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~~ ~~ N-~ .. ~ <Xl~ .§ ~ Q)~ ~~ tj ACCESS ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ x " x " ~ ~ ~ * Sahyog Sahyog is a network of activists working to give a new direction to our national development consistent with the goal of establishing an egalitarian social order. This booklet is both a statement of intent by the Sahyog group and of their understanding of the contemporary political and social challenge. Apart from describing the nature of the socio-political crisis, the booklet also recounts the nature of people's responses to these issues. It briefly examines the work of local social action groups and assesses the strengths, limitations and the challenges within this activity. Building a perspective based on the need for a broader frame of analysis, the booklet makes a case for more organised activist intervention. The constitution of Sahyog, criteria for its membership and programmes are also dealt with in detail. We, at Lokayan, see major areas of complimentarity with Sahyog and welcome this initiative. We recommend readers to participate in the Sahyog process - since the group is averse to centralisation and believes in facilitating a 'network' of decentralised Sahyog centres. * Narmada - A Campaign Newsletter The third and fourth issues of this newsletter were combined and published in February this year. Apart from campaign update information from the local and national level, this issue has several reports of events and developments - more particularly on the Narmada issue but also on other struggles dealing with the 85

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for its day-to-day activities from its constituency.

That is why we the undersigned appeal to all individuals andvoluntary organisations to become Associate Members of VANI,Voluntary Action Network India, F-l/9 First Floor, Malviya Nagar,New Delhi-llOOl? Phone 6428369.

Ela R. Bhatt, SEWA, Ahrnedabad, Gujarat.Samir Chaudhuri, Child-in Need Institute, Village Daulatpur,Post Arngachi, West Bengal.F. Step hen, SEARCH, Bangalore, Karnataka.Joe Madiath, Gram Vikas, Berhampur, Orissa.Ginny Srivastava, ASTHA, Udaipur, Rajasthan.Rajesh Tandon, PRIA, New Delhi.Bhartendu Prakash, Vigyan Siksha Kendra, Banda, U.P.P.V. Rajgopal, PRAYOG, P.O. Tilda Neora, District Raipur,Madhya Pradesh.jai Sen, UNNAYAN, Calcutta, West Bengal.Kishore Saint, Ubeshwar Vikas Mandal, Udaipur, Rajasthan.M.D. Mistry, DISHA, Ahmedabad.R.Eugene Culas, Trivandrum District Fisherman Federation,Trivandrum, Kerala.Fatima Burnad, SRED, North Arcot District, Tamil Nadu.Ajay Mehta, Seva Mandir, Udaipur. Rajasthan.Arvind Kurnar, Lok Jagriti Kendra, Madhupur, Bihar.Ganesh Pandey, Shramik Bharti, Kanpur, U.P.Sheela Patel, SPARC, Bombay, Maharashtra.Vivek Pandit, Shramjivi Sanghatana, Thane, Maharashtra.J. John, Delhi Forum, New Delhi.A. Jogijagdanand Ra]u, KMDS, Berhampur, Orissa.Felix Sugirathraj, Association of Rural Poor, Madras.Iacob Thundiyal, PREM, Berharnpur, Orissa.Malla Reddy, Rural Development Trust, Anantpur, A.P.Avdesh Kaushal, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra,Dehradun, U.P.Darshan Shankar, Academy of Development Science, RaigadMaharashtra.S.P. Tare, Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation, Wardha,Maharashtra.

Associate Membership: Rs. 500 per yearLife Membership: Rs. 5000

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* SahyogSahyog is a network of activists working to give a new direction toour national development consistent with the goal of establishing anegalitarian social order. This booklet is both a statement of intent bythe Sahyog group and of their understanding of the contemporarypolitical and social challenge. Apart from describing the nature ofthe socio-political crisis, the booklet also recounts the nature ofpeople's responses to these issues. It briefly examines the work oflocal social action groups and assesses the strengths, limitations andthe challenges within this activity. Building a perspective based onthe need for a broader frame of analysis, the booklet makes a case formore organised activist intervention. The constitution of Sahyog,criteria for its membership and programmes are also dealt with indetail. We, at Lokayan, see major areas of complimentarity withSahyog and welcome this initiative. We recommend readers toparticipate in the Sahyog process - since the group is averse tocentralisation and believes in facilitating a 'network' of decentralisedSahyog centres.

* Narmada - A Campaign NewsletterThe third and fourth issues of this newsletter were combined andpublished in February this year. Apart from campaign updateinformation from the local and national level, this issue has severalreports of events and developments - more particularly on theNarmada issue but also on other struggles dealing with the

85

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consequences of large dams. There is a brief listing of research workdone on cost-benefit analysis (Narmada project) and alternatives inirrigation and energy. It also provides news from different parts ofthe country about events and developments in other environmentalcampaigns. This issue carries a list of organisations present at thehistoric Harsud rally.Available from:Narmada Bachao AndolanC-17IA, MunirkaNew Delhi - 110067Price: Rs. 30 per year.

'"Ayurvedic Principles of Food and Nutrition- Vaidya M. Redhik« and A. V. BalasubramanianThis small book is the work of the Lok Swaasthya ParamparaSamvardhan Samithi. The Samithi is an all-India network ofindividuals, groups and organisations committed to the cause ofrevitalising indigenous systems of health care and folk healthtraditions that exist throughout the country. A major objective ofthe Samithi is to initiate and strengthen efforts to reconstruct 'LokSwaasthya Paramparaas' (Local Health Traditions) and in this processto vitalise a self-reliant model of primary health care. This book dealsin detail with the concepts and content of a balanced diet and givesinformation on nutritional values of commonly used foods and onvariations to suit individual requirements based on one's prakruthi. Italso examines special subjects relating to the art and science ofcookery, oral hygiene, fasting, etc. Traditional concepts like agni,prakruthi, ushna, sheetha etc., concepts which most importedtraditions reflect are explained and debated.Available from:Lok Swaasthya Parampara Samvardhan Samithiclo P.P.S.T. FoundationNo. 6, Second Cross StreetKarpagarn Gardens, AdyarMadras - 600020

'"Inside the Bio-Revolution: A Citizens Action Resource Guideon Biotechnology and Third World Agriculture- Henk Hobbelink, Rennee Vel/ve and Martine AbrahamBiotechnology has been hailed as the ultimate solution to theproblems of humanity today. Simultaneously, it has been widelycriticised as a tool for creating a 'brave new world', where life itselfcan be manipulated and engineered to meet specific needs. For theThird World, it is essential to arrive at an assessment of the impactthat bio-technology will have on markets, economics, nations andpeoples. This Guide aims to equip consumers and citizens groups totake up the challenges posed by the domain of biotechnology and theprivate vested interests that currently control it.

The Guide includes an introduction which discusses the broad scopeof the biorevolution, its impact on Third World agriculture, theissues involved in appropriating genetic resources for the people,and the role of citizens groups in monitoring and mobilising againstthe encroachment of private interests into the natural pool of geneticresources. Also included is a useful annotated listing of documentsdiscussing a broad range of issues from the Green Revolution to anoverview of agricultural biotechnology including Third Worldinitiatives towards the appropriation of genetic resources, and a listof selected organisations working on various aspects ofbiotechnology. This listing includes selected periodicals that coverdevelopments and debates in this extremely controversial field.Available from:International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU)P.O. Box 194510830 PenangMalaysia

'"SeedlingA bimonthly publication of Genetic Resources Action International(GRAIN) -- an independent group that promotes a globa]campaignfor the popular management of genetic resources and biotechnology,with a special focus on the situation and needs of small farmers.Seedling is also a forum for groups and individuals who are not just 87struggling against monopoly control over genetic resources but areactive in the conservation, free exchange and sustainable use of theseresources. The May issue carries a crucial debate on IntellectualProperty Rights in addition to reviews, news and listings of topcorporations involved in the biotechnology business. (See detailedarticles in this issue of the Bulletin).A vailable from:GRAINApartado 23398E - 08080 Barcelona, Spain.

'"Breaking the Pesticide Habit- Terry GipsTwenty-eight years ago, Rachel Carson published her landmarkbook, 'Silent Spring', which warned the world about the massiveenvironmental and human damage that is being caused by pesticides.Terry Gips now offers a safe, scientifically established way ofcontrolling pests ~ ways which do not involve the use of chemicalpesticides and are ecologically sound and economically viable.Extensively researched, the book outlines techniques ranging fromthe use of neem to naturally occurring insect enemies, in place of'the dirty dozen' - pesticides like DDT, PCP, HCH etc. Terry is anagricultural economist and President of the International Alliance of

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Sustainable Agriculture.A vailable from:IOCUP.O. Box 1045, 10830 PenangMalaysiaPrice: U.S. s 10.

* National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation onConstruction LabourA leaflet published by the Committee, outlining the background ofthe campaign and the essential features of the Bill drafted for therights and protection of-construction labour. The NationalCampaign Committee for Central Legislation (NCC-CL) was formedin November 1985 as a culmination of the National Seminar onConstruction Labour organised by the Tamil Nadu StateConstruction Workers Union. Initially propelled by variousindependent unions, the campaign now has the support of almost allthe central labour federations - AITUC, BMS, CITU, HMKP, HMS,and UTUC. The leaflet traces the course of the campaign and reportson developments upto March 1990.Available from:E-23 Xavier ApartmentsOpp. D Block, Saraswati ViharPitam Pura, Delhi 110034

* In Defence of Democratic RightsNewsletter of the All India Federation of Organisations forDemocratic Rights. This federation includes, among others,Association for Democratic Rights, Punjab; Gantantrik AdhikarSuraksha Sanghatan, Orissa; Janatantrik Adhikar SurakshaSanghatan, Rajasthan and Lokshahi Hak Sanghatan, Maharasthra.This bi-monthly newsletter carries reports on violations ofdemocratic rights in different parts of the country as well as newsabout activities of democratic rights groups.A vailable from:Rajni X. Desai,8D, 'B' Bldg, Harbour HeightColaba, Bombay 400005