The devastative impacts of the free flowing global capital all over the world, expropriating the world's resources is, by now, well realized and recorded too. As a result of the policies, those in the subsistence economy living on the natural resources, along with the organized sections, including those managing the public services and production - distribution processes in the various countries are facing eviction from their livelihood and natural resources. The worst affected being the world's poor. There is no aspect of life and no section of a country's population that can go unaffected by the upheaval caused by the capital and market-based paradigm and the corporatised polity.
In India, the dalits (socially disadvantaged in the casteist society), adivasis (tribals), women and the labour class have waged battles against this neo-imperialism. They have been challenging the corrupt, criminal politics and the State that is subservient to the hegemonic oppression of so-called 'global' agencies: may it be the World Bank or the WTO. They also have to simultaneously fight the ethnic forces, the politics not just dividing but leading people into caste and religion-based massacres. This has been communalising every sector and aspect of life, thriving on the social disintegration, economic deprivation and identity crisis resulting out of the politico-economic onslaught faced by the increasing number of people in this largest democracy not worth the name. Such struggle thus has necessarily been on multiple fronts, from the local environs-human and Nature, at the same time redefining the 'national', and challenging the 'global' powers. Various mass based people's organisation, the people's movements are carrying the torch perseveringly with an alternative vision as also alternative strategies.
The National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), as most of you know, is such an attempt towards building a people's political force, outside the electoral politics that can counter the forces of destruction, inequality and exploitation and realize the values of equity, justice, peace and non-violence. With Gandhian, Marxist and Ambedkarian perspectives brought together, the people's movements in India have been shaping up a new praxis on the basis of their struggles and constructive work on alternatives. This New Ideology strives for the radical changes in the production processes, technologies along with social-individual consumption patterns. Further, for it, the economic growth, democratic values and sustainability are equivalent and inevitable components of development. The NAPM has tried to follow an ideological framework that strengthens the people's struggles for life and livelihood, by the agriculturists including agricultural labourers, adivasis - the indigenous populations, Dalits, fisher people, toiling women or the industrial workers and others, and people's development and the people's politics.
It's in this context that NAPM has participated at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre as also the Asian Social Forum in Hyderabad. Knowing fully the critique of these efforts by such forums by some fellow organisations, NAPM tried to gain and widen the space for people's movements and raised the issues regarding transparency to accountability, including involvement of certain corporate funding agencies in the WSF processes. Being in the process and the structure (committees) to the extent possible for mass-based movements, with our own pace and limited resources with unlimited challenges, we could seek answers and evolve consensus on the issues raised. The committees and various groups at work responded. We could demand from within and get allotted, space for people's movements. While there are still certain doubts to resistance with respect to WSF-India, on the part of some expressed through articles and actions, there is no doubt in our mind that such international unity and solidarity among widest possible range of organizations that form a part of civil society, is the minimum basic necessary to be able to stand up and question the world level violent attack of the capitalists-communal-criminal nexus.
It's towards this end, that we have been a part of the unique phenomenon that is World Social Forum, which has created a hope for the widest possible human alliance for a just, pluralist, secular, peaceful alternative world and humanity. (The political consciousness it expresses can go a long way.)
NAPM plans to organize, with other collaborating organizations, conference, panel/s, seminar/s and also mobilize people in the regions where movements work and in Mumbai. While some of our allies are a part of the India organizing committee, others have preferred to participate at the India working council level. The National Coordinator of NAPM is a member of the International Council although in her capacity as a founder activist of Narmada Bachao Andolan and convenor of the Strategy Commission (a subgroup created at Miami). Not all those in the movement could do justice to the responsibility as committee members due to being engrossed in struggles but have faith in the others carrying out various roles with some of our representatives. All the efforts at various levels, we believe would be complimentary. Two of our allies, fisher people and agricultural labourers have decided to mobilize mass-strength in order to project the plight and struggle of their communities, in the context of the anti-people policies denying them right to live, on the January 19, on one of the days when WSF-India would be on. All these efforts, we sincerely hope will further the process of building a world level movement for solidarity and cooperation. NAPM appreciates the concern expressed by some of common-thinking networks and organizations in India and abroad as regards the future of WSF and the role of NGOs and movements. We sincerely hope that those will get due space and time for deliberations within the WSF and NAPM would be able to contribute to the same.
NAPM has registered itself, as a member of the India Working Council, and will hold a number of panels, seminars, cultural event and other items. We have approached various organizations and individual resource persons to collaborate. Our international allies, we hope, would also participate in the Rural Trip we have announced preceding the main Forum. With WSF being held in Mumbai, a megalopolis, we look forward to the international partners in the global struggle to visit the places of people's struggles as well as reconstructive work on the alternatives in various sectors. A detailed programme and schedule of the panels / seminars to be organized by NAPM with others as well as that of the Rural Trip proposed (including letter of invitation, tour details, requisition form) and estimated expenditure is enclosed herewith (in this message).
Our commitment is to strengthen the unity of all who dare fight the global powers and endeavour towards realization of the alternative vision.
We appeal to you all, our friends, to join us and let us know you are with us, as an ally, in whichever capacity with whatever contribution.
Awaiting an early response.
|
P.Chennaiah- Sanjay M.G. National Co-coordinators |
Medha Patkar National Coordinator |
Mukta Srivastava NAPM Representative at WSF |
| Type of Event | Conference | Seminar | Seminar | Seminar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theme | Development Induced Displacement: Perspectives and Strategies | Agrarian Struggle: People Over Profit | Water for Livelihood: Linking People not Rivers | Indigenous People's Rights and Identity |
| Co-ordinating Agencies | NAPM/ NBA | NAPM | NAPM/ Bangla Praxis, Bangladesh | Shoshit Jan Andolan / NAPM |
| Co-organisers proposed | MAB, Brazil, MMP (Mine Mineral and People), Urban poor and displacement South Africa, Lokayan, Focus on the Global South | MST, Brazil, La Via Campasina, Brazil Monlar, Srilanka, Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam, Finland, HKMS | International Rivers Network, NBA, SANDRAP, Bangla Praxis, WAFED, Nepal | Adivasi Solidarity, Geneva, Shoshit Jan Andolan, Tebtebba Foundation, Philippines, Survival International |
Dear friends,
While the preparations for the fourth World Social Forum, to be held in India in January 2004 are on, you must have received an invitation for the same. The people's movements in India are looking forward for your visit to web together our common efforts to build a wider alliance to fight the global forces of corporate globalization and the hegemony of the financial institutions. We welcome you all to India.
India, with its cultural, linguistic and ethnical diversity, is in the grip of the global powers, with her natural resources mortgaged to the transnational and national corporations. This has resulted in the displacement and destitution of a large number of her citizens. The successive governments in power compete with each other in appeasing the global capital forces and thus putting the lives of the citizens in perils. The WSF, which proposes democratic, people-centred alternatives to imperialist globalization cannot come at a better time than this. The Another World, which is Possible, can be attained only through knowing the small and large people's movements in the nook and corner of the country, struggling for a just and egalitarian society.
A network of the people's movements in various states within India, National Alliance of People's Movements is planning a visit by the selected participants of WSF to those areas and centers where people's struggles are on. While WSF is to be held in Mumbai - the giant megalopolis - the real and rural face of India, still agrarian economy, can be seen only through an opportunity to reach out to the rural places and poor communities in urban and rural areas, to understand their social rubric, economy and lifestyle, the disparity, deprivation as also self-reliance. The tour will cover different places, interacting, exchanging views with the locals leadership and strengthening the movements who are working in diverse areas such as displacement due to dams and other projects, tribal (indigenous) rights, farmers unions, fight against MNCs etc. The team of foreign activists and other participants will also see and enjoy the diverse culture and heritage of the country, as also people's initiative in reconstruction, with an alternative technology.
The details of the tour are appended. We extend you a cordial invitation and an appeal to participate and express solidarity with the movements in India.
Since only a limited number of participants can take part in this (due to logistical problems), we would encourage you to kindly register for the same at the earliest by filling the Requisition Form attached along with this. (see below the two alternative tour plans, expected expenditure and requisition form).
Your visit, which would give you an unique experience, can also strengthen the people's struggle and reconstruction. We look forward to hear from you.
In Solidarity,
|
Medha Patkar Coordinator, National Alliance of People's Movements |
Mukta Srivastava Tour Co-ordinator National Alliance of People?s Movements |
NOTE: The mentioned schedule and form can be obtained from Mukta Sriwastwa mvks@tatanova.com.