Kerala - Kozhikode   

PCB order victory for people: Medha

Staff Reporter

Youth urged to question programmes in the name of development

JOINING HANDS: Social activist Medha Patkar and Kozhikode MP M.P. Veerendrakumar at the national seminar and multi-cultural programme `Collabre '05' at St.Joseph's College Devagiri in Kozhikode on Saturday.

KOZHIKODE: Environmentalist Medha Patkar has said the order of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) to close the production unit of Coca-Cola at Plachimada in Palakkad district was an indication of the success of the people's struggle against court verdicts and policies of ruling Governments.

She was speaking at a national seminar and multicultural programme `Collabre '05,' organised by the Department of Social Work, St. Joseph's College, Devagiri, here on Saturday.

The PCB on Friday had ordered the closure of the company's unit citing its failure to comply with the pollution control norms.

Ms. Patkar called upon the youth to question the ongoing programmes executed in the name of development and science. Existing development activities were infringing upon the rights of the poor and the downtrodden. Likewise, social activists needed to focus their attention on human justice than on legal justice. They should fight for the rights of the poor than just show sympathy for them, Ms. Patkar said.

She alleged that tribal people were being displaced from forests in the name of conservation. But, it was the elected representatives who were robbing the wealth of the forests, she said.

She also released the magazine `Insiders,' which includes articles by the students.

Kozhikode MP and Janata Dal(S) State president M.P. Veerendrakumar inaugurated the seminar. College Principal Joseph Vayalil presided over the inaugural session.

Sucharitha Hotta introduced the theme of the seminar. P.M. Mathew, Head of the Department of Social Work, spoke.

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