India: Bihar Youth are Turning Knowledge into Action « ADAO – Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

India: Bihar Youth are Turning Knowledge into Action « ADAO – Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Students Youth Dharna in support of the farmers of Marwan

Students Youth Dharna in support of the farmers of Marwan

The students' and youths' organisation like the AIDSO, AISF, AISA, SFI, 

DSU, RYA, DYFI, AIDYO, AIYF organised a dharna on Bhagat Singh Chowk, 

near Gandhi Maidan, Patna on 21 February, 2011 in support of the struggling 

farmers of Marwan fighting against the setting up asbestos factory 

in densely populated area .  

Asbestos fight gets ugly

Police use batons, tear gas on protesters of plant in Muzaffarpur
Author(s): Chhandosree Thakur
Issue: Feb 28, 2011

Several protests have taken place at the plant site since January 2010 (Photo: Madhav)

MORE than 5,000 people were lathicharged while protesting the construction of an asbestos plant in a village in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. On January 22, residents of Chainpur were staging a sitin outside the site to protest cancercausing asbestos when police tried to disperse them. When the protestors turned violent, the police resorted to lathicharge and burst tear gas shells.

“We were on a dharna. After a while police officials came from inside the plant and asked us to leave. When we refused, they started beating us,” recalled Ashutosh. “When the officials did not stop, a passerby went to nearby villagers for help. Within minutes about 5,000 people rushed to protect us,” said Panwa Devi. “More cops were called and instructed to use batons.” Police did not even spare women and children.
 

Kalash Devi, a resident of Chainpur

“One policeman hit me with the butt of his gun near the left side of my chest. I was holding my daughter on my right,” said Kalash Devi. “When the police failed to disperse us, they used aansu gas (tear gas),” added Krishna Kumar.

By the time a senior officer arrived, more than a dozen people were critically injured, including six women, he added. Shashikant Singh, sub-inspector of Karja police station that has jurisdiction over Chainpur, said: “We cannot allow anyone to take law in their hands.”

When asked why women and children were beaten, he said: “We didn’t hit them. They must have got hurt in the furore.”

Duped in name of development

In January 2010, private company Balmukund Cement and Roofing Limited bought some portions of agricultural land from a few residents of Chainpur, saying it will build an iron rod factory or a farmhouse. Instead, it started building an asbestos fibre and cement roofing plant on the 18-hectare (ha) plot (see ‘Asbestos unit disturbs Chainpur’s peace’, Down To Earth, June 30, 2010). The construction began before the project received clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. It got the green signal in October 2010.

“It has been more than a year since we started protesting,” said septuagenarian Madnesh of Chainpur. Jugal Kishore, like the rest of the villagers, sold his land thinking an iron rod factory will lead to the development of Chainpur. He along with rest of the villagers has proposed the company set up any other factory that has no health hazards. “We know the ill-effects of asbestos.

Three men from our village who worked for years in asbestos factories in other states died of cancer,” Kishore said. Madnesh claimed the company not only acquired properties illegally but also cheated the government by giving wrong information about the land. The company has shown that the 18-ha plot is barren and has Patahi village in its east, Jaitpur in the west, Bahilwara and Kanti in the south and north respectively. “The facts are just the opposite.

Chainpur is just a stone’s throw from the factory; Parari and Jian are within a 50 metre radius. And most importantly, the land is fertile,” said Madnesh.

No medical aid 
Residents allege that besides lathicharging and throwing protestors behind bars, the police and the company officials have resorted to another tactic to silence them: denying medical help.

Some private medical practitioners are receiving threats not to attend any villager who is against the asbestos plant. Kaushal Kishore Singh of Chainpur is one of them. “They are asking me not to treat them. How can I ignore sick people?” he asked.

Mass Popular Protests against Proposed Asbestos Factory in Bihar, India

           International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions

 

Over the last six months, public opposition has been growing in the eastern Indian State of Bihar over plans for a factory to manufacture asbestos products. Local residents took to the streets en-masse on 10 February in the state capital Patna in a rally coinciding with the group "Citizens Forum Against Asbestos" submitting a memorandum seeking the cancellation of the industrial license given to the proposed factory.

The campaign against the new factory is now pressuring the federal Indian government to offically impose a nationwide ban on the large-scale import of asbestos. Bihar state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar shifted blame from his administration to the national government. "This factory has received the environmental clearance from the government of India. There should be a uniform policy, and asbestos factories stopped all over the country," he stated.

Construction at the Balmukund Cement and Roofings Ltd. (BCRL) factory has now been suspended.

While India’s national government has banned the mining of asbestos, it allows trade, manufacture, and use of the mineral, despite proven dangers of inhaling asbestos fibre. World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 90,000 people die of asbestos-related illnesses every year. The White Asbestos Bill is currently pending in the Indian Parliament and awaits further debate. The legislation would ban the use and import of the deadly mineral. Almost half of the imported asbestos into India is mined in Canada.

Inhaling asbestos fibre or dust can result in the painful and eventually fatal condition called mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer. Most patients are poor workers without access to medical care. Asbestos is banned in the European Union, Australia, and Japan.

A much-criticised memorandum of understanding was signed on 31 December 2010 between the Board of Trade of Montreal, Canada, and the Indian Chamber of Commerce for the "safe" use of asbestos. The agreement is seen as a clear disregard for the health of Indian workers, as profit-motive is the priority for both groups. The inclusion of a representative of Balcorp Ltd., a major asbestos miner and exporter, in the trade mission to India led by Quebec’s Economic Development Minister earlier this month, has caused much concern for Indian activists.

Protest against Sex Education in Schools

Patna: Activists belonging to the All India Democratic Student Organization (AIDSO) in Patna on Tuesday staged a dharna outside the District Magistrate's office to protest against introduction of sex education among the class IX and X students in India.

"While the standard of education continues to spiral down everywhere and both local and central governments refuse to address issues related with education, they are too eager to introduce sex education in Indian classrooms," AIDSO secretary Saroj Kumar Suman said.

Calling sex education in classrooms a pervert deviation from the conventional teachings in classes across the nation, the protestors accused the administration of trying to destroy generations in the name of AIDS control.
"We are not against checking AIDS in India but we will fight tooth and nail against the government's attempt to destroy our culture and promote sexual perversion in the society," Suman said.

Massive Citizen's March in Patna

                                 Massive Citizen's March in Patna

Citizen's March in progress

Patna, Feb 10:

A massive Citizen’s March was held in Patna in support of the struggling farmers of Chainpur-Vishunpur, Marwan, Muzaffarpur fighting against the killer asbestos plant to be set up on the fertile land in densely populated area.

On the roads of Patna

Thousands of citizens of different walks of life including intelectuals, proffesors, teachers, doctors, lawyers, students, youths, workers, farmers joined the march. The march started from JP Golamber, Gandhi Maidan and traversing the main streets of the city culminated at R Block, when stopped by the police.

Long procession denounces the anti people policies of the State Government

Those who were present mainly in the march and addressed the mass meeting held at R Block were Surendra Kumar, National General Secretary, Gandhi Peace Foundation,  Dr. Satyajit Kumar Singh, noted Surgeon, Philip Manthra, President, PUCL Bihar, Prof. Vinodanand Singh, Prof. Tarun Kumar, Prof. Rohit Raman, Dr. Vijay Kumar, Dr. Shakil, Akhatar Hussain, CA Priyadarshi, Vijay Narayan Yadav, Vijay Narayan Mishra, Karu, Satya Narayan Madan, Rupesh Kumar, Pushparaj, Chinmayanand, R N Jha, Kanchan Bala, Neera Devi, Member, Zila Parisad, Ram Naresh Prasad Singh, Ex Mukhiya, Umesh Mahato, Mukhiya, Ashok Moti, Advocate Indira Devi, Nivedita, Udayan Rai, KD Yadav, Member, Central Committee, CPI (ML) Liberation, Badri Narayan Lal, State Secretary, CPI, Sarandh Paswan, CPI(M),  Arun Kumar Singh, Senior State Committee Member, SUCI (Communist), Arvind Sinha, Member, Central Secretary, CPI (M-L), Partha Sarkar and Satish Kumar of CCI, Ram Chandra Roy, Convener, Khet Bachao Jiwan Bachao Jan Sangharsha Committee, Gopal Krishan, Convener, Ban Asbestos Network in India (BANI) and Sadhana Mishan.

Huge gathering showns the people's envolvement in mass movement

The meeting was presided over by Nand Kishore Singh and conducted by Suyakar Jitendra.    

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar must come to Chainpur-Bishunpur for dialogue

Press Release

th February, 2011: Bihar Chief Minister has been ignoring the peoples’ movement underway for the last six months in Muzaffarpur’s Chainpur-Bishunpur and is attempting to divert the Movement Against Asbestos which is getting national support. Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jansangarsh Committee expresses its disapproval for Chief Minister’s irresponsible statement saying that the state government has not given approval to it. This statement is misleading. th and 12th class reveal that asbestos is cancer causing, the Chief Minister must reply as to why hazardous asbestos based plants should be established in Bihar for the profit of the capitalists. th December, 2010, 9th January, 2011 and 22nd January 2011.

• Chief Minister Nitish Kumar must come to Chainpur-Bishunpur for dialogue
• Movement to continue till written orders for closure of asbestos plant is issued
• Anti-people SEZ, rejected in Bihar, Why not Ban Asbestos in Bihar as well

Marwan, Muzaffarpur, 8

The Committee demands that the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), the State Pollution Control Board and the Union Environment Ministry should rescind its approval and environmental clearance given to the Balmukund Cement & Roofing Ltd. The Chief Minister has sent back SIPB’s proposal for asbestos factories, he has not cancelled the clearance of the killer plant as yet.

The Committee declares that until and unless the Chief Minister visits Chainpur-Bishunpur and issues a written order stopping the construction of the proposed white asbestos based factory, the agitation against Balmukund’s factory will continue. Nitish Kumar’s philosophical appeal to the national and international intellectuals to debate ban on asbestos in India is insincere because he has not announced reforms in his industrial policy that currently promotes killer factories.

Although Bihar Government’s text books of Biology and Chemistry taught in 10

It is noteworthy that Bihar Government banned anti-people and anti-agriculture Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the state although it is being implemented in the whole country. If anti-farmer SEZ can be banned in the state, why should Nitish Kumar not ban asbestos which is prohibited in over 55 countries? In such a backdrop, the statement of Bihar State Council of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) is misplaced and unacceptable. While all the asbestos factories in the country must be phased out, the future use of asbestos must be eliminated to begin with, contrary to what CII irrationally contends. It has come to notice that some official of Bihar Industries Association has anonymously been spreading rumours in support of myopic and brutal industrialization.

The Committee suggests that instead of coming under the influence of the propaganda of Chrysotile Asbestos Cement Manufacturers Association, it would be better for the Chief Minister to initiate a dialogue with villagers, doctors and environmentalists by giving priority to the public health on the basis of scientific facts.

It has been reported in the media that the Chief Minister respects the sentiments of the people. If he is indeed sensitive to people’s concerns then he should take action against those company officials and police persons who are responsible for firing and lathi charge on the peaceful dharna on 13

Even a government elected with majority of votes cannot make women victims of police repression, bullets and tear gas. Such action of a democratic-socialist government cannot be permitted. The Committee demands that Nitish Kumar should come to Chainpur-Bishunpur to establish a direct conversation with the injured women. You should come from Patna to Chainpur for a dialogue. In the aftermath of police repression and unilateral action against Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jansangharsh Committee conveners (Tarkeshwar Giri and Kumud Ram), personal intervention from Nitish Kumar is a necessary alternative.

Signatories

2. Ram Naresh Prasad Singh, former Mukhiya, Karja Dih Panchayat, Marwan Block

3. Najma Khatun, Mukhiya, Jian Khurd Panchayat, Marwan Block

4. Najmul Haq, Sah Adhyaksha, Mukhiya Sangh, Marwan & Mukhiya, Mahmadpur Sube, Marwan Block

5. Nira Devi, Member, Zila Parishad, Marwan Block

6. Umesh Mahto, Mukhiya, Rupwara Panchayat, Marwan Block

7. Sikandar Singh, former Headmaster, Bishunpur-Chainpur Middle School & Co-patron Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jansangharsh Committee

For Details

PS: A massive Citizens March is planned in Patna on 10th Feb, 2011 from Gandhi Maidan, JP Golamber to R Block at 1 pm onward.

: Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jansangharsh Committee, Vishunpur Chowk, Marwan, Muzaffarpur, Phone: 099121273, 06223-237590, E-mail: khetbachaomarwan@gmail.com : 1. Ram Chandra Rai, Convener, Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao        Jansangharsh Committee

Campaigning by villagers

                     Wall writing by the farmers against
                   poisonous asbestos factory at Marwan



We do not want Carcinogenic asbestos





Stop fatal asbestos factory in densely populated area



Asbestos is carcenogenic (book)-Is it correct or not?

Sandeep Pandey supports Villagers' Stir against Asbestos Factory

        Sandeep Pandey addresses the huge gathering at Marwan
Patna/ Muzaffarpur, 6Feb:
                Huge gathering of farmers Under the auspices of Khet Bachao Jiwan Bachao Jan Sangharsha Committee a mass meeting was held at the village of Chainpur-Vishunpur in order to intensify the stuggle against construction of asbestos factory.

Dr. Sandeep Pandey addressing the huge meeting

                The mass meeting was addressed by Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee. Addressing the fighting farmers gathered in thousands he expressed the solidarity with their struggle.He thanked the farmers of Chainpur-Vishunpur for thinking faster than Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar as they are opposing the construction of hazardous asbestos factory first time in India. He was confident that the people of Marwan will certainly prevent the opening up asbestos factory in densely populated villages.


A section of gathering

                 Discussining the movement in detail Arun Kumar singh, Senior State Committee Member, SUCI (Communist) said that the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should clear his stand on this matter. Among others who addressed the huge gathering were Ram Chandra Roy, Convenor, Khet Bachao Jiwan Bachao Jan Sangharsha Committee, Neera Devi, Member, Zilla Parisad, Prem Shankar Roy, Ramashankar Singh, Sikander Singh, Sanjay Singh, Jay Narayan Singh and Harendra Mahato. The meeting was presided over by Ram Naresh Prasad Singh, Ex Mukhiya and conducted by Umesh Mahato, Mukiya. Lakhichand Roy, Yogendra ram, Sahid Kamal, Ramesh Pankaj and Upendra Yadav were present at the dias.

Muzaffarpur plant stir stokes ban asbestos debate

Muzaffarpur plant stir stokes ban asbestos debate

Asbestos causing 30 deaths day India

http://www.asianage.com/india/asbestos-causing-30-deaths-day-india-303

Observance of All India Protest Day against the

recent move of the Russian Govt. to remove the

embalmed body of Comrade Lenin

Observance of All India Protest Day on 4 Feb., 2011 in Patna under the auspices of the SUCI (Communist) against the recent move of the Russian Govt. to remove the embalmed body of Comrade Lenin, the great leader of the proletariat, from the historic mausoleum at Red Square, Moscow. Protest March was started from Radio Station and went upto Patna Junction Roundabout, where the effigy of Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, was burnt. After burning the effigy a meeting was held, which was addressed by Com. Arun Kumar Singh, Senior State Committee Member, SUCI (C), and Com. Sadhana Mishra, Secretary, Patna Distt. Committee, SUCI (C).

Condeming the latest sinister move on the part of the government of Russia to remove the embalmed body of Comrade Lenin, the great leader of the proletariat, from the historic mausoleum at Red Square, Moscow. Com. Arun Kumar Singh said that Great Lenin was not only a great leader of the proletariat of Soviet Russia but of the whole world and held in high esteem by humanity at large as a great man history rarely produces. This is why being afraid of and desperate to contain the growing tide of proletarian revolutionary movement and onward march of human civilization based on the illumining thoughts of Lenin, the great Marxist authority and architect of first proletarian revolution of the world, rulers of capitalist Russia with direct backing of the imperialist powers are once again making fresh efforts to destroy the mummified mortal remains of this most revered revolutionary leader now preserved in a glass casket and bury it so that the living inspiration it still provides to the revolutionary proletariats world over ceases to be in vogue.

Movement should be Intensified to achieve the demand

                   Movement should be Intensified to gain total victory

People against killer asbestos plant at Marwan, Muzaffarpur

This gathering shows peoples power is mighter than the rulers

People has not lost the faith in mass Movement

Construction of Asbestos Plant in Muzaffarpur Stopped

Massive Dharna of Left and Democratic parties
for stopping the construction work of Asbestos factory

In the aftermath of the announcement of the stoppage of construction work for the hazardous Asbestos Cement Plant & imposition of Section 144 of Indian Penal Code in Chainpur-Bishunpur, Marwan, Muzaffarpur, nine political parties have sent a joint letter to the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar seeking permanent closure of the asbestos factory. These parties sat on an unprecedented Mahadharana at the Muzaffarpur District Collectorate. 

It is a scientifically and medically established fact that the proposed Chrysotile (White) Asbestos based plant will cause preventable but incurable diseases like lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. So far more than 55 countries have banned asbestos of all kinds and UN agencies like WHO and ILO have sought elimination of future use of asbestos of all kinds including white asbestos. It is also a proven fact that safe and controlled use of asbestos is impossible.    

This letter was read out today at a Mahadharana of thousands of people led by Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) [SUCI], Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) [CPIML], Samajwadi Jan Parishad (SJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPIM], Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India Marxist-Leninist (Liberation), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Forward Block, Marxist Communist Party of India (United) [MCPIU].  The joint letter seeks immediate intervention of the Bihar Chief Minister to prevent asbestos plant and expressed disappointment with the role of Union Environment Ministry and Bihar’s Environment Department.          

The letter and Mahadharna of these parties expressed their support for the struggle of the villagers’ Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jansangharsh Committee which is underway for the last six months. This movement against the toxic asbestos plant has faced police atrocities including lathi charge and police firing. Initial objections against the proposed Asbestos Plant of Balmukund Cement & Roofing Ltd were raised in May 2010 when it was found that the company has indulged in fraudulent misrepresentation by referring to fertile land as barren land and misleading the villagers about the purpose of the acquisition of the agricultural field. The company has violated every provision of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. 

The speakers at the Mahadharna raised slogans like “Sushil Modi-N K Kanodia Murdabad”, District Magistrate Anand Kishore-Balmukund Murdabad” referring to the collusion between the Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Balmukund company’s owner and district administration.
The Mahadharna was conducted by Shiv Shankar, State Secretary, SUCI (Communist) and it was presided over by Ajay Kumar Singh, CPI, Ram Pukar Sahni, CPIM, Sakal Thakur, CPIML (Liberation), Jagat Narain Rai, SJP and Uday Shanakr, CPIML. The Mahadharna was addressed by Arun Kumar Singh, Senior State Committee Member, SUCI (Communist), Gopal Krishna, National Convenor, Asbestos Mukti Andolan, Arvind Sinha, Member of Central Executive, CPI (ML), Chandeshwar Prasad Chaudhary, CPI, Jitendra Yadav, CPI (ML) Liberation, Rajendra Roy, CPI(M), Anwarul Haque, RSP, Chandra Mohan Prasad, MCPI(U), Mukesh Kumar, Samajwadi Jan Parisad and Neera Devi, Member, Zila Parisad.
The Mahadharna and the joint letter demanded immediate closure of the factory, withdrawal of fake cases against the conveners of the villagers’ Khet Bachao Jeevan Bachao Jansangharsh Committee, unconditional release of the arrested leaders of the Committee and sought action against the culprits who fired and lathi charged peaceful protestors including women.    

Hazardous asbestos factory is being built in the fertile agricultural field in the vicinity of densely populated residential area.at the village of Chainpur-Vishunpur under Marwan Blok of Muzaffarpur district in Bihar.The Kolkata basesd M/s Balmukund Cement & Roofing Ltd. has managed the clearance from the Union Environment Ministry. The company has misled the villagers by telling them that an agro-based factory will be set up. It also misled the Union Environment Ministry through its Environment Impact Assessment report saying that the village land in question is “barren”. But these are utterly false. The photos show the truth.