The 15th of June marked the beginning of an indefinite fast by Medha Patkar, for justice in the Narmada valley. The demands from this fast include rehabilitation of all the remaining Project Affected as per the laws, policies, and Supreme Court orders.
The women and men in the present struggle are also asserting their right to, a fair market value compensation to all those who endured losses in the 2023 man-made devastation along the Narmada, the appointment of Rehabilitation officers and Members of grievance Redressal Authority, Madhya Pradesh, in all the vacant posts, and till all these tasks are not completed, maintaining the Sardar Sarovar water level at 122 metres (crest level), keeping the 17 metres gates open.
Following Gandhi Ji’s spirit of Satyagraha, the day started with a tribute at Gandhi Smarak, near Barwani in Madhya Pradesh. People that have been adversely affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam and its mismanagement; farmers, fish workers, labourers, adivasis, dalits, people of different religions with the same need to assert their rights, came together in a nonviolent spirit of Satyagraha.
They walked over the old bridge, across the Narmada, from Rajghat to Chikhalda and stopped to pay respects to the river that they call ‘Ma,’ their mother. Women of the movement led the way with blue flags bearing the symbols of the river and banners.
The procession stopped at Chikhalda, a village that is fully devastated, except for the Gandhi statue which people have placed at a height above the water level. It is also known to be where the first farmer in South Asia was born. Bhagirath Dhangar and Medha Patkar made speeches about the 2017 Satyagraha, which included 17 days fast, recollecting history, the achievements, and the people.
People representing different villages affected, shared their grievances, their struggle, their support towards collectively achieving their right to full and fair resettlement and rehabilitation. While thousands have struggled over the last 39 years and achieved the rehabilitation of thousands, thousands still await full and fair resettlement and rehabilitation, 15,946 families who were excluded from rehabilitation after acquisition of their houses, were added to this list last year, when the Sardar Sarovar gates were kept closed to celebrate the Prime Minister’s birthday.
