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Press
notice
November
8, 2006
Endangered livelihoods:
ISF debate exposes flawed policies and new wave of migration and
displacement
Farmers,
weavers, artisans, mill workers and fishing and tribal communities across
India
are losing their homes and occupations in the wake of economic policies that
appear to put profits before local lives and livelihoods. In an ActionAid
debate at the India Social Forum on 11 November, those affected will reveal
that concern is mounting and resistance is growing.
Recent
cases include Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh where construction of small
dams and hydro electric power projects are displacing millions of people,
forcing many to migrate to cities in search of work. An entire village in
the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh has refused to vacate their homes to
make way for the ‘Parvati Phase 3’ dam project.
The
debate on 11 November will hear cases of mass displacement and loss of
livelihoods from around the country through testimonies from farmers, weavers and fishing people. Policy analysts will
critique current neo-liberal and agricultural policies.
Panelists
include:
- Farmers
from Vidharbha – the cotton-growing region of
Maharashtra
where more than 1000 farmers have killed themselves since June 2005.
- Journalist
Sachin Jain speaking on the agrarian crisis.
- Representative
from the Kerala Fisher Folk Federation reporting on the impact of
displacement on families and communities uprooted by big business
interests.
- Professor
Jayati Ghosh examines ‘exploitative policies of the neo-liberal
system’.
- Farmer
from Gharsana, Rajasthan sharing the latest in the local struggle for
irrigation (recent protests have been met by police violence).
- People's
Vigilance Committee for Human Rights outlines challenges faced by
weavers in Uttar Pradesh where death from starvation is on the rise.
Event details: “Endangered
Livelihoods” debate will
be held November 11th 2006, 9am-12pm at Hall
M –1, Exhibition Grounds, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
ENDS
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