Rashmi Rekha Das, OP
In our society, women have always been an epitome of beauty, strength, and intelligence. Today, the success of women across various walks of life has proven that they have earned this reputation very deservingly. Some very focussed and dedicated woman activists have played a significant role in changing many social evils and have been a shining beacon of hope. Sarada Giri is one active woman leader who spearheaded the Baliapal movement in Balasore district and fought against the government’s decision to set up National Testing Range (NTR). At a time when women were regarded as ornaments of society and were confined to the four walls of their houses, Sarada certainly broke the stereotype and displayed exemplary bravery to fight for the cause of her fellow villagers. In a candid conversation with Orissa Post, Sarada recounts her days of struggle.
To the question what urged her to fight against the government’s move, she said: “Baliapal is considered as the granary of Orissa. The area contains some of the most fertile agricultural lands in India, producing a variety of crops such as coconuts, groundnuts, oilseeds, cashews and paddy. The betel leaf orchards play the most important economic role, however, since the richness of the soil enables both Jagannath and Banarasi varieties of betel to be grown and exported. Proximity to the coast and the Subarnarekha river also enable people to earn a living through sea and inland fishing and gives rise to various cottage industries such as the manufacture of coil rope, bamboo baskets, mats and mattresses and haulier machinery as well as salt factories an oil extraction mills. According to a survey Resistance Movement against the National Testing Range 1986, the aforementioned activities, including orchards, homestead land and government land under cultivation, are valued at approximately `450 crore. Taken together, the total cost of the land, properties, crops, cottage industries and temples that were threatened by the Testing Range amounts to `712 crore. Since childhood, I had learnt one thing that for a farmer his land matters a lot. As I belong to a farmer’s family, I too was gripped with the fear of landlessness when the decision to set up National Testing Range was taken by the Janata government. I was the only woman who started attending meetings wherever it was held. Once I gave my opinion concerning our preparedness against the state government’s move and to my surprise the convenor Gadadhar Giri appreciated my idea and asked me join the movement.”
“In order to offset popular resistance to the location of the NTR, the government had proposed an elaborate rehabilitation and compensation plan worth `127 crore. Briefly, the plan intended to relocate the people of Baliapal into model villages up to 15 km away from their homes, each family receiving a house costing `15,000 built on 10 decimals of land (one-tenth of an acre). The model villages would contain schools, hospitals, community centres and post offices. Besides, the government had assured to set up industries to provide direct and indirect job opportunities for one member of each displaced family. Several factors, however, drew into question the feasibility and supposed good intent of the government scheme. We formed a committee to raise our voice against relocation of villagers. Village dwellings and shop walls got littered with slogans in Oriya, ‘Yudha Nuheh Shanti Chauhun, Ghati Nahi Mati Chauhun (We don’t want war, we want our soil). The slogans at the check gates were more direct: “Warning: stop! The land is ours, the sea is ours.”
“We adopted a non-violent, non-cooperation approach to their protest, drawing inspiration from the historical involvement in the noncooperation, civil disobedience and Quit India movements. A Janata Curfew (people’s curfew) was set up whereby government officials and representatives were prevented from entering the area. To enforce this, four checkposts were set up barricading the approach roads to the Baliapal-Bhograi area with bamboo and trenches in order to stop government vehicles. At the Kaliapadra Naighati checkpost, villagers constantly formed the barricade. Above the barricades a sign clearly stated in Oriya, ‘Land is Ours, Sea is Ours. Government Officials Go Back’,” said the activist.
Asked if she faced objection from her family, she said: “I got married when I was only 14 years old. I joined the Baliapal movement a year after my marriage. So many people would to use derogatory remarks about me. But that did not make much of an impact on my determination because my husband Prabodh Giri who passed away two years back always supported me. He never let me down and encouraged me to fight for a social cause. So I never felt low and encouraged women of 144 villages to enlist for the cause. He was so elated about my achievement that once he could not control his feeling and tears started rolling down his eyes.”
A Class VII passout, Sarada was even jailed for playing a significant role in the movement which ended in the year 1990. Finally the state government had to bow down before the villagers’ demands.
Apart from the NRT project, Sarada fought for the wellbeing of beedi workers in north Balasore who were leading a life of penury. They got their identity cards issued, thanks to Sarada. Children of beedi workers were earlier deprived of education. Sarada made free education and housing scheme for the beedi workers’ families an integral part of her campaign.
“When I was selected as a member of the advisory committee under the leadership of the then labour minister Prafulla Samal, I came up with some measures to bring positive changes in the lifestyle of beedi workers. And the government accepted my proposals,” says the down-to-earth Sarada.
For her contribution in nation building, Sarada is called Apa among people of locality. Being the president of a self-help group, Sarada is popular for serving quality food to schoolchildren. “Children irrespective of caste, creed and colour are same. God resides in them. So I take utmost care while cooking for them. Since 2009, I have not received a single complaint in this regard,” she said.
Sarada’s favourites
Food: Anything served with love
Place: Jagannath temple