June 14, 2007
NGOs Form 'People's Alliance'
Against Poverty, Hunger
Hyderabad
Hundreds of non-governmental organisations representing marginalised
social groups have forged a "people's alliance" against poverty and
hunger at a meet here.
The 'people's declaration' adopted at the concluding session
Thursday of the four-day conclave of ActionAid, the anti poverty
agency, echoed the united voice of the marginalised groups, which
claim to represent 40 percent of India's population.
The conclave, titled 'Towards a People's Alliance', concluded with
the adoption of a declaration, which put forth the demands of
various social groups.
The collective charter of demands passed at the conclave demanded
free, quality and compulsory education to all children, food
security within and among households, right to livelihood, minimum
and equal wages, right to dignity, safety and security for women and
rights, end to violence against women in all forms, end to all kinds
of displacements and destruction of livelihoods.
The conclave demanded immediate implementation of food entitlements
to all the excluded communities, an environment where people living
with HIV and AIDS are guaranteed the right to education, employment,
equal wages and quality child care.
The declaration also demanded enactment of progressive legislation
to protect the human rights of people living with HIV and AIDS,
especially women, immediate stop to violations of human rights in
the name of curbing terrorism and repeal of draconian laws.
The other demands include implementation of the Sachar committee
recommendations to improve the lot of Muslims and full
rehabilitation and justice for all victims of communal violence,
especially those affected by state-sponsored genocide in Gujarat.
The conclave, attended by 1,500 delegates belonging to 225 partner
NGOs of ActionAid and 120 community-based organisations from 24
states and two union territories, pledged to take the declaration to
every corner of India and seek support, advice and initiatives from
the wider civil society process in India.
The event brought together indigenous and fishing communities,
Dalits, Muslims, women, urban poor, informal sector, people with
disabilities and people living with HIV and AIDS.
"We need to build on this momentum with joint action. A strong voice
has emerged from India and there is global solidarity for this
movement against injustice," said Ramesh Singh, head of ActionAid
internationally.
Babu Mathew, country director of ActionAid India, said this was the
first time in 35 years that ActionAid had held a national conclave.
He said there was a proposal to have at least one conclave at the
regional level every year and a national conclave once in two years.
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