Orissa

Indigenous communities of India have been fighting for their rights for centuries now. But their voices go unheard. The sad state of affairs of Dongria Kondh in Orissa is a vivid example of the violation of human rights. Niyamgiri hills at Lanjigarh, home to the adivasi community in the state, have a wealth of bauxite. The place is also home to an aluminum refinery, the brainchild of Vedanta Resources, a UK-based FTSE 100 company.

The company is seeking expansion of the refinery and mining project. The Indian authorities are ignoring the devastating health impacts of the proposed six-fold expansion. Local people have been deprived of the details of the project and its impacts on their daily lives. They have been comforted with the proclamation that the region will get a much needed makeover due to expansion of refinery and mining project.