Social Movements in India: Resistance, Achievements

and Apprehensions

Anthony Dias Xavier Institute of Social Research

(XISR)

Interrogation: Questing the State and State agencies; filing RTI applications; Exercising people’s Right to Know

Confront: Peaceful, non-violent protest (inspired by Gandhi)

Violent protest: Naxalism Creative, perhaps even bizarre, protests

Resistance

Jal satygraha

Omkareshwar Dam

Omkareshwar Dam

Kudankulam Protest

Kudankulam project

Blocking the road by sitting on the road. Kudankulam nuclear protest

Protest @ Mithi Virdi Gujrat

Ngobe-Bugle tribe block a road during a protest against dispute over mineral

exploitation on their lands.

Throwing shoe at Politician

Silent Valley: Hydro Electric Project in the pristine, scenic & bio-diverse valley

Netarhat Firing Range: (Army/Defense Project in Tribal heartland)

Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA): River Valley Project

Koel-Karo: Dams on two rivers in Tribal areas of Jharkhand

Achievements

Provided Alternative Development ideas and models

Placed agenda of Displacement (forced eviction) on Agenda of the State

Forced State to come up with Policy and Laws relating to R&R

Forced State to enact people-friendly legislation such as:

Achievements

Right to Information Right to Education The Panchayats (Ext to Scheduled Areas)

Act Forests Rights Act Anti Corruption Act Domestic Violence Act Communal Violence Bill

People-friendly Laws

Panchayat

What the State/Govt fears: 1) People’s sustained resistance against it. 2) Naxal/Maoist terror: “Single biggest

internal security threat.” What the People Fear: 1) State Terrorism: Unfriendly policies;

Forced eviction; intimidation; impoverishment 2) Other forms of Repression: Filing of false

cases; Surveillance, Misuse of Intelligence services

Apprehensions

The family who lost their near ones in kudankulam nuclear protest.

Naxalism

The Report of the Intelligence Bureau (IB)Attack on NGOs: Focus of attack on

GREENPEACE NGOs accused of slowing down economic

growth by protesting and/or stalling ‘development’.

They are accused of hurting the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the country

Therefore Threat to Economic Security

Surveillance in the New Regime

-World social forum

Best wishes from XISR Mumbai