TM Ground Report: Adivasi Villagers Smear Themselves with Mud in ‘Mitti Satyagraha’ as Hunger Strike Intensifies for Ken-Betwa Project

Bhopal/Chhatarpur: "Our land is being snatched away, but neither fair compensation has been fixed nor is there any certainty about rehabilitation. Where will we go...?" asks Kallo Bai from Manhari village, her voice choking with emotion. She says there is no way back for them now, so they will sit here and fight for their rights and existence. Her pain is not just of one woman but tells the story of countless displaced families fighting to save their land and identity. Kallo Bai’s eyes show exhaustion, but her voice still carries a stubborn resolve. She has been sitting at the protest site with hundreds of Adivasi farmers for the past nine days.

The conflict over the Ken-Betwa Link Project in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, has now come into the open. On one hand, thousands of Adivasis, women, and children are intensifying their agitation against displacement through ‘Mitti Satyagraha’ (soil satyagraha) and hunger strikes. On the other hand, the administration claims it is proceeding with the land vacation process based on consent and compensation. These two contrasting pictures have made the entire situation sensitive and complex.

 The Mooknayak team visited the site and observed that the agitation has turned into a large gathering. Hundreds of Adivasis, women, and children are sitting under the open sky in scorching heat on the banks of the Ken River in Bijawar tehsil, about 40 kilometers from Chhatarpur headquarters. Many are smeared with mud, staging a ‘Mitti Satyagraha’, while others are on a hunger strike. Earlier, protesters had also demonstrated by lying on a bier (hearse), adding to the emotional atmosphere.

Chants of ‘Water, Forest, Land’

The banks of the river echo with chants of “Water, Forest, Land” (Jal, Jungle, Zameen). Women are sitting on the protest with their children, while elderly people become emotional, speaking about saving their land and identity. Every person present shows signs of fatigue but also a firm resolve to continue this fight for their rights and existence at any cost.

On the ninth day of the protest, the situation became more serious when a large number of protesters entered the Ken River on Monday morning. They smeared wet mud on their bodies, began ‘Mitti Satyagraha’, and raised slogans of “Water, Forest, Land” to assert their rights. The protesters say they are indigenous to this land and will not leave it without proper compensation and rehabilitation, no matter the cost. Several elders emotionally stated that if they are forcibly removed, they would prefer to be buried in this very soil.

Aakash Satyagraha’ Continues

Unique and poignant methods of protest have also emerged. Under ‘Mitti Satyagraha’, protesters smeared their bodies with mud to convey that they are the true owners of this land, with which they have a deep connection. Meanwhile, under ‘Aakash Satyagraha’ (sky satyagraha), thousands of displaced people are lying on the ground under the scorching open sky without food. Due to hunger and intense heat, several women are in critical condition, making the situation even more alarming.

The nature of the protest is not just symbolic but filled with physical and mental anguish. A collective hunger strike has completed 48 hours, leading to the health of many women and elders deteriorating. The lack of adequate medical facilities on site has made the situation even more worrisome. Protesters accuse the administration of ignoring their condition and say no senior official has yet arrived for talks.

Amit Bhatnagar, leader of the Jai Kisan Sangathan, leveled serious allegations against the administration, stating that for the past two days, stoves in many families’ homes have not been lit, yet the administration has taken no concrete action. He said that legal provisions like sections 11, 15, and 18 of the land acquisition act are being ignored in the displacement process, and attempts are being made to evict people forcibly. He warned that if a solution is not found soon, the agitation will become more intense.

Speaking to The Mooknayak, Bhatnagar sharply criticized the administration, saying that even on the 9th day of the protest, the administration's silence proves that the lives of poor Adivasis are being valued at nothing. He informed that for the last 48 hours, stoves have not been lit in the homes of the protesters, yet no responsible officer has come to check on them.

Administration Removes 14 Houses

Meanwhile, the administration has started land vacation proceedings in the displaced village of Dugariya in the district. According to officials, 14 houses have been removed. The administration claimed this process was carried out only after obtaining the consent of the villagers and ensuring they received compensation. The administration says that 5 villagers voluntarily came forward and requested a bulldozer to remove their own houses, which was provided. Additionally, 9 houses were removed whose owners had already shifted elsewhere or possessed more than one house in the village.

The administration also claimed that a humane approach was adopted during the action. Houses belonging to families that have only one home or have not yet made rehabilitation arrangements were not touched. Furthermore, houses where weddings or other social functions were scheduled were given a temporary reprieve. Officials say no family will be left homeless and the entire process is being carried out sensitively.

Local journalist Santosh Sen from Chhatarpur told The Mooknayak that the protest against the Ken-Betwa project is gradually taking a larger form. He said that today, hundreds of people are sitting peacefully on the riverbank protesting, and their numbers are continuously increasing.

According to Sen, this agitation is no longer just about displacement; the Adivasi community is also fighting to protect their "water, forest, land" and their culture. There is a clear, deep concern among people about their identity and rights, which is broadening the movement.

The Ken-Betwa Link Project is counted among the country's ambitious schemes, aimed at better utilization of water resources and providing relief to drought-hit areas. However, the ground reality of this project also shows how challenging it is to balance development and displacement. While the administration talks of phased rehabilitation and compensation, the affected community is fighting for its existence and rights.

For now, the situation on the banks of the Ken River remains tense. On one side is the anger of the protesters and their deteriorating health; on the other, administrative action and the pressure to move the project forward.

What is the Ken-Betwa Link Project?

The Ken-Betwa Link Project is an ambitious plan under the country's first river-linking project. Its objective is to transfer water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh. The project aims to alleviate water scarcity in the Bundelkhand region, enhance irrigation facilities, and provide drinking water. Under this project, a large dam (Daudhan Dam) is being built on the Ken River, through which water will be transferred via canals to the Betwa basin. It is claimed this will irrigate lakhs of hectares of land and provide drinking water to lakhs of people.

The project was conceived several decades ago, but a major step towards its realization was taken in 2021 when an MoU was signed between the central government and the state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. After this, the project received formal approval and work began. However, while it is viewed as a solution to the water crisis and a development project, it has also faced continuous opposition due to the large-scale submergence of forest areas and villages, leading to the displacement of thousands of people.