Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Source: DTE
Ten years ago, on April 18, 2013, the Dongoria Kondhs, a vulnerable tribal group in India, won a landmark legal battle in the Supreme Court against Vedanta Company’s plans to exploit the Niyamgiri Hill for bauxite.
What did the court say?
The court recognized the cultural, religious, and spiritual rights of the tribe on the hill and gave the Gram Sabha the authority to examine possible infringements on their rights due to the proposed project. The Supreme Court ordered a referendum to be held amongst the affected Gram Sabhas to obtain consent on the project from the community, which unanimously voted against it.
The referendum resulted in a rare registration of the Dongoria Kondhs’ claim for sovereignty, self-determination, and territorial autonomy.
Usage: Niyamgiri case today serves as a textbook example of good usage of Free, Prior Informed Consent (FPIC), for any environmental projects. The case can be a quote in an Essay/Ethics/ Environment question.
