Program
Alok Shukla
Alok Shukla
Work area : Korba, Surajpur and Surguja districts, Chhattisgarh
Alok started work with Nadi Ghati Morcha, learning effective skills of mobilization, documentation and training at a young age. His initial campaigns were to save Shivnath river (a tributary of Mahanadi) and intense proliferation of sponge iron plants. He began focused work on forest rights and local governance – engaging with local leaders to strengthen rural ecology. He has been an integral part of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, a state-wide network of progressive groups and individuals. Alok became a SRUTI Fellow in the year 2011.
He has been working with adivasis in the villages of Chhattisgarh for over 20 years. There have already been large mining projects undertaken in the region, which have significantly disturbed the natural habitats of several species of animals, destroyed crop patterns, threatened regional ecological balance and contributed to the growing climate crisis. Displacement in the region and indiscriminate tree felling have been raised by village communities with fact sheets and involving local governance institutions. In the Hasdeo Aranya region, some critical areas were categorized as ‘No Go’ by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to not proceed with any further mining activity – and take steps to protect the ecologically sensitive and bio-diverse forest areas of Hasdeo Aranya. The region falls under Schedule V and PESA provisions allow gram sabhas to be the most significant decision-making body.
As a noted expert on the issues concerning the recognition of forest rights, he has helped local officials to recognize collective efforts and collaborate on conservation efforts led by local indigenous communities. With his ability to bring various people together, he has led strong support to various social movement groups and contributed to research and publications. His research and sharp analysis of issues related to coal mining, forest rights and conservation have received widespread acclamation. He is widely recognized across the state and national platforms as a young leader committed to the values of social justice.
