Interview: Medha Patkar

Photo courtesy || Internet

Mangalore: She descends down the stage after delivering a strongly worded speech against the corporate giants. Amidst congratulations from people, an organiser offers her a bottle of water. "Is that mineral water? I don't drink bottled water. It's a personal stand", says the iconic forerunner of people's activism in India - Medha Patkar. She was in Mangalore on Nov 8th, for The People’s Audit of the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) as a part of nationwide series of people’s audits on SEZs. Clad in a crumpled cotton sari and loosely tied hair, she exuberated an indomitable spirit nevertheless as she listened to testimony after testimony of the sufferings of the affected. Here are excerpts from an interview with her: 

Q: Could you highlight why you stand so strongly against SEZs?

A: SEZ does not stand Special Economic Zone but it is 'Special Exploitative Zone'. How can people sitting in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha decide what is development without consulting the people at the grass root who are the ones directly affected? Already, the Tatas and Jindals of the country have cost us so much but now with the coming of these SEZs they will come together in a place where they are free to be corporate giants. They deplete and exhaust that land of all its natural wealth including that of human resource, just so the produce is exported to foreign land. We do not need foreign money and we do not need the corporates as our economy is agrarian. So, how about strengthening that sector and helping out the farmers? Also, there have been gross violations of the SEZ Act. Every clause has been violated by those in charge.

Q: How was the Mangalore SEZ (MSEZ) people’s audit different from the others you have attended?

A: This audit was special because it was organised in two phases where the people who were displaced spoke along with the people who had been notified. Both sides presented their testimonies in detail. I liked the fact that the adivasis were more vocal in this audit as compared to the others I have attended. The testimonies were articulate, and brought out with precision the truth of the injustice done to them. I also appreciated that the panel was very diverse and belonged to different social and academic interests. The audit was not only attended by the victims and facilitators but also by intellectuals and students in large numbers. However, I think that this audit should have represented people affected by other companies as well and not just MRPL.

Q: As said in one of the testimonies, when the people approached the representatives (MLAs) they were told that “The chapter is closed as far as we are concerned”. Where do they go then?

A: (Laughs) That is just strategy to discourage people. We have re-opened cases as old as 30 years and 60 years. Presently in the United Nations they have re-opened 300 year old cases where the present generation is demanding compensation for the ill treatment of their former generations as slaves. The judiciary of this country is slowly realizing that things will change as long as people remain dedicated to their causes.

Q: In your address you mentioned an Alternate Development Strategy which you plan to propose to the Government. Could you elaborate on that?

A: We have an alternate development plan ready which we want to present to the concerned authorities for implementation. It was appreciated by the Government but for some odd reason was put on the backburner. Through these audits, we plan to understand the problem at micro level and integrate the needs of the common people into the Development Strategy. The strategy strives to better the condition of the tribals, farmers and adivasis as the central goal to development of the country’s economy.

Q: You have always emphasized on the need to involve the youth in your activism. How can they contribute?

A: If we get even hundred people like both of you to get involved with the struggle then we can do wonders. Why should the affected be the only ones fighting? Why isn’t the common man bothered? The social activists are in a way the leaders but they need a group of dedicated workers. The social activist should not lose ground chasing international fame and money. The activist should remain dedicated to the cause and fight till the very end. Like in the Narmada valley, today after ten long years we have succeeded in shutting all dams in Narmada. The reaped benefits are less than 10%. So, help from any and every sector is largely appreciated.

Sub-edited by: Anisha Alberquerque