" When the factory carries out explosions, our ancestral houses get damaged."
" The explosions are so intense that it develops cracks even in new buildings, let alone our old foundations."
Arti reports from Chainpura village where a cement factory's neverending mining operations are putting lives of villagers in danger and causing trouble. Houses in this village are falling apart from the explosions carried out by the cement factory situated a kilometer away. This has been going on for 50 years. Residents have approached factory and government officials multiple times to reimburse for the damaged caused by the factory's operations but none have showed any interest in providing help.
Machla is from this community, has 3 children and lives here with her family. Her dream was to own a beautiful home where she could live and play with her family and children. But her house is falling apart as the explosions keep inching closer.
'We approached the factory and government officials for help. No one is ready to help us. We have been patiently waiting because no one cares to listen to us. The rich and powerful keep giving us false reassurances. Money will benefit us all but the rich never pay heed to our financial pleas', says Machla.
Arti adds, 'A home is everything to us, and without a home we have nothing. This is the lesson I have learnt in my life and am very unhappy being in this village. I have made my video only because of this. I appeal for support from all my viewers to help in calling up the concerned officials. This will help us garner stronger support and bring change'.
Please call the District Collector of Damoh, Swatantra Kumar Singh on, +91-9425316800 and ask him to help the residents of Chainpura.
Arti Valmiki reports from Damoh, Madhya Pradesh for IndiaUnheard.
This video was made by a Video Volunteers Community Correspondent. Community Correspondents come from marginalised communities in India and produce videos on unreported stories. These stories are ’news by those who live it.’ they give the hyperlocal context to global human rights and development challenges. See more such videos at www.videovolunteers.org. Take action for a more just global media by sharing their videos and joining in their call for change.
Impact Story
The happiness that comes with an yearly bonus
This video is a story of success, a story of a small win against a giant corporation. A story of persistence and a never-say-die attitude. This year, the workers of 3 gardens in the Alipurduar area of Kumargram Block, received a slightly increased yearly bonus, an increase of 3%, from...
No Cards
Yashodhara – A salve for the social injuries of the Dalits in Mumbai’s slums.
Yashodhara Salve’s style of community journalism has led to Dalit women marshalling against atrocities they faced, women standing up against traditions that exile them from society and women going on camera to demand education for their daughters which is a basic right. The 38-year old Community Correspondent grew up in...