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News of Jan
4, 2007
Tribals in Orissa Fight Another Tata Plant
by Jatindra Dash
Jajpur
(Orissa), Jan 4
Tribals in Orissa have vowed to continue their protest against a
Tata Steel plant in the Kalinganagar industrial complex here, even a
year after 13 of them were killed in police firing. Over 500 tribals
had clashed with police Jan 2, 2006 at the complex, 100 km from
here, to protest against the construction of a boundary wall by the
Tata Steel Company. Thirteen tribals and a policeman died in the
violence.
"Families of the victims have refused to receive compensation from
the government even though they live in penury, making the situation
worse for the administration," said a district official.
Surendra Jarika, who lost his wife Janga in the firing, lives in
poverty with his four children aged 1-8 years. His income as a
laborer is inadequate but he refused to accept the compensation
money. "My wife died fighting for our rights. Now how can we accept
the compensation and allow the project for which she died?" Jarika
told IANS.
Only one family has taken the compensation money. Other people
generally keep away from the family, he added.
Sania Tiria's wife Duigi Tiria also succumbed to a police bullet.
Sania, a resident of Champa Koila village, now looks after his three
children alone. He too has turned down the compensation offered by
the government.
"We will not let even an inch of our land be used for setting up an
industry, especially to the Tata Company," he said.
Govinda Laguri, a Class 8 student, was the youngest victim of the
police firing. He had gone to the Danagadi market to buy pen and
paper. He got off the bus at the Jajpur-Duburi road and was walking
home when he was shot.
Asked why he had not accepted the compensation, Govinda's brother
Narasingha Laguri said: "We are alive without that money. My
brother's sacrifice over the land usurpation will not go in vain.
"Thirteen of our fellow men died. All 1,300 of us are also ready to
die but not even an inch of land will be spared for the industry."
The state government had initially announced a compensation of
Rs.100,000 to each family of the victims. The amount was later hiked
to Rs.500,000. The central government too had announced a
compensation of Rs.500,000.
The administration hopes that the families will accept the sum one
day.
"Some of them have shown interest and we hope they will come forward
soon," said District Collector Arabinda Padhi.
"We paid Rs.1 million to a woman who lost her husband and provided
her with a government job. Others will also be definitely
interested," he stated.
Padhi said the tribals were refusing the compensation because they
were scared of taking on the Vistapan Virodhi Janmanch (VVJ), the
umbrella outfit protesting against the project.
"VVJ has allegedly imposed a ban on the tribals receiving
compensation from the government until their demands are fulfilled,"
he said.
VVJ activists have also blocked a highway since the day of the
Kalinganagar firing a year ago. The police and district officials
have failed in lifting the blockade, despite several attempts.
"The situation will not improve unless the government fulfils our
demands," said Rabindra Jarika, a VVJ leader.
"The government should pay Rs.2 million compensation for each of the
victims and punish officials responsible for the firing," added
Jarika.
Kalinga Nagar is a 12,000-acre complex where several industries
propose to set up projects.
According to Padhi, the complex has about 10 industrial units and
steel plants, and eight of them have already started production. But
an official of an steel plant said they lived in fear and
anticipated trouble from tribals.
IANS
News of Jan
4, 2007
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