Why would a Network like Vikalp Sangam which is slotted as a "constructivist" organisation, emphasise Civil LIberties and Democratic Rights in their People Manifesto?
Way back in the 1980s, it was Shankar Guha Niyogi who pioneered the slogan "Sangharsh aur Nirman" for his Union of workers the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha (CMM), when he set up the Workers owned hospital. Dr. Binayak Sen who led the medical team was harassed for many years. Now in the Viksit Bharat, new Wave Regime, Sudha Bharadwaj was been distanced from her work..
Her work: After working with organisations like the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha (CMM) and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Bharadwaj founded the Janhit People’s Legal Resource Centre in 2007-08. See article: Sudha Bharadwaj: ‘A lot of democratic space has been lost’ : Nov 02, 2023 https://frontline.thehindu.com/interviews/sudha-bharadwaj-a-lot-of-democratic-space-has-been-lost-human-rights-lawyer-and-activist-on-her-book-from-phansi-yard-time-in-yerawada-jail-pune-bhima-koregaon-case/article67438140.ece
For Sudha, the Legal process is the punishment, as, someone who committed to work among the rural poor in Chattisgarh, is forced to live in Mumbai, as part of her bail conditions. The Persons with vested interests are happy as the case will not come up for hearing in the long time.. Meanwhile, large large tracts of land will been usurped by the mining and cement industry which is taking away the sustainable livelihoods, of tribal people in that region.
This is just one of the examples of the connection between sustainability, equity and justice baikalp Sangam set out the manifesto..
Quotes from the Peoples Manisfesto https://vikalpsangam.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Peoples-Manifesto-2024.pdf.
- (to counter the) " almost free-for-all for corporations to grab lands, resources, and
finances for their profits.", " there is a dire need to re-establish public, democratic control (arthik swaraj) over the economy and technology,"
- repeal of laws/provisions that enable the state to stifle democratic dissent or provide draconian powers to police and armed force
- everyone has meaningful avenues of directly participating in decision-making through direct forms of democracy;
in the case of the tribal areas we are finding that even the FRA is being undermined..
#peoplesmanifesto #vikalpsangam #2024