An elder of a threatened tribal community, Kumuti Majhi (55) of the Khondh, will join ActionAid and other campaigners today outside the AGM of British mining company, Vedanta Resources.

Kumuti Majhi is in the UK to protest at Vedanta’s plans to open a massive open-cast bauxite mine that will destroy a large part of Niyamgiri Mountain in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, the Kondh’s ancestral homeland. The bauxite will be processed into aluminum by a Vedanta subsidiary, Sterlite.

The 8,000-strong Kondh tribe, are strongly opposed to the mine, fearing it will destroy their way of life forever. The Kondh regard Niyamgiri Mountain and its surrounding forest as sacred and home to their god, Niyam Raja.

Kumuti Majhi explained that the Kondh are totally dependent on the mountain for their crops, water and livelihoods. He said: “From the beginning we have opposed mining. Niyamgiri is a god for us. It is also the source of our food, our water, our survival.

"Last year I was here and requested Vedanta directors not to mine our area. This year I am here to request all the shareholders to save our livelihood and save our god."

Whist Vedanta has brought tribal people to the AGM, Kumuti Majhi said that although they were entitled to their opinion, they were in the minority.

ActionAid, which is supporting Kumuti Majhi’s action asking shareholders to oppose the mining, pointed out that the destruction of an equivalent sacred site would not be tolerated in the UK.

Dr Julian Oram, ActionAid’s head of Trade and Corporates said:

"Vedanta shareholders today have a chance to help stop the destruction of the Kondh people's ancestral home.

"Just as British investors would be horrified to see St Paul’s demolished to make way for mining, we believe they should be equally troubled by Vedanta's plans to blast the Kondh's sacred mountain."