Download - Souparna Lahiri’s Saathiship
Souparna Lahiri’s SaathishipSouparna Lahiri’s Saathiship
Update for 2010
Nov 21, 2010
Overview (2006 to 2010)
Has been a Saathi since April 2006
Concerned with the rights of the weaker communities
Working with movements – local, national & international & bringing them together
…contd.
Building new national fronts
Working in remote parts of Northeast
Dissecting & understanding of national & international policies (Climate Change)
…contd.
Working against disproportionate leverage of IFIs (World Bank, IMF etc.)
Documentation thru writing & films (1 book & 3 documentaries so far)
SL’s Work 1st Half of 20101. Movement building around Forest Rights
Act through NFFPFW
2. Northeast Focus on Arunachal & Sikkim
3. Climate Justice: Natn’l & Intn’l
4. Alternatives to IFI (World Bank, IMF..)
SL’s Work 2nd Half of 2010
Work on Forests Rights Act
Working in Forest Villages
Meeting with the community
Forests Rights Act, 2005
…contd. Forest Rights Act
Ensure right to live in forest land for people living for generations
Collect and use minor forest produce
Communities living before Dec 13, 2005
Rights are heritable but not alienable or transferable
…contd. SL’s work on Forest Rights
Visited forest villages in North Bengal, Jharkhand and Dibang valley in AP
Developing community rights and governance in context of Act in Duars region in North Bengal
Initiating interest in groups in AP to look into their rights & implementation of Act.
Documentary on Yazli, AP
Town of Yazli
…contd.
Documentary Yazli released in Itanagar, meetings with good media coverage
Arunachal Citizens Rights has already distributed 1000 copies.
Work on Hydro Power Projects in Arunachal
Working to coordinate efforts of groups opposing dams in AP & Assam
Ensuring proper EIA, Public Hearing, Community Participation, using RTI etc.
SL’s Work 2nd Half of 2010
Continuing to work on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD) Tracking developments internationally on REDD as well as
other climate change issues Trying to create awareness about the implication of
commoditization of forests for people living in these forests Trying to facilitate a group of trade unions
To organize implementation of core labour standards in major infrastructure projects – power, transport, urban development
So far there is no such effort, and no union presence in such projects
SL Plans for the Future
Forest Issues Climate Change Doing in depth studies on Weaver,
Leather Tanning, Tea industries Arunachal Dam issues
AID’s Expectations from SL (2006)
Northeast and Environmental Justice Focus
Tribal Focus Project Affected Communities Focus Efforts to learn about policy
intervention Bridging intellectual/policy world &
grassroots wisdom
VOTE
AID Boston votes to continue Souparna Lahiri’s Saathiship for 2011 and approves Rs. 2,00,000