The Dangarias of Jarapa village, a vulnerable Primitive Tribal Group (PTG) of Rayagada district, did not wait even to listen to the proceeding which was read out by the court staff after the last Palli Sabha was concluded in their hilltop hamlet.
They had given their verdict simply against mining and while the proceeding was read out in loud speaker, they came over the village streets sure that it was their success and nobody could now wrest their abode from them. They started rejoicing with traditional dance and music despite heavy rains. Out of 16 voters, 12 from only eight households were present maintaining a gender ratio 50:50. local ward member presided over the meet. Judge Mishara attended as an observer.
Though only 16 voters were present, around 400 tribals from other villages and around hundred outsiders, including representatives from international NGOs like Action Aid, Survival International, Amnesty International, a few local NGO persons, scribes from local and national media observed the proceedings.
Noted tribal activists like Kumuti Majhi of Niyamagiri Surakhya Samiti, Indu Netam from Chhattisgarh, Bidulata Huika of Odisha Adibasi Manch, lingaraj from Farmers’ Movement, environmentalist Prafulla Samantara, lingaraj Azad, Bhala Sadangi of lok Sangram Mancha and member of CPI-Ml (New Democracy) among others witnessed the last meeting of the villagers in the hills that said a clear no to mining plan of Vedanta.
Sources said the Vedanta fiasco could affect the corporates like l&T, OSWAl and RSB Metaltech, who have applied for prospective licence for bauxite mining in
Rayagada district.