Magsaysay Award winner in anti-Posco agitation

PARADIP: Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Award winner and co-founder of Asha for Education, joined the list of social activists supporting the anti-Posco agitation in troubled Gobindpur and Dhinkia.Pandey, who leads the National Alliance of People’s Movements, the largest network of grass roots people’s movements in India, was at Gobindpur on Saturday. Addressing the villagers, he said “People have been building up their lives on this land for generations so they have the right to protest. Without the consent of the villagers, how can the government acquire land? It is gross human rights violation.”  Informing that the MoEF has violated the law and its own orders, he said the forest land acquisition was a violation of the Forest Rights Act. He also questioned the decision to establish a new port apart from the existing Paradip port saying, “It will affect environment and take away the livelihood of thousands more, so Posco port should be stopped.”  Inspired by the children’s participation, Pandey said, “I am committed to cooperate with them.”  Besides, Delhi-based organisation National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights led by Adikand Singh and over 50 members of Basti Surkhya Manch, Bhubaneswer, also visited Gobindpur and expressed their solidarity with the aggrieved  villagers. ADM Sarojakant Chaudhury said no decision is  taken to resume land acquisition at Gobindpur because of which the officials have been pressed into service to expedite construction of boundary wall and rehabilitation colony.