Initiative Project

Bombay Sarvodaya Friendship CentreJoe Athialy, Maju Verghese, Mukta Srivastava

AID College Park CSH, Nov 20, 2004- Kirankumar

Vissa

Building Support for People’s MovementsAmong Youth, Media and Civil Society

The SettingSeveral years of major changes, globalizationQuestion: Who is benefiting at whose cost?Islands of prosperity and widespread povertyPolitical scenario sidelining the poorAlienation from natural resourcesDispossessed communities: adivasis, Dalits, unorganized workers, urban poor, womenIncreasing urban-rural divide

Critical Areas of Intervention to Strengthen People’s Movements

Media Major force in shaping politics Need to grab space for social issues

Youth Indifferent or vulnerable? Need exposure to reality of rural India

Research and Documentation Developing information Sharing experiences, strategies

Taking Initiative

“Reaching the Real India” program Sponsored field exposure program to

movements, for college students Consolidating progressive support group Networking with various youth organizations

Publication and Research Bi-monthly “People’s Movement” magazine Resource book highlighting 50 movements

Taking Initiative (further…)

Media Support Program Press notes, releases, conferences Build support groups within media Media workshops for sensitization Exposure Trips for media

Supporting Direct Action Organizing civil society support,

managing logistics of campaign Support for fundraising, medical aid

3 Research, Learning and Publishing:    

  Lodging and food (visit to people's movements) 3000*12 36000

  Travel cost ( various movements across India) 3000*12 36000

  Stationery, communication, postage and books 1*5000 5000

  Research Cordinator 10000*13 130000

  Reaserch Fellow 10000*13 130000

Computer 1*35000 35000

Sub Total   372000

4 Programme administration    

Logistic and office assistance 2500*13 32500

Office rent 5000*12 60000

Communication and postage 3000*12 36000

Sub Total   128500

Support from Action AID 228000

  Request from AID 272000

Budget (1st year out of 3 years)

The Year That Was

3 Student Exposure Programs

Involvement in World Social Forum

Resurgence of “The People’s Movement”

Publication of book on Interlinking Rivers

Participation in various agitations, campaigns

Study and report on development work of NBA

Report on Anti-Cola agitation in Kerala

Clarifications

Initiative a project of BSFC – not separate orgn.Exposure camps by many resource people – Sanjay MG, Brian Lobo, Michael, Lata PM, Sanjay SangvaiMovements they work with are part of NAPM. They choose based on location, sector and prominence.Active attempt to highlight lesser-known movementsExposure program currently limited to college students of Mumbai. Very good response. Demands from other cities like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Aurangabad, etc.Collaborating with CED, Schools without BordersAlready encouraging students to write about their experiences. One article in Statesman, two in Marathi.

Clarifications (contd)

Most participants continue to maintain good relation, some participate in actions, one helped edit ILR bookFull-time campus organizers needed to take to next levelPeople’s Movement magazine currently being used by academicians, NGOs, movements, common people. Distributed in Mumbai bookstalls thru newspaper agentAiming at broad readership. Need to improve presentation, appeal, contents as well as marketing.Ideally 2-3 full-timers need to work with senior NAPMersResearch fellow and Research coord are similar positionsVisit expenses include other volunteers going with them