For Immediate Release

The seven-day long padayatra against corporate invasion of coastal Orissa has gained momentum on it way with more and more local villagers joining the protest march to mark their solidarity with the movement.

Public Meeting at Ersamma : Photo - Venkitesh L

On 2 December, the fourth day of the padayatra, which started from Dhinkia on 29 November, the original procession of 600 protestors had swelled to over 750 with people joining all along the way. In Machchagan alone over a hundred new villagers joined, including over 40 women.

“Though many of these villagers are not directly affected by any of the mega-projects in coastal Orissa they can understand what it means when possession of land or one’s livelihood is affected,” said Abhay Sahoo, leader of the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samithy.

As they wind their way over rough village roads, through rice fields and along water canals the padayatris are receiving enthusiastic response everywhere. Local people presented flowers to the protest marchers in many places.

Photo: Venkitesh L

Though a bulk of the padayatris are from the anti-POSCO movement representative of over 14 movements in Orissa are also participating. The distance from Dhinkia to Puri, the destination of the padayatra, is nearly 140 kms and every day the marchers are covering an average of 20 kms. Though this is tough going for many of the older people they are persevering nevertheless as the issues on hand are a matter of life and death for them. On the third day, the padayatris had to walk for another 3 km to stay for night since the Jagatsinghpur District collector cancelled the booking of Gorai School.

While food for the padayatris is being arranged mainly by local villagers along the route, a major problem facing the padayatra right now is the lack of adequate resources to pay for accompanying vehicles, generators, sound systems used for campaigning, tents for sleeping where needed and other related expenses. PPSS leader Abhay Sahoo has appealed to all those in solidarity with the struggle of the local people to urgently send financial support. Those wishing to contribute to the padayatra can contact Prashant Paikray, spokesperson, PPSS at Ph: (0) 9437571547. For further information see www.orissaconcerns.org

Related posts:

1. Press Release: padayatra Inauguration