Open Letter by NGOs / CBOs, and people’s movements’ to CEOs attending the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit (VGGIS) 2015

Open Letter by NGOs / CBOs, and people’s movements’ to CEOs attending the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit (VGGIS) 2015

 

To,

CEOs at the VGGIS 2015

Mahatma Mandir,

Gandhinagar, Gujarat

 

Re.: Spare rural livelihoods, follow the ethical path

 

We, the undersigned, are representatives (but not political representatives) of the rural, agricultural, landless, farming, fishing and the marginalized communities reeling under the onslaught of relentless industrialization.

 

The Government of Gujarat’s (GOG) blind race towards mindless industrialization, because of crony capitalism has endangered traditional livelihoods and rendered these people unemployed and unemployable.

 

These skilled and semi-skilled people in traditional occupations, considered as unskilled or semi-skilled by the present model of development, are not absorbed in new industries envisaged by the GoG and is blatantly taking the poor for a ride and misleading the people about the fraudulent “Gujarat model of development”.

 

Having lost their water, land and coasts (for fishing) these poor people are left bereft of any sustainable rehabilitative support save the one-time compensation for land lost (very meagre and often belated). Before signing MoUs with the GoG, please do ensure that you meet and interact seriously with the impacted people/communities. Hundreds of NGOs representing several million members of civil society are already opposing extremely strongly the MOUs/Agreements signed which not only affect their livelihoods but also their sense of dignity which we are sure you would not wish to happen. Hundreds of people’s movements are ongoing and more may be launched across the country to oppose the fake promises made by Shri Narendra Modi and his Government.

 

The resources (land, water, coasts) that are proposed to be sacrificed by the Government are part of a well thought out crony capitalist ideology which the people of India oppose tooth and nail. All these realities are being hidden from you by the Government of Gujarat and the Government of India.

 

Back in your home in the various countries that hail from, ethical and fair business norms are practiced, which are openly flouted here by our Government. We therefore request you to not to enter into any agreements however profitable they may appear to you, without interacting with the undersigned NGOs and various social organisations and people’s movements as well as interact with the affected people in order to make yourselves fully aware of the injustice that is being done to them before risking your capital at grand events meant to delude you. At the earlier Vibrant Gujarat events too several MOUs were signed but very few have been executed due to resistance from the dispossessed and poor people of Gujarat who are backed solidly by many NGOs/people’s movements.

 

Should you wish, we would be happy to send to you some examples of the unfair and unjust economic policies that Shri Narendra Modi has attempted to execute in the state as the Chief Minister but failed to do so because of massive resistance of the people.

 

We shall be glad to answer any questions regarding the above you may have in order for you to make a fair assessment of the situation yourselves.

 

1.        Sanat Mehta, President, Khedut Samaj-Gujarat

2.        Sagar Rabari, Secretary, Khedut Samaj – Gujarat, Ahmedabad

3.        Persis Ginwalla, Jameen Adhikar Aandolan Gujarat (JAAG), Ahmedabad

4.        Indukumar Jani, Editor, Naya Marg, Ahmedabad

5.        Rohit Prajapati, Activist, Vadodara

6.        Trupti Shah, Activist, Vadodara

7.        Lakhan Musafir, Sittar Gam Adivasi Sangathan

8.        Dr. Jimmy C. Dabhi, Research Director, HDRC, Ahmedabad

9.        Fr. Cedric Prakash, SJ, Director, Prashant, Ahmedabad

10.      Mahesh Pandya, Paryavaran Mitra, Ahmedabad

11.      Neeta Pandya, MARAG, Ahmedabad

12.      Dinesh Rabari, MARAG, Ahmedabad

13.      Dr. Saroop Dhruv, INSAF, Ahmedabad

14.      Hiren Gandhi, Darshan, Ahmedabad

15.      Rajnibhai Dave, President, Gujarat Sarvodaya Mandal, Ahmedabad

16.      Gautam Thaker, General Secretary, PUCL Gujarat

17.      Priti Oza, Prayas Centre for Labour Research and Action, Ahmedabad

18.      Sudhir Katiyar, Prayas Centre for Labour Research and Action, Ahmedabad

19.      Anand Mazgaonkar, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, Vadodara

20.      Swati Desai, Bhoomiputra, Vadodara

21.      Micheal Mazgaonkar, Mozda Parivar

22.      Prasad Chacko, Director, Human Development and Research Centre, Ahmedabad

23.      Jhanvi Andharia, Ahmedabad

24.      Anuradha Pati, Development Professional (Rural Livelihoods)

25.      Rajiv Shah, Ahmedabad

26.      M.S.H. Sheikh, President, Brackish Water Research Centre, Olpad, Gujarat

27.      Dr. Sunetra Deshpande, Director, Vox Populi, Ahmedabad

28.      Ashok Parmar, Prayas Centre for Labour Research and Action, Ahmedabad

29.      Ramesh Shrivastava, Prayas Centre for Labour Research and Action, Ahmedabad

30.      Harsukh Kathad, Prayas Centre for Labour Research and Action, Ahmedabad

31.      Denis Macwan, Prayas Centre for Labour Research and Action, Ahmedabad

32.      Mina Jadav, Prayas Centre for Labour Research and Action, Ahmedabad

33.      Prakash N. Shah, Editor, Nirikshak, Ahmedabad

34.      Ulka Mahajan, Sarvahara Jan Andolan

35.      Krishnakant, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, Vadodara

36.      Rajendra Ravi

37.      Vijay Diwan, Aurangabad

38.      Satyam Shrivastava, SRUTI, New Delhi

39.      Hasmukh Patel

40.      Deepti Raju, Jeevantirth, Gandhinagar

41.      Jayesh Patel, Khedut Samaj (Gujarat)

42.      Paulomee Mistry, DISHA, Ahmedabad

43.      Vipul Pandya, Bandhkaam Majdoor Sangathan, Ahmedabad

44.      Pankti Jog, Ahmedabad

45.      Harinesh Pandya, Ahmedabad

46.      Badribhai Joshi, Gram Seva Mandal, Tancha

47.      Rameshbhai Patel, Vice President, Khedut Samaj (Gujarat)

48.      Pradyumansinh Chudasma, Bhal Bachao Samiti

49.      Ramdevsinh Chudasma, Bhal Bachao Samiti

50.      Naranbhai Chauhan, Bhal Bachao Samiti

51.      Bhavubhai, Sandhida, Bhal Bachao Samiti

52.      Shivlal Vekaria, Saurashtra Khedut Sangharsh Samiti.

53.      Dahyabhai, Saurashtra Khedut Sangharsh Samiti.

54.      Chandubhai, Saurashtra Khedut Sangharsh Samiti.

55.      Pinak Dhamadia, Khedut Samaj (Gujarat)

56.      Sailesh Raval, Azad Vikas Yuva Sangathan

57.      Dashrath Desai, Maldhari Sangathan

58.      Bharatsinh Jhala, CRANTI, Ahmedabad

59.      Bhavubhai Thakor, Azad Vikas Sangathan

60.      Nipuj Patel, President, Bharuch Jilla Khedut Samaj

61.      Natubhai Nayak, President, Navsari Jilla Khedut Samaj

62.      Dilip Jhala, Mahabal Gauchar Bachao Samiti, Vadodara Zala

63.      K. K. Gohel, Mahuva.

64.      Hamirbhai Shiyal, Kheti Paryavaran Bandhara Bachao Samiti, Mahuva.

65.      Shaktisinh Gohil, Bhavnagar Jilla Gram Bachao Samiti

66.      Damayantiben Modi, Anu Abhyas Juth, Bhavnagar.

67.      Abha Tandel, Kinara Bachao Samiti, Umargaon

68.      Vimlaben Kharadi, Himmatnagar

69.      Sonal Mehta, Eklavya Foundation, Ahmedabad

70.      Ashim Roy, National Trade Union Initiative, New Delhi

71.      Advaita Marathe, Ahmedabad

72.      Sanjeev Kumar, Delhi Forum, New Delhi

73.      Subhash Lomte, Convenor, National Campaign Committee for Rural Workers, NCCRW

74.      Vijay Diwan, Aurangabad Social Forum, Nisarg Mitra Mandal

75.      Soumya Dutta, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha

76.      Balendra Vaghela, Saurashtra Kutchchh Lokhit Sangharsh Samiti

77.      Shilpa Vasavada, Ahmedabad

78.      Sushila Prajapati, Ahmedabad

79.      Neha Shah, Ahmedabad 

80.      Johanna Lokhande, Ahmedabad

81.      Vijay Parmar, Ahmedabad

82.      Rasikbhai Joshi, Dwarka Jilla Khedut Samaj.

83.      Jaskarnbhai Chaudhari, Mahesana Jilla Khedut Samaj.

84.      Shrenik Shah, Bhavnagar.

85.      Mahendrasinh, Bharuch Jilla Khedut Samaj.

86.      Jignesh Mewani, Jan Sangharsh Manch.

87.      Akshay Kankaiya, Nature and Human Care Society, Rajgidh Prakruti Mandal, Mahuva

88.      Dhirubhai Dobariya, Rajkot.

89.      Dinesh Sanghavi, Kutch

90.      Bharat Patel, Machhimar Adhikar Sanghathan, Bhadreshwar, Kutchh.

91.      Virajibhai Patel, Bhavnagar Jilla Khedut Samaj.

92.      Vipin Patel, Khedut Samaj Gujarat.

93.      Amrish Patel, Jan Sangharsh Manch, Ahmedabad

94.      Umesh Solanki, Editor, Nirdhar, Ahmedabad

95.      Vijay Bharatiya, Ahmedabad

96.      Bhagubhai Patel, Bardoli

97.      Ranjitbhai Desai, Navsari

98.      Kamlesh Patel, Rajkot Jilla Khedut Samaj

99.      Shantubhai Patel, Farmer leader, Surat

100.    Sureshbhai P. Makwana, Khedut Hit Rakshak Samiti, Junagadh

101.    Karabhai A. Jhala, Khedut Hit Rakshak Samiti, Junagadh

102. Tushar Pancholi, Paryavaran Vikas Kendra, Rajkot 

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