India: Uncultivable land offered to displaced indigenous people (Adivasis) in the Narmada Valley, Maharashtra, India

Due to the raised height of the Sardar Sarovar dam upto 110m, the agricultural land of about 1500 families will be submerged this year as the monsoon sets in. On 8th of May, 2004 over 200 Adivasi families who are threatened by imminent submergence launched a Passive Resistance for Land Rights. On 15th of May 2004, the Maharashtra Government offered land to the displaced Adivasis but the land is uncultivable. The Adivasis struggle is still going on and they want the Government  to provide cultivable land to resettle 1500 families in Maharashtra before the onset of monsoons. As agriculture is their major source of livelihood, Adivasis are threatened by hunger and malnutrition.  

International action is urgently needed to urge the Government of Maharashtra for the resettlement of the 1500 families on arable land. Forced evictions of the families from their land without providing just alternatives is a clear violation of their right to feed themselves. Please write polite letters to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra with a copy to the Prime Minister of India, requesting them to provide proper resettlement for the Adivasis, including cultivable agricultural land.