‘We are united by demands for dignity and full citizenship’: People’s Declaration
The National Conclave – Towards A people’s Alliance organised by ActionAid brought together 1400 plus participants from across the country who
charted out common struggles, concerns and unified strategies for ending exploitation in a People’s Declaration.
Communities as diverse as manual scavengers, people with disabilities, Gujarat riot survivors, indigenous groups who's land and culture is under threat, HIV positive people, children out of school and sex workers from West Bengal assembled to
discuss a range of human rights issues including peace and security, food and livelihood, health, education and women’s rights.
On the final day, Babu Mathew, country director of ActionAid India and a former law professor and trade union leader highlighted the cruel contrast between India's economic boom and the increasing marginalisation of those who are left out:
"The challenge in India is not just to talk about making growth inclusive, but to make inclusive growth a reality. Rights enshrined in the Constitution must be made good for all citizens, not just the fortunate few.
"Hunger is one of the most extreme forms of denial of rights. In India it is clear that displacement and destruction of livelihood are creating India's 'new hungry' as well as reinforcing existing discrimination along the lines of caste, class, religion, ethnicity, gender and sexuality."
Indigenous groups from Orissa are among those under threat. Many of their representatives took part in the conclave.
“This is our place – we have been here for generations” says Ghasi Majhi talking of her home in Lanjigarh, Orissa. “When the factory starts, the
company will take over our land. What will happen to our children?” he asked.
Majhi lives in the shadow of a bauxite refinery built by Vedanta, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company’s presence in the environmental sensitive location of Niyamgiri mountain is being challenged in the Supreme Court. The mountain holds deep spiritual significance for tribal communities as well
as providing a source of food and livelihood.
Ramesh Singh, head of ActionAid internationally, who attended the conclave said:
"The Indian voice carries immense influence in the world. We hear the voice of Indian government and corporations but we need India's most marginalised citizens to shine and not just the economy.
"That is what I am seeing here today with the launch of the people's declaration and the emerging people's alliance against poverty and hunger," added Singh.
The people's declaration laid out clear demands. In presenting the declaration Roma Jana from Mumbai, HIV positive for the last 11 years, demanded the enactment of a bill for the protection of people living with HIV and Aids from violence and discrimination and priority under the social security schemes including Antyodaya cards
and National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
Two young boys, one of them a hawker at Bhopal railway station, gave voice to the demand for the abolition of child labour. "We demand free, equitable, good quality education for all with a child friendly environment in schools," said Manoj who works among the poor children of urban
areas and Balbir, who works among the children working on the railway platform at Bhopal.
Kapileshwar, a Dalit activist from Bihar called for five acres of cultivable land to every landless Dalit family. Syed Farooq from Jammu and Kashmir, speaking for the Muslim community, demanded implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations and representation in the political process.
"Together we excluded groups are the majority of India's population. While our specific needs, aspirations and rights denied are many and diverse, we are united by common demands for dignity and full citizenship," said Anjum from West Bengal, a member of the Indian Muslim women's movement Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan.
Photos credit: ActionAid
