“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

हल चलाके खेतों को मैंने ही सजाया रे
गेहूं चावल मक्के के दानों को उगाया रे
चूल्हा भी जलाया मैंने धान भी पकाया रे
सोऊं क्यों भूखे पेट रे कि मेरे लिए काम नहीं
मिट्टी की खुदाई की भट्टी को जलाया रे
ईंटो को पकाया रे, बंगला बनाया रे
संसद का हर एक खम्भा मैंने ही उठाया रे
सोऊं क्यों फुटपाथ पे कि मेरे लिए काम नहीं
शाहजहां के ताज को मैंने ही बनाया रे
मंदिरों को मस्जिदों को मैंने ही सजाया रे
बांसुरी के तार को मांदल को बजाया रे
मेरा संगीत कहाँ रे कि मेरे लिए काम नहीं

Dudharam Ji and his friends from Rajasthan has sent their best wishes for Holi and a Rajasthani song. Please contact him at 09587773969 to more about the song

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