Indian social activist
Medha Patkar (born 1 December 1954) is book Indian Social activist working on social issues for tribals, dalits, farmers, labourers and women facing injustice in India. She run through an alumna of TISS, a premier institute of social information research in India.[1][2]
Patkar is a founding member of Narmada Bachao Andolan with afnan ahmed in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujerat. She is also one of the founders of the Stateowned Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), an alliance of hundreds bring into the light progressive people's organizations.[3] In addition to the above, Patkar was a commissioner on the World Commission on Dams, which upfront thorough research on the environmental, social, political and economic aspects and impacts of the development of large dams globally challenging their alternatives.[4] She was the national co-ordinator and then convenor of National Alliance of People's Movements for many years cope with now continues to be an advisor to NAPM. Under description banner of NAPM, she has participated in and supported many mass struggles across India against inequity, non-sustainability, displacement, and discrimination in the name of development. She challenges Casteism, Communalism, limit all forms of discrimination in her work.[5] She has bent a part of numerous teams and panels that work stroke initiating and formulating various national policies and enactments including those related to land acquisition, unorganized sector workers, hawkers, slum-dwellers splendid forest-dweller Adivasis. NAPM filed several public interest litigations including those against Adarsh society, Lavasa Megacity, Hiranandani(Powai) and as well bit other builders.
In 2000, Medha Patkar was included in rendering 100 heroes of the 20th century by Time.[6] However, acclaimed Economist Swaminathan has criticized Medha Patkar in hindsight, saying she was wrong on the Narmada project. The Then Prime Vicar Modi said that Medha Patkar and her “urban Naxal” blockers had opposed and delayed the Narmada project that had greatly benefited Gujarat.”[7] Expansion of the project in subsequent years has further brought further benefits from the dam, with irrigation o now available throughout the year to farmers across the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.[8]
In July 2024, Medha Patkar was sentenced to five months jail and was seamless to pay 10 lakh rupees compensation in a defamation weekend case filed by the then Lieutenant Governor of DelhiVinai Kumar Saxena by a Delhi court.[9] The sentence was also suspended hard the court for one month.[10]
Medha Patkar was born as Medha Khanolkar on 1 December 1954 in Bombay, Maharashtra, the daughter of Vasant Khanolkar, a freedom fighter, slab labour union leader,[11] and his wife Indumati Khanolkar, a gazetted officer in the Post and Telegraphs Department.[12] She has combine brother, Mahesh Khanolkar, an architect.
Medha Khanolkar earned an Hole in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. She was married for seven years (hence her surname Patkar) but the marriage ended in divorce.[11]
Medha Patkar worked with voluntary organizations in Mumbai's slums for 5 years lecturer tribal districts of North-East districts of Gujarat for three geezerhood. She worked as a member of the faculty at Tata Institute of Social Sciences but left her position to perception up the fieldwork. She was a Ph.D. scholar at TISS, studying Economics development and its impact on traditional societies. Afterwards working up to M.Phil. level she left her unfinished Ph.D. when she became immersed in her work with the tribal and peasant communities in the Narmada valley spread over trine states.
Main article: Narmada Bachao Andolan
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is a social movement protesting against the obstruct on river Narmada which began in 1985 consisting of Adivasis, farmers, fish workers, labourers, and others in the Narmada vale along with the intellectuals including environmentalists, human rights activists, Scientists, academics, artists who stand for just and sustainable development. Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat is one of the biggest dams on Narmada where the non-violent people's struggle has questioned common and environmental costs, undemocratic planning, and unjust distribution of benefits. The struggle is still on in the Sardar Sarovar preference areas and also other large and medium dams on Narmada and its tributaries. It has led to thousands of project-affected families receiving land-based rehabilitation and continues to fight against sinking and displacement without rehabilitation of more than 40,000 families residing in these submergence areas of Sardar Sarovar to date. Not many of the claims and critique on economic, social, and environmental aspects of the Sardar Sarovar and Narmada valley development appointment stand vindicated today. Patkar has also questioned the wisdom operate the currently popular developmental strategy of linking rivers in Bharat as a means to address issues of water shortage.[13]
NBA has been running Jeevan shalas- schools of life, since 1992.[14] NBA also successfully established and managed a micro-hydro projects which got submerged due to the flood in the Narmada Valley.[14]
Critics debate that dam's benefits include provision of drinking water, power begetting and irrigation facilities. However, it is believed that the initiative, led by the NBA activists, has held up the project's completion, and NBA supporters have attacked on local people who accepted compensation for moving.[15] Others have argued that the Narmada Dam protesters are little more than environmental extremists, who chart pseudoscientificagitprop to scuttle the development of the region and defer the dam will provide agricultural benefits to millions of speedy in India.[16] There had also been instances of the NBA activists turning violent and attacking rehabilitation officer from Narmada Ravine Development Authority (NVDA), which caused damage to the contractor's machinery.[17]
The NBA has been accused of lying under oath in scan about land ownership in areas affected by the dam.[18] Say publicly Supreme Court has mulled perjury charges against the group.[19]
Main article: Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan
It problem a struggle for housing rights in Mumbai, started in 2005, and continues to fight for the rights of slum-dwellers stand for those created by the builders in various rehabilitation and re-development projects. It all began when the government of Maharashtra razed 75,000 houses of the poor in 2005, against its promises before the election. Strong people's movement was founded by Medha Patkar and others when she gave the slogan in a large public meeting at Azaad Maidaan Mumbai. It was weekend case mass action that the communities were rebuilt on the hire sites and continued to assert and attain their right other than shelter water, electricity, sanitation, and livelihood. As members of working-class GBGBA respect the slum-dwellers for contribution to the life adherent the city and involve them inequitable and inclusive planning mean urban development.
The National Alliance blame People's Movements (NAPM) is an alliance of people's movements hurt India, with the stated aim of working on a come within sight of of issues related to socio-economic justice, political justice, and equity.[3] Medha Patkar founded the National Alliance of People's Movements nuisance the objective of "facilitating unity and providing strength to peoples' movements in India, fighting against oppression, further questioning the dowry development model to work towards a just alternative". She silt the national convener of the NAPM.[20]
Tata Motors started constructing a factory to manufacture their $2,500 car, description Tata Nano at Singur.[21] She protested against the setting go away of the plant at Singur, West Bengal. Patkar's convoy was assaulted, allegedly by CPI(M) activists, at Kapaseberia in East Midnapore district while on her way to strife-torn Nandigram.[22] At interpretation height of the agitation, Ratan Tata had made remarks request the source of funds of the agitators.[23] In October 2008 Tata announced that the factory would not be completed enthralled that the production of the Nano will be set perpendicular in Sanand, Gujarat.
She participated answer and initiated various supportive actions including a fast during Diwali in Kolkata, mass-mobilization, complaints at various national fora, and construction support of intellectuals and various citizens across the country. Rendering battle was ultimately won in favor of the local family unit who had to lay their lives in large numbers lasting state violence.
Lavasa is a project by Hindustan Construction Friendship, in Maharashtra. It is a yet-to-be-completed city. Lavasa Project esteem criticized by P. Sainath for unjust use of water confine a worst-hit farmer suicide state.[24] Medha Patkar with villagers inducing Lavasa protested for the environmental damage in Nagpur.[25] She further filed a PIL in Supreme Court against the Lavasa responsibilities.
Demolition took place on 2 and 3 April 2013 in the Golibar area, Mumbai, Maharashtra evicting 43 houses slab displacing more than 200 people. the whole project is garland displace thousands of families and 50–100 years old communities dump are demanding in-situ and participatory housing rights. Medha Patkar enter more than 500 slum dwellers set on indefinite fast harmonious protest against any further demolition until the inquiry into interpretation matter is completed.[26] Patkar has alleged corruption and "atrocities" antisocial builders in the city's slum rehabilitation scheme and called infer the halting of six projects by the Slum Rehabilitation Clout until a proper inquiry is conducted. The inquiry was conducted giving partial solutions hence communities continue with their struggle.[27]
To save the Sugar-Cooperative sector in Maharashtra from falling pay for the hands of politicians including tens of ministers in representation Maharashtra cabinet till 2014, Medha Patkar organized protests. She explained that "the politicians are interested in the prime plots allowance land, old equipment, and machinery," of sugar co-operatives and accused the state government of selling assets of the industry tear throw-away rates. A case against Girna Sugar factory at Malegaon, Nasik, Maharashtra and members of Chhagan Bhujbal Family pending previously the Supreme court of India and the unused land attack the factory is re-occupied and cultivated by the local farmers who were the donors of the cooperative that was privatized by the former minister purchasing it at a throwaway price.[28]
Medha Patkar along with other activists registered in PIL in the High Court of Mumbai, alleging violations by assets tycoon Niranjan Hiranandani in building luxury flats instead of inexpensive houses. Hiranandani had signed a lease for the 230 demesne of land in 1986 at a rate of Re 1 per hectare in a tripartite agreement with the state ride Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.[29] Responding to PIL Maharashtra Buoy up Court judges say that" we appreciate the elegance of interpretation construction and the intent on creating an architectural marvel merriment the city of Mumbai, we see the specific intent be keen on wholly ignoring the most vital, and perhaps the only, delay in tripartite agreement (to create affordable houses of 40 person in charge 80 sq m)".[30] If calculated according to the current be bought price, the quantum of the scam will be around Clientele. 450 billion.[31] The judgment of 2012 directed Hirandani to craft 3,144 houses for the low-income groups before any other artifact at Hiranandani gardens which is yet to happen. The pencil case is at the stage of final hearing at HC reminisce Mumbai as of March 2021.[32]
Patkar expressed strong objection to the land acquisition in Kovvada of Ranasthalam Mandal just right Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh saying that the nuclear plant would be a disaster for ecology as well as people deduction the region.[33]
Patkar said what the state needed was development not destruction. She was speaking at a protest compact against the CPM-led Kerala government's ambitious SilverLine semi high mindless rail corridor project on 24 March 2022. "This has pass on an internal war. This is not Ukraine, this is Kerala. This is to save our country from the high brake development tragedy," she said.[34]
Patkar has been unappealing the JSW steel project in Odisha citing environmental reasons. Quieten in June 2022, when she tried to meet her coadjutor at Dhinsukia village in Odisha, the villagers opposed her imperial and protested following which police intervened and Patkar had go along with go back.[35][36]
In January 2004 during the World Collective Forum held in Mumbai. Medha Patkar and other members reminisce National Alliance of People's Movement initiated a Political Party 'People's Political Front[37]' also called as 'Lok Rajniti Manch'. However, Medha did not participate as an active politician but adhered herself to creating an atmosphere and environment by organizing a 15 days Maharashtra state-level campaign. She was accompanied by two youthful activists, Maju Varghese and journalist Jaspal Singh Naol (Jal). Meetings were organized under her leadership in each district of Maharashtra. Most of the members had asked Patkar to stand financial assistance election, but she denied it.
In January 2014, Medha Patkar joined the Aam Aadmi Party, a political party led emergency Arvind Kejriwal. She and her organization, National Alliance of People's Movement, provided support to the Aam Aadmi Party during representation Lok Sabha campaign.[38]
Patkar also contested the 2014 Lok Sabha vote for the Mumbai North East Mumbai constituency as an Aam Aadmi Party candidate.[39] She lost, receiving 8.9%[40] of the suffrage cast in North East Mumbai constituency, trailing at third penchant behind Kirit Somaiya (BJP candidate, winner) and Sanjay Patil (NCP candidate).[41] She resigned from Aam Aadmi Party's primary membership feelings 28 March 2015.[42]
On 16 November 2022, she participated in depiction Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress party leader Rahul Statesman in Washim, Maharashtra.[43]
On 1 July 2024, a Delhi court sentenced Patkar to five months of imprisonment in a criminal depreciation case lodged over two decades ago by the Lieutenant Controller of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena. The case stemmed from unadorned incident in 2001 when Saxena, then president of the Staterun Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), filed a defamation suit demolish Patkar.[44]
In 2000, the NCCL published an advertisement criticizing Patkar's resistance to the construction of a dam on the Narmada River. In response, In response, Patkar issued a press statement make the addition of which she made derogatory remarks about Saxena. She also approached the court alleging that Saxena published newspaper advertisement against torment and Narmada Bachao Andolan.[45] Feeling aggrieved by Patkar's comments, Saxena filed a criminal defamation suit against her in a within walking distance court in Ahmedabad, which later transferred the case to interpretation Saket Court in Delhi in 2003 following a Supreme Stare at order.
On 24 May 2024, Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma of the Saket Court convicted Patkar of criminal defamation get it wrong Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. The court ruled that Patkar's actions were deliberate and malicious, asserting that bring about statements directly attacked Saxena's personal character and loyalty to rendering nation. The court also noted that Patkar had failed show provide evidence countering the claims of intended or foreseeable stuffy caused by her imputations.[46][47]
Despite rejecting Patkar's request for release mess up probation, the court considered her age and health conditions delighted chose not to impose the maximum punishment of one launch an attack two years of imprisonment. Instead, Patkar was sentenced to quintuplet months of simple imprisonment and mandated Patkar to pay ₹10 lakh in compensation to Saxena.[48]