By Susie Price
Last Wednesday (28 July), I joined about 75 other demonstrators to protest against Vedanta’s activities in Kalahandi and the devastating effect their activities are having on the lives and livelihoods of the indigenous tribes who live near their bauxite mine in Lanjigargh. Having just returned to the UK after spending two years working for an NGO called Antodaya in Bhawanipatna it was one way I thought I could continue my connection with the District. The demonstration took place outside Vedanta’s annual general meeting which was held in a building close to the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London and participants included campaigners from ActionAid, Survival International and Amnesty International, a number of smaller UK-based organisations who have been campaigning against Vedanta as well as individuals including Bianca Jagger (a human rights campaigner who is the ex-wife of the iconic British rock-star Mick Jagger). Michael Palin (a UK comedian and travel writer) has also voiced his support for the campaign. The demonstration was organised to maintain pressure on Vedanta and its shareholders with regards to the plight of the Kondh tribal people based in and around the Niyamgiri hills and the demonstration was covered in the UK media including Channel 4 news, Reuters, the Guardian and the Financial Times. One of the aims of the campaign is put pressure on Vedanta to clean up their ac by persuadinge major shareholders to sell their investments in the UK-listed company. Institutional investors who have already done so include the Norwegian Pension Fund, the Church of England, the Joseph Rowntree Trust and PGGM. In addition institutional-shareholder, Aviva (the largest UK insurance group) voted against three resolutions at Vedanta's meeting on Wednesday to show its concern over the bauxite mining project and the lack of environmental reporting. As an ex-resident of Kalahandi it was heartening to see such support from UK organisations and individuals.
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* Struggle for a Central University: Refer to video Part I[39], II[40] and III[41] Kalahandi was struggling for a higher educational institution since independence. Earlier proposal to establish a Government Engineering College in Kalahandi or Koraput region in 1980s was later on shifted to some other part in Orissa for political reasons. A team visited by planning commission to Kalahandi Balangir Koraput (KBK) region had suggested to establish an agriculture college in the region. Since 1988 people of Kalahandi are seriously demanding a Central University in Kalahandi as it is located centrally to all KBK districts and have good railway connectivity to major cities in India from Kesinga railway station. In 1990s when state Government of Orissa proposed to establish a University in North Orissa, people of Kalahandi repeated their demand for such a University in Kalahandi as well. Then Chief Minister of Orissa Biju Patnaik while addressing publicly in Government College Bhawanipatna said Government could not establish University if people want to establish University in their neighbourhood. But the same Chief Minister later on agreed to establish two Universities in Baripada and Balasore due to public protest making people of Kalahandi highly disappointed. Through "Kalahandi Sikhya Bikash Parisad" and "Central University Kriya Committee" the struggle for a Central University in Kalahandi seriously continued since 2000. Many memorendum were submitted to both state and central Government in this regards during past 9 years. When Government of India announced to establish 12 Central Universities in various states not having any Central University across India which included Orissa, a delegation from Kalahandi consisting intellectuals, general people and politicians met Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in May 2008 to establish the Central University in Kalahandi[42]. Mr. Naveen Patnaik promised and asked them to find out land details for establishing it in Kalahandi. People of Kalahandi sent the land details through district of Collector of Kalahandi in July 2008. However, without studying it Orissa Chief Minister unilaterally announced to establish proposed Central University of Orissa in Koraput[43], though it was expected to come up in Bhawanipatna[44]. After six months the chief minister announced to establish a Government Engineering and Agriculture Colleges in Bhawanipatna[45]. People of Kalahandi though welcome establishment of such the colleges, Kalahandi Sikhya Bikas Parisad and Central University Kriya Committee said its not a replacement for the Central University[46] as estmiated cost for the proposed Central University is 800 crores with an area of 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land, whereas both Engineering and Agricultre Colleges are estimated to be 10 crores as per Government announcement so far.
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