Invitation to National Convention / Demonstration
on Displacement and Development

in the context of proposed
Land Acquisition (Amendment) and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bills
November 18th – 21st, New Delhi

Friends,

Since March 2007, NAPM, NFFPFW, National Hawkers Federation, Nadi Ghati Morcha, Him Niti Abhiyan and many other mass organisations of the country came together under the banner of Sangharsh, and resisted the government’s machinations of enacting a faulty Resettlement and Rehabilitation Act and introducing amendments to the Land Acquisition Act, promoting private and corporate interests over public good. We gathered recently in Delhi in July 2009 and our struggle gained a significant boost when the Acts could not be passed in the Budget session of the Parliament.

            The land related conflicts and ensuing violence and divide across the country today have brought the issue of displacement and resettlement onto the front pages of news papers once again. There have been numerous demonstrations against displacement in Orissa, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh in recent months. All across, there is a simmering discontent in the country side and unrest in the urban areas as well.  Continuing with our past efforts and series of ongoing actions across the country and our resolve to struggle for a people-friendly, democratic Act on R&R and least displacing development model, we invite you all to a four day programme in Delhi from November 18^th -21^st . (Please see details below.)

            The idea is not only to demonstrate, but also to capture the civil and democratic space in this charged times of undeclared emergency, when the government is planning major offensive apparantly against armed resistance by Maoists, but in the process is also clamping down on peaceful mass struggles that are challenging dispossession and inequity.  In such difficult times of state-sponsored militarisation, it is important to remind the government and the society at large that there is a large mass of people in the country who have been struggling democratically, for decades, to retain community control over natural resources and resist any attempt at displacing them from their land and livelihood. We wish to make it clear to the government and send out a loud message that these Bills, in their current form, far from providing justice to the millions of displaced people across the country, will only accentuate their misery and anger.

We demand that UPA government MUST :

1. NOT pass the proposed Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill in their current form in the Parliament. UPA attempted this towards the end of the 14^th Lok Sabha and also on the last day of the Monsoon Session in extremely secretive manner without any debate and adequate prior information.

2. ENACT a National Development, Displacement and Rehabilitation Act based on the Draft National Development, Displacement, and Rehabilitation Policy passed by the National Advisory council in 2006 enunciating the principle of least displacement, just rehabilitation and a decentralized development planning based on Article 243 of the Constitution, PESA 1996 and Forest Rights Act, 2006.

3. ISSUE a White Paper on all the land acquisitions, displacement caused and rehabilitation completed since independence. The White Paper must also make public the extent of land utilized, unutilized and land acquired for public purpose but remains occupied by sick and non-functional industries and other infrastructure projects.

4. and all the state Governments should come out publicly with the MoUs signed with different corporations, companies and others, which have land acquisition requirements and hold public dialogue - especially with affected people.

We do hope that you will be able to join all of us in this national endeavour to bring out long-lasting legal and political change in favour of the struggling millions.  

Important dates are :

November 18 – Convention at Kanjhawala, (Venue near the Kanjhawla main bus stand) Rohini, Delhi. Get off at the Pritampura Metro Station and take a local RTV, mini bus to Kanjahwala to reach to the dharna site. Call Rawat  : 011 20506929.

November 18^th - Remembering Prabhash Joshi, Gandhi Peace Foundation, 5:00 pm onwards

November 19 – 20 – Massive demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

November 21 – “Development, Displacement and Land Conflicts Today” Public meeting at Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi. (2-6 pm)

Please do try and join us in large numbers and join us in the struggle of the masses of the country in securing just livelihood and dignity.

In Solidarity,

Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan & NAPM

Ashok Chowdhury, National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW)

Gautam Bandopadhyay, Nadi Ghati Morcha, Chattisgarh

Dayamani Barla, Adivasi Mulnivasi Astitva Raksha Manch, Jharkhand

Roma, Kaimur Kshetra Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, NFFPFW  (Sonbhadra)

Pushpa Toppo, Jharkhand Jungle Bachao Andolan, NFFPFW Jharkhand

Dr. Sunilam, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Betul

Guman Singh, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, Himachal Pradesh

Sandhya Devi, Kalahandi Mahila Mahasangh, Orissa

Shaktiman Ghosh, National Hawkers Federation, West Bengal

Advocate Aradhana Bhargav, Pench Sangharsh Samiti, Madhya Pradesh

Niketan Palkar, Tata Dharangrast Sangharsh Samiti and Sahyadri Bachao Andolan, Maharashtra

Hansraj Gheora, Bhumi Bachao Andolan, Delhi

Akhil Gogoi, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, NAPM Assam

Anand Mazgaonkar, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, NAPM Gujarat     

Aruna Roy, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, NAPM

Bhupinder Singh Rawat, Jan Sangharsh Vahini, NAPM Delhi  

Debjit Dutt and Murad Hussain, NAPM West Bengal

Faisal, NAPM Haryana

Gabriele / Geeta Ramakrishnan NAPM, Tamilnadu                           

Geo Jose / Hussain Master, NAPM, Kerala

Mukta Srivastava, NAPM Maharashtra

P Chennaiah, Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Vruthidarula Union (APVVU), NAPM

Rajendra Ravi, NAPM, Delhi

Ramakrishnam Raju, United Forum for RTI, Andhra Pradesh      

Praffula Samantray, NAPM Orissa

Sandeep Pandey, Aasha Parivaar (U.P.) NAPM

Sanjay M G, NAPM Maharashtra

Simpreet Singh, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, Mumbai, NAPM

Suniti S R, Visthapan Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM Maharashtra 

Ulka Mahajan, SEZ-Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM Maharashtra         

Venkatesh, Sr. Celia and Sudhir Vombatkare, NAPM, Karnataka

Vimalbhai, Matu Jan Sangathan, NAPM Uttarakhand

And many other mass organisations and individuals from different states…

Rajendra Ravi – 9868200316               Madhuresh – 9818905316

Or write to kmadhuresh@gmail.com