A couple of weeks ago, we had sent out an invitation to our readers requesting them to write and tell the rest of us about who they are, what they do, what organizations they work with and what ideas they have.

We heard back from one of our readers. We heard from http://36garh.notlong.com.

They write:
We are a group linked with tribal dominated Indian state of Chhattisgarh, and would like to contribute in development for the State. We think we would benefit from an exchange with concerned people, who would share their experiences with us.

We invite you to join this present day chaupal and participate in discussions about Chhattisgarh, its people and their development.
I look forward to an enriching experience for all of us.

They also sent us a recent meeting that convened the First General Assembly of mines, minerals & PEOPLE on 16.12.2004.

The annual general assembly of mines, mineral & PEOPLE was concluded today at Anandwan, Maharashtra with paying rich tributes to the martyrs of Maikanch Firing in Kashipur, Orissa which took place on 16th December 2000 and expressing solidarity with the ongoing struggle of the local communities against the proposed mining in that area. The Assembly strongly condemned the atrocities of the state agencies.

mines, minerals & People is a national alliance of organisations, struggle groups, communities and fraternity organisations which has evolved over five years of collective struggle as the single largest platform of mining struggle groups, affected communities, workers, advocacy groups, NGO’s, experts and technical institutions.

A 25 member Executive Council was elected by 250 delegates from 150 organisations representing 16 states to lead the alliance for the next two years. The assembly also adopted the constitution and evolved an action plan.

The four days of deliberations and sharing of mining struggles across the country from Kollum in Kerala to Kataldi in Uttaranchal, from Lanjigarh in Orissa to Saurashtra in Gujarat from the interior tribal and forest regions of open cast and underground mines, to the urban slums of migrant quarry workers and bonded mine labourers, the fangs of global privatization, liberalization and de-regulation became visibly ugly in these stories.

The delegates reiterated their resolve to fight the onslaught of profiteers both national and international to hegemonize natural resources and push the local communities to a state of impoverishment.

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Lathi Charge of Tribals in Orissa
Bhopal Day of Action, 2004
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