The development path we pursue ironically endangers the livelihood resources of millions of Indigenous communities – the natural based livelihood communities. Protest against mal-development and unsustainable development is gaining momentum day by day. In the conflict between the corporate and communities the state continues to support the TNCs and many governments are becoming pawns in the hands of corporates assisted by world financial institutions like the IMF, World Bank and WTO. Many millions have had to pay the price of national development and economic growth.

In the last five decades in India alone more than 50 million people have been displaced. One of the living examples of the communities Vs corporate struggle is the campaign that opposes the concept of "eminent domain" of state over livelihoods. Orissa, since independence, became a direct target of economic growth through the exploitation of natural resources like the forest, water and land for the corporates mining operations, hydro power production and land acquisition. It is heartening to note that all the G7 countries, somehow or other directly and indirectly, are involved in some kind of activities that denies the legitimate right to livelihood of many millions of people.

Take the case of Bauxite mining alone in Orissa. Given the 500 million tons of aluminium in the region, the state is virtually giving away a wealth roughly Rs. 50,000 Crores(1) for a meagre investment of few thousand Crores in foreign exchange. Moreover, the region is the only biological resource pool left in the Eastern Ghats, an ecologically fragile area where a number of mining leases have been given. These regions are over-mined and the privilege provided under liberalisation erodes the rights of the already marginalised.

In 1990 alone, the aluminium industry consumed power equivalent to that of the entire continent of Africa. In Orissa out of 2466 megawatts produced, one third of the power was consumed by the aluminium industry in 1995. These industries also contribute to the green house gases leading to accelerated climate change.

Major consumers of aluminium are the USA, France, Russia, and Norway. Peshiney International of France, Norsk Hydro of Norway, Alcan of Canada, Alu Suisse of Switzerland, and ALCOA of America are some of the Northern companies directly involved in bauxite mining in Orissa. To highlight one of the joint venture companies is useful to understand the conflict between the communities and corporates.

UTKAL Alumina is a consortium owned by Norsk Hydro, Alcan and Indalco. This project is located in a place called Kashipur, in the Rayagada district of Orissa. Technical support is expected from Alu Suisse and Alcan. It is a 100% export oriented investment which the Government of India has heavily subsidised, offering exemption in paying income tax and drops in import tariffs for equipment used. With a one billion dollar business venture it is expected to produce one million tons per year. This project will directly affect 9000 people and displace 3500 people from their habitat in 40 villages.

Many visits were made by the Norwegian team to assess and learn the reality in the field. Other NGOs got involved in supporting the people. During the last seven years, the people organised many rallies, campaigns and marches to express their ideas, opinions and dissent. The government did not heed the people's problems and their voices. Instead organised violence was unleashed on them. Media teams from the local, regional and national level visited the area and stories were filed in newspapers and magazines. Many Tribals were arrested and false cases were booked. While many cases were disposed of, some cases are still pending in court.

Four NGOs in Orissa were banned by the state in 1999 and all official aid was stopped for rural development activities. The Ban was lifted in July 2000. Intelligence surveillance keeps an eye on the activities of these NGOs and their leaders. In 1999, a seminar on displacement was organised at Jeypore in which many victims of displacement, social activists, church leaders, resource agencies and NGOs took part. A team of NGOs met the then Foreign Minister of Norway in New Delhi and updated him with information on the people's struggle in Kashipur. A memorandum was submitted to him.

A network called South Orissa Development Alternative Network (SODAN) contacted the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and they organised a meeting in solidarity with the struggling people. A fact-finding team from NCCI visited the area. Church leaders from Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC), United Evangelical Lutheran Church (UELCI) and other NGOs participated in this meeting and released a statement questioning the unfair deals of the company and the state. The same statement was sent by NCCI to all the Northern churches and agencies and companies in question and to the Governments of Norway, Canada and India.

NGOs and Mines, Minerals and People a network of NGOs, activists and community-based organisations continue to support the people. The company hired a consultancy firm, called the Business Partners in Development, to negotiate with the civil society and the people. The result of such efforts ended up in the killing of three innocent Tribals by the state police in December 2000. The last rally was organised on 30 January 2001 at the place where the firing took place and nearly 20,000 people participated to express their concern and solidarity with the people of Kashipur. Independent commissions visited and reported the matter to the President of India. A Judicial enquiry is forced on an NGO, implicating it in motivating the Tribals to go against the state. The NGOs activities were claimed to be detrimental to the economic growth of the State.

The displaced people are getting organised stronger and stronger. Their fight to sustain their livelihood will be a lesson to many people around the globe. The message is clear: unless the people who will be the victims of economic globalisation get organised and raise their voice their life will be miserable and they will be pushed too hard and their existence will be under constant threat.

The forces of economic globalisation need to be countered with strong will and commitment so that the resources of the poor will be protected and the children unborn will have a place to survive on this globe. Therefore it is urgent for the churches to recognise their role in these vital problems, to take clear positions, and get involved more seriously than ever before to have greater impact on the society. What we need today is more sensitisation of the society, capacity building of the communities, initiation of sustainable models of development, resource accompaniment for such processes and sustained collaborative advocacy.

William Stanley works for the Integrated Rural Development of Weaker Sections in India, United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India.

Notes:
1. A Crore is 100 lakh of rupees; a lakh is 100,000 rupees; 1 lakh is roughly US$2.000)