National Level Meeting on Mining, Ecology, and Indigenous Communities

Report

National Level Meeting on Mining, Ecology, and Indigenous Communities

22-23 March, 2025

Bagaicha Social Centre, Ranchi, Jharkhand

Introduction:

The national-level meeting convened by the Justice in Mining Network, held on March 22-23, 2025, at the Bagaicha Social Centre in Ranchi, Jharkhand, was a critical platform for addressing the pressing issues faced by indigenous communities, project-affected persons, and ecologically fragile areas in the wake of unregulated mining activities. The meeting was attended by 70 mining-affected indigenous persons, community leaders, scholars, journalists and social workers from Jharkhand, Chhattsigarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra. The meeting brought together various leaders, activists, and community representatives who presented a collective stance on the ongoing injustices and the severe environmental and socio-cultural impacts of mining operations across multiple states in India. The conference underscored the importance of safeguarding the rights of the indigenous peoples, ensuring environmental justice, and promoting sustainable development models that respect the land and its people.

Issues:

1. Fake Gram Sabha Hearings: Several speakers highlighted the persistent issue of fake gram sabha public hearings. In many instances, communities are coerced into attending these hearings, often through transportation on buses, with bribes such as alcohol provided to ensure attendance. In the case of Gadchiroli, the hearings are conducted far from the affected communities, ignoring the statutory requirement to hold such hearings within 10 kilometers of the village. This undermines the participation and voice of local communities in decision-making processes regarding mining projects that directly affect their livelihoods. Similar issue is reflected by the Jindal Power plants affected communities of Tamnar, Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. 

Savita Rath speaks about the extent of public hearing violations in Chhattisgarh

2. District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT): The DMFT, intended to channel funds for the development of mining-affected areas, is failing in its purpose. There is a lack of transparency, accountability, and proper distribution of these funds. Communities affected by mining continue to suffer from inadequate infrastructure, healthcare, and education, despite the funds meant for their development.

3. Compensatory Afforestation: The compensatory afforestation programs initiated as a part of the environmental clearances for mining projects have been ineffective and poorly managed. The afforestation projects often fail to restore the ecological balance and do not genuinely compensate for the loss of forests, leading to further degradation of the environment and the loss of biodiversity.

4. Overriding Power of the Coal Bearing Areas (CBA) Act: The CBA Act provides overriding powers to mining companies, often disregarding the rights of local communities. This has led to the displacement of indigenous peoples, with little or no consideration given to their traditional land rights and livelihood practices. The Act has allowed unchecked exploitation of resources without regard to social and environmental consequences.

5. Easing of Clearances for Mining Development Operators (MDOs): The recent easing of environmental clearances for Mining Development Operators (MDOs) has led to the swift approval of mining projects without thorough scrutiny. This has contributed to increased environmental degradation, forced displacement of communities, and the violation of indigenous rights.

6. Improper Documentation of Wildlife by the District Forest Officer (DFO): Several mining projects have been approved despite improper or incomplete documentation of the wildlife present in mining areas. The District Forest Officer (DFO) has been lax in accurately documenting wildlife, leading to clearances being issued without full consideration of the ecological impact on endangered species and local biodiversity.

7. Documentation of Peoples' Rights and Resources: The lack of proper documentation of the rights and resources of indigenous peoples has resulted in the denial of their entitlements. Many communities are deprived of their forest rights, which are crucial for their survival, due to improper or insufficient documentation of their claims.

8. Paid Media Influence: There has been an increasing use of paid media to propagate misleading narratives in favour of mining companies. These media campaigns often obscure the adverse impacts of mining on local communities and the environment, while downplaying the genuine protests and demands of affected people.

9. Lack of Interconnectivity Among Communities' Issues: Despite the shared struggles faced by different communities across the country, there remains a lack of interconnectivity among the various movements. The absence of solidarity and collaboration between affected groups has hindered the growth of a unified national movement that could effectively challenge the mining industry's powerful lobbies.

10. Reclamation of Land: The failure to properly reclaim and rehabilitate land after mining operations have ceased is another significant concern. Mining activities leave behind vast stretches of degraded land, which are often abandoned without any effort to restore the ecological balance, leading to long-term environmental harm.

Prof Kailas Vasve (Nagpur University) illustrates the loss of livelihood due to displacement

11. Health Issues: Mining and its associated-pollution has caused health issues. Illness has become a social divider between the communities of mining affected and non-mining affected people. In Panna, Madhya Pradesh, health issues, particularly tuberculosis, have surged due to the dust and pollution from stone quarrying. The constant exposure to silica dust in quarries significantly increases the risk of respiratory diseases, affecting local communities. Meanwhile, in Jaduguda, Jharkhand, uranium mining has caused lasting genetic mutations due to prolonged exposure to radiation. These mutations continue to affect the population today, leading to higher rates of birth defects, cancer, and other radiation-related health issues, as the radioactive contamination remains a severe environmental threat. 

12. Innocents killed in government’s anti-naxalism operation: According to a 2024 report, ‘Security and Insecurity: Bastar Divisin, Chhattisgarh”;  paramilitary camps are set up on Adivasis’ private or community property without their consent and in severe violation of PESA, FRA and the provisions of Fifth Schedule. Adivasi communities in Bastar, Chhattisgarh and Silger in Sukma districts are against the proliferation of security camps on their lands and have been engaged in large-scale democratic protests over three years. Government claims that the forested, hilly and mineral rich regions have been “infected” with Maoist or left wing extremists who want to overthrow the state by violent means. However, this “security” reason is just an excuse to clear the protesting villagers for mines. There are several innocents deaths in Dandewada, Bastar of Chhattisgarh everyday. 

13. Dual link of Bhrahmanism-capitalism to weaken people’s unity: Dual forces of  Brahmanism and capitalism weakens the constitutional provisions that enable Adivasi rights against mining. These communities face a dual threat from both Brahmanism and capitalism, which diminish their ability to safeguard their rights against mining activities. Brahmanism and radical Hindutva fail to recognize Adivasis as the original settlers of India. As a result, the powers of Gram Sabhas in the Fifth Schedule areas are weakened. Furthermore, although the preamble of the Indian Constitution declares India a socialist country with the goal of equitable resource distribution, the costs and benefits of mining remain unequally divided. While communities bear the burdens of displacement, ill-health, loss of livelihood, poverty, and impoverishment, the excessive profits are captured by a few capitalists who use Brahmanism to spread fear and division among the people.

Demands:

1. Stop Mining: We demand an immediate halt to all mining activities in indigenous and ecologically sensitive areas. The destruction of forests, pollution of rivers, and displacement of indigenous communities must cease. Mining in these areas should be re-evaluated based on its ecological and social impacts.

2. "Keep Minerals Under the Soil": We call for a paradigm shift in the way we view minerals and natural resources. Instead of exploiting and extracting minerals for profit, we demand that minerals remain in the soil, preserving the integrity of the land, forests, and communities. Sustainable alternatives to mining should be explored, and the rights of indigenous communities must be respected in any development decision.

3. Land Reclamation: We demand immediate and effective post-mining land reclamation for the communities displaced by mining operations. The land must be restored to its natural state or repurposed for sustainable agricultural and livelihood practices. The displaced communities deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives on land that once supported them. 

4. People's right to say no or give consent must be respected: We demand that the fundamental right of communities to say no or give informed consent to mining and development projects be fully respected. No project should proceed without genuine, informed, and voluntary consent from affected people, ensuring their rights, voices, and sovereignty are upheld in all decision-making processes.

5. Accountability: people's representatives must be held responsible for corporatisation of commons, criminalisation and militarisation of mineral-rich regions and to quell people's resistance. 

6. Strengthening gram sabha and local governance systems through PESA: Strengthening Gram Sabha and local governance systems through the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) is essential for empowering indigenous communities. PESA ensures that decision-making, particularly on land and natural resources, remains in the hands of local communities, respecting their rights and traditional governance structures while fostering sustainable development.

Dr Vincent Ekka speaks about the successful case of community-mining in Australia

7. Health Issues: It is required that the health ministries, World Health Organisation and International Labour Organisation specially recognises the health issues caused by mining, its associated water and air diseases and occupational hazards of mining. We demand an immediate cessation of mining activities in Panna, Madhya Pradesh, due to the severe health impact, including the rising tuberculosis cases linked to quarrying dust and pollution. Mining's detrimental effects on public health must be officially recognized, with urgent action to protect affected communities.

8. Promote Equality and Harmony: Constitutional values should be promoted to bring in peace and harmony, embracing equality and respect for all, regardless of religion or background. By standing together, we can challenge exploitative systems, including the Brahmanism-capitalist nexus driving harmful mining practices, ensuring justice and protection for our environment, communities, and future generations.

Immediately doable/startable work based on the above 4 areas of intervention and suggestions made in the meeting 

1) Students and youth sensitization: Possibilities of merging or collaborating with already existing groups, document the study circle work and issues taken up and build a curriculum and pedagogy on adivasiyat, connect with land and colonization of the mind for the next generation of adivasi-moolnivasi youth 

2) Simplification of legal issues through already existing laws and policy , constitutional protections and case law precedents as simple 1 page pamphlets based on specific issues of local sangathans 

3) Sharing in our forums the successes and failures in propping up gram sabhas and increasing their presence in public work concerning economic activities, self-governance and other thematic areas 

4) Justice in mining Newsletter – once a month 

Conclusion:

The mining sector’s unchecked expansion is having devastating effects on the environment, indigenous communities, and local economies. The voices of those most affected—such as the speakers from Huracee, Gadchiroli, Hazaribagh, Dumka, Raniganj, and Asansol—make it clear that the current system is failing to protect their rights and the environment. These communities have protested, advocated, and struggled for justice, but their voices have largely been ignored by the authorities and the mining industry. The time for change is now. We stand united in demanding a stop to mining, the preservation of our lands, and the protection of our collective future.

We call on the government, policy-makers, and corporations to heed the demands of the affected communities, to end the exploitation of natural resources at the cost of indigenous lives, and to adopt a more just and sustainable approach to development. Only through genuine consultation, respect for indigenous rights, and environmental stewardship can we hope to achieve a fair and equitable future for all.

Compiled by Deepti Mary Minj

Inputs from Randall

Nirali Bakhla

26 March, 2025