An Appeal to join this Padayatra November 29 to December 5, 2009
(Mail sent by Mamata Dash)
Dear Comrades/Friends,
Coastal Orissa and hundreds of thousands of its inhabitants who have been living for generations on its precious resources such as agriculture, beetle-vines, fisheries and village art and craft industry are facing today a great crisis of existence imposed on them all over the coast by capitalist investors with the active patronage of the state at the centre and in Orissa. Be it POSCO or Vedanta or any other name, the most favorite investment destination for everyone is our natural resources and our rich coast line. No iron and steel factory can manufacture sustainable livelihood systems and life centric ecology. No world class university can take care of education of economically deprived who can’t even afford minimum primary education. The Nabin Pattnaik government knows this truth. But they also know another truth-the amount of black money these corporations can pump in for the benefit of the ruling elites no other work in the state can ensure that much for them. The farmers, the peasants, the workers protest and they take the shape of powerful people’s movements in the form of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti or Vedanta Viswavidyalaya Virodhi Sangharash Samiti. The people threatened by a project resolve not to give in, but they take the pledge to fight back even if they have to pay a price. Many fighters have been killed but the fight continues in Kalinganagar, Kashipur, Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Lanjigarh, Hirakud, Dhinkia and Beladal. Hundreds of false cases have been filed against the people resisting destruction. But it has only added their resolve to fight with determination. In order to spread the messages of continuing the fight against unjust capitalist aggression on our resources the PPSS has initiated along with the help of Vedanta Viswavidyalaya Virodhi Sanghrash Samiti and several other mass movements, a Padyatra which will start on 29th November 2009 from Dhinkia and culminate on the 5th of December 2009 at Beladal.
We request you to please join this Padyatra to raise your voice against the powerful corporations who are eying shamelessly on our resources. The coast is to protect our livelihood and also to protect the environment. Let us not allow any private investment in the coast of Orissa. Let us make Padayatra a great success. We meet at Dhinkia in the evening of 28 November 2009. The Dhinkia villagers have arranged for food and stay for every pad Yatri. On 29th, the Yatra starts from Dhinkia (Centre of anti POSCO struggle) which ultimately will end on the 5 December 2009 at Beladal (Centre of anti Vedanta University struggle) where everything will be taken care of by the Beladal villagers.
Yours Sincerely
Abhaya Sahu, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, Dhinkia, Jagasingpur-( Mobile 9437571547)
Pitambar Das, Jatadhar Bacao Andolan, Ersema
Babuli Behera, Devi Muhan Surakhya Samiti
Benudhara Pradhan, Vedanta Viswavidyalaya Virodhi Sangharsa Samiti,
Bhagaban Majhi, Prakrutika Sampada Surakhya Parishad, Kucheipadar
Lingaraj Azad, Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti
Rabindra Jarika, Vistapan Virodhi Janmanch, Sukinda
Ashok Pradhan, Paschima Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti
Muralidhar Sardar, Mittal Virodhi Manch
Khirod Singh Deo, Hirakud-Rengali Budi Anchal Sangram Samiti
Akhaya Das, Jala Surakhya Jan Manch
Prafulla Samantra, Lok Shakti Abhiyan
Budha Gamango, Lok Sangram Manch
Sibaram, Jiban Jibika Surakhya Samiti
Natabar Sarangi, Prachi Chasi Meli
Narayan Redy, Gana Sangram Samiti, Ganjam
Jogendra Gadanayak, Sidheswar Anchalika Surakhya Committee, Naraj
Nikunja Bhutia, Odisha Jana Adhikar Mancha
Dandapani Mohanty, Odisha Forest Majdoor Union
Jayadeb Nayak, Basi Surakhya Manch
Nitu Chakhia, Rajdhani Basti Unayan Parishad
