Finally, with the MP government asking the Grievance Redressal Authority (GRA) of Narmada Valley Development Authority(NVDA) to look into therehabilitation of the oustees of Maan dam, under the special advice of former Commissioner of SC/STCommission, Dr.B.D.Sharma and veteran journalist Shri.Prabhas Joshi, on the 29th day, the indefinite hunger fast by Chittaroopa Palit, Ramkuvar, Vinod Patwa and MangatVarma was called off.
According to a press release by NBA, the GRA is to ensure that the rehabilitation of the Maan dam oustees is completed in a time-bound manner,no later than July 31st, 2002.
Thus, people from different villages affected by Maan dam, supported by the oustees of other dams in theNarmada valley like Maheshwar, Bargi, Veda and Sardar Sarovar, have returned back home on a note of success.The indefinite fast of 29 days and the dharna (sit-in) for 35 days witnessed many a hope anddisappointment.
Advertisement
According to the NBA release, one mutually agreeable solution or the other was over and again turned downby the politician-bureaucratic lobby, scared of making the rightful rehabilitation of the dam oustees into a'precedence' of justice in other dams. Ultimately it was the victory of perseverance and determination of thepeople on fast and on dharna.
The fasting activists had to go underground because of the police high handedness on June 12th. Inspite ofintense combing by the police, they were unable to trace them and they continued to fast till the end. At thetime of withdrawal of fast, Ramkuvar, the 22 year old tribal girl from the first submergence village, Khedi,was at her lowest ebb. She hardly could talk and her organs are showing signs of damage. Chittaroopa Palitcontinues to have pain in the abdomen. Vinod Patwa and Mangat Verma have continuous vomitting and dizziness.
Advertisement
Inspite of the danger of permanent damage to their vital organs, or even life, the satyagrahis apparentlystood by their resolve of putting their own lives at stake to assert the rights of the people and justice. Atthe time of calling off the fast, senior activist of Narmada Bachao Andolan Ms.Medha Patkar and noted writerMs.Arudhati Roy were present.
Narmada Bachao Andolan has demanded that the water should not be filled till the committee ensures completerehabilitation. and has threatened that while extending full co-operation to the committee, it will face thesubmergence, in case the water inundates the houses and fields of hundreds of Maan affected families beforeproper rehabilitation, according to the rehabilitation policy.
NBA has also reiterated "that in other dams like Sardar Sarovar, where over 7000 families are leftwithout rehabilitation, and who are under the threat of submergence this coming monsoon, people will face therising waters and will challenge the injustice of the State."
