PERSOldSMARGtNAUZEDBYMEGAPR0JECTS:BARGlDAMOUSTEES (E) 5.22 The Commission is concerned at the fate of those who pay the price for "development", whether through the undertaking of mega projects or as a result of economic policies that, advertently or otherwise, have the effect of marginalizing the most vulnerable sections of society. 5.25 In August 1996, the Commission receivea a complaint from the National Alliance of People's Movements, requesting the int~rventionof the Commission in a "matter relating to the human rights violation of the Bargi Dam outsees of Madhya Pradesh." It was contended in the complaint that the lives and livelihood of several thousand families, many of whom were tribals, were in "immediate and grave danger" as a result of an official decision to raise the water level in the dam from 418 metres to 422.76 metres. In consequence, a peaceful 'satyagraha' had been organized at Bijasen village in Seoni district, but this had been disrupted by official violence directed against the organizers. The Commission requested a team comprising Shri Virendra Dayal, Member and Shri R.V.Pillai, Secretary-General, to study the situation on the spot. Their report, which contained a number of specific recommendations to ameliorate the conditions of the affected population, was approved by the Commission and transmitted to the Central and State Government for appropriate action. Many of the recommendations have since been acted upon by the State Government. At the policy level, the Commission recommended, in addition, that the Central and State Governments reexamine and appropriately amend their laws, regulations and practices in order to related to national ensure that, when it comes to acquisition of land for economic development, the provisions of the Constitution, as expounded by the Supreme Court and as contained in international instruments to which India is a party, notably 1L0 Convention 107, are fully respected. The team considered this to be essential if the 'national interest' was to be reconciled, as it can and should be, with true respect for the rights of'the weakest sections of sociaty. 5.24 (F) . MANUAL SCAVENGING 5.25 The Commisison consider% it deeply offensive to human dignity that the degrading practice requiring the manual handling of night soil is still allowed to continue in our country, fifty years after independence.