Why must companies listen to Indigenous Peoples?

The construction of a mega port in Kerala, Southern India, is having severe impacts on artisanal coastal communities, and coastal Indigenous Peoples who make their livelihoods from activities like fishing.

When planning and implementing new developments, how should companies meaningfully engage Indigenous Peoples in the process?

In this episode, IHRB's Frances House talks with Johnson Jament, the founder and Executive Director of Blue Green, an organisation which advocates for the rights of coastal communities in the area. Joining Frances and Johnson in the discussion is Tulika Bansal, a business and human rights expert based in Delhi.

Together they discuss the impacts of corporate activity on fishing communities in Kerala, the value of listening to the voices of artisanal coastal communities and coastal Indigenous People, and the imperative for companies to be proactive to prevent harms caused by their activities.

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Host: Deborah Sagoe, IHRB's Communications Coordinator
Producer & Editor: Helen Brown
Additional Contributors: Sam Simmons, IHRB's Head of Communications