

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"It would have been an honour to receive Basava award in the name of revolutionary saint poet, philosopher Shri Basaveshwara of 12th century who promoted social change, reform and communal harmony. However, collective opinion of movements I am associated with suggests that Karnataka Government has not been able to deal with the mining scam and other scandals" said Medha Patkar, one of the most respected social activists in India. Medha leads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).

Photo credit: Joe Athialy

People's Power Vs Builder Shahi : More Join in Struggle from Across the Country
'One man demolition army', G R Khairnar, who took cudgels against the land mafia and the builder lobby as then Deputy Commissioner (Special – Demolitions) between 2000 - 02 today joined Ghar Bhachao Ghar Banao Andolan's ongoing dharna in Ganesh Krupa Society, amidst the debris of broken houses by government authorities in collusion with Builder Lobby. He said, "the fight today led by Medha Patkar and this movement is an important fight. What he did as someone being in the authority is now being taken up by 'people's power'. This struggle needs support and everyone needs to join hand in this." Even as people lent support and they resolved to fight for their rights demolitions continued in Powai, Mankhurd, Worli, and a couple of other places.

Photo credit: Joe Athialy

Slum dwellers continue to join relay fast from across Mumbai
Till the Golibar residents are not provided justice, till the governments does not take strong action against the land scam by Shivalik Ventures linked to 2G scam and does not permanently stop demolition at Golibar the hunger strike by Medha Patkar which has entered third consecutive day today will continue at Golibar, Khar (East), Mumbai. The UPA Government which has promised to fight corruption must take action against corruption at the ground level which has happen right here in Mumbai under its nose.

Endosulfan is already banned by 81 countries and Indian states of Kerala and Karnataka, but the national government of India is still not convinced to ban the use and manufacture of this deadly pesticide nation-wide! Since 1976 continued aerial spray of Endosulfan has led close to 9,000 deaths, and nearly 4,800 bed ridden patients with sever physical and mental deformities in State of Kerala alone, said National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM). But even then the government fails to listen to this. One wonders whose interests Indian government is protecting, asks NAPM.

It's fourth day of the anti-corruption agitation across the country and National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) members too joined the struggles across Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and other parts of the country with a demand for Jan Lokpal and addressing the corruption all around. NAPM emphasises the need to repeal the legislations like SEZ Act, Land Acquisition Act and other draconian laws which are facilitating the corruption all around. Addressing the gathering in Hyderabad NAPM AP Convener, B Ramakrishna Raju said, "the need for rooting out the corruption is paramount today and probity in public life along with the transparency and accountability of governments and corporations has to be established."

NAPM extends solidarity to Anna Hazare and others fasting, rooting out corporate corruption and demands nationwide consultation on important legislations
Shri Anna Hazare's indefinite fast and thousands others fasting across the country with a demand for enactment of an independent and stronger Jan Lokpal and Jan Lokayukta enters third day today. NAPM has extended its support to the demand since beginning of the movement and from 5th April
organised rallies, morchas, solidarity fasts, public meetings and other such programmes in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, Unao, Itawah, Muzaffarnagar, Delhi and many other places across the country. NAPM reiterate its support, and even as the movement gains steam, pledges to intensify our agitation.

Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, Government of India, has assured the affected communities to visit them in Narmada valley on 10-11 April 2011. Jairam Ramesh has made a mark as Environment minister by taking pro-people stands on many issues. However Jairam's support to the proposed Jaitpur Nuclear Power Plant in Maharashtra, India, has sent a negative signal.

A three-Judge Special Bench of the Supreme Court of India comprising Hon'ble Justice Shri JM Panchal, Justice B.S Chouhan and Justice Deepak Verma directed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to file an affidavit before it by the February 15th, 2011, informing the Court of its decision on the Reports of its own Expert Committee which has fully rejected the Command Area Development (CAD) Plans of the Madhya Pradesh Government with regard to the massive canal network of the Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar canals.

Photo credit: Narmada.org

NAPM has been in existence for about two decades and since 1992 there has been constant endeavour to build alliances. Firebrand social activist Medha Patkar who led the process with many other committed fellow activists, provides a bird's eye-view of two decades of building up of NAPM...
It all started with Harsukh Sammelan in the Narmada Valley where we all started thinking that we must come together as an alliance and we actually went to different states along with some other activists and we decided this because we felt that without that this whole destructive development policies as an issue is not going to be politicised.

Mumbai High Court hears NAPM's petition on Adarsh: Government of Maharashtra and CBI must take a final call on Adarsh investigation by 20th December
The Government of Maharashtra has sent Notices to 17 Bureaucrats (IAS, IPS and IFS) under the All-India Services Conduct Rules, seeking information on their sources of income and funding and property ownership, seeking a reply within eight days. Read more

BOMBAY HIGH COURT REFUSES TO STAY THE STOP WORK NOTICE ISSUED BY MOEF TO LAVASA FOR CARRYING OUT WORK OF HILL STATION ILLEGALLY
Lavasa Lake City Corporation approached the Bombay High Court’s Division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice S J Kathawala on Thursday to get the stop work notice issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forests stayed. However, the Hon’ble Court refused Lavasa’s stay petition and clubbed the case with the NAPMs petition in the same matter. Read more

Photo credit: wondersofpakistan.blogspot.com

Statement by NAPM
Arundhati Roy, in articulating the sentiments of the people of Kashmir valley, has said nothing offensive or seditious. It is unfortunate the sections of the media reported only selective parts of her speech to sensationalise what she said. It is also unfortunate and condemnable the attempts by some political parties to seek strong action against her on the basis of these reports. Read more

National Alliance of
People's Movements (NAPM)

National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) is organizing its Eighth Biennial Convention in the Narmada Valley, at Badwani, Madhya Pradesh, from 24-26 October 2010. Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), which is entering in 25th year of struggle, and is one of the founding members of NAPM will be hosting the convention this time. The journey that started in 1992 and took the shape of NAPM in 1996 has today reached a critical stage. Read more

National Alliance of
People's Movements (NAPM)

Narmada valley is facing yet another crisis beyond the gigantic dams, which has arisen due to the huge canal network of the Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar canals. The canals of these two dams are not yet fully planned, yet certain estimates, which are not yet final by the Narmada Valley Development Authority show that not less than 10,000 hectares of agricultural land is to be acquired, but a larger acquisition is yet to come up in numerous villages, where even a basic socio-economic survey of the affected land and families is yet to be undertaken. Read more

Justice Jha Commission Case: Jabalpur HC seeks full assistance of Chief Secretary

A Special Bench of Justice Shri K K Lahoti and Justice Shri Ajit Singh issued directions to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Madhya Pradesh (GoMP) to personally ensure full assistance to the Court on all issues pertaining to the Justice Jha Commission of Inquiry which has been investigating into the massive corruption of a few hundred crore rupees in the rehabilitation of the Sardar Sarovar Project affected oustees. Read more

Medha Patkar

The criminal revision petition filed challenging the medical certificate of Medha Patkar and seeking revision of dismissal order of the Metropolitan Magistrate was rejected admission by the single judge bench of Justice Ajay Bharhoke of the High Court of Delhi. The petition challenged the order of dismissal by Metropolitan Magistrate of Patiala High Court, Delhi. Before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, an application was filed under section 197 and 198 of Indian Penal Code on grounds of perjury alleging Ms Patkar's medical certificate as fake. Read more

One year ago, on July 2nd 2009, a Delhi High Court division bench of Chief Justice AP Shah and Justice S Muralidhar said "We declare that Section 377 IPC, insofar it criminalizes consensual sexual acts of adults in private, is violative of Articles 21, 14 and 15 of the Constitution." It upheld one of the primary principles of natural justice, 'right to consent' and restored the dignity and rights of millions of those whose existence in the society was not even acknowledged. Needless to say that while it was a result of a long struggle by a lot of people that a judgement of this kind came in, and that is not a mean achievement, however, implementation of this is important. Just having a law is not enough. Read more