Villagers protest at jantar mantar seeking decision on reopening of sterlite copper

Villagers protest at jantar mantar seeking decision on reopening of sterlite copper

A group of villagers from the vicinity of Sterlite Copper Thoothukudi gathered at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, urging stakeholders and decision-makers to restart the Sterlite Copper plant. They staged a peaceful protest in the National Capital, demanding the immediate reopening of the plant to safeguard livelihoods and restore economic upliftment of the region.

The villagers contended that Sterlite Copper was a crucial source of employment and economic sustenance in the region. Consequently, the shutdown of the plant in 2018, prompted by protests alleging environmental violations, has had profound and adverse effects on the livelihoods of the local communities. It has crippled the lives of the locals, compelling many to migrate to cities in search of employment opportunities to meet the needs of their families.

In addition to economic concerns, the villagers have come to realize a deliberate effort to disseminate misinformation and cast shadows over their genuine concerns. They are now fully aware of orchestrated paid activism aimed at shutting down the factory through the spread of false information. It echoes the 2018 protests where the community was misled. This misinformation campaign resulted in violence leading to the tragic loss of lives among community members and inflicting severe damage to their livelihoods.

Narrating the hardships they faced, one of the villagers said, “Our livelihood was dependent on Sterlite Copper, and its closure has left us grappling with financial uncertainty. We are here to emphasise that reopening Sterlite Copper is not just about a plant; it's about the revival of our livelihoods and the economic upliftment of our community. We have been awaiting the decision on the plant reopening for a long time and are positively looking forward to hearing on December 6th 2023.”

The Thoothukudi people argued that the reopening would not only create new job opportunities but also empower the locals and foster economic growth in the region. The resurrection of the plant will also help ancillaries flourish in the region. To address concerns and collectively work towards a sustainable and mutually beneficial solution, they further called for a transparent dialogue with all stakeholders.

Sterlite Copper has been providing direct and indirect employment to thousands of people in the region for years. The closure of the plant has resulted in massive job losses and reduced socio-economic activities in Thoothukudi. The matter of closure of the plant is posted for final hearing on December 6 in the Supreme Court.