Top environmental activist Prafulla Samantara selected for Goldman Environmental Prize from Asia region

Apr 25, 2017:     Top environmental activist Prafulla Samantara of Odisha has been selected for Goldman Environmental Prize or Green Nobel from Asia region for championing the cause of State’s Dongria Kondh tribals and safeguarding their land and culture. The prize, also known as Green Nobel prize, was announced in San Francisco yesterday.

Samantara, is the sixth Indian to win the prize, had led a historic legal battle that protected the Niyamgiri Hills in Odisha and safeguarded land rights of indigenous Dongria Kondh living in the area from massive destruction due to mining.
Samantara’s case established a precedent authorising local village bodies throughout the country to decide on mining activities in their regions, giving them control and rights over their land and lives. The 65-year-old activist is also fighting POSCO, the South Korean steel major whose proposed iron and steel plant in Jagatsinhpur district of Odisha has run into similar problems.

Instituted by the Goldman Environmental Foundation, headquartered in San Francisco, the prize includes a no-strings-attached award of 1 lakh 75 thousand US dollar per recipient. Samantara has received the award for the Asian region for 2017.
The prize honours grassroots environmental activists from six inhabited regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. Till date, Indians who received the award are Medha Patkar, MC Mehta, Ramesh Agarwal and the duo Rashida Bi and Champa Devi Shukla.   (AIR NEWS)