Press invitation

The 'Hyderabad declaration'

WHAT: ACTIONAID PRESS CONFERENCE – TOWARDS A PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE

WHEN: 1.30pm, Thursday 14 June, 2007

WHERE: Press Club (Opposite Eenadu), Somajiguda, Hyderabad                      

WHO: SPEAKERS

1)  Babu Mathew from Bangalore, director of ActionAid India

2)  Ramesh Singh from Nepal, ActionAid's chief executive based in South Africa

3)  Community representatives from across India declare their issues and demands

4)  Colm Ó Cuanacháin from Ireland, international 'HungerFree' campaigner

WHY:

"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.

ActionAid's National Conclave – Towards a People's Alliance has charted out common issues, concerns and unified ways forward for a myriad of social groups from across the country.

Over the four-day congregation, 1400 plus participants shared struggles, forged new networks and developed strategies for ending exploitation. People as diverse as manual scavengers, Gujarat riot survivors, indigenous communities who's land and culture is under threat, HIV positive people, children out of school and sex workers from West Bengal to name a few had assembled at the conclave.

The press conference will present a declaration of demands by the communities and social groups at the conclave. The declaration reveals the common issues and struggles. The conclave is a step towards harnessing collective strength to make constitutional rights tangible reality for India's silent majority.

"One in four Indians goes to bed hungry every night while millions are facing eviction or are losing 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," adds Mathew.

Ends.