To protect natural resources and the lives and livelihood of thousands, Prakrutik Sampad Surakshya Parishad (PSSP) is planning a rally on 25 May 2005 from Kucheipadar to Tikiri in Kashipur, Orissa.

Recently, the state government of Orissa signed an Memorandum of Understanding with Aditya Birla to extract bauxite from Kodinga Mali of Laxmipur Block and to establish Alumina plant at Kansariguda. According to PSSP, the people were neither informed about it nor there were any Gram Sabha resolutions in favour of the project, as per constitutional requirements. The PSSP considers this as the state government’s move in favour of the MNCs and big Indian companies to loot the natural resources. PSSP’s proposed dharna is to oppose this loot and to protect the people’s lives and livelihoods.

In the past six months, the state government with the aid of State Armed Police, Central Reserve Police Force and Indian Reserve Battalion has been unleashing a reign of terror in the Kashipur, Laxmipur and Dasmantpur locality to cow down PSSP’s struggle, its leaders say. The activists of PSSP have been branded as “terrorists”, “anti-national”, “anti-development” and “naxalites”. They were lathi-charged and teargassed several times. PSSP members and activists were arrested wherever they were found. At the same time new police outposts/barracks are set up to help and protect the Utkal Alumina (a joint venture of Canadian Company ALCAN and India’s Aditya Birla group).

It is in this context that PSSP has decided to organise the rally on 25 May. The major demands of PSSP are:

1.              Release of arrested activists and withdrawal of false cases foisted on the people

2.               All the bauxite mining projects be cancelled and arrangement may be made for the permanent development of the entire area.

3.              Stop deployment of police forces including armed forces immediately. Newly set-up outposts should be withdrawn from the locality.

4.              Arrest of officials responsible for the firing in Maikanch.

5.                  Stop enlisting the jhodias under OBC and restore their tribal status.