1) As a first step towards this, can we file an RTI to get the facts in black & white. 2) Put up a website with individual stories of the farmers. 3) An online petition. 4) Get some media coverage to get more support. 5) Conduct a proper poll/voting for the farmers to officially record.
probably can brain storm and come up with a concrete plan and more effective ways to address this. thanks Suresh I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still i can do something. I will not refuse to do something I can do . ( Helen Keller ) Suri's blog http://bhookh.com http://aidindia.org http://www.giftofvision.org http://foodindia.org.in/ http://tmad.org http://freerice.com/ http://asknri.com --- On Tue, 9/23/08, ulprasanthi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: ulprasanthi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [tomakeadifference] A mail from Dileep Konatham to support Polepally Farmers To: [email protected] Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 2:49 AM Friends, This is a topic that we should support. Leave alone giving money, first read about the hardships and struggle of the SEZ-affected people. You can also go through my blog: http://prasanthi. wordpress. com/category/ special-economic -zones-sez/ These posts are based on what I listened to in a day long meeting on SEZs. Farmers are key to the development of Nation and converting the fertile lands to Industries is not good for our Country. Being educated, if we turn deaf ear to their woes, probably we can not forgive ourselves in future when the results of these unhealthy developments show up. Please go through the following mail from Dileep garu to BosF group: ============ ========= === Friends, Some of you already know about the agitation of Polepally farmers ( http://polepally. wordpress. com) whose lands were snatched by the state government for setting up a Pharma SEZ. While the land was acquired at Rs. 16,000 per acre from these farmers, APIIC is selling the same land at Rs 40,00,000 per acre. The agitation which has been going on for the past 4 years has entered a decisive phase. Polepally farmers have used all forms of democratic protests to make their case heard. They have organized dharnas in front of MRO office, District Collector's office and also APIIC head office in Hyderabad. In a novel protest form, 13 Polepally farmers have contested the recent Telangana Assemby By-election. 42 farmers have lost their lives due to hunger, heart break and suicides in this village after the land was acquired from them. This shows the seriousness of the situation here. >From a stage where no one took notice of their agitation, Polepally has now reached a stage where every major political party, newspaper and television channel started supporting and extending solidarity to the movement. Devender Goud (NTPP), K Narayana (CPI), Nagababu (PRP) and representatives of Bahujan Samaj Party have already visited Polepally and extended their support. Magsaysay award winner P Sainath has visited this village and wrote extensively about this. The Polepally agitation has reached a decisive stage now. The farmers have decided to organize a Bhu Satyagraham from the 25th of September 2008. It is an indefinite protest in front of the Polepally SEZ (Jadcherla Green Industrial Park SEZ) until their demands are met. While the agitating farmers are getting sympathies and support from all corners of the world, what they also need is financial support to fight till the end. They need some basic support for organizing this Bhu Satyagraham like: 1) Rent for Tents, Mike Sets, Carpets etc 2) Printing of Pamphlets, Posters, Banners Etc 3) Water at the satyagraham site 4) Other miscellaneous expenses. *Friends, I request everyone to contribute small amounts and extend your solidarity to the struggle. Kindly get in touch with any one of the persons below who will then let you know how you send in your donations*. Also, please forward this email to your friends. *Please visit **http://polepally. wordpress. com*<http://polepally. wordpress. com/> * for complete coverage/photos/ videos of this struggle.* ** Thank you, Dileep Konatham *Persons to Contact* Hyderabad Sujatha Surepally: +91-98494-68281 Email - [EMAIL PROTECTED] com,suji_alia... @yahoo.com Dileep Konatham: +91-98496-96536 Email: konatham.dil. [EMAIL PROTECTED] com M. Bharath Bhushan: +91-9937007292 or 09848807292 [EMAIL PROTECTED] com Mahabubnagar Madhu Kagula +91-94405-65856 Email: madhukag...@ rediffmail. com ** USA JayaPrakash Telangana: +1-240-604-1327 Email - [EMAIL PROTECTED] com
