Indian Tribe's Livelihood Threatened by Mining

To be a Dongria Kondh is to live in the Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa state, India - they do not live anywhere else. Yet Vedanta Resources is determined to mine their sacred mountain's rich seam of bauxite (aluminium ore).

 

Mine: Story of a Sacred Mountain

Watch Survival’s 10 minute film ‘Mine: story of a sacred mountain’ narrated by Joanna Lumley

The Dongria farm the hill slopes, grow crops in among the forest and gather wild fruit and leaves for sale.

There are over 8000 members of the tribe, living in villages scattered throughout the Niyamgiri Hills.

They call themselves Jharnia, meaning ‘protector of streams’, because they protect their sacred mountains and the life-giving rivers that rise within its thick forests.

To the Dongria, Niyam Dongar hill is the seat of their god, Niyam Raja. To Vedanta it is a $2billion deposit of bauxite.

Vedanta’s open pit mine would destroy the forests, disrupt the rivers and spell the end of the Dongria Kondh as a distinct people.

The Dongria, and neighbouring Kondh tribals who also revere Niyam Raja, are determined to protect their sacred mountain.

They have held road blocks, a human chain and countless demonstrations against the company.

A Vedanta jeep was set alight when it was driven onto the sacred plateau.

Vedanta has come here to destroy the Dongria. We will drive them away. They don’t have any right to touch our mountains. Even if you behead us, we are not going to allow this.Rajendra Vadaka

In 2009 India’s Minster for Environment and Forests stated ‘There is still hope for Niyamgiri’ and the Ministry is currently investigating the project.

In 2010 the Church of England withdrew its investments from Vedanta stating that the company had failed to show, ‘The level of respect for human rights and local communities that we expect.’

The Norwegian Government and investment firm Martin Currie have also sold their shares in Vedanta Resources over concerns for human rights.

International pressure to save the Dongria Kondh is mounting.

Act now to help the Dongria Kondh

Your support is vital if the Dongria Kondh are to survive. There are many ways you can help.

* Write to India’s Minister of Environment and Forests asking him to safeguard the Dongria Kondh’s rights.

* Donate to the Dongria Kondh campaign (and other Survival campaigns).

* Write to your MP or MEP (UK) or Senators and members of Congress (US).

* Write to your local Indian high commission or embassy.

* If you want to get more involved, contact Survival…

@'Survival International'