One of the more revolting tacks taken by the Odisha government was to accuse the villagers of using their children as human shields. The relevant investigating body has refuted the claim:
The CWC and other children's rights bodies and activists who have criticized PPSS for “forcing” children to participate in the PPSS movement would do well to reconsider their approach. It is noteworthy that the CWC visited PPSS on 15 July and were not aware of the NCPCR Report, excerpts of which appeared in the media on 24 July [Ref.2]. Commenting on children's participation in PPSS activities, NCPCR states, "The children think that they are protecting the interest of their families which is contrary to the allegations that children are being coerced to participating the agitation. The anxiety / apprehension on account of the prospect of displacement and loss of the source of livelihood for their families, has been apparently affecting the minds of the children. It appears to be a factor behind such conduct by the children”. But NCPCR has gone further and condemned Government of Orissa for police occupation of schools and failing to provide midday meals in schools, and also noted that “the district level officers of the women and child development department and school & mass education department appear to be oblivious of their responsibilities in respect of these children”, and “there is no mobilisation through the District Child Protection Committee under the ICPS and the Child Welfare Committee”.
http://www.countercurrents.org/vombatkere020811.htm
The state is so concerned about these kids that it's using their schools as a base to launch the confiscation of their lands:
The report has slammed the Orissa government over its failure to provide mid-day meals to school children and poor administration of ICDS programmes in the proposed POSCO project areas while justifying the protest of children. The report also criticised the forcible occupation of a part of the Balitutha primary school building by the police, saying the school gave an appearance of being a fortress. "The primary school and the Anganwadi-centre located inside its premises have not been properly functioning due to continued presence of the police force due to the limited space within the school compound. We found some policemen in the school in underwears. The district level officers of the W&CD and School & Mass Education Departments never took any remedial steps to ensure proper functioning of the school and the Anganwadi centre," the Commission said, adding that provisions in the Right to Free & Compulsory Education Rules have been violated in allowing using the school building as accommodation for police force. We are attaching herewith the report for your information.
The school looked to the police like a fortress? Do they occupy the school for want of a base? Or is it state terror directed against the children and their parents?
Ain't capitalism grand!
http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11579:odisha-update-from-posco-pratirodh-sangram-samiti-as-on-1st-august-2011&catid=63:central-asia-indigenous-peoples&Itemid=85
