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