Satyabrata
On the 28th of March, while the district magistrate of Jajpur was talking to the protestors of Kalinga Nagar who have been opposing the establishment of a plant by Tata Steel since 2006, the Superintendent of Police declared that “protestors will not be spared”! The Government of Orissa has continuously been attempting to protect its ‘clean image’ while at the same time taking ahead its brutal agenda of pandering to the capitalist interests. The day after the talks, i.e. on the 29th of March, 2010, the construction started and the day after, i.e., today on the 30th, twenty four platoons of police encircled the villages that were protesting and started firing rubber bullets. This was followed by the entry of the troops into the village and their evacuation. Houses in the villages were burnt and cattle and food destroyed. This was followed by firing of real bullets in which Member Kanuriya, a local inhabitant got injuries. About twenty people had fatal wounds. The alternative media that is present there is also being harassed so that news from the region doesn’t go out. And then there is the mainstream media, the State’s strongest Ideological ally that has shown in news channels that the police fired back because of the violence of the agitators present there. It is a completely planned out attack against the people of Kalinga Nagar with no hidden ambitions.
This is the moment of suppressing of the democratic part of the movement and the State is successful in brutally suppressing it. What fate democratic dissent has under the brutal rule of capital is evident from this moment of the movement. There is no other alternative for the movement to survive other than getting militarized which the State is forcing it to be. Then, of course, there is the Operation Green Hunt to deal with it after it has been militarized.
No matter what the State does, its brutalities shall ultimately dissolve into the idea of “development” that capital has constructed for itself as a notion to be imposed on the people and coerced into them via its Ideological Apparatuses. It is high time the people deconstruct this notion of development and question the nepotism of this “developmental” process. The ruling party of Orissa, the BJD, has as its sole weapon, this notion of “development” that it has been utilizing in continuing its rule with all its brutalities. The task here is to discern the notion and unmask the State exposing its true demonic face.
Radical Notes 
Tata Steel Group is among the top 10 steel makers in the world with operations across the globe. With demand for steel becoming stronger, Tata Steel is expanding its production capacity in India and has some Greenfield projects under implementation, including the one at Kalinganagar Industrial complex at Jajpur in Orissa.
To strengthen the century old relationship between Orissa and Tata Steel, the company signed the MoU for this ambitious steel project at Orissa on November 17, 2004. The MoU was signed by Mr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Principal Secretary (Steel & Mines) on behalf of Government of Orissa and by Mr. B. Muthuraman, the former Managing Director of Tata Steel, in a ceremony at the State Secretariat in Bhubaneswar, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Orissa, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, Chairman of Tata Group, Mr. Ratan Tata, Managing Director of Tata Steel, Mr. H. M. Nerurkar and many other dignitaries.
As per the MoU, the Government of Orissa agreed to provide 3,471.808 acres of land, which was acquired in 1992 through Industrial Development Corporation of Orissa to set up the steel plant at Kalinganagar. The total number of extended families being rehabilitated for this project will be about 1195.
Preliminary work focusing on land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement work is in progress at the moment. When complete, the Kalinganagar project is slated to bring significant breakthrough in the overall development of the State.
Relocation of people has an enormous socio-economic & psychological impact. At such vulnerable times, the ‘reassurance’ that life would not only be the same, but much better, is of utmost importance.
Therefore, Tata Steel recognises the need to handle the resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected families with utmost care. It has designed its R&R. Programme to provide a fair and an innovative compensation package that encompasses all aspects of personal as well as community development. The Company is considering the people displaced by the upcoming Greenfield projects as part of its own family, the ‘Tata Steel Parivar’. The scheme is more focused, with special attention being paid to each individual family.
4 ‘R’ Theme of the ‘Tata Steel Parivar’ Rehabilitation Scheme includes: –
· Reassuring Communication – ‘The Vision for a Better Tomorrow’
· Resettling the Displaced Population with Care
· Rehabilitation – Ensuring Better Quality of Life, Income & Happiness
· Re-Check Implementation through self & independent social audits
Tata Steel’s Resettlement and Rehabilitation policy reaches well beyond the scope of the Government’s R&R policy in order to ensure maximum benefit for the affected families. That includes:
Proper Communication: – Tata Steel has a strong communication team that tells each family about their benefits and entitlements with active facilitation from all stakeholders with the help of detailed family mapping. Further another team monitors and facilitates the well-being of the members of Tata Steel Parivar.
Resettling at a New Place: – Every kind of assistance is provided to each family during the process of resettlement. Transit accommodation facilities are provided for comfortable stay till the families build their permanent houses. Transit camps have all the basic amenities like water supply, electricity supply, ration, community space, grain storage facility, children’s recreation park, toilets, welfare office, balwadis, dispensary etc. A welcome package consisting of new clothes / garments for the family members, ration, house hold articles etc is provided to each family. Tata Steel has also constructed three resettlement colonies at Trijanga, Sansailo and Gobarghati keeping the needs of the tribal populace in mind.
Ensuring Better Quality of Life, Income & Happiness: – In order to ensure visible growth in the lifestyle of the rehabilitated families Tata Steel has created manifold facilities in –
• Education
• Health
• Preservation of Culture & Heritage
• Women Empowerment
• Development of Livelihood opportunities
• Infrastructural development
Education & Technical Training: – Tata Steel has taken care of the youths of displaced families to ensure a bright future for them. Balwadis and schools are set up for the furtherance of education along with scholarships for meritorious students. Tata Steel has also helped many dropouts in being admitted to various nearby Ashram Schools as well as in Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences in Bhubaneswar, with which the Company has signed a MoU.
Medical Services: – Tata Steel also provides medical services to the displaced families in the colonies. Medical vans visit colonies regularly with medical supplies and treat the ailing. Critically ill patients are sent to Hi-tech medical College at Bhubaneswar.
Women Empowerment: – Tata Steel has created 24 SHG groups for the empowerment of women among the displaced families. It provides various livelihood trainings so that women can become self-sufficient. In fact one of the Tata Steel Parivar SHG, Sarjam Sakamb has been felicitated by the Honble Chief Minister for its extraordinary contribution.
Report by Orissadiary correspondent; Kalinganagar:
Panchayati Raj Institutions members Sukinda and Dhangadi blocks of Jajpur district wherein Kalinganagar Industrial Complex is located condemn vested interests for blocking the development in Kalinganagar.
They says in a press statement to Orissadiary.com that it is extremely unfortunate that various activists and self centered vested interests are blocking the development of our Kalinganagar Industrial Complex by using the miscreants of so called Bistapana Birodhi Mancha. The miscreants under the banner of Bistapana Birodhi Mancha have been torturing the local poor tribals and making money for their personal benefits.
Some local industries are also supporting the miscreants of Bistapana Birodhi Mancha (BBJM) by financing through anti-national activists. These miscreants have never allowed entry of democratic political parties into the red area of Kalinganagar. Even with the help of extreme left parties like CPI(ML) and their associates, the BBJM strongly crticised national leaders like Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Atal Bihari Bjapayee, Lal Krisnha Adavani apart from Naveen Pattnaik in the recent past. They even termed these leaders as “DALALS”. From this it is clear that BBJM is under the control of extreme left wing elements like that of CPI(ML) and their associates and trying to use the mainline political parties like that Congress, BJP, CPI, CPM for getting the support of the people.
The recent unfortunate death of Laxman Jamuda in Kalinganagar have become rallying point of politics by BBJM and their activists and CPI(ML) friends. We appeal all the Political Parties and clear thinking citizens of Orissa not to again fall into the trap of supporting Bistapana Birodhi Mancha and their extreme left wing activists friends, as substantial foreign funding is coming to these people not to allow Kalinganagar Industrial Complex to grow.
They said in a statement that we the sarpanches and samiti members of Kalinganagar strongly denounce the opportunistic nasty politics played by the BBJM along with their activists friends to stop our people’s devlopment in Kalinganagar and once again appeal to all mainline democratic political parties not to support them.
At Kalingangar in Jajpur district of Odisha, Tata Steel for its rehabilitated families known as Tata Steel Parivar has initiated an innovative step for the all round development of the relocated families of Kalinganagar. While Tata Steel is setting up a 6 million ton steel plant in Kalinganagar, it has also given a guarantee for improving the quality of life of Kalinganagar people under Tata Steel Parivar. Its innovative efforts for their sustainable development has started to blossom in Kalinga Nagar.
One of the initiatives of this kind is the herbal garden on two acres land led by rehabilitated tribal at Gobarghati Tata Parivar Rehabilitation Colony of Kalinga Nagar ( Kalinga Nagar – Tata Steel Parivar – Herbal Gardening). In this path breaking initiative of herbal gardening, the officials of Tata Steel imparted basic skills and know-how to the involved families to start a demonstration unit spread over 2 acres. This has been developed keeping in mind the elderly and widowed displaced families, who find it difficult to train in technical skills and would prefer to stick to their traditional skills related to farm. The key objective of this demonstration unit is to demonstrate economic, environmental and medicinal benefit to the displaced families of Kalinga Nagar, so that, they can ensure replication for setting up commercial herbal gardening ventures. The herbal nursery was first started with five relocated families. The two-acre garden consists of mostly medicinal plants like Catheranthus roseus, Aloevera etc. Along with medicinal flowering species seasonal flowers like Balsam, Antirrahinum, Inca Marigold, Verbina, Catharanthus Rosas, Celocia, Salvia, Dianthus etc and exotic vegetables including lettuce, celery, parsley and broccoli are also being grown.
While the herbal garden will provide earning opportunities to the members of Tata Steel Parivar, it is also a key step for protecting the valuable herbs available in the Kalinganagar locality.
So, when Tata Steel is actually contributing to the socio-economic development of rural Odisha, we, as responsible citizens of India should support the efforts of Tata Steel for the betterment of Odisha as well as our country.
At Kalinganagar, Tata Steel ensures that every member of the Tata Steel Parivar gets the opportunity to assume leadership in generic issues.
For women in particular, self-help groups are a means of beneficial involvement in economic activities that keep them away from social marginalisation. Little encouragement, support and belief that ‘things are going to be much better’ seems to have done a miracle in shaping the confidence of the tribal women at Kalinganagar rehabilitation colonies of the Tata Steel Project.
As women play a greater role in the construction of a family, Tata Steel pays special attention to women empowerment initiatives. The life story of Sabita Jamuda of Kalinganagar proves it. Kalinga nagar – Tata Steel Parivar Tejaswinis
The commitment of Tata Steel towards the rehabilitated Tata Steel Parivar families of Kalinganagar is further emphasized through achievement of Zero infant mortality rate amongst the said families since last five years, which even majority of the developed countries across the globe has not achieved.
Tata Steel has been focusing on providing proper antenatal, natal; post natal care, new born care and immunization to achieve Zero Infant Mortality rate for the members of Tata Steel Paribar in Kalingangar.
In India approximately 1.72 million children die before reaching their first birth day. At present the Infant Mortality rate is 69 per thousand live births in Orissa comparison to 53 in India
The health status of a community is best evident from the health status of children. Continuing its stress on the UN Global Compact vision and renewing its commitment to the initiative and its principles Tata Steel is now stressing upon the zero Infant mortality rate in and around Kalinga Nagar. Infant mortality rate and under five mortality rate are the key indicators which reflects upon the health status of the children. Keeping this in mind an intense effort is being made among the displaced families of Kalinganagar project to avoid any death among the under five children.
In Kalinganagar, amongst Tata Steel Parivars, it is important to note that among 92 child births last year only 2 child were delivered with low birth weight i.e., <2.5kg. One had birth weight of 2.4kg and the other 2.0kg. No death was reported. Amongst more than 300 babies delivered in last five years only one death occurred due to congenital anomaly.
During the antenatal period a minimum of three antenatal checkups are done by O&G specialist with additional one checkup during the last 15 days of EDD is ensured in most of the cases. Two doses of TT, 100 tablets of IFA tablets and calcium tablets each are given. Hemoglobin levels, blood grouping and typing are done on a routine basis. In case of detection of anemia additional IFA tablets and nutritional advices are given. In case of any anticipation of complication ultra sonography is carried out with the advice of O&G specialist. As most of the displaced families belong to the tribal communities and literacy levels are low additional care is taken to remind them about their EDD (expected date of delivery) 15 days before the EDD to facilitate institutional delivery in time.
It is ensured that all the deliveries are institutional. After the delivery at least two post natal checkups are done. The mother is counseled about proper new born care and exclusive breast feeding for six months is propagated. Hundred percent immunization coverage is done among the children and growth monitoring is done till the age of six years. Early detection and treatment of respiratory illness, diarrheal diseases etc are done.
Reference information THAT you can trust.
This video says a lot ( http://www.encyclopedia.com/video/P1IF7Gi_wuw-kalinganagar-tata-steel-parivarstory-of.aspx)
It is utterly deplorable how members of the ‘Bishtapan Birodhi Jan Manch’ are carrying on atrocities against the innocent people of Orissa and trying to blame industrialists for all their wrongdoings. BBJM has plundered and looted even the simple-most belongings that these people have. As somebody who is honestly hopeful about the future of Orissa wish that people would see behind the plottings of BBJM and stand against their selfish objectives.
WHY THE BISTAPANA BIRODHI JANAMANCHA LEADERS WANT KALINGANAGAR AGITATION TO CONTINUE?
Shocking Truth about Rabi Jarika – information of ALL
After Chakradhar Haibri (Sr), the President of VVJM along with senior leaders accepted the state government compensation and rehabilitation package along with 850 families (out of a total of 1200 families), the general tribals in Kalinganagar want peaceful and sustainable industrialisation.
But why the balance 3 to 4 leaders of VVJM are not allowing it happen?
THE REASONS ARE SHOCKING AND STRICTLY PERSONAL IN NATURE. Let us analyse the reasons of Rabi Jarika of Chandia for continuing the agitation
1. Dabar Kalundia has Rs 5 LAKH per Month contract in nearby industries in Jindals, Visa Steel, Rohit Ferro Alloys in Kalinganagar and he earns a neat amount of Rs 100,000 per month from the contract. Recently Jindals gave him Rs 20 lakh CHANDA to re-install a EHT Electric Tower, which is passing though his village in Chandia.
2. Orissa High Court has passed orders against him for molesting Basanti Badra – a tribal women in Open Market in Duburi.
3. Orissa High Court has directed action against Rabi Jarika in case of death of Sanjoy Soi due to 18 months NH 200 blockade by Rabi Jarika and his other friends.
4. Orissa High Court has passed orders against Rabi Jarika in case of Jagabandhu Tamsay and his aged mother for dacoity, molestation attempt and attempt to murder.
5. Rabi Jarika is also a conspirator in the muder case of Sridhar Soy of Gobarghati
6. Rabi Jarika and his late brother have swindled about Rs 50 lakhs of tribal money through a Chit Fund Company during 1992-98. This is period when Kalinganagar tribals first recieved compensation for their land in Kalinganagar.
7. Rabi Jarika’s links with extreme left wing elements. This has also been confirmed by Rabi Jarika’s mother-in-Law Mrs Sabita Jamuda’s Press Statement in 2008.
The above are only some of the reasons for which Rabi Jarika wants the agitation at Kalinganagar to continue even if the general tribals are in favour of progress.
We do not want any more agitation. We only want Kalinganagar to be a developed city. This is an appeal from the local people. For details please check http://www.kalinganagar.com/pdf/members-of-kalinganagar-orissa.pdf
Odisha is already beaten by natural calamities and it is the poorest of the poor. How further down would you like to see the state? Districts in Orissa feature at the bottom. http://www.ndtv.com/news/cities/delhi-and-mumbai-have-best-living-standards-in-india-survey-31921.php
See what repot says. Who are the real agitators?
Aggrieved tribals in Kalinga Nagar seek Orissa HRC intervention,
Tribal families of Kalinga Nagar have urged the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) for intervention on the allegedly severe human rights violation.
Petitioning the SHRC chairman on April 5, the members of more than 800 tribal families, already displaced from the acquired villages, and 2,500 families of the nearby 25 tribal villages of Kalinga Nagar area have alleged severe torture by the miscreants operating under the banner of the VVJM. It is alleged that the VVJM activists are continuously harassing the villagers and forcibly roping them into its so-called agitation with a view to grind own axe.
As per their allegations, Sanjay Soy of Gobarghati died due to lack of medical treatment as the VVJM leaders did not allow him to go to hospital. Bira Hesa of Chandia could fortunately survive from the fatal assault. Parbati Rana of Bhuban lost her eye in Gobarghati due to pelting of stones by the VVJM miscreants on general public. Basant Badra of Gadapur was molested at the Duburi haat in front of more than 1000 people.
While, VVJM leaders are enriching themselves by getting contracts and employments in the nearby industries, we are being deprived as we stand in support of the on-going industrialisation and development of the area. The double standards of these leaders are leading our families into deprivation, the petition further alleged.
Tata Steel Parivar is helping the local tribal people for better life. Following is one of the stories, which tells us about their positive approach towards the betterment of Kalinganagar people.
Naguri Jamuda and her family became a part of Tata Steel Parivar after being displaced from Gadpur village and they now live in their own house in Trijanga-2 Colony. Tata Steel provided them with 10 decimals land and Rs. 1.5 lakh for house construction along with a monthly stipend and all other civic facilities necessary for complete well-being.
Naguri has also joined ‘Sarjam Sakam’ SHG started with the help of Tata Steel and is now its Secretary. She and others like her are making a decent living by working in the Group. Under her leaedership, ‘Sarjam Sakam’ SHG has also been honoured by Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik. Naguri Jamuda has also visited various places like Ranchi, Keonjhar, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Berhampur and Baripada for trainings organised by Tata Steel on SHG management, leadership and accounting.
She is also teaching children in ‘Balbari’ opened by Tata Steel. Naguri’s husband Somu had received training under the ‘Prerana’ programme and is now working in Tata Steel Fabrication Yard as a welder. Naguri admits that she had never thought that life had so much to offer and thanks Tata Steel for providing her family a secure future.
With the help of Tata Steel they are experiencing new life with new hope and better lifestyle, better education for their children. Life has changed for Laxmi Hesa and her family. Like many other villagers, Laxmi Hesa and her husband Damodar used to do work hard all the year, mostly as daily agricultural labourers, trying to make both ends meet. In the rehabilitation process at Tata Steel’s Kalinganagar project, the displaced family was brought to the Danagadi temporary rehabilitation colony.
Laxmi is today a self-sufficient woman running a shop successfully at the colony itself. Her husband Damodar Hesa is also employed and has been working with a construction partner of Tata Steel after getting necessary technical training that was provided by the Company.
Laxmi has become independent economically and has also planned her savings well. By managing to meet all household requirements with the earnings from the shop, she deposits her husband’s entire income in the bank for the family’s future requirements. The free supply of grocery items by Tata Steel for her family is also a great help to them.
“Life has become easy now. I run the shop and my sister-in-law helps in the business as well as in the domestic works. We are a happy family and have been realising a big difference in our life at the village and here in the rehabilitation colony,” Laxmi beams while expressing her gratitude to Tata Steel.
Laxmi’s journey to self-sufficiency is expected to motivate many more women of her community to march ahead in the process of development.
It is surprising as to how far the members of BBJM can actually go. Even when their double standards are being exposed in different happenings almost daily, BBJM leaders are trying to put up a charade of honesty. It is a fact known to everybody that these people had taken compensation for their land a long fifteen years back. And yet they have just made pretexts for not leaving the land and continued to stay on without giving any heed to either law or reason. Tata Steel has been very lenient in this matter and the Company has always tried to look at people’s interests first. Therefore, they agreed to pay an additional sum of Rs 4 lakh per acre of land to be acquired. Surprisingly again, supporters of BBJM have accepted this money while at the same time they are carrying out anti-land acquisition agitation. Almost 90% people from Chandia, the so-called BBJM stronghold have accepted 5 lakh Rs for every acre of land. So this can only be seen and interpreted as an act of hypocrisy and selfishness. Isn’t it clear that if BBJM supporters had really been against industrial development, they would not have taken the money in the first place?
It is true that Bisthapana Birodhi Jan Manch is creating agitation where the Tata industry is coming up in Kalinganagr even after taking the money from the company for the land. They have also taken money from the government earlier. So this is double standard. If you want know more about this read this link http://www.kalinganagar.com/pdf/double-standards-of-birodhi-mancha.pdf. People like us do not want BBJM to act like this. If they have taken the money, they should now go away.
The people who have relocated to rehabilitation colonies on account of the industrial developments in Kalinganagar have all found better living conditions and more opportunities for earning a decent living. So however much the BBJM and other groups like it may try to mislead the people, the truth will come out at one point of time. BBJM members not only torture the local tribals and terrorise them to not cooperate with the progress that is happening but they also harass other travelers and visitors to the region. It has been seen that they have only allowed those people to visit the most tense areas who have agreed to oppose industries without paying attention to the real facts. The people who are most affected by the doings of BBJM are now slowly losing their patience and protesting against them. The interest of common people will surely defeat selfish interest of groups.
The surest way to help people is to lead them to the path of both economic and social empowerment. Therefore, Tata Steel does not only take care of the material benefits of Tata Steel Parivar members but also enables them to find sustainable means of income generation. In Orissa, the company has paid special attention to the empowerment of women by setting up and supporting Self Help Groups in various fields. So, rural and tribal women can actually choose the vocation that best suits individual capabilities and Tata Steel also helps them to get special training to optimise benefits. You may get an idea about the range of activities by visiting the following link – http://kalinganagar.tatasteel.com/events/Tata-Steel-empowering-SHGs.asp