NGOs form 'people's alliance' against poverty, hunger

from New Kerala

Hyderabad, June 14: 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.