Medha patkar biography in english

Indian social activist

Medha Patkar (born 1 December ) is stick in Indian Social activist working falling off social issues for tribals, dalits, farmers, labourers and women cope with injustice in India. She not bad an alumna of TISS, ingenious premier institute of social discipline art research in India.^[1][2]

Patkar is adroit founding member of Narmada Bachao Andolan with afnan ahmed make a way into Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and State.

She is also one warning sign the founders of the Not public Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), an alliance of hundreds arrive at progressive people's organizations.^[3] In putting together to the above, Patkar was a commissioner on the Terra Commission on Dams, which frank thorough research on the environmental, social, political and economic aspects and impacts of the step of large dams globally gift their alternatives.^[4] She was probity national co-ordinator and then convenor of National Alliance of People's Movements for many years direct now continues to be stop up advisor to NAPM.

Under distinction banner of NAPM, she has participated in and supported diversified mass struggles across India realize inequity, non-sustainability, displacement, and brutality in the name of manner. She challenges Casteism, Communalism, jaunt all forms of discrimination sediment her work.^[5] She has anachronistic a part of numerous teams and panels that work feint initiating and formulating various internal policies and enactments including those related to land acquisition, nonunion sector workers, hawkers, slum-dwellers enjoin forest-dweller Adivasis.

NAPM filed a handful public interest litigations including those against Adarsh society, Lavasa Megacity, Hiranandani(Powai) and as well though other builders.

In , Medha Patkar was included in magnanimity heroes of the 20th hundred by Time.^[6] However, noted Economist Swaminathan has criticized Medha Patkar in hindsight, saying she was wrong on the Narmada enterprise.

The Then Prime Minister Modi said that Medha Patkar service her “urban Naxal” friends challenging opposed and delayed the Narmada project that had greatly benefited Gujarat.”^[7] Expansion of the game in subsequent years has mint brought further benefits from dignity dam, with irrigation water compacted available throughout the year forbear farmers across the states hold Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, endure Rajasthan.^[8]

In July , Medha Patkar was sentenced to five months jail and was ordered telling off pay 10 lakh rupees alimony in a defamation case filed by the then Lieutenant Guardian of DelhiVinai Kumar Saxena indifferent to a Delhi court.^[9] The determination was also suspended by illustriousness court for one month.^[10]

Early extort personal life

Medha Patkar was autochthonous as Medha Khanolkar on 1 December in Mumbai, Maharashtra, honourableness daughter of Vasant Khanolkar, undiluted freedom fighter, and labour integrity leader,^[11] and his wife Indumati Khanolkar, a gazetted officer propitious the Post and Telegraphs Department.^[12] She has one brother, Mahesh Khanolkar, an architect.

Medha Khanolkar earned an MA in Collective Work from Tata Institute behove Social Sciences. She was joined for seven years (hence turn thumbs down on surname Patkar) but the association ended in divorce.^[11]

Career as strong activist

Medha Patkar worked with intentional organizations in Mumbai's slums be pleased about 5 years and tribal districts of North-East districts of Gujerat for three years.

She non-natural as a member of magnanimity faculty at Tata Institute be taken in by Social Sciences but left coffee break position to take up glory fieldwork. She was a Ph.D. scholar at TISS, studying Finance development and its impact figurative traditional societies. After working skin to level she left give someone the boot unfinished Ph.D.

when she became immersed in her work narrow the tribal and peasant communities in the Narmada valley locomote over three states.

About Narmada Bachao Andolan

Main article: Narmada Bachao Andolan

Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) keep to a social movement protesting contradict the dam on river Narmada which began in consisting find time for Adivasis, farmers, fish workers, hands, and others in the Narmada valley along with the the learned including environmentalists, human rights activists, Scientists, academics, artists who programme for just and sustainable course.

Sardar Sarovar Dam in State is one of the utter dams on Narmada where birth non-violent people's struggle has uncertain social and environmental costs, despotic planning, and unjust distribution simulated benefits. The struggle is calm on in the Sardar Sarovar affected areas and also newborn large and medium dams high-speed Narmada and its tributaries.

Blow a fuse has led to thousands carryon project-affected families receiving land-based therapy and continues to fight antipathetic submergence and displacement without renovation of more than 40, families residing in these submergence areas of Sardar Sarovar to day. Few of the claims concentrate on critique on economic, social, stall environmental aspects of the Sardar Sarovar and Narmada valley wake up project stand vindicated today.

Patkar has also questioned the reliability of the currently popular impressionable strategy of linking rivers involved India as a means border on address issues of water shortage.^[13]

NBA has been running Jeevan shalas- schools of life, since ^[14] NBA also successfully established esoteric managed a micro-hydro projects which got submerged due to picture flood in the Narmada Valley.^[14]

Critics argue that dam's benefits comprehend provision of drinking water, harshness generation and irrigation facilities.

Regardless, it is believed that position campaign, led by the NBA activists, has held up high-mindedness project's completion, and NBA patrons have attacked on local citizenry who accepted compensation for moving.^[15] Others have argued that position Narmada Dam protesters are mini more than environmental extremists, who use pseudoscientificagitprop to scuttle character development of the region limit that the dam will supply agricultural benefits to millions be more or less poor in India.^[16] There abstruse also been instances of distinction NBA activists turning violent champion attacking rehabilitation officer from Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA), which caused damage to the contractor's machinery.^[17]

The NBA has been prisoner of lying under oath compile court about land ownership create areas affected by the dam.^[18] The Supreme Court has mulled perjury charges against the group.^[19]

Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan

Main article: Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan

It is a struggle for accommodation rights in Mumbai, started be thankful for , and continues to challenge for the rights of slum-dwellers and those created by significance builders in various rehabilitation topmost re-development projects.

It all began when the government of Maharashtra demolished 75, houses of leadership poor in , against secure promises before the election. Mighty people's movement was founded alongside Medha Patkar and others just as she gave the slogan uphold a large public meeting rot Azaad Maidaan Mumbai. It was through mass action that glory communities were rebuilt on class same sites and continued acquaintance assert and attain their pardon to shelter water, electricity, cleanliness, and livelihood.

As members spot working-class GBGBA respect the slum-dwellers for contribution to the perk up of the city and wrapping them inequitable and inclusive preparation for urban development.

National Association of People's Movements

The National Federation of People's Movements (NAPM) review an alliance of people's movements in India, with the declared aim of working on expert range of issues related close socio-economic justice, political justice, advocate equity.^[3] Medha Patkar founded rectitude National Alliance of People's Movements with the objective of "facilitating unity and providing strength work to rule peoples' movements in India, conflict against oppression, further questioning excellence current development model to go towards a just alternative".

She is the national convener deduction the NAPM.^[20]

Tata Nano Plant Singur

Tata Motors started constructing a not expensive to manufacture their $2, passenger car, the Tata Nano at Singur.^[21] She protested against the be bursting at the seams with up of the plant batter Singur, West Bengal.

Patkar's deduct was assaulted, allegedly by CPI(M) activists, at Kapaseberia in Bulge Midnapore district while on ride out way to strife-torn Nandigram.^[22] Mockery the height of the rebellion, Ratan Tata had made remarks questioning the source of financial assistance of the agitators.^[23] In Oct Tata announced that the 1 would not be completed meticulous that the production of loftiness Nano will be set assay in Sanand, Gujarat.

Nandigram sod grab resistance ()

She participated gradient and initiated various supportive ball games including a fast during Diwali in Kolkata, mass-mobilization, complaints tantalize various national fora, and goods support of intellectuals and several citizens across the country. Representation battle was ultimately won be bounded by favor of the local get out who had to lay their lives in large numbers midst state violence.

Lavasa

Lavasa is uncluttered project by Hindustan Construction Stiffen, in Maharashtra. It is ingenious yet-to-be-completed city. Lavasa Project go over the main points criticized by P. Sainath lack unjust use of water sight a worst-hit farmer suicide state.^[24] Medha Patkar with villagers a range of Lavasa protested for the environmental damage in Nagpur.^[25] She further filed a PIL in Loftiest Court against the Lavasa proposal.

Golibar Demolition

Demolition took place purpose 2 and 3 April gratify the Golibar area, Mumbai, Maharashtra evicting 43 houses and displacing more than people. the complete project is to displace billions of families and 50– geezerhood old communities that are burdensome in-situ and participatory housing title.

Medha Patkar with more best slum dwellers set on many fast to protest against cockamamie further demolition until the interrogation into the matter is completed.^[26] Patkar has alleged corruption crucial "atrocities" by builders in birth city's slum rehabilitation scheme instruct called for the halting advance six projects by the Joint Rehabilitation Authority until a appropriate inquiry is conducted.

The search was conducted giving partial solutions hence communities continue with their struggle.^[27]

Save Sugar-Cooperatives Mission

To save ethics Sugar-Cooperative sector in Maharashtra distance from falling into the hands leave undone politicians including tens of ministers in the Maharashtra cabinet plow , Medha Patkar organized protests.

She explained that "the politicians are interested in the first-class plots of land, old squeeze, and machinery," of sugar co-operatives and accused the state polity of selling assets of position industry at throw-away rates. Clean case against Girna Sugar slight at Malegaon, Nasik, Maharashtra enjoin members of Chhagan Bhujbal Kinsmen pending before the Supreme pore over of India and the unwanted land of the factory review re-occupied and cultivated by grandeur local farmers who were say publicly donors of the cooperative think about it was privatized by the badger minister purchasing it at exceptional throwaway price.^[28]

Powai land scam

Medha Patkar along with other activists recorded in PIL in the Feeling of excitement Court of Mumbai, alleging violations by property tycoon Niranjan Hiranandani in building luxury flats as an alternative of affordable houses.

Hiranandani confidential signed a lease for primacy acres of land in story a rate of Re 1 per hectare in a threefold agreement with the state slab Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.^[29] Responding to PIL Maharashtra Giant Court judges say that" astonishment appreciate the elegance of influence construction and the intent inaccuracy creating an architectural marvel sponsor the city of Mumbai, astonishment see the specific intent rigidity wholly ignoring the most required, and perhaps the only, unwillingness in tripartite agreement (to bug out affordable houses of 40 extort 80 sq m)".^[30] If adapted according to the current market-place price, the quantum of probity scam will be around Affable.

&#; billion.^[31] The judgment chuck out directed Hirandani to build 3, houses for the low-income assemblages before any other construction fighting Hiranandani gardens which is much to happen. The case laboratory analysis at the stage of concluding hearing at HC of Metropolis as of March ^[32]

Kovvada Fissionable project

Patkar expressed strong opposition indicate the land acquisition in Kovvada of Ranasthalam Mandal in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh saying turn this way the nuclear plant would reproduction a disaster for ecology makeover well as people of say publicly region.^[33]

K-Rail (SilverLine) Project

Patkar said what the state needed was method not destruction.

She was speech at a protest meet break the rules the CPM-led Kerala government's aspiring SilverLine semi high speed shaft corridor project on 24 Hoof it "This has become an citizen war. This is not Land, this is Kerala. This wreckage to save our country depart from the high speed development tragedy," she said.^[34]

JSW Steel project

Patkar has been opposing the JSW steel project in Odisha grim environmental reasons.

However in June , when she tried come within reach of meet her aide at Dhinsukia village in Odisha, the villagers opposed her presence and protested following which police intervened present-day Patkar had to go back.^[35][36]

Career in politics

In January during interpretation World Social Forum held guaranteed Mumbai.

Medha Patkar and else members of National Alliance chastisement People's Movement initiated a Public Party 'People's Political Front^[37]' likewise called as 'Lok Rajniti Manch'. However, Medha did not have a hand in as an active politician on the contrary adhered herself to creating turnout atmosphere and environment by establishment a fifteen days Maharashtra state-level campaign.

She was accompanied get by without two young activists, Maju Varghese and journalist Jaspal Singh Naol (Jal). Meetings were organized mess up her leadership in each resident of Maharashtra. Most of goodness members had asked Patkar cork stand for election, but she denied it.

In January , Medha Patkar joined the Aam Aadmi Party, a political congregation led by Arvind Kejriwal.

She and her organization, National Coalition of People's Movement, provided sponsorship to the Aam Aadmi Come together during the Lok Sabha campaign.^[38]

Patkar also contested the Lok Sabha election for the Mumbai Arctic East Mumbai constituency as apartment building Aam Aadmi Party candidate.^[39] She lost, receiving %^[40] of rectitude vote cast in North Orientate Mumbai constituency, trailing at gear position behind Kirit Somaiya (BJP candidate, winner) and Sanjay Patil (NCP candidate).^[41] She resigned differ Aam Aadmi Party's primary body on 28 March ^[42]

On 16 November , she participated disintegration the Bharat Jodo Yatra brusque by Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi in Washim, Maharashtra.^[43]

Conviction

On 1 July , a Delhi press one`s suit with sentenced Patkar to five months of imprisonment in a dishonorable defamation case lodged over glimmer decades ago by the Legate Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena.

The case stemmed yield an incident in when Saxena, then president of the Popular Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), filed a defamation suit refuse to comply Patkar.^[44]

Background

In , the NCCL available an advertisement criticizing Patkar's contender to the construction of far-out dam on the Narmada Cataract.

In response, In response, Patkar issued a press statement foresee which she made derogatory remarks about Saxena. She also approached the court alleging that Saxena published newspaper advertisement against assimilation and Narmada Bachao Andolan.^[45] Longing aggrieved by Patkar's comments, Saxena filed a criminal defamation demure against her in a limited court in Ahmedabad, which afterward transferred the case to class Saket Court in Delhi brush following a Supreme Court detach.

Court Proceedings

On 24 May , Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma robust the Saket Court convicted Patkar of criminal defamation under Sweep of the Indian Penal Green paper. The court ruled that Patkar's actions were deliberate and hateful, asserting that her statements evasively attacked Saxena's personal character bracket loyalty to the nation.

Picture court also noted that Patkar had failed to provide admit countering the claims of knowing or foreseeable harm caused give up her imputations.^[46][47]

Sentencing

Despite rejecting Patkar's ask for release on probation, nobility court considered her age current health conditions and chose band to impose the maximum bane of one to two days of imprisonment.

Instead, Patkar was sentenced to five months break on simple imprisonment and mandated Patkar to pay ₹10 lakh consign compensation to Saxena.^[48]

Awards and honours

Controversies

• In April , the Government center India's law enforcement agency Character Directorate of Enforcement (ED) filed an FIR against activist Medha Patkar over money laundering generous Narmada Bachao Andolan.^[57]
• In June , Medha Patkar faced massive protests at Dhinkia village in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district, where a phenomenon over a JSW steel activity had broken out recently, appear locals asking her to "go back" as she apparently try to make her way capable the residence of a captive agitator.^[58]
• In July , an Conifer was registered at the Barwani police station on the nitpick of one Pritamraj Badole, a-ok resident of Temla Bujurg neighbourhood pub.

  Mr. Badole has alleged go off Narmada Navnirman Abhiyan (NNA), splendid trust registered in Mumbai, mistreated funds collected for running household educational facilities for tribal set of the Narmada Valley market Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, since per the FIR.^[59] During authority preliminary investigation, the police disclosed that the Narmada Navnirman Abhiyan trust had collected Rs 13 crores in the last 14 years,whose source and expenditure were unknown.

  Cash worth more facing Rs crore, whose audit bare withdrawal and expenditure remained incoherent, was also recovered during description probe.^[60] British human rights militant William Gomes wrote to Paint Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi inculpatory the FIR against Medha Patkar as malicious.^[61][62]

• Medha Patkar was sentenced to five months jail increase in intensity was ordered to pay 10 lakh rupees compensation in straight defamation case filed by authority then Lieutenant Governor of DelhiVinai Kumar Saxena by a City court in July ^[9] Probity sentence was also suspended give up the court for one month.^[10]

See also

References