Aboriginal Youth Group from India Wins Best Doc Award

Loha Garam Hai, won the Best Environmental Film Award from IDPA (Indian Documentary Producers Association) Mumbai, in July this year. Meghnath and Biju Toppo, two founders of Akhra ( An Aboriginal Youth group from Ranchi, India) , directed the film jointly. Loha Garam Hai  (When the Iron Is Hot) tells the story of how people struggle with India's most polluting industry - the sponge iron industry.
When grassroots people make their own media I see glimpses of revolution through information.

"The film opens with live footage of a protest against a sponge iron plant; a local woman is seen raising her voice. Slogans like "We will fight, we will win" "we want food, not iron", "close down the Siddhi Vinayak Company," fill the air. From these protests, the film moves back to trace the history and data on the industry's growth in India. The voice-overs begin with a male voice, alternating with a woman's as the film progresses. Among the protestors too, one finds women are aware, vocal and angry. " -Shoma Chatterji, IndiaTogether