Elderly tribal who was part of Narmada oustees' protest dies

An 80-year-old tribal, who has been part of a protest by the Narmada dam oustees for various demands for last five months, died at a hospital in Vadodara.
Dulji Vasava died at SSG Hospital yesterday due to extreme weakness, said agitation leader Niku Tadvi.
Meanwhile, Vasava's family members and other protesters today began a dharna at Kevadiya Colony near the dam in Narmada district demanding compensation, and refused to take away his body until their demands are met.
"Vasava was a native of Nasvadi taluka of Vadodara and has been part of protest with other project affected persons (PAPs) of Narmada dam since last five months. He was rushed to SSG Hospital after his condition worsened, where he died due to extreme weakness," Tadvi said today.

The PAPs have been protesting near the resettlement office in Kevadiya Colony since July, which entered 146th day today.
Some of the oustees are also on a hunger strike demanding fair compensation, allotment of land and construction of roads in their resettlement colonies.

Tadvi said Vasava joined the agitation because he was not given any land whereas his younger brother was alloted land by government.
"We want the government to allocate land to his family members and also some compensation. We will not take the body till this demand is met," said Tadvi.
Meanwhile, Joint Director of Resettlement, Y M Karur met the agitators. However, no agreement could be arrived at as Vasava's family members want their demands to be met first.

"On July 15, when they started their protest, they gave us a memorandum having 25 different demands. Their main demand was to provide various civic amenities in resettlement colonies. That demand has been fulfilled. Other demand was about compensation and jobs for the oustees, which is under consideration," said Karur.