Name: Prosper S Marak
Location: Meghalaya’s
The story goes back to November 2008 when an attempt was made to open up a new coal mine on the periphery of Balpakram National Park. In any case, coal mining cannot be undertaken by private individuals as all coal (including that in Meghalaya) was nationalized in 1967. In blatant violation of the law of the land, ‘illegal’ coal mines continue to flourish all over Meghalaya.
In July last year, contractors came with bulldozers and began clearing the forests. The GSU swung into action. They seized the bulldozer and handed it over to the police. A protracted legal battle ensued; in the intervening period young men and women cleared the debris and began to reforest the area. They took turns patrolling the restored lands to ensure that the miners did not return to destroy what had been resurrected Marak’s associate Ginseng Sangma, also a student, believes the protests were the least they could do for the community and the forests they grew up in. They convinced over 100 school and college students to join in the innovative non-violent protest by replanting the forest stretch that had been destroyed by the bulldozers.
