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dam-l Chennai (Madras) Rise in Support of Narmada
Chennai (Madras) Rise in Support of Narmada:
Rally And Public Meeting Addressed by eminent Jurist Mr.Krishna Iyer,
renowned economist Dr.C.T.Kurian and others
September 29, 1999:
Over 1200 people, representing the various educational institutions and
NGOs of Chennai, participted in a 4 km. long rally to declare their
solidarity with the struggles in the Narmada valley and the other similar
struggles of the dalits and adivasis in other parts of the country,
especially Tamil Nadu. The insitutions that participated in the rally and
the public meeting that follopwed it include, Loyola College, Queen Mary's
College, Stella Maris College, Gurukul College, Women's Christian College,
Law College, Rainy Hospital, Kalyani Hospital, the Slum dwellers
Association of Chennai, Pennorumai Iyakkam, Dalit Soldiarity Group etc. It
was a unique experience in Chennai as hundreds of volunteers marched
through the city, shouting slogans for the right to life and livelhood of
the deprived and displaced people.
The public meeting that followed the rally was held at the Gurukul College
and attended by over thousand people. The main speakers there were Justice
V.R.Krishn Iyer, Former Judge of he Supreme Court, Dr. C.T.Kurien, Chairman
of the Madras Insititute of Develpoment Studies, Dr. K. Rajaratnam,
Director, Gurukul College, Mr. Karuppan, President of the Dalit Solidarity
Group and Ms. Palayam of Pennurumai Iyyam. The speakers cautioned the
audience against the models of development today that is geared to serve
the needs of the elite and the privilaged rather than the people. Enormous
amount of money and other resources today go towards the building of fly
overs, international airports, luxury cars etc. Even in the general
election, no political party speaks about the basic needs of the people
such as providing clean drinking water, basic medical care, primary
education etc.
It is time for a revolution in this country. Justice Krisna Iyer concluded
his speech by calling upon the people to `rise up and revolt' against such
rulers and powers who trample upon the human rights and social justice of
the common masses.
The following news item is from THE HINDU. (30-9-99):
Chennai, Sept,. 29. Speaking at a meeting today, Mr. V.R. Krishna Iyer,
former Supreme Court Judge, termed many construction activities pursued `in
public interst' as `pseudo-development'.
Challenging the kind of development that is being imposed on the city, he
said flyovers were basically built for the elite sections of society.
Questioning the raionale behind such expenditure, he said pressing concerns
such as providing safe drinking water, shelter and access to public health,
education should get priority. He was participating at a Public meeting
organised to express solidarity with the Narmada Bachao Andolan and in
protest against the violation of the rights of Dalits and Adivasis. The
meeting was held by the Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI).
Mr. C.T.Kurien, Chairman, Madras Institue of Development Studies, said
efforts should be made to suitably resettle displaced persons. Dr. K.
Rajaratnam, president, National Council of Churches in India, spoke.
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