Giridhari Patra is telling us about a meeting of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti where villagers from 50-60 villages took part. They vowed to continue their agitation even if Supreme Court allows Vedanta in the hearing on 9th April. They said supreme Court should know that Niyamgiri is the source of life for us and if Niyamgiri goes we will be finished. Giridhari requests all of us to guide them on how to fight to save their Niyamgiri and their lives. For more Giridhari ji can be reached at 09583022500

“I went to the Niyamgiri Mountain after a gap, and people drew my attention to the growing skin disease on children adults, men and women.” says Girdhari Patra. The villagers say that this is happening because of the pollution from the smoke from Vedanta factory. Giridhari Patra requests the govenrment to set up a camp, and arrange for medicines, and investigate the possibility of this being a cancerous disease. Problems inside the mouth are also showing up and this could be due to poluuted water. For more Patra ji maybe contacted at 9583022500

Giridhari Patra from Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti says that when Dongaria Kondh adivasis are preparing for their annual festival of worship of Niyamraja, the police is creating obstruction. They are trying to stop these preparation meetings by calling them Naxal meetings. He says police does not like this worship because adivasis take oath in this festival that they will give their lives but will not leave Niyamgiri. For more Giridhari ji can be reached at 09583022500

On the 23rd people got together in Lanjigarh in Odisha to oppose the Vedanta railway line. A police force lathicharged the demonstrators , broke down their tents, and chased them for about 5 kilometres. Giridhari Patro questions the role of the police in the matter of a peaceful opposition to a life affecting change by a private corporation. People do not want the railway line. Earlier the group opposing Vedanta was small, they were an unknown entity. But the continued police support for the company and the brutal response to the participants in movement has raised awareness, and brought them together. People’s opposition of the company will only grow warns Patro who can be reached at 9583022500

Giridhari Patra from Bhavanipatna in Odisa says in his town every lane is filled with number of liquor shops who do not obey rules. The law says liquor shops should not be within half a kilometer of school, temple or main road but that is not the case. The excise department says none of the shops are illegal but they also do not take any action against their illegal operations. For more Giridhari ji can be reached at 09583022500