SHILLONG, SEPT 22: The indefinite-economic-strike by the Movement for Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood – Meghalaya (MIPRLM) to protest against the blanket ban on coal mining in Meghalaya will take place as slated in all the eleven districts of the state from Tuesday.
The state government failure to address issues rising out of the blanket ban on coal mining prompted the MIPRLM to call for the indefinite economic strike.
“We have decided to go ahead with indefinite strike from September 23 onwards,” MIPRLM vice chairman Erwin K Sutnga said on Monday. He said that the economic strike will be effective across the state’s national highway wherein all goods carrying commercial vehicles are requested to cooperate and stop ferrying the goods.
The strike was called after the government failed to respond to the 10 days ultimatum served by the MIPRLM
“The situation in the state of Meghalaya arising out of the blanket ban on coal and the stand of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given way to a situation where the government of Meghalaya has failed to address the needs of the mining sector,” Sutnga said.
According to Sutnga, the Economic-Strike-Call (ESC) is a democratic call to stage a peaceful and non-violent protest against the blanket ban of coal and sand by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and state government complicity on the issue. Sutnga said that the prospect of an intractable attitude and continuous impositions of harsh and anti people conditions by the government of Meghalaya which continues to play around with the lives and survival of lakhs who now are facing financial privations and are in dire straits is the reason behind the economic strike.
“Notice has been given to the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya regarding the ESC,” Sutnga said. MIPRL has asked all affected people to support the Economic Strike Call (ESC). Sutnga also said apart from those directly affected by the coal ban, the organisation also call upon all right thinking people to come and join the protest because there is no section of society in Meghalaya in particular and many parts of India that have not been affected by the arbitrary orders of the NGT.
Sutnga further stated that the strike is totally based on the legitimate demand to implement the 10 point issues submitted to the chief minister of Meghalaya on August 29 at Polo grounds. MIPRL reiterates the need to implement Para 12 A Sub Para (b) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India to protect the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Peoples’ inalienable and absolute rights over tribal land and their unique land holding system and traditional rights and customs. Sutnga added this demand includes the modification of all central laws applied to the state of Meghalaya done without recourse to the mandatory provisions of Para 12 A Sub Para (b).
The MIPRL also calls upon trade unions, associations and government employees, banks and financial institutions to lend support to the ESC. MIPRL will neither support nor condone any act of coercion, use of force, threat or violence, arson leading to loss of private and public property, loss and/or injury of life and limb, Sutnga stated. The movement has also been demanding the immediate redressal of the economic hardship of the poor affected by the coal ban in the coal belts and relief measures to be instituted.
Apart from these issues, the MIPRL has also demanded that the government must come out with a moratorium on payment of installments of loans from banks financial institutions and private financiers availed by people in the mining sector amongst others.
Further, Sutnga stated that the ESC will not affect private and small commercial vehicles within Meghalaya, schools, colleges, offices, markets, transporters and traders of sand, stone and chips which means normal life in general for the local people. All participation in the ESC should be non violent and there should not deviate from democratic protest, Sutnga said adding the strike will not hamper essential and emergency services.- By Our Reporter
If anyone is found hoarding or charging essential commodities beyond the actual price will be booked. and those Coal Barons who have polluted our environment have to be penalized. Our absolute rights over tribal land our unique land holding system and traditional rights and customs does not at all allow pollution of environment and water and destruction of forest for coal mining,.
The strike should continue till demands fullfilled.