THOUSANDS OF LIVES IN DANGER DUE TO THE GAMES PLAYED FOR POWER PROJECTS - WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
Santi Sharma
The closure of the 500 MW Lanco Power Project has pushed Sikkim into one of the darkest and shameful days in the history of democracy in our state. The news that hundreds of workers employed in the power project are on the edge of hunger proves the type of Government we are witnessing till date. It was further stated in the reports that the workers have been deprived of three months' wages and the company mess also suspended feeding the workers. The workers, out of hunger, frustration and discontentment burned tyres, drums and whatever materials were left outside the office site. On top of that the Lanco officials secretly fled the spot leaving behind the hundreds of workers helpless and jobless. How can a company worth Rs. 3283.08 Crores decide to shut down all the works at one stroke and leave the employees in uncertainty and destitution? What action the Government is taking for this act? What were the terms and conditions before allowing such kind of power projects in the state? Was the Government not aware of these consequences? Or is the Government not bothered about the lives and future security of its citizens? Every Sikkimese living here expects the Government to come forward and handle the situation in a very empathetic way. Where people are crying with hunger, the first and foremost duty of every Government is to feed their mouths. Food, shelter, health facilities and education are the basic necessities to be provided to every citizen. Beautifying the cities should be the last step in development, though an important one. Policies need to be prioritized while governing a state.
On the above situation, the famous American psychologist Abraham.H.Maslow’s theory called ‘Hierarchy of needs’ still holds importance. He has stated in his theory that humans go through five kinds of needs in life. These needs are as follows:
1. Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.
2. Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, limits, stability, etc.
3. Belongingness and Love needs - work group, family, affection, relationships, etc.
4. Esteem needs - self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility, etc.
5. Self-Actualization needs - realising personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.
It can be very clear from the above classification that in our state people are still striving for the very first category of basic survival needs, i.e. Biological and Physiological needs. For our people, to reach and aspire for the higher levels of needs is a distant dream. Government is not at all focussed upon upgrading the level of our living standard. It is busy in retaining its position and fooling the people for upcoming election through meagre acts like Janta Mela etc.
Here, I also want to introduce to all citizens an NGO called ACT(Affected Citizens of Teesta). It is an organization of the indigenous Sikkimese citizens to protect the land and people from the threat to the Biodiversity Hotspot (Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve), endangering the demographic profile of the indigenous primitive Lepcha tribes and the right to live in one's homeland with dignity and security due to implementation of numerous mega hydro-electric power projects in one go. This NGO based in North Sikkim also protested against the arrival of various power projects in Sikkim as they believe that the hydro power projects being set up in the state are not for the prosperity of the Sikkimese people. It is demanding that the heavy hydro power projects being set up in Dzongu, the place of origin of the Lepcha community, the primitive tribe of India, should be stopped. The organization has been staging a continuous relay hunger strike since 20th June, 2007. Mr. Dawa Lepcha and Tenzing Lepcha had even staged a continuous month long hunger strike without even drinking water. Later on, they withdrew their strike on the assurance from the government that some of their demands would be taken into consideration. However, the state government did not stick to this promise.
Moreover, Mr. S. K. Garg, Chairman & Managing Director, NHPC Ltd, added that NHPC has formulated detailed compensation packages based on various approved relief and rehabilitation guidelines. Compensation package includes various allowances for shifting, subsistence allowances until a family member finds employment, special grants for SC/ST families, and rehabilitation sites for affected families with adequate infrastructure, sanitation, educational and other amenities. NHPC also ensures a public hearing process and tribunals for redressing public grievances on these issues. If NHPC has assured all the above policies in advance then why is it maintaining its silence today? Is the company taking any strict and quick actions for the aggrieved workers? Is the Government and the NHPC working in collaboration and so both the parties are not at all interested in the ongoing problems? What steps the Government is taking to protect its citizens from such menace and destruction?
I am having a sense of grief and sorrow as a citizen of Sikkim for those workers who are living in such inhumane conditions for so long. They are not being paid their wages for last three months. How they are sustaining their lives is a great matter of concern. What Labour Front is doing for the workers? What compensation and relief they are planning to provide to the workers? This is what every citizen of Sikkim wants to know today. Though experts are of the view that hydro power is more reliable and efficient and a less expensive energy source than geothermal, biomass, wind, and solar energy that does not mean that humans should suffer for their livelihood in the name of so-called development. Human survival comes first and only then we can move ahead for any other cause. Where people are dying of hunger, how can we ever think of other, less significant issues? Wholistic development and growth of State can be possible only when it follows a mantra of “ Inclusive Development’’ i.e including even the last man and his concerns on taking any step in any direction, as taught by Mahatma Gandhi.
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