INDIA -Traitors Within and the Menace of Foreign-Funded NGOs
Poonam Sharma
It is a matter of grave concern that forces both within and without of our frontiers have often held back the progress of our great nation, India. We have seen a trend since history began. Every time India begins to stride confidently towards growth and self-reliance, some vested interests, at times cleverly disguised, try to put obstacles in our way. A large part of this problem is caused by NGOs working in Bharat, many of whom are funded by foreign donors with an agenda that is not necessarily aligned with the aspirations of the people of India.
The Historic Undermining of Indian Advancement
India’s path has been one of resilience, struggle and determination since independence. But one cannot ignore the fact that for long years of Congress rule there was often no real priority for Indian economic progress. The fact that even India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru could allegedly say he was “accidentally an Indian” throws up uncomfortable questions about the intent and commitment of those at the helm.It was during such times that foreign-funded NGOs could operate in a free environment, where there was a dearth of nationalistic zeal in leadership. In the name of social causes, massive funding was received from Europe and America but with a hidden agenda of hampering India’s growth as a global power.
Targeting the Energy Sector as a Disruption
This is evident in the case of the events of 2011, when anti-nuclear activism nearly derailed the Russian-assisted Koodankulam Nuclear Project (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu. It was not a mere protest but a well-planned campaign led by S.P. Udayakumar and a network of NGOs funded by the West. What looked like a local movement was in reality a larger, well-orchestrated conspiracy.The conspiracy came to light after a German national was found with a scanned map which had the contact details of 50 Indian anti-nuclear activists. “This was not activism alone, but a sophisticated network with a systematic agenda to dismantle India’s nuclear programme. The result was disastrous, with almost all the units at Koodankulam being temporarily shut down, and a severe energy crisis for the region. It is known that the absence of a reliable power supply is a major hurdle to the development of India. These activists by stalling our power sector are directly contributing to underdevelopment, unemployment and poverty.
Opposition to Major Development Projects
This is not the only time. We have always faced stiff opposition to our attempts to build big dams for irrigation, drinking water and power generation. Names like Medha Patkar, Sunderlal Bahuguna, have become synonymous to anti-dam activism, especially with respect to the Narmada, Sardar Sarovar projects. The question that must be asked is about the motives when such resistance leads to chronic delays and escalating costs, and when the livelihoods and aspirations of millions are held hostage, while dissent and debate are healthy in a democracy.
The Coal Conundrum
India’s vast reserves of coal are the bedrock of our energy security. But anti-coal activism, largely led by US-based “green” organizations and NGOs such as Greenpeace, has targeted the very foundation of our power infrastructure. Greenpeace’s Coal Network has been fighting to prevent new coal-fired power plants since 2011. Legal activism and international pressure have repeatedly stalled or stopped projects such as the Sasan Ultra Mega Power Station in Madhya Pradesh and Tilaiya in Jharkhand. The economic loss is huge. Thousands of crores of rupees wasted, jobs lost and most importantly, a nation kept in the dark, literally and figuratively.
The Bigger Plan:Delaying Development
But the attack isn’t limited to the energy sector. Foreign-funded NGOs have spearheaded agitations against
Nuclear power projects (Kudankulam, Jaitapur, Chutka, Rawatbhata etc.
Uranium mining in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Meghalaya
Thermal projects (coal fired)
Genetically modified crops and foods (sustainable food security)
Vedanta, bauxite mining in North East, large scale industrial and extractive projects
Narmada Sagar and Hydel Projects in Arunachal Pradesh
The combined effect of these obstructionist activities is to have a negative impact on GDP not to grow 2-3% per annum – a huge loss for a developing nation aspiring to lift millions out of poverty.
The Root Cause: The Lure of Foreign Cash
Even more unfortunate is that some of us have been willing to sell our nation out for the sake of monetary gain. The unfortunate truth is that foreign donors from the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands have found Indian partners willing to be conduits for their agendas. These NGOs employ “people contact” methods to establish the veneer of a grassroots movement, but the ultimate aim is generally the same: to impede India’s march toward progress and self-reliance.
The Bigger Picture
The causes of the environment and social justice are important causes, but it is also important to recognize when those causes are being weaponized against the country. Every country has the right – and the duty – to develop, to industrialize and to raise the living standards of its people. When “activism” morphs into economic subversion, it becomes a matter of national security. As a nation it is time for us to wake up to these realities. We need to ask for more transparency and accountability from NGOs working in India, especially those getting money from abroad. The government should look into the sources of funds and the real motives behind large scale protests. We need to empower real grassroot movements but never at the cost of India’s sovereignty or economic future.
Conclusion
India ,First India is at a crossroads. We have the talent, the resources and the ambition to become a global powerhouse. But for that we must be wary of those who would, for a few pieces of silver, work against the interests of their own motherland. Remember: real progress starts from within. Let us build such an India which is strong, self-reliant and forever unwilling to bend before external pressures. Only then will we be able to fulfil the dreams of our forefathers and give a bright future to our children and grandchildren.
