The Dongria Kondh, whose plight has been compared to the fictional Na’vi in Hollywood blockbuster ‘Avatar’, won an historic victory against Vedanta Resources last year. India’s Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) blocked Vedanta’s multi-million-dollar bid to create an open-pit bauxite mine on the Dongria’s sacred mountain, stating that Vedanta had shown ‘blatant disregard for the rights of the tribal groups’.
Since the victory, both Vedanta Aluminium (a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources) and the Orissa Mining Corporation have filed petitions in Orissa challenging the decision, as well as an associated decision to restrict the growth of an alumina refinery also operated by Vedanta.
Speaking to Survival International recently, one Dongria Kondh man said, “We do not think that we have won. We hear that mining has been stopped but whilst the factory [refinery] is still there, our people, our land, may be taken away some day.”
Vedanta’s billionaire chairman Mr. Anil Agarwal held separate meetings with India’s Prime Minister and the Environment Minister recently. Following their meeting, the Environment Minister told journalists, ‘mining is a closed chapter, but so far as the expansion project is concerned we can consider it… provided they meet some conditions.’
In an interview, Mr. Agarwal said recently, “I am more sensitive about our people, about our adivasi [tribal] people, than anybody else.” However two independent investigations commissioned by the Indian Environment Ministry each concluded that Vedanta’s plans were likely to ‘destroy’ the Dongria Kondh.
Vedanta’s scheme to mine the land of the Dongria Kondh tribe has become one of the most notorious projects in the world, with investors including Aviva and the Church of England attacking the company. Human rights activist Bianca Jagger and celebrities including Joanna Lumley and Michael Palin have given their support to the Dongria tribe, who has been peacefully resisting the mine for years.
Demonstrations against Vedanta have continued since the Ministry’s decision, with thousands marching to the gates of Vedanta’s alumina refinery, demanding it be shut down.
Stephen Corry, Survival’s Director, said, “The Dongria’s David and Goliath battle is not over yet, and their supporters around the world are still watching. Last year, sense and justice prevailed in Niyamgiri; let us hope that it continues to do so and Anil Agarwal finally gives up on his disastrous plan.”
About Survival International
Survival International is a human rights’ organization formed in 1969 that campaigns for the rights of indigenous people and uncontacted tribes, seeking to help them to determine their own future. Their campaigns generally focus on tribal peoples’ fight to keep their ancestral lands, culture and their own way of living. Survival works for the people who they call “some of the most vulnerable on earth”. A part of their mission is to educate people from misconceptions that help justify violations of human rights against indigenous people, and the risks that they face from the advancement of corporations, governments and also good intentions based on an idea of “development” that is forced upon them. Survival believes that in fact their alternative way of living is not lacking, they represent a model of sustainability in the environment that they are a part of and they possess a rich culture from which we could learn.
Source: Survival International Press Release dated February 1. 2011.
Related Features:
- Corporate Sustainability: Troubled Vedanta Loses Appeal for Controversial Refinery
- Vedanta Case: David Vs Goliath – Indian Tribe in ‘Stunning’ Victory Over Mining Giant
- It’s Tribal Faith Vs Vedanta Might in Kalahandi Forests
