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Souparna 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.
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Souparna 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 2010 • Movement building around Forest Rights Act through NFFPFW • Northeast Focus on Arunachal & Sikkim • Climate Justice: Natn’l & Intn’l • Alternatives to IFI (World Bank, IMF..)
Work on Forests Rights Act Working in Forest Villages Meeting with the community
…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