Fragmented response will not protect lives and livelihoods – stronger people’s alliances needed now says ActionAid

Sixty years on from Independence , burning topics for the vast majority of Indians remain equal citizenship, livelihood and right to education, health and land.

“Though India is being celebrated as an economic miracle by big businesses and news media, displacement, destruction of livelihood and violation of fundamental rights have reached a new high,” says Babu Mathew , Country Director of ActionAid India.

“One in four Indians goes to bed hungry every night while millions are facing eviction or are loosing livelihoods with no alternative in sight. There is an urgent need for groups who are left out of India ’s economic boom, or under threat as a result of it, to have a stronger voice. Together they can,” says Mathew.

ActionAid and its partner organisations from Kashmir to Car Nicobar are coming together for a National Conclave – Towards a People’s Alliance in Hyderabad from 11 to 14 June, 2007.

“The Conclave is a step for a myriad of social groups – manual scavengers, Gujarat riot survivors, tribals who’s land and culture is under threat, HIV positive people and children out of school to name a few – to share struggles, forge new networks and develop strategies for ending exploitation,” says Mathew.

Community activists and compelling speakers will be joined at the conclave by cultural ambassadors including Rajasthan’s Manganhaars, actors from Bhudan theatre and AP’s dalit women drummers.

International ‘HungerFree’ campaigners – Colm Ó Cuanacháin from Ireland and Ramesh Singh from Nepal (ActionAid’s chief executive based in South Africa) – will join community groups and local NGOs to share experiences and take part in debates and workshops on major social issues confronting India today.

Concerns, struggles and successes of India ’s most marginalised groups will be central at the event which aims to help strengthen and expand people’s alliances to fight poverty and injustice.

The rights of dalit and indigenous people, rural and urban poor, women, children, minorities, people with disabilities or HIV and AIDS, or hit by conflict or emergencies are the focus of ActionAid’s work. All face an acute lack of access to and control over essential resources, services, and institutions.

“But, despite continued state apathy and little attempt by government to ensure livelihoods, education and land, communities see renewed hope in their struggles to make rights a reality. Spandna, a growing and vibrant collective of dalits, tribals, fisher women and other disadvantaged groups in Andhra Pradesh is an inspiration for all,” adds Mathew.

ActionAid started out in Andhra Pradesh in 1972. It now works with 300 civil society organisations and 15 million poor and excluded people in 24 states and two union territories across India , and has programmes in over 40 other countries.

Photos credit: Tom Pietrasik/ActionAid