Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information from the Narmada Asargrast Sangharsh Samiti that 11 villagers jumped into the Narmada main canal in Boreli while 3 of them were arrested just before attempting that. The villagers were protesting the lack of compensation for families 25 years after being evicted from their village, Gadher.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On 6 October 2014, 11 residents of Boreli vasahat (resettlement site) in Nasvadi taluka (subdivision) of Chhota Udepur district in Gujarat jumped into Narmada main canal to protest the government’s apathy towards the people affected by the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam while 3 others were arrested just before attempting the same. They had warned the administration and police officials about their intent to take this extreme step, but they were apparently not taken seriously as the authorities only rushed into action after the villagers jumped into the water body.
The villagers originally come from Gadher in Narmada district, once a sprawling village now partly submerged in a reservoir. The village lands were acquired in early 1990s and the government claims the residents were rehabilitated in 1992. In reality, however, only 42 out of around 500 families from the village have gotten lands. The villages have been struggling for 22 years against clear non-compliance regarding the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal Award 1979, the Rehabilitation policy of Government of Gujarat, and orders of the Supreme Court of India all of which prohibits any evictions without completely rehabilitating the affected people.
The AHRC has learnt that the villagers were tricked into accepting the relief package by the officials who showed them well irrigated and fertile lands. The officials had also promised to build a school, health clinic, roads, and provide the new settlement with electricity. The villagers agreed to move to this place but then were brought to Timbi resettlement site which was barren, un-irrigated, saline and therefore unfit for agriculture; only livelihood skills they had. Unable to make a living, many of them returned to Gadher only to be later resettled to as many as 31 different sites, Boreli being one of them. They had also not been provided with employment for at least one person per family as promised in the rehabilitation package.
The villagers kept approaching the Grievances Redressal Cell installed as a permanent in-house committee within the Sardar Sarovar Punarvasavat Agency by the Gujarat Rehabilitation Authority. The cell has done little other than forwarding the grievances to the Sardar Sarovar Nigam. It has failed even to acknowledge the complications arising out of considering only those who were 17 years old in 1987, the year of commencement of the project even when actual land acquisitions were made much later, eligible for rehabilitation forget resolving that. This has led to many people affected by the project to be denied of their legitimate rights of rehabilitation as mandated by the Supreme Court
It is in this context that the villagers were getting increasingly desperate and finally decided to take the extreme step of jumping into the Narmada. The local administration did rescue all of those who jumped, a few who have suffered injuries. The police then arrested them and booked them with the cognizable offence of attempting to commit suicide.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, demanding revocation of criminal charges from those who protested by jumping into the Narmada Main Canal, rehabilitation of everyone affected by the dam, and an immediate halt to inundation of their villages until the rehabilitation process is completed.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ..........,
INDIA: 11 villagers jump in Narmada Canal after 22 year fight over land rights.
Identities of the Victims:
1. Nagin Tadvi, 28
2. Ashwin Tadvi, 30
3. Sanjay Tadvi, 24
4. Ashwin Tadvi, 30
5. Himmat Tadvi, 32
6. Babu Serabhai, 35
7. Vipin Zhalubhai, 24
8. Vinu Zhakabhai, 36
9. Vikram Darji, 35
10. Vipinbhai
11. Kanaj Naran, 40
12. Vipin Bachubhai, 29
13. Jayesh Manilal, 23
14. Jesal Tadvi, 31
Identities of the Perpetrators: Local government authorities and the officials at Gujarat Rehabilitation Authority
Place & Time of Incident: Boreli Bridge, Narmada Main Canal, Chhota Udepur district, 6 October 2014ongoing
I am writing to you with concern over the plight of 11 people jumping into the Narmada Main Canal in Boreli.
On 6 October 2014, 11 residents of Boreli vasahat (resettlement site) in Nasvadi taluka (subdivision) of Chhota Udepur district in Gujarat jumped into Narmada main canal to protest the government's apathy towards the people affected by the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam while 3 others were arrested just before attempting the same. They had warned the administration and police officials about their intent to take this extreme step, but they were apparently not taken seriouslyas the authorities only rushed into action after the villagers jumped into the water body.
The villagers originally come from Gadher in Narmada district, once a sprawling village now partly submerged in a reservoir. The village lands were acquired in early 1990s and the government claims the residents were rehabilitated in 1992. In reality, however, only 42 out of around 500 families from the village have gotten lands. The villages have been struggling for 22 years against clear non-compliance regarding the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal Award 1979, the Rehabilitation policy of Government of Gujarat, and orders of the Supreme Court of India all of which prohibits any evictions without completely rehabilitating the affected people.
The AHRC has learnt that the villagers were tricked into accepting the relief package by the officials who showed them well irrigated and fertile lands. The officials had also promised to build a school, health clinic, roads, and provide the new settlement with electricity. The villagers agreed to move to this place but then were brought to Timbi resettlement site which was barren, un-irrigated, saline and therefore unfit for agriculture; only livelihood skills they had. Unable to make a living, many of them returned to Gadher only to be later resettled to as many as 31 different sites, Boreli being one of them. They had also not been provided with employment for at least one person per family as promised in the rehabilitation package.
The villagers kept approaching the Grievances Redressal Cell installed as a permanent in-house committee within the Sardar Sarovar Punarvasavat Agency by the Gujarat Rehabilitation Authority. The cell has done little other than forwarding the grievances to the Sardar Sarovar Nigam. It has failed even to acknowledge the complications arising out of considering only those who were 17 years old in 1987, the year of commencement of the project even when actual land acquisitions were made much later, eligible for rehabilitation forget resolving that. This has led to many people affected by the project to be denied of their legitimate rights of rehabilitation as mandated by the Supreme Court
It is in this context that the villagers were getting increasingly desperate and finally decided to take the extreme step of jumping into the Narmada. The local administration did rescue all of those who jumped, a few who have suffered injuries. The police then arrested them and booked them with the cognizable offence of attempting to commit suicide.
I therefore urge you to ensure that
1. The criminal charges against the protesters be lifted;
2. Everyone affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam is rehabilitated and an immediate halt to inundating their villages till the process gets completed;
3. Rehabilitation package is in consonance with the Supreme Court orders including land for land and employment for at least one member of each family;
4. No eviction/demolition drives are carried out in any form without implementing the legal framework for rehabilitation with consent from those affected.
Sincerely,
.......
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Shri Narendra Modi
Prime Minster
Government of India
Room No. 148 B, South block,
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: + 91 11 230111857; 23015603
2. Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi 110001
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2338 4863
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
3. Thaawar Chand Gehlot,
Minister,
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,
Government of India
Shastri Bhawan,
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Marg, New Delhi
Ph: +91 11- 23381001 and
Fax: +91 11-23014432
E-mail: min-sje@sb.nic.in
4. Anandiben Patel
Chief Minister
3rd Floor, Swarnim Sankul-1
New Sachivalaya
Gandhinagar 382010,
Gujarat
INDIA
Fax: +91 - 79 – 2322210
Email: cmguj@gujarat.gov.in
5. Dr. Varesh Sinha
Chief Secretary,
Government of Gujarat,
1st Block, 5th Floor,
Sachivalaya,
Gandhinagar - 382020,
Gujarat
India
Fax: +91 79 – 23250305
Email: csguj@gujarat.gov.in
6. Shri Jenu Devan
Collector
Collectorate
Chhotaudepur 391115
Gujarat
INDIA
7. The Registrar,
Supreme Court of India,
Tilak Marg,
New Delhi-110 201
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 23381508/ +91 11 23381584
Thank you
Hunger Alerts Programme
Right to Food Programme (foodjustice@ahrc.asia)
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
