Fwd: [OrissaConcerns] Fwd: Update: National Commission on Child Rights appeals for withdrawal of police from schools in proposed POSCO area

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From: Anivar Aravind <anivar.aravind@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Subject: [OrissaConcerns] Fwd: Update: National Commission on Child Rights appeals for withdrawal of police from schools in proposed POSCO area
To: connect <connect@lists.orissaconcerns.net>

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From: Prashant Paikray <prashantpaikray@gmail.com>

Update: National Commission on Child Rights appeals for withdrawal of police from schools in proposed POSCO area

 

Date: 7^th July 2011

 

Dear Friends,

 

While the human chain and Dharana by the people is going on along the boarder of Gobindpur and Nuagaon, people of Nuagaon village have started Dharana in last two days in their village opposing the forceful land acquisition process. In a mark of solidarity the Dongria Kondhs from Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti, Niyamgiri hills, where people are opposing the mining and Alumina refinery by Vedanta Company, have come and joined the protesting people in Gobindpur. CPI (ML-New Democracy) leader Comrade Bhal Chandra Sarangi also marked his presence and expressed solidarity.

 

 

On 4^th July 2011 a team of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) visited Gobindpur village to see the situation of children there. The commission visited the school premises where police is camping, had interface with the children and mothers forming part of the human chain, and held discussion with POSCO Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS) apart from interacting with the administration. The Commission also visited the transit camp on its way. The children clearly stated that they are taking part in the protest due to their concern for their land and livelihood. They expressed concern that once the land goes out of their hand, their future will be uncertain so also their education. "Our protest is voluntary and there is no scope for anybody forcing us" said the children to the Commission. The women said due to heavy presence of police an ambience of fear is prevailing in the area. "How the children can read in such circumstance where the police are camping in the schools?" asked the women. The Commission expressed concern over the situation of the children there and asked the government to immediately vacate the schools of the police force. It earnestly requested the state government and the people to create situation of peace for carrying out smooth education of the children.

 

CPI (ML-Liberation) national delegation visited the area and expressed solidarity with the protesting people.

 

In the mean time, amidst heavy presence of police more than 700 trees have been felled by the district administration in last two days in Nolia Sahi, Polang area under Gadkujang Gram Panchayat with the help of the pro-POSCO outfit. The construction work for the project is also going on in this part where the administration has already acquired land.

 

52 families from Patana village of Dhinkia Panchayat, who are currently camping in the transit camp, have filed a PIL in the in the Odisha HC which has come for hearing. The Court has issued notice to government and PPSS for response. Abhaya Sahoo, Chairman of PPSS, said "this is a company promoted petition, otherwise what is the reason of approaching the court after four years of moving to the camp" It may be clarified that these families are pro-POSCO people and voluntarily left the village  in 2006 contrary to the belief that they been driven away by the anti-POSCO people. This is the game plan by the company and administration. Recently the family of Madhab Muduli, which was staying in the camp, has come back to the original village, Patana. This shows that there is no threat to such people in their village from anybody.

 

Magsaysay Award winner and Rural Affairs Editor of 'The Hindu', P Sainath will visit the area today to take stock of the situation. On 10^th July 2011, a team of doctors from Calcutta will visit the area to organise a medical check up camp. It may be noted that, due to police presence the common people in the village cannot not go out to hospitals in case of need.  

 

 

 

In Solidarity,

 

Prashant Paikray

Spokesperson, POSCO Pratirodha Sangram Samiti

Mobile no.- 09437571547

 

--
Prasant Paikray
Spokesperson

Posco Pratirodh Sangram Saiti
Mobile - 9437571547

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