Bianca Jagger, founder and chair of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation will on Wednesday take a message from India’s threatened Kondh people direct to shareholders of British mining company Vedanta at their AGM.

Ms Jagger recently visited the endangered tribal community in the eastern India state of Orissa and will speak on their behalf against a proposal to open one of the world’s largest bauxite mines.

Bianca Jagger said: “Last year I stood side by side with Sitaram Kulisika from the Kondh people as he addressed Vedanta directors who had promised not to mine without consent. This year he cannot be here so I am delivering his message to all shareholders to honour this promise and save the Kondh’s livelihood and god.”

The Kondh’s future and a pristine eco-system are threatened with extinction by Vedanta’s plans for the massive open-pit mine. It will destroy a large part of Niyamgiri Mountain the Kondh’s ancestral homeland.

The 8,000-strong Kondh tribe regard Niyamgiri Mountain and its surrounding forest as sacred and home to their god, Niyam Raja. They are also totally dependent on the mountain for their crops, water and livelihoods, so are strongly opposed to the mine fearing it will destroy their way of life forever.

Bianca Jagger continued: “The Kondh people have been living in harmony with their mountain, forests and animals for generations. Vedanta has been there for less than 10 years. Who are they to decide what is best for the future of this ancient tribe? It is not too late to stop the extinction of this peoples’ way of life.”

Meredith Alexander, Head of Trade and Corporates at ActionAid said: “The threatened destruction of the Kondh’s homeland is a daily and terrifying reality. Today, shareholders have another chance to refuse to allow their money to be used in this way.

“Earlier this year prominent investors like The Church of England and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust divested because of serious concerns about the company. Other shareholders, including several UK county councils, should know they are investing in a mine that will destroy a community’s way of life forever.”