Activist Who Fought Vedanta Project in Odisha Gets Green Nobel

Prafulla Samantara, an activist from Odisha, is the 6th Indian to win the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.

Activist Prafulla Samantara. (Photo Courtesy: The Goldman Environmental Prize )

Prafulla Samantara is the 6th Indian to win the Goldman Environmental Prize, or the Green Nobel as it is called. Samantara was conferred the award on 24 April, in honour of his 12-year-long struggle to keep a Vedanta-led bauxite mine from functioning in Odisha’s Niyamgiri hills.

He worked to spread awareness about the dangers of unfettered mining among the local tribal population.

His efforts helped ensure that the 80,000 Dongria Kondh tribes, who call the hills their home, could continue to live in their natural habitat in peace and harmony.

Every year, the Goldman Environmental Prize honours six grassroots activists for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment.