Nondescript tribal village Kesharpadi of Sibapadar Gram Panchayat under Muniguda block in Rayagada district witnessed a rush of visitors as the second special Palli Sabha was held pertaining to mining in the Niyamagiri hill range, the abode of the Dangaria Kandhs.
Kesharpadi has 21 households with a population of 68 out of which 36 are voters. The tiny village, which is 12 km from Muniguda block headquarters and 67 km from Rayagada district headquarters, turned out to be a hub of activities with the presence of over 500 people including scribes, social activists, representatives from various political parties and tribals armed with traditional weapons.
Confusion prevailed over the number of Dangaria Kandh villages to be affected if mining is carried out. Some activists said it as 112, where as some others pegged it at 165. local Congress party representatives calculated it to be 200. Ward Member Sriram Garadia presided over the meeting where 10 women and 23 men out of 36 voters spoke against mining by Vedanta. Panchayat Executive Officer Pradhani Sabara facilitated the meeting. Two platoons of police force, including District Voluntary Force, SOG and CRPF had been deployed to maintain security. District Judge Sarat Chandra Mishra listened to the resisting tribals, who unequivocally said no to mining.
After the proceedings were read, the members of the FRC signed the resolution in a mood of jubilation. Niyamagiri Suraksha Samiti president Kumuti Majhi said, “like the last and today’s Palli Sabhas, we will peacefully resist in all the future meetings to be held by the Government and assert our religious, cultural and livelihood rights over the entire Niyamagiri Hills. We are also conducting parallel Palli Sabhas in 112 villages in our own way which are much more democratic. We will send the resolutions to the Supreme Court.”