A Struggle that stretched for decades
If not the only, but the battle over Narmada dam can be definitely considered as one of the important historical events of the last two decades due to the fact that the movement continued to challenge the hegemony of the ruling class, despite facing many oppressions even at the cost of their dignity.
Why Narmada Dam project is most historical event
- The project had been first inaugurated in 1961.
- A dream project of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.
- The project caused to displace a number of villages thereby suffering a large number of people with problems such as alienation of livelihood sources, rehabilitation etc.
- Despite being opposed by social activists like Medha Patkar and Baba Amte on the ground of rehabilitation and resettlement issues, many people have not been rehabilitated. The people who had been rehabilitated not been provided with required amenities.
However, it would provide water to the water scarce areas in the states of MH, MP and Gujarat, which can be used for irrigation, and drink purpose.
The significance of Narmada Bachao Andolan Socio-Cultural: Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) aims to fight for the right to education, health, the livelihood of displaced people. NBA also committed to protecting cultural rights of people, which would be violated after being displaced from the area where they have been living since many years. Political: Besides social activists, many politicians like NCP leader Mr Sharad Pawar and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had supported NBA and urged the government to provide employment, land and education opportunities to displaced people.
Economic: NBA has extended its protest to save ecological diversity as Narmada Project would submerge forest land. World Bank has also refused to give aid to the project citing ecological losses promoted by NBA.
Today when all are debating environment and climate change, Nd learning helped to shape many policies like ESA, tribal rehabilitation, canal irrigation, water management across states.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan(NBA) is a social movement consisting of the diverse section of people against a number of dams being built across Narmada River. Started 30 years ago, today its a moral force and its most important contribution to India and The World is its continuance as the projection of Gandhian truth and non-violence in an increasingly violent world.
