Agragamee is a group of professionals, activists and thinkers working with marginalized and underprivileged communities in the tribal districts of Orissa,in India. Our efforts at initiating a people-centred development have combined an issue-based approach with programmes for socio-economic development.

In India, tribal societies have remained sidetracked from the main historical current of development for centuries. In many instances industrialization and mining operations have led to the uprooting of tribal villages, and the displaced were forced to lead the lives of industrial nomads. They have lost their traditional occupations, agricultural land, houses and other immovable assets. They are left unemployed and face unfair competition with others in the Indian labour market.

Since Independence, the Indian Government has retained its right to requisition land for "public purpose". As such, the mining of minerals for export, and the construction of large dams for irrigation, flood control and hydro electricity are largely responsible for the displacement of 26 million people. However, there is a growing movement across the tribal states in Central and Eastern India against these projects.
One reason is that the overwhelming majority of the displaced have been the poor. For example, 70% of tribal people have less than one standard acre of land, and a large proportion is under the poverty line. But still they make up 40% of displaced persons despite the fact that they make up only 8% of the population.

In addition, a great deal of documentation has been accumulated about the pitiful compensation that the displaced have received. Taking into consideration those that have been compensated in the first place. Only 25% of the displaced have been rehabilitated, leaving communities destitute, without access to basic amenities, welfare, or means to make a living. In many cases compensation has been decades late. Academics and activists alike are now asking why it is the poor who must bear the burden of development of the nation.
Tribal villagers in Orissa, are now fighting the threat of displacement from their villages and agricultural land. Agragamee's campaigns have faced arrests, physical attacks and intimidation, with government authorities slamming the door in the face of its citizens.
Aside from Agragamee's ongoing struggle for tribal rights, the issues we deal with extend to issues of education, watershed development, advocacy, food security, the right to forest resources, the right to land and livelihood and the formulation of people-centred development programmes.

A close rapport with the underprivileged over the years has helped us initiate a process of empowerment amongst them. Already their voice, with its plea for justice is heard across the country and across nations. With Agragamee's help, tribal women like Sumoni Jhodia of Siriguda village and Jatani Kanhara of Lathikumpa village and tribal men like Ghasi Majhi of Haliasahi and Domburru Jhodia of Padepadar have emerged as role models of an organic grass-roots leadership, competent to represent their communities on issues of survival and rights.
The efforts of tribal initiatives have significantly contributed to the mainstreaming of the concerns of marginalised and the underprivileged into the national and state level policy agenda. They have also been able to influence Governments to take steps for several pro-poor steps.
However, the persistence of poverty and marginalisation, are symptomatic of a deep crisis of governance in the state.

Recently, the issue most associated with Agragamee is our struggle to ensure tribal rights for those being disregarded by callous authorities. The Kashipur region in Orissa happens to house the largest deposits of bauxite in the country. The overwhelming opinion of the tribal people towards the proposed mining projects was, and still remains, negative. The fear of losing their land, their forests and their way of life still animates their vehement, collective protest.
The growing assertion of the tribals and the increased awareness regarding their rights and entitlements constitute an integral part of Agragamee's pro-poor intervention initiatives.
At Agragamee we have taken it upon ourselves to draw attention to those that often go unseen and unheard. This is their platform, from which we aim to enable them to march forward as empowered individuals.