“Niyamgiri of Dongria Kondhs “: the true story behind the scene…..

mynews.in, July 26, 2010
By: Shivani Raghuvansh
I am sure you must be wondering where I went. Well, I was in Niyamgiri - Lanjigarh meeting different people and learning various traditional art & craft. Quite aware of the scenario – things have been made to look a lot complicated. Everyone is living a life of uncertainty. But one thing is clear; people in Kalahandi including Dongria Kondhs are now looking for development and overall growth.

I’m now leaving Niyamgiri – Lanjigarh, carrying love and affection of this beautiful place and people. During my long stay here and association with Dongria Kondhs, I only wonder how much time more this place and the people have to wait for inclusive growth.

Except Vedanta, no one has bothered to look into the actual apathy of these 8,000 Dongria Kondhs living in the forests of Niyamgiri, Lanjigarh, falling in the district of Kalahandi in Orissa. Their health & medical check-ups, education to their children, livelihood opportunities, training of Dongria Kondhs youth, sanitation etc. issues, which were completely ignored, have been addressed only by Vedanta.

Things have been made to look a lot complicated. People of Orissa – Government – Industry, all living in uncertainty. The Government of India is now solving this jig-saw-puzzle, and I hope to see the solution to the benefit of all concerned.

But I need to tell you the true story of “Niyamgiri of Dongria Kondhs” before I leave this place. It is an example of how much media, politicians and bureaucrats have been mislead on Dongria Kondhs and also on the bauxite mining. It is a true story of how the vested interests mislead world about Niyamgiri and how Dongria Kondhs were made celebrity tribe and their peace was disturbed, just to halt the bauxite mining in India. This is where the talks of community engagement, displacement, legal permissions, forests acts, tribal acts, and pollution and human rights issues crept up.

Perhaps our Indian democracy, the world’s largest democracy, gives complete freedom of speech and expression, which has been misused and exploited for igniting and exploiting the sentiments of innocent and ignorant people. Most of the big companies are facing these problems in India, and we cannot ignore Posco, TATAs, and Reliance.

Bauxite mining issue became more prominent when Vedanta decided to set-up its world class 5 million tonne alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, right on the foothills of Niyamgiri and a World class aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda in Orissa with a capacity to produce 1.75 Million tonnes of aluminium.

Vedanta’s strength of investments and latest global technology was enough to understand that bauxite mining and aluminium scaling was becoming a reality after 25 years and Indian aluminium was preparing to rule the world.

To halt this move, a well thought out campaign was planned with clear cut mandate to some how stop the project - instigate the people and circulate false and fabricated information – primarily on softer issues like Tribals, Environment and Pollution and spread the fear in tribals. Further, hide the positive information, particularly in terms of what company was doing for the people of Lanjigarh.

The stories of tribal displacement of Dongria Kondh, were falsely circulated. Rather the truth was that mining project did not involve any displacement of Dongria Kondhs, as there is no habitation at the mining site. Contrary to what was said, this was never the voice of Dongria Kondhs.
As much was also circulated about their deity ‘Niyam Raja’ which has been strongly contested by Dongria Kondhs themselves.

The protest of Dongria Kondhs was also tailor made. Some of these innocent community members along with some activists were made to stand with some banner in their hand to show the protest, what protest, they till today do not understand. Every thing was being fabricated and built on breach of faith of these innocent people.

It is very important to know, what technology we have today. If the last refinery was built 25 years ago and that too does not create any pollution problem, it is more than certain that the plants built now, with utmost latest technology, will be much more cleaner and environment friendly. So where is the question of pollution when the technology has made plants ‘zero discharge’?

The irony is that such pollution is sensed, seen and believed by these vested interests sitting thousands of kilometers away from Orissa or India.

Rehabilitation colony built for the displaced people, (due to Alumina Refinery of Vedanta), was also condemned saying no one wanted to stay there. When journalists visited, they were amazed to see it fully occupied and children playing and ladies sitting out in lawns. Later one of the journalists remarked, how some one can propagate so much false information when we can see all facilities like water, electricity, community centre, play grounds, roads etc. in the Vedanta colony. The children are going to Vedanta school and they are very happy. All the eligible members of the displaced families have been given jobs by Vedanta.

If this not the meaning of inclusive growth, than what is it ?

These vested interests have gone to the extent of limiting Niyamgiri mountain range, which is actually a range spread across 250 sq. km, to a single mountain. The mining is to take place in just 4 km that also 30-35 metres from the top. Easily calculated, it is less than 1% of the Niyamgiri. Mining will be done in phases, and thus the opened blocks would be filled accordingly.

Irony is, these vested interests who have been talking about human rights and development of tribals, themselves have no agenda for development of these tribals. What they have been doing is only criticism and passing provoking statements - a thought for reputed reporters and journalists and people at large.

The company initiatives on community development work were never neither noticed nor acknowledged by these people. How can a company that has association with more than 2.5 million people of 550 villages and vast local support, has been blamed for human rights? What human rights?

I have seen Dongria Kondhs participating in the livelihood training programmes organized by Vedanta in majority. Their children are going to Vedanta child care centres, electricity has come in some villages, and there are regular medical and sanitation drives in villages where hundreds of villagers participate.

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former Hon’ble President of India, himself inaugurated the mid-day meal kitchen in Lanjigarh that provides mid-day meal to over 20,000 rural children.

I have seen the employees of this company working day and night when diarrhea broke down in these tribal villages. They were the only one who provided health services at the door steps of these villagers including Dongria Kondhs. None of these vested interests were available for any help; rather, even they were treated by Vedanta doctors.

Apathy is that these innocent people have been equated with characters like ‘Avtar’. Their popularity has been encashed for traveling by air, staying in 7 star hotels and building their names by writing columns in eminent magazines.

What ever has been done, the belief is that truth will finally prevail. Dongria Kondhs – Lanjigarh - Kalahandi will see the development and people will have better living conditions.

Who are these vested interests? I leave the question to you.

But I have only one request, staying away from my house for days together, I have tried to know the truth from close. Now I leave it to you to ensure that it is heard.