Chhattisgarh activist Ramesh Agrawal, who safeguarded local communities from industrial pollution and displacement through the Right To Information, has been 
felicitated with the prestigious Goldman Environment Prize.
A native of the industrial town Raigarh, Agrawal is among six people who have been awarded the Goldman Prize by Goldman Environment Foundation on Tuesday at San Francisco, for his contribution towards conservation of environment, land and forests.
The state’s activist community feels the recognition would help take up the “local struggle” for environmental conservation to the global level.
The 58-year-old Agrawal has a history of effectively lobbying against environment pollution and displacement issues in mineral-rich Raigarh district against the Jindal Group, as well as other industries.
Agrawal’s work made him a target and his supporters have alleged that the Jindal Group is suspected to have either orchestrated or financed an attack, where he was shot at by two motorcycle borne assailants in July 2012 at his hometown in full public view.
Agrawal survived the attack, but faced a long road to recovery and manages to walk with the help of a walking stick. However, the police said they could not found any link connecting the Jindal Group with the incident, though the case is technically, still ‘under investigation’.
Incidentally, in 2011, Agrawal was also arrested on a complaint filed by the Jindal Group.
“Farmers and villagers who were the part of Jan Chetna Manch organisation floated by Ramesh Agrawal against unchecked expansion of coal projects in Raigarh are happy with this award and it is their victory,” local environmental activist Gautam Bandopadhyay said.
Bandopadhyay said that Agrawal’ movement would get strengthened due to this recognition and international support. “His local struggle will now turn to a global struggle,” Bandopadhyay said.
“The recognition is very important from the point of view of social activists, since several people in the state are fighting against the dictatorship of industrial houses in many pockets.
This is an encouragement to all of us and those working to save nature and tribals of the state,” another noted environmental activist Alok Shukla who leads the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan organisation in Raipur, said.