A hero of philanthropy?
by Toby, Survival
Extraordinary: Forbes has named Anil Agarwal one of its 2009 ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’.
This, of course, is the same Anil Agarwal who’s head of Vedanta Resources. Vedanta plans to mine India’s Niyamgiri hills, and thereby destroy the remote Dongria Kondh tribe who live on Niyamgiri’s slopes.
To Forbes, from Survival’s Director, Stephen Corry:
Since when did being a ‘hero of philanthropy’ (Forbes, March 4) involve invading a tribe’s sacred hills, destroying the forests they live in and devastating their lives?
That’s what Anil Agarwal, majority owner and chairman of Vedanta Resources, is doing in Orissa, India. His motive is simply profit, but Mr Agarwal’s plans will destroy one of India’s most remote, and self-sufficient, tribes – the Dongria Kondh. If Mr Agarwal were a true philanthropist, he would talk to the people most affected by his company’s massive industrial projects and respect what they want, rather than blithely assume that what is good for his bank balance is also good for the Dongria Kondh – it isn’t.
Stephen Corry
Director, Survival International
March 13th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Rather a shame that Survival International has repeatedly shown that it has no understanding of this project, the tribe mentioned, or Indian corporate affairs.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
It is more than ‘rather a shame’, it’s a tragedy that Vedanta seems determined to press ahead with mining Dongria Kondh land which will destroy this tribal people. The human rights movement to support the Dongria Kondh will not go away.
(For the benefit of other readers, Tim’s company, ‘corporate social responsibility’ consultancy CO3, represents Vedanta.)
March 14th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Unfortunately the content of this reply from Toby is completely inaccurate.
March 14th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Tim: you say my reply is ‘completely inaccurate’. Which of our statements are you disputing:
- that Vedanta is intent on mining the Niyamgiri hills
- that the planned mine will destroy the Dongria Kondh
- that the human rights movement will keep supporting the Dongria Kondh
- and/or that CO3 is representing Vedanta
March 14th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
All these statements are incorrect. A joint venture Indian company which is jointly owned by the Orissa State Mining Corporation (wholly owned by the Indian State of Orissa) and Sterlite Industries (a subsidiary of Vedanta) will be conducting open cast mining activity in a relatively small area on the top of one hill in the vicinity of Lanjigarh in the Indian State of Orissa. There is no evidence to support the second point. It is interesting to note that Survival’s campaign is not supported by the majority of the NGO movement in the state of Orissa. And finally CO3 does not represent Vedanta. We are an independent advisor.
Survival, interestingly for an organisation that claims to support human rights, has no disclosed human rights policy and therefore I find its claim to be a member of the human rights movement rather curious. Moreover it has refused to engage with or understand the string of other very important issues which pertain to this project. Your campaign is therefore not credible and consequently has totally failed so far to persuade its targets (bar the odd exception of its relevance).
March 15th, 2009 at 8:50 am
http://www.livemint.com/2009/03/15120507/Vedanta-to-spend-Rs125-cr-on-C.html
March 16th, 2009 at 11:16 am
The mine site is vast. Several Survival researchers have visited Niyamgiri, and were taken to the mine site by Dongria Kondh elders. It’s very close to Dongria villages. Our researchers spoke to a large number of Dongria Kondh people. Every one of them was deeply opposed to the mining. The Dongria Kondh also say they have not been consulted.
The Dongria Kondh are clear: they know they will be destroyed along with Niyamgiri if your client’s mine goes ahead. No amount of ‘compensation’ will cure the problems that mining Niyamgiri will cause.
This year is Survival’s 40th anniversary. During that time, Survival has stood together with some of the most vulnerable peoples in the world. We have helped them fight for their lands and their lives. There have been many remarkable successes. In the words of Davi Yanomami, a shaman of the Yanomami people, “without Survival, we’d all be dead.” A human rights policy seems a little unnecessary.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:56 am
Dear SURVIVAL friends,
I read your article about the Bushmen’s case vs.Government
of Botswana. They won the case.
Nevertheless I want to inform you,that the Landlaw of ALL Western countries(including Germany,where I practice law)
accepts the doctrine of EMINENT DOMAIN. It means,in case,the City Hall,the Senat of Berlin,The Bundesregierung needs land for a public purpose,it has the right to forcefully aquire this land to the usual market price.
As the Laws of Botswana are predominantly ANGLO-SAXON ,the Government of Botswana has the right to give mining lisences as the mining industry is of a paramount importance for this small country without ANY OTHER INDUSTRY,bringing hart currency.
Of course the Government of Botswana ought to pay remedies to the Bushmen for nationalizing the plots,necessary for mining.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Thanks for the link, Tim: the comments below the article are certainly revealing:
“…We think most of our wealth should go back to the society,” How about not taking it away from the society in the first place. Just give it a thought, Anil. A shareholder PS: Why don’t you put signs up to the Heart Clinic you said you have build in Lanjigarh, Orissa. Could not find it last time and the locals even dared to say there is none. Outragious isn’t it – Maybe you want to reinvest in your local goon army – to make them see a nonexistent Heartclinic.
Posted On 3/15/2009 3:01:53 PM
Re: Pradeep Said:
@Satya… yes, and how come the ‘Vedanta schools’ in Lanjigarh turn out to have been built before Vedanta came? All Agarwal did is put a Vedanta sign up! Even the teachers are being paid by the state govt, not the company.
Posted On 3/16/2009 4:22:13 PM
And PS no amount of hospitals and schools (assuming you ever did truly honour your promises) nor vaguely worded ‘Human Rights Policies’ drafted by your lawyers, would make up for the loss of ancestral land and cultural identity of the Dongria Kondh.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
If Survival was interested in a dialogue with the stakeholders of this project in Orissa, perhaps it would understand more about it.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
We have indeed had extensive ‘dialogue’ with the most important ’stakeholders’ – the tribal people whose lands will be devastated by Vedanta’s mine. They are vociferously against the project. We have repeatedly asked Vedanta for a meeting – but they have failed to grant this request.
April 1st, 2009 at 2:39 am
I am surprised at Tim’s statement that no NGOs in Orissa oppose Vedanta.
Wildlife Society of Orissa was one of the petitioners from the state who opposedthe project to Supreme Court of India. We still continue to do since in our opinion, the priceless diversity of the Niyamgiri hills will be lost for ever once the mining starts. Several rare species of lizards, snakes, flora which were discovered as new records for the state will be gone !
There have been numerous public demonsrtations, strikes, road blocks since the plant has started operating at Lanjigarh. Protestors have been beaten up , arrested and jailed for simply exercising their democratic right to protest as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.
This was possible since the company has control over the local adminstration and police officials. Our elected government headed by our suave English speaking Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Patnaik supports the activities of this company wholeheartedly and his admistration works overtime to ensure that this demonical company is allowed to do whatever it wants to do.
Incidentally, Mr. Patnaik does not know Oriya the state language though he is in power since the last 11 years ! Therefore, we the people of Orissa do not expect him to understand the development issues facing the state.
Vedanta is a serial offender ! They have broken numerous environmental and forest laws all of which has been documented by the Supreme Court appointed expert committee.
People in Orissa view the company as the epitome of corporate greed. It now wants 6,000 acres of prime coastal land near Puri to build a supposedly world class university. Ofcourse due to strong local protests it has not been able to set its foot on the land which the government has happily signed away!
In fact, if somebody would document the role of MNCs in Orissa after a century he would be aghast to find the high levels of complicity of the local elected government in looting the resources of the state.
Incidentally, this company regularly sponsors music programs, dance festivals, sports meets and issues full page ads in local papers in a clear bid to woo the middle class !
Biswajit Mohanty
Wildlife Society of Orissa
April 5th, 2009 at 4:17 am
Tim,
One would assume that you are an educated person. So one would assume that you are aware of the delicate state of the earth, global weather patterns, climate change, deforestation, human rights etc. So, Tim, please answer a question for me – do you believe in equal rights for all human beings?
I’m looking forward to understanding how you see things.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:11 am
Tim,
Thank you for your perspective and concerns.
My advice for your group would be to look at how you can engage Vedanta more effectively with organisations with Survival International. You mention human rights policy. There are guidelines setout in international law – ILO 169, and the Declaration for Indigenous People amongst others that were created over a long period by experts in the field that clearly stipulate the basic minimums for engaging with and respecting indigenous populations in relation to their human rights. The UN provides more than adequate human rights policy and law for organisations like Survival to be supported by.
My advice as a CSR promoter / adviser would be to engage with Survival and other organisations that have been approached by the Dongria Kondh to explore what steps Vedanta for example would need to take to be fully respecting international law. Sometimes for a multitude of reasons national law (in this case in India) may not be adequate to fully protect the rights of an indigenous population hence the need for international NGOs such as Survival to become involved. Truely philanthropic CSR could look like corporations like Vedanta supporting nations like India to ratify such international legislation…
The route forward for corporations wanting to use indigenous land has to be through dialogue and engagement with NGOs that can advise and assist good practice in relation to indigenous populations. Is Vedanta a member of the Global Compact?
I am currently “engineering” a meeting between a major mining conglomerate investor and survival representatives to discuss the issues pertaining to the Vedanta case in Orissa.
My advice is to sit down and work through all of the issues and your own concerns with NGOs that can inform you of what a company like Vedanta would need to do to come inline with international law concerning indigenous populations such as the Dongria Kondh.
The concerns are real and are not going to go away. Campaign NGOs such as Survival are growing in strength and strategy every day and indigenous populations deserve to protect the land which they have relied on for time immemorial.
If you want to discuss any of this further please feel free to mail me: xiaobao_jd@yahoo.com
Best wishes,
Joseph Duncan