CC_India

While celebrating their courage, commitment and creativity,
the study also critically interrogates the subordination of
women’s rights and the instrumentalisation of women and children
in the interest of realising the community’s goals.
As the report goes to print, the Union and state government
in response to mounting pressure by the South
Korean political leadership and watchful international
investors, has decisively intervened and ordered the take
over of the land. In particular the visit of the Japanese
Industries minister has further accelerated the government’s
coercive tactics. Beetle vines have been bulldozed
and the standing crops destroyed, arrests have
been made and violence has escalated.
“My family has access to 2 acres of cultivated land.
In another 2 acres we have planted betel vines. Of
the annual paddy yield of 15 quintals, 10 quintals
are sold and the rest consumed. All family
members work on the betel vines which mature
in 15 days. The paan leaves are sold and we make
Rs10000-15000 every month. In the community
forest, the family grows cashew and seasonal
vegetables. The sale of cashew brings in Rs 50,000
rupees. Surplus vegetables too are sold.” — Chhabita
Swain (47) Gobindpur village
“See how the goats are grazing nearby. We just
let them be in the jungle and sell them after 6 -7
months and we get around Rs 2000-3000. If our
jungle is gone how shall we get our livelihood? Our
land is better than money. What shall we do with
money? We are a toiling class people — if we have
our hands and a piece of land, we can earn our
livelihood.” — Baidehi Das
Even landless families such as Santi Das’ can earn
around a lakh of rupees annually by cultivating betel
vine in 1 decimal land (in the village forest area). A
total of 11 villages in these three gram panchayats are
affected by the POSCO project. The project has disrupted
the social cohesion of the communities dividing people
into either pro POSCO or anti POSCO villages. The Odisha
government has committed to ‘facilitate’ the setting up
of the steel complex, as a part of its agenda for ‘developing’
the state. The villagers of the affected area have
previously experienced the devastation and the resulting
mass displacement all around them in the wake of
similar ‘development’ projects. As in the case of Santi
Das whose family was among the hundreds of families
who were uprooted and dislocated from Trilochanpur
in Dhinkia panchayat when an Indian Oil Corporation
refinery was setup in 1996. Today, Patana, the village
Santi Das married into, falls under the purview of the
POSCO land acquisition scheme.
“People believed they would get compensation,
money and jobs in the refinery. Like the others my
father gave away our acres of agricultural and
homestead land to IOC. He did get compensation
money. My brothers bought all sorts of things —
motor bike, a colour television set. Why save money
now, they said. We will get a job in the refinery and
earn more money. They got no jobs. My two brothers
are working as ‘landless laborers’.” — Santi Das
UNEQUAL CITIZENS: Women’s Narratives of Resistance, Militarisation, Corruption and Security
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