The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is a social movement founded in 1985 under the leadership of Medha Patkar to protest the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River in India. The NBA opposes the project due to concerns over inadequate resettlement of displaced persons and environmental impacts. It advocates for the rights of Dalits, Adivasis, and minority communities affected by the project and government development policies. Over three decades, the NBA has organized protests and legal challenges that have led to some improvements in rehabilitation policies but many issues remain unresolved as construction of the dam continues.

1. NARMADA BACHAO
ANDOLAN
SATYAWAN RAMTEKE
BASW III
Roll. No. 36

2. BACKGROUND
 Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is a social movement.
 Save the Narmada movement.
 International Icon of non-violent protest against destructive development.
 Gandhian Ideology.
 Narmada river (The total length of the river is 1,312 km and for the first 1079 km it
flows in Madhya Pradesh).
 Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP). Objective is Irrigation and Hydroelectricity for Gujart
 Identity of NBA- logo, slogans, movement song.
“ ladenge !_ jeetenge !” , “ narmada ki ghati me ab ladai jaari hai…”
 Rights of Dalits, Adivasis and Minority people against the Government policy.
 Objectives of NBA- No dams on the Narmada river.
Proper Rehabilitation and Resettlement of the people.
Preservation of Environment and Ecosystem.

3. Medha Patkar
 Dalits , Adivasis and Minorities calls her Medha Tai
 She is the founder member of the 32 years old people's movement called Narmada
Bachao Andolan (NBA) as well as National Alliance of Peoples Movement
(.NAPM)
 She was a member on World Commission on Dams.
 Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan founded by Medha Patkar with NAPM.
 Started “JEEVANSHALAS- schools of life” for Dalit and Adivasi children's.

4. TIMELINE
(HISTORY)
 1946- British execute plans to construct 3000 small, 135 medium and 30 major dams on
narmada river. (Narmada Sagar- MP, Sardar Sarovar- GJ).
 1947- Jawarhalal Nehru calls dams the ‘Temples of Modern India’
 1961- Nehru goes ahead with Sardar Sarovar plan.
 1979- Sardar Sarovar Dam is announced as going ahead.
 1980- Foundations laid for Sardar Sarovar. The World Bank shows interest in funding the
project.
 1983- World Bank sets up a new department to deal with re-settlement issues around
dams. Emerging of Nimad Bachao Andolan (closed within two years)
 1985- Formation of NBA under the leadership of Medha Patkar.
 1987- Sardar Sarovar construction begins.
 1989- Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA or Save the Narmada Movement) officially forms
and works.
 1990- Peaceful march and non-violent demonstration of Project Affected Families
(PAF’s) on MP and GJ border.

5. Continue…
 1991- WB formed an Morse committee.
 1992- The Bradford Morse report.
 1993- WB withdraw its financial involvement and GJ raised fund by issuing Sardar
Sarovar bonds.
 1994- Work is halted on the project because of legal disputes.
 1998- World Commission on Dams (WCD), Medha Patkar as a member representing the
NBA.
 1999- The Supreme Court rules that work is to be resumed on the dam.
 2000- WCD final report released by Nelson Mandela.
 2003- National Rehabilitation Policy.
 2005- The Supreme Court acknowledges that the resettlement and rehabilitation was
inadequate
 2006- Project application for further work on dam. NBA launch hunger strike again.
Dam continues to be built taller while resettlement and rehabilitation projects fail

7. Community Participation
 Peoples of 192 villages and 1 city.
 Peoples (PAF’s) of Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Maharashtra.
 Nimad region of MP, Kewadiya colony of GJ, Nandurbar district in MH.
 Participation of women is high.
 Number of groups are joined with NBA through Social Media.
 National Alliance of Peoples Movement
 Farmer union
 Arundhati Roy, Amir khan, Ali Kazimi, Anand Patawardhan, Alok Agrawal.
 Other

8. Current Situation of Movement
 2014- Narendra Modi speed up the construction work of Sardar Sarovar project
 217- Sardar Sarovar Dam got completed.
 Closing of all gates except 3 gates due to technical issues.
 Forceful eviction of Dalit, Adivasi and Minorities peoples from their villages
without fulfil the judgement of SC.
 SC says the date of eviction but after the proper resettlement and rehabilitation of
the people.
 Supreme Court in February allowed the Madhya Pradesh government to use force
to evict people from the catchment area after the 31 July deadline
 Medha Patkar start indefinite fast seeking rehabilitation for affected families from
27th July 2017.
 Medha Patkar was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police on 7th August 2017.

9. Success and Failure
 Partially successful.
 Some objectives got achieved.
 Total resettlement and rehabilitation of PAF’s not yet done.
 National Rehabilitation Policy.
 Nimadi’s and Adivasi's are organised and are fighting for their rights.
 New leaders are emerging through NBA.
 In Maharashtra all PAF’s got their land and compensation for houses.
 Organisations got emerge for the PFS’s to approach their rights
• Narmada Control Authority (NCA)- State Government
• Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA)- Judiciary local, High and Supreme Courts
• Grievance Redressal Authorities (GRA)- Central Government

10. References
 Patwardhan, Anand & Dhuru, S.: Narmada Diary. Bombay. Anand Patwardhan,
1995
 Vombatkere, S.G.: Narmada Bachao Andolan-25 Years of Resistance and
Reconstruction. (Mainstream vol. XLIX, 1 (25/12/2010))
 Bisht, Medha. Conceptualising Movements Against Large Dams, International
River Network | World Commission on Dams | Domestic Mobilisation
 Bisht, Medha. Dams-Social & Ecological Impact | World Commission on
Dams | Narmada Bachao Andolan | Case Study-Movement Against Large Dams-
State Response
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narmada_Bachao_Andolan
 https://yourstory.com/2017/06/narmada-bachao-andolan-legacy/
 http://zeenews.india.com/home/time-line-narmada-bachao-andolan_286200.html

11. “… the Narmada Bachao Andolan is not just fighting big dams. It is
fighting for the survival of India's greatest gift to the world: non violent
resistance.”
- Arundhati Roy