Coca Cola's India operations have been under a cloud of controversy ever since villagers in Kerala protested the depletion of their ground-water resources due to the activities of a nearby Coca Cola plant. The same plant has also been accused of dumping waste with toxic heavy metals much above acceptable levels. In February this year, CSE's expose on the quality of bottled water in the country caused a storm Then the CSE (Centre for Science and Environment) brought out a highly publicized report that showed high levels of pesticide contamination in Coca Cola and Pepsi soft-drinks and has accused major soft drink manufacturers of violating global pesticide norms..

The claims of the CSE were based on fact, were unbiased and accepted by most people. The government (!) whose duty it is to ensure some quality norms and the industry questioned the right of an NGO to do such investigations.

As CEO Sunita Narain said in an interview (Down to Earth): "The CSE has been working on environmental issues since the last 20 years. Their methodology was clear: They checked for pesticides in bottled cold drinks being manufactured and sold in the US and found they were all pesticide-free. But when the same tests were conducted on bottled soft drinks sold in India, high levels of pesticide were found. (The quantity of malthion found was up to 87 times higher, chlorphyrifos 42 times higher and DDT and metabolites 15 times higher than what is permissible under EU norms). This speaks volumes for the kind of double standards being employed by global companies. Even if the problem seems to arise from the fact that the groundwater being accessed by soft drink manufacturers contains pesticides then there should be governmental control on the use of groundwater. Companies are accessing our groundwater resources completely free of charge.

The government needs to define what safe drinking water is and then make these norms legally enforceable… there are no Indian guidelines on the subject. There are three sets of international guidelines - from US FDA, WHO and EU respectively--the former two don't cover all the pesticide residues."

We need to promote safer use of pesticides. Globally, we have come to learn that if a certain pesticide or chemical is opposed and phased out, then it is usually replaced, under another label, by an equally harmful pesticide. The way forward is to make companies liable for damages.

Their findings are being seen as a battle between an NGO and the industry, which it is not. The SC said, after the CSE report, that NGOs did not have the right to do such tests.

Then what are the rights of an NGO?

Dr. VN Sharma, said in a letter to NIEP, "CSE is capable of conducting such tests. It is not true for all NGOs. But if NGOs do not do this who is to monitor and control the flow of poisons to living beings? Governments are not doing it. Even if they start doing corrupt practices will send everything under the carpet.

My question is who takes care of life on Earth. The reaction to the CSE report make it very clear that the ruling elite stand by the moneywallahs and they care two hoots for people. Even the Supreme Court now says that NGOs cannot do investigations of the type CSE has done in Cola case.

But where are the GOs to save our lives. There is no regulatory authority doing anything of this kind. CSE is one organisation which has taken up issues and led them to be fairly exposed and publicised amongst the educated mass. They have standard labs and good and reliable scientists and they also use IITs and National Labs to prove their point.

What can one conclude by reading the reports of the Cola tests by Govt. Labs. and the ever changing statement of the Health Minister?

What I suggest is that we as Scientists and Technologists and a group of highly educated Indians can do something on the lines as CSE is exposing. In case you have a blue print of your proposal on how to tackle corruption pl. come out with that. I am with you and will help you in everyway possible." (Dr.V.N.Sharma, Environment & Water Management Consultant rch_vnsharma@sancharnet.in Mobile:919431102680)

Whose water is it? About 1000 people including the local villagers and supporters of other organisations under the banner of National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM) were agitating against the coca cola bottling plant drawing up of water from Mehandiganj and Rajatalab villages near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on September 11 when security guards of the company attacked the protesters and severely beat up Ramon Magsaysay wonner, Mr.Sandeep Pande, Nandalal, Father Anand, Musa, Suresh, Mukesh etc. and others while police watched in silent approval. About 400 people were arrested from the demonstration site and taken to police station where 77 were put into custody and released after 2 days on personal bond.

Several organisations like Lok Samiti, Asha ashram, Prerana kala manch, SARC, GUDIA Gramya etc were part of this protest. "The Coca Cola company has to be made accountable for stealing the water through bore wells causing depletion of ground water leading to drinking water problems and irrigation in agriculture farms.The resources of the people including water are being sold and the local communities who depend on them are raising their voices not just in Varanasi but also in Plachimada in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Thane, Maharashtra. NAPM urges communities all over the country where their water is being sucked without their consent to claim back their natural resources. Any agreement regarding drawing of ground water should be with the community and not with the state as they do not have the peoples interests at heart."said Medha Patkar . Contact Sanjay M.G., (022 -2536 9724) P.Channaiah (National coordinator)

Association for India's Development (AID) a charitable non-profit organization in the US. Also condemned the "brutal beating and arrests of Ramon Magsaysay award winner Dr. Sandeep Pandey and other protesters at the Coca Cola bottling plant," a press release from the organization said.

Ahmedabad: "If you fail to act then we will have to step in. We are not sitting here as mere spectators", Chief Justice Khare said. And the three Supreme Court judges ordered the head of police in Gujarat and the state's top civil servant, the chief secretary, to appear before the court to explain their role in the controversy.

This is a great victory for Human rights groups who have been saying for months what the Best Bakery case has proved: of how there has been little justice in Gujarat for the victims of last years riots. Many Muslims in Gujarat continue to live in fear. One of the witnesses, 19-years-old Zahira Sheikh, later fled the state. She then said she had lied in court and not testified against the accused because she had been threatened by senior figures in the local organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She is demanding a retrial after she said she feared for her life.

After that, the Gujarat Government, launched an appeal against the acquittals in the Best Bakery case which the supreme court dismissed as "an eyewash". It asked for time to amend the appeal. The SC rejected the request

"You quit if you cannot prosecute the guilty. Democracy does not mean that you will not prosecute anyone," Chief Justice Khare said..

Citizens Move Marble
Mumbai: The Vakola Flyover was constructed with the primary aim of easing traffic congestions on the Western Express Highway. The MSRDC had planned for a garden and a car park in the space below. In June 2003, much to the surprise of the residents in that area, they learnt that the space earmarked for a car park was being allotted to marble shops. This was in violation of the environmental regulations and would add tremendously to the existing pollution and traffic congestion, thus defeating the very purpose of constructing a flyover.

In July 2003, AGNI JAAG H-West and residents of Vakola took up this matter strongly with the MSRDC. After dialogue and unrelenting efforts, the MSRDC finally revoked the licenses issued to the Marble Shop owners and allocated the space for a pay and park site as in the original plan. Removal of the shops was left to the MCGM. The owners of the marble shops have got a stay from the court, but the position of the MSRDC is clear.
Contact: Coordinator H/W Ward: - 2387 2629 / 30

Bangalore: Greenpeace India launched a week long "mobile cyber action" against Bayer in the city of Bangalore. The aim was to "pressurise Bayer to keep up its promise of replacing WHO Class I pesticides". The mobile kiosk that Greenpeace India took around Bangalore was equipped with laptops on which people could send their email petitions to Bayer, with copies marked to the Prime Minister of India. Thousands of citizens signed the e-petitions to Bayer India executives demanding they phase-out highly toxic pesticides from India.

Greenpeace says, "This mobilization effort also brought into focus the current pesticides debate onto multinational agri-chemical companies like Bayer who are practicing double standards on Indians. In their Annual Report of 1995, Bayer had clearly promised "to reduce the amount of product required per application" and to "replace WHO (World Health Organisation) Class I products (highly toxic) with products of less toxicity". These pesticides are responsible for several cases of farmers being poisoned.
Greenpeace India is asking cyber activists around the world to support this action by sending their own letters, by logging onto the website www.greenpeaceindia.org, and clicking on the 'Take Action' link on the homepage.

Vasundhara Das (singer and actress) who joined the campaign and urged many Bangaloreans to sign up.

Where did all the rations go?
New Delhi: Parivartan, an organisation working for the right to information in Delhi, has been at loggerheads with the Delhi administration and the PDS dealers lobby over transparency in the public distribution system (PDS). Parivartan decided to obtain the records of all ration shops in Sundernagari, New Delhi, under the Right to Information Act to do a social audit of all the ration shops and expose the corrupt practices of the PDS dealers.

As a test case, an application was made by Triveni, a destitute widow who has been routinely deprived of her food rations. The records showed that Triveni had been receiving her full quota, and the `cash memos'had thumb impressions. However, Triveni is educated and never puts her thumb impressions. To probe more such cases, Parivartan decided to obtain the entire records of the ration shop. The Food and Civil Supplies Department wrote to Parivartan saying that the records of the ration shops would not be disclosed as they were "private records" Denying access to records is a violation of the directions of the Supreme Court.
Parivartan initiated a long battle with the Department, in spite of dire threats from the dealers, and the administration finally agreed to share information. In the meantime, 17 ration dealers approached the High Court of Delhi and obtained a stay against Parivartan. Since the stay was only against Parivartan, and not against the citizens of Delhi per se, it was decided to bring together people from across Delhi to demand records. On 29 August 2003, three hundred people from across the city met to file applications under the Right to information Act.
The dealers have got violent, but the battle has just begun! Contact Parivartan

No Home, No Ration card, No Food
Bangalore: The homeless are being systematically excluded from most public services and welfare programmes, including the public distribution system (PDS). Many state governments claim that they are unable to provide ration cards to the homeless, due to a Home Ministry circular which says that no ration cards should be given to people who do not provide a clear proof of address, as they claim that "illegal immigrants"use ration cards to establish their citizenship.

But in Karnataka, the administration recently organised a meeting with various NGOs on this issue. The government has already issued a circular stating that it will provide free grain to any NGO that runs night shelters and other facilities for street children. A census of homeless people is also being initiated, to facilitate further action.

The Banyan celebrates 10 years
Chennai: Working with homeless, mentally ill women in Chennai, The Banyan celebrated its tenth anniversary at the CLRI Auditorium in Adyar on August 30, 2003. Guests of honour were Mr H D Malesra of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Dr Arjun Rajagopal of Sundaram Medical Foundation, Ms Ali King of the Financial Services Community Trust from Zurich and UK, Mr S R M Ramanathan Rotary District Governor, Mr N Ram of The Hindu, Dr M S Ananth of IIT Madras, Mr Narayanan of the Chennai Willingdon Corporate Foundation, Ms Revathy Menon, Mr Sathish Kumar of Henkel SPIC and Ms Shobana.
Ms B Valarmathi, Minister for Social Welfare, Govt of Tamil Nadu, presided over the celebrations dedicated to the individuals and organizations who have helped The Banyan reach out to these destitute women.
Contact: The Banyan, 6th Mian road, Mogapair Eri scheme, Mogapair West, Chennai 600058. Phone: 26530504. email: the_banyan@vsnl.com Site: www.thebanyan.org

Flag Day for the Blind
Mumbai: The annual Flag Day inaugurations of the NAB on September 15 (National Association for the Blind) took off with a small function held at Raj Bhavan. Governor of Maharashtra Mohammed Fazal gave the first donation in a box held by a little blind girl. Later, Maharashtra Health Minister Digvijay Khanvilkar inaugurated the year long awareness and fund raising program at the Hotel Marine Plaza.

Main supporters on the Flag Day were the Hotel Marine Plaza, Hindustan Petroleum, Tata Sons and J Walter Thompson.
Contact: NAB, Mulla House, 51 M G Road, Mumbai 400023. Phone: 22045482. Email: nabin@vsnl.net Site: www.nabindia.org

A decade of Impact!
New Delhi: It has made an indelible impact on the ices of thousands of villagers who had no access to good healthcare. And it has made an impact on many others too. On Gandhi Jayanthi day, Impact India Foundation celebrated 20 years of service against avoidable disablement. At a dinner function to celebrate its many achievement, chief guest Jyotiraje Scindia, MP, remembered the impression that Lifelines Express made on him when he was 13 years old…"There has to be a partnership between the government, an organization like yours, the public sector ad the common man the very essence of these systems is firmly embodied in Impact." Mr. Vasant Sathe, MP also recalled his association with Impact in 1983. "Since then apart from the Lifeline Express, which has done wonderful by taking doctors to remote areas, Impact has made an impact! .NGOs can do wonderful things. We must have less and less Government, The government is best that governs the least. It is the NGOs that do more and more work. Government must only act as a catalyst."

Today, Impact India can claim to have brought about a polio-free Madras, child immunization in Mumbai and the celebrated Lifeline Express, - India's hospital on rails which has benefited 360,000 Indians with surgery and medication. Some of these surgeries have actively reduced disabilities and ensured that the new state of Chhattisgarh remains free from cleft defects.

The movement has grown to 17 Foundations worldwide, the Lifeline express has been replicated in China, East Africa and a river boat in Bangladesh. Representatives from 11 Foundations all came together for a seminar the next day. The international initiative has been promoted by UNDP, UNICEF and the WHO in association with the government of India.
Contact:022- 56339605. Email: impactindia@bol.net.in

ActionAid Bangalore 2002-03
The Bangalore regional office of ActionAid concentrated on a number of issues during the year:
* On the issue of Violence Against Women in which 25 NGOs participated they held a South India level consultation with Sumangali Seva Ashram whose recommendations were sent to the Law Minister.

Partnerships were established with 4 organisations: Insaf in Bijapur which works towards setting of self help groups for Muslim and Dalit women; Sadhana in Dharwad which assists poor and disadvantaged women through self help groups in 46 slums; Spandana in Belgaum works with empowering Dalits and Devadasis in 25 villages, Disc in Bangalore which is working with 1 lakh garment workers, addressing issues like sexual harassment etc.

• In the HIV/AIDS sector, Bangalore office began a Family Support Project with an informal network of 100 infected women; training camps for 40 trainers was conducted
• Disability work with 33 gram panchayats began; job placements are conducted through a partner agency for 63 placements. A network of People with Disabilities in Karnataka was established with 70 disabled in 13 districts meeting regularly.
• A research study on anti-trafficking continued; partnerships included Odanadi in Mysore where 13 girls were rescued from brothels in other cities and re-integrated with their families; Nele in Bangalore which supports SelfHelpGroups amongst the women; Sneha in Bellary which works with devadasis in 29 villages focusing on prevention and education of children of Devadasis; Sathi in Raichur involved in the reintegration of minor girls.
• AAI in Bangalore has assisted the HIV positive child student and other marginalized groups and individuals infected with HIV through family and community care to ensure health care, besides the alleviation of stigma. The family support project has created a network of affected families in the Bangalore area. The 100-woman network meet regularly to discuss immediate and long term problems; Collaboration with the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society helped over 80 NGOs participate; a 15 day training session in Bangalore brought participants from AAI regional offices in Chennai, Mumbai, Guwahati and Bhubaneshwar, along with the Indo Canadian HIV/AIDS project partners.
• Workers at AAI are aware of the pitfalls that can affect tribals, and tribal women in particular, from racketeers such as moneylenders and land dealers. Support is being given to organizations working with the Koragas in Udupi and Lambanis in Gulbarga. Issues taken up include migration and land rights. The Samagra Grameena Ashram has worked with some 2500 Koraga families to form their own federation.
• Awareness about the fraternity of humankind and dangers of communalism. Contact 080-25586682 roblr@actionaidindia.org

Govt not to legalise homosexuality
New Delhi: The Centre told the Delhi High Court that homosexuality cannot be legalised in India as the society disapproves of such behaviour. In its reply to a petition challenging the Constitutional validity of Section 377 of IPC, the Government said "deletion of the said section can well open the flood gates of delinquent behaviour and be construed as providing unbridled licence for the same".

According to Section 377 of IPC, whoever voluntarily has sex against the "order of nature" with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years. Naz Foundation, an NGO working for the welfare of AIDS patients, had challenged the validity of this provision and sought to legalise homosexuality on the grounds that due to fear of police action, consenting adult males having sexual relations between them, were not coming forward to disclose it although they were high-risk to HIV infection.

"Indian society by and large disapproves of homosexuality and disapproval was strong enough to justify it being treated as a criminal offence even where the adults indulge in it in private", it said citing Law Commissions 42nd report. The Government also questioned the NGOs locus standi to approach the court on this issue, saying "no one except those whose rights are directly affected by the law can raise the question of its constitutionality.

An ecological disaster looms over the world's largest river island. (BBC)
Located in the Brahmaputra river in India's north-eastern Assam state, Majuli is rapidly eroding away, threatening the lives of the 150,000 islanders.

Majuli's islanders face a future threatened by erosion.

Environmentalists say Majuli has shrunk by more than 400 square kilometres in the past three decades...the island's main problem is the Brahmaputra, infamous for floods, and for frequently changing its course.
And every time this happens, the current undercuts Majuli's sandy soil, undermining its foundations. Originally covering an area of 1,250 sq km, the island has now shrunk to about two-thirds in size. There has been a proposal to have Majuli declared a world heritage site by the Unesco, but it could be wiped off the map one day.

Assam's Flood Control Minister Nurzamal Sarkar told the BBC the government was making fresh attempts to control erosion but admitted that an ecological tragedy loomed large.

Local NGOs say soil erosion threatens the security of Majuli's islanders, whose only link with the mainland is by using boats. Even the islanders' religious faith is not safe.

One man who tried to look into the problem of erosion was Sanjoy Ghosh, an activist leading an NGO called the Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development. But he was killed shortly after he began taking an interest. Police blame rebels of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) for his death.

"Hundreds of local people have been reduced to nomads as they have to move from one place to another because of this erosion," says Dr AK Sharma, a member of parliament from the state.

Even members of the 22 local Vaishnav monasteries "satras" which act as the centre of Assamese culture with their traditional prayer form, a 500-year old open air theatrical custom, colourful boat races, classical dances and handicrafts say, "We will be forced to move if no action is taken to solve the flood problem and end erosion."

Unmitigated industrial pollution at Eloor
Cochin: Chances are that Eloor citizens will contract Cancer 2.85 times higher. Children are at 2.63 times higher risk of malformation due to congenital and chromosomal aberrations. Chances that children may die due to Birth Defects have increased 3.8 times. Death due to Bronchitis at Eloor is up by 3.4 times. Death due to Asthma in Eloor is up by 2.2 times.

Greenpeace confirmed that the unchecked pollution at Eloor industrial estate near Cochin has resulted in increased rates of disease and death amongst the local population. Diseases like Cancer, congenital birth-defects, Bronchitis, Asthma, Allergic Dermatitis and Stomach Ulcers were found to be extremely common in Eloor according to a Cross sectional Epidemiological study conducted by Greenpeace and medical teams from Occupational Health and Safety Centre, Mumbai with support and advice from Community Health Cell, Bangalore, NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences), Bangalore and St. John's Medical College, Bangalore.

"A poisoned river means a dying people. Greenpeace has been performing scientific investigations on contamination of the River Periyar and the waterways of the Eloor Industrial Belt for over four years. The first round of sampling in 1999 focussed on the serious threat posed by Hindustan Insecticides Ltd on the waterways of Eloor. Greenpeace appointed V.J Jose as the riverkeeper to monitor levels of pollution and to compile weekly reports on the river's health. The River keeper's report shows abnormal rise in the temperature of the Periyar and high presence of Heavy metals like Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, and Zinc.

The state which has the power to save the river is indifferent. People have lost faith in the system. If the people of Cochin come together with strength and conviction we can save our river NOW," said VJ Jose, Periyar Riverkeeper.Contact : Manu Gopalan, 098455 35409, V J Jose -Greenpeace River Keeper- 098460 13483 Greenpeace Media Officer - 98108 50092.

Health for all
Mumbai: A national campaign for the "right to health care was launched by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA). The launch followed a national workshop and "public consultation" on the right to health held in Mumbai on 5-6 September 2003-the 25th anniversary of the Health for All Declaration (1978 - 2003). Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, is a national level platform of hundreds of organisations and groups working on health, social issues, science, women's and the rights of vulnerable groups. CEHAT, (Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes), a part of the JSA network, hosted the consultation in Mumbai.

Over 250 JSA delegates from 16 states attended the event, aimed at nothing less than "chalking out a campaign strategy to make the Right to Health Care a fundamental constitutional right and an operational reality." Justice Anand, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commision chaired the consultation. Professor Satyaranjan Sathe, constitutional expert and former principal of ILS Law College, Pune,

A workshop was organised on the previous day for all Jan Swasthya Abhiyan activists to get oriented to various aspects of this right. Dr. Abhay Shukla, Advocate Anand Grover, Manisha Gupte, Jaya Velankar and Dr. Amar Jesani spoke about health rights of people in various situations.

A total of 60 cases from all over the country reflecting the abysmal state of the health system will be used as the basis for a petition by the JSA to the NHRC which has already suggested that a constitutional amendment be enacted to make the right to health care a fundamental right.

Contact: Dr. Amita Pitre at cehat@vsnl.com, Phone: 98203 50752 Office: 022 261 477 27 / 261 320 27
Dr. Abhay Shukla at cehatpun@vsnl.com Phone: 94223 17515 Office: 020 545 14 13, 545 23 25

Sexual Health Conference
Kolkata: Through a mind boggling number of round table sessions, speeches, skill building workshops, poster displays, and plenary sessions, 200 speakers and over 800 participants chewed on the theme: "A Multi Sectoral Response to the HIV Epidemic in India", when the West Bengal State Aids Prevention and Control Society (WBSAPCS) held its fourth Sexual Health Conference from September 22nd to 24th at Kolkata.

The conference was organized into three tracks - Culture, Gender and Sexual Issues, Interventions and Program Implementation in HIV/AIDS, and, Social, Economic, and Political Relevance of HIV/STD Prevention - and each of these were further divided into subtracks. Eight skills building workshops were conducted over two days ranging from social marketing, and, proposal writing for NGOs, to research and process documentation for NGOs, and 'ARV (Anti Retro Virals) for Dummies'.

The conference theme sought to widen the scope of HIV prevention through newer tools, techniques, and perspectives, and to build sharing and participation between groups and individuals across the country. And this was reflected in the changing participant profile at the conferences as "People Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs)" and sexual minority groups such as Hijras and commercial sex workers spoke alongside bureaucrats, and NGO staff..
Representatives of other States' AIDS Control Societies took notes…as actress Nandita Das spoke at the opening plenary session, and shared the dais with the WB chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya and the director of NACO (National AIDS Control Organization), Meenakshi Datta Ghosh. Ms. Das and her husband Mr. Saumya Sen went on to conduct a round table session andd a skills building workshop on communication strategies on HIV at the end of the day on the same issue. Contact: WBSADS

Leprosy and the Eye
Mumbai: Can leprosy related eye problems increase the morbidity and blindness in leprosy patients? These were the issues discussed in the seminar on "Leprosy and Eye" organized by Bombay Leprosy Project in collaboration with Indian Association of Leprologists (IAL) - Maharashtra Branch on September 13 at the KJ Somaiya Medical College & Hospital..
A recent global survey (1998) revealed that every second leprosy patient from South East region, with long standing disease for more than 15 years will have potentially sight threatening problems. The inadequacy in recording the eye related problems in the routine leprosy control programme was highlighted and basic requirements for examining the eye problems at the field level were also suggested.

Post Graduate students and Ophthalmologists from the city medical colleges including a few basic level leprosy workers formed the audience. It was also proposed to undertake a collaborative study to screen leprosy patients for eye related problems. It was recommended that a post graduate dissertation on "Leprosy and Eye" should be done.. The Seminar was sponsored by the Bank of Baroda Contact BLP.

Concerned citizens - to terrorism
Mumbai: The Public Affairs & Social Issues (PASI) Committee of YWCA Mumbai organized a Public Forum on "Concerned Citizens to terrorism" on September 20 at the Colaba YWCA auditorium.
Dr. Fatima Gracias, President YWCA, welcomed a distinguished panel of speakers : Shri Shahid M.Z. -Director, Centre for Human Development and Networking in Governance and Education (CHANGE), began, by stating that "curative elements will have to come from social, psychological, cultural, economic unity.".
Smt. Farida Lambay, Vice Principal - Nirmala Niketan, College of Social work said simply "Target Schools and colleges - Our future generation. We secular people are extremely unorganized. Now the time has come to work with religious leaders as they are extremely organized."
Shri. M.R. Patil (IAS), Member Human Rights Commission and Shri. S Balakrishnan- Political Editor- Times of India, felt that " in order to tackle problems of terror we have to first understand its context, the intent of its perpetrators." Shri. J. D Virkar (IPS), Principle Secretary- Home Department- Government of Maharashtra explained that, "the terrorist resorts to suicide attacks, bomb blasts, with the main intention of creating shock and panic amongst the public to create disorder and promote a sense of insecurity. Publicity of their acts is the most important factor to terrorists. Smt. Geeta Radhakrishna, dancer, emphasized that there must not be organized violence but organized peace, and Dr. Satyapal Singh (IPS), Jt. Commissioner of Police (Crime)- Greater Mumbai reminded everyone that " No religion in the world professes violence. Then why does violence take place? There is something wrong with our value systems."The YWCA of Bombay organized a followup Interfaith meeting along with the Diocesan Council of Catholic women at St Andrews Church Bandra on 2nd October on the theme- "Tolerance & living together in a Pluralistic Society." Contact 022-22151369.

Ashoka Awards
Ashoka, a non profit organization working worldwide had a ceremony to announce awardees of a citizen based initiative competition. Among the winners was the Foundation for Mercy and Generosity, which utilized the idea of selling offerings to Thai monks at below-market prices in the open market. The major obstacles related to fund raising among NGOs have been effectively tackled by those such as the Bangalore-based Adventurers, which conducts treks and nature camps for the purpose. Another Bangalore concern, TIDE, helps transfer energy-efficient technologies from university laboratories to application sites, and utlises marketing profits. The Mumbai-based Magic Bus obtains company sponsorship for picnics and sports programmes for destitute children, their mentors and volunteers.

ASK from Moradabad has helped counter child labour by facilitating the entry of women in the brass industry, Rickshaw Bank from Guwahati intends to obtain corporate sponsorship for rickshaws to by run by unemployed youth and the Institute for Rural Health Studies in Andhra Pradesh has taken it upon themselves to run two pharmacies attached to public hospitals, with the profit donated to hospital care for poor patients. NOCER, operating out of Kerala, is run by the handicapped rejected by society, and has the distinction of sustaining itself through the publication and sales of 60 printed booklets dealing with consumer rights.

Jamnalal Bajaj Awards
Ravindranath Upadhyay has been selected for the outstanding contribution award in the field of constructive work from the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation for its awards ceremony. 75 year old Upadhyay has been working with the rural populace in the North East of India. Vinayak Patil from Nashik was declared the winner in the application of science and technology for rural development. Alice Garg of Bal Rashmi Society in Jaipur is to receive her award for the uplift and welfare of women and children, at the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards ceremony at Y B Chavan Centre, Mumbai, to be held on November 4.

Governors award for Jagruthi (pix)
Bangalore: Independence Day and many young girls who had won their freedom from a life of sexual abuse and exploitation, boys who had been abused in their youth, saw that Big Brother was watching. The Governors award for social work was given to Jagruthi and accepted by their director, Renu Appahu on Independence Day.

International Award for Human Rights
Human rights activist, Teesta Setalvad was awarded the International Prize for Human Rights of Nuernberg. Teesta's NGO, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) fi.led affidavits eetc t o show how victims are being terrorized instead of beingprotected in the Gulberg massacre case. "Now that the Supreme Court has intervened seriously, it's about time the judiciary and legal system looks hard at our failures to prosecute such criminals." Contact Teesta at:

Social Justice award
Mumbai: The Social Justice Cell of the Justice & Peace Commission organised a lecture in honour of late Fr.Raymond D'Silva on 30th August 2003. The Social Justice Cell organises this lecture every year on a contemporary social and political theme. The topic for the present Lecture was "Alternative Media - An Instrument for Social Transformation. Mr.Javed Anand, Co-editor of Communalism Combat who gave the lecture said, "There is still some space left in the mainstream media for public intervention. This space needs to be used by the secular and democratic forces to assert their voices."

The Social Justice Cell also honours every year an activist who has worked towards the cause of the underprivileged in the society. This year Dr.Leslie Rodricks, executive secretary of programmes of Vikas Adhyayan Kendra was presented the Raymond Memorial Award. Dr.Vibhuti Patel, Dept. of Economics, University of Mumbai introducing Dr.Leslie Rodricks said that he had worked consistently in promoting the alternative media and his contribution in the field of information dissemination had been very significant.

Magsaysay for Shantha
Ms. Shantha Sinha was awarded the 2003 Ramon Magsaysay award for Community Leadership, for "guiding the people of Andhra Pradesh to end the scourge of child labour and send all their children to school".

Her organisation, Mamidipudi Venkata-rangaiya Foundation (MVF), has helped over 2.41 lakh village children get regular education in Andhra Pradesh. The MVF has introduced the unique concept of community teachers who double as child labour activists, thus ensuring children's attendance at school.

"During our work in Andhra Pradesh villages we found that rural schools were full of very poor children, while children from relatively better off families were working. About 80 per cent of the parents who sent their children to work didn't really need their wages. Work was traditionally seen as a more natural activity than going to school.
We believe that the surest way of eliminating child labour is by harnessing the parents' desire to ensure a better future for their children.

We mobilised educated youth groups, teachers and employers. The youth, often 100- strong, went from village to village telling parents to send their children to school. The fact that their own youth were speaking to them made a greater impact on villagers.
they concentrate on the more `exploitative' aspects of child labour - the employment of children in `hazardous' industries like carpet weaving, glass and match factories, for instance. Actually, all children must go to school. We must not make any distinction between different forms of child labour.
Today, we work with village youth, gram panchayats, school education committees, women's groups, and young girls' groups - all federated into the Child Rights Protection Committee (CRPC). This network works as a local counselling centre in every mandal or village.

Corporate Partnerships - Profitable empowerment
Traditionally, choupals are community gathering places in the village where locals meet to discuss issues and iron out their problems. ITC's 1,200 Internet kiosks or E-choupals in villages across 18 states allow the agri-business company to procure soya and other produce directly from farmers, eliminating the middleman and saving producers time and money.
Dubbed a click-and-mortar business model, the system constitutes an Internet-enabled kiosk in a village, which is manned by a prominent local farmer who is familiar with computers, known as the 'choupal sanchalak'. The sanchalak mans the kiosk, is in touch with company representatives and guides farmers on the use of the technology, and is the interface between the computer and the farmer. Farmers can use the kiosks to check the current market prices of their commodities, access market data, information on local and global weather and best farming practices. The entire contents of the site are accessible to registered choupal sanchalaks only.

Starting with six e-choupals, by the end of 2002, it had succeeded in linking 6,000 villages with over 1,200 choupals. All information based on the farmers' needs was gathered and the content rewritten, in some cases by the farmers themselves.

The company has set up soya choupals in Madhya Pradesh, wheat choupals in Andhra Pradesh, coffee choupals in Karnataka and aqua choupals in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.. "IBD is aggressively expanding its network to 2,600 choupals by June 2003," says S Sivakumar, Chief Executive Officer of ITC-IBD. Upto 2002, ITC-IBD invested Rs 750 crore in setting up e-choupals across the country.

The next step was converting the computer from a mere supply chain mechanism to a one-stop shop for farmers, so now it also sells solar lanterns and cooking oil.

And while company officials claim that the e-choupals have clearly identified and addressed the needs of villagers, Devinder Sharma chairperson of the NGO Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security feels it can only help the larger farmers. Contact: Mr. S. Sivakumar-40-27800875 email : shiv@itcibd.com

Suno -Innocent Expressions
Mumbai: Part of the curriculum of The Door Step School working with slum children in the Cuffe Parade area is writing and music. And when it came to music, the children sang the popular children's film songs so well that it was decided to do it professionally. Out of the 500 children, six were finally chosen to undergo training and they did such a good job that the Door Step School decided to record them. HSBC came forward to pay the expenses for recording and manufacturing the cassettes and on Sept. 15, famous pop singer Shaan released "Suno."The cassette features songs like Aao Doston tumhe dikhaye, Ye dil hai mushkil, Lakdi ki kathi, nani teri morni etc - all all-time favourites with children.

Mumbai: The Corporates are waking up to Corporate Social Responsibility and all that's required is a synergy of the two. Partners in Change organized a seminar on "Corporate Social Responsibility" with Citibank to highlight the work of the Citigroup Foundation India, the philanthropic arm of Citigroup in India. Charles Raymond, President of the Citigroup Foundation, on his first trip to India, lauded the work of the NGOs partnering Citigroup: SPARC (Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centre, Mumbai); Friends of Womens's World Baking, Ahmedabad, SEWA, Amhmedabad, Working Women's Forum, Chennai, Sasha, Kolkata, Sesaseee, Delhi, Akanksha, Mumbai, Akshara Foundation Bangalore, and Swayam Shikshan Prayog, Gujarat. Others who spoke included Ms. Jaya Arunachalam, Founder President of the Working Women's Forum who talked of how the partnership had benefited the organization. Noshir Dadrawala, CAP and Mr MNSharma, CEO Hindustan Lever also spoke.
The important element was the fact that, as Mr Raymond put it, "It was not only a matter of finances. The people in the companies were also involved in the partnership in various ways."
Contact Partners in Change, Tel 022-2361 1597 email: pic@picindia.org

FILMS
Drowned Out: 75 minutes. Documentary. Produced by Spanner Films, UK. Directed by Franny Armstrong.

Yet another film on the Narmada Dam but this time from a British film-maker.
'Drowned Out' is London-based Franny Armstrong's latest documentary film that tells the story of the Jalsindhi villagers who choose to drown rather than leave their ancestral homes. Luhariya Shonkiyara, from Jalsindhi village, the protagonist in the documentary, has lost his home to the rising waters and recently his second home built to replace the first one was also submerged.

The film picked up second prize at the prestigious San Francisco International Film Festvial with the jury calling it "a film of enormous heart, grit and insight that is both taut political essay and enormously moving plea." Now, the film has been bought by Public Broadcasting Service(USA) to be shown as part of the Wide Angle Series to a potential audience of 2 million across America.

Contact: Shai Heredia, 022-2845519 / 5558, 98206 19918, shaiheredia@hotmail.com; NBA enquiries: www.narmada.org

Film: Naata, 45 minutes, Hindi with English subtitles.

Produced by TISS directed by Roshni Oliveira.

A film, within a film, Naata (Bond) traces the real story of two people, a Hindu and Muslim living in India's largest slum- Dharavi. They both trace their roots to the slum and theie involvement in keeping it free of riots. The Mohalla Committee program of cop Jukious Rebeiro spurred them to make the film and Waqar Khan traces his life as a slum kid to businessman to film director. He held the camera while Bhau Korde.did the resourcing and used the film to bind the people of Dharavi together. "Even when there were riots in other parts of the country, Dharavi was safe because we did not allow any outsiders or politicians to come in". The directors, for some reason brought in their own personal lives in the form of toothbrushes…which was totally unnecessary.

Book reviews

The Breastfeeding Movement: a Sourcebook ( 1 col. Pix with press)
Compiled and edited by Lakshmi Menon Published by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). Available from WABA, P.O. Box 1200, 10850 Penang, Malaysia Tel. (604) 658 4816 Fax: (604) 657 2655 Email: secr@waba.po.my

The Source Book containing over 300 pages, is a compilation of selected documents significant to the breastfeeding movement. It contains a brief history of the breastfeeding movement, key documents such as inspiring speeches and articles by medical professionals, activists and other concerned individuals at various stages of the movement; UN instruments and NGO declarations. It also includes a section on HIV and breastfeeding and resources containing a bibliography, Internet resources and a directory of key international contacts, events, poems, songs and graphics and provides a glossary of key terms on breastfeeding and a list of abbreviations and acronyms. The Sourcebook is a useful resource tool for activists, students, historians, and health professionals.

Maternity Protection Campaign Kit: a Breastfeeding Perspective ( 1 col. pix with press)
Prepared by the Maternity Protection Coalition (MPC). Edited by Lakshmi Menon
Published by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), P.O. Box 1200, 10850 Penang, Malaysia Tel. (604) 658 4816 Fax: (604) 657 2655 Email: secr@waba.po.my

The Maternity Protection Coalition began work in 1998 and worked closely with the international trade unions to keep breastfeeding on the ILO's maternity protection agenda - and in the text of the revised Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (C183).

The Campaign Kit is a tool for breastfeeding advocates to better understand the ILO Convention 183. It will assist them to campaign for stronger national legislation, or for better maternity protection policies, or for improved maternity benefits and workplace conditions so that women are able to continue breastfeeding and working in the best conditions possible. The Campaign Kit also provides a specific "breastfeeding perspective in particular from the health and nutrition perspective. It contains materials for campaigners who may lack specific information about breastfeeding as a maternity protection issue. The information contained in this Kit is relevant, concise and simple to use. The Kit contains 10 sections and is general enough to be applicable in a variety of different situations and settings which could be used for other campaigns.

Urdhva Mula 2003
Vol 2, no.1, 197 pages. Published by Sophia Centre for Women's Studies and Development, Rs 50 Edited by Vibhuti Patel, Sr. Ananda Amritmahal.

The second in the Urdhva Mula series, the book continues to publish articles relevant to the women's movement and issues concerning women. From the economic impact of Globalisation on women to Muslim women's writings, the book has a wide scope and contains news about women's studies elsewhere, the work of the SCWSD and the latest legal developments that affect women.

Drama
"B-7" for the birds Mumbai: Issues concerning youth and other current issues in the world were discussed and debated in a Forum organised on the occasion of completion of 50 years of "Spiel + Theatre" group and organised by Zentrum fur Medien Kunst Kultur and Spiel + Theatre in Hannover. Twelve theatre groups from nine countries participated. From India, Manjul Bharadwaj conducted workshops on "Theatre of Relevance" His The Experimental Theatre Foundation performed 12 shows of the play " B-7 " from 6th May to 10th June 2003 in Germany. The play, written and directed by Manjul Bharadwaj depicts the story of seven birds who are facing a threat for their survival. The birds decide to form a fact-finding committee to list out the threats to their survival. Although premiered three years ago, it is now performed in English, Hindi & German.

Theatre has brought a sea change in the life of the seven actors who performed in the play. Jitendra Lokhande, Sheetal Rathore, Sunny Rathore, Seema Shaw, Naresh Chavan, Jyoti Pardeshi and Madan Sable belong to the slum community of Gautam Nagar, Charkop, Kandivali (w), Mumbai. They were earlier child labourers and due to Experimental Theatre Foundation's intervention through theatre they now go to BMC Schools.

The organization which has completed 10 years of Theatre Activism in nukkads, tribal belts, villages, towns, slums of metros using "Theatre as medium of Change". Contact Manjul Bharadwaj on 28687552 or 9820391859.

Dance Ballet
To commemorate its tenth year, DESH (Deepam Educational Soceity for Health) asked several theatre enthusiasts in Chennai to produce a dance ballet. "Aids, Youth and Women" aeas they work in were the subject. The script based on case studies documented by DESH was evolved from a number of street plays performed by them.

This is probably the first time, the organisers feel, that Bharat Natyam was used as a tool for empowerment and in communicating crucial social messages on the subject of HV< prostitution and rape. The dancers included disciples of Kalindi Narayan, Padma Subramanyam, VPDhananjayan, and others with a guest appearance from Anita Ratnam.

The ballet was also specially performed for Bill Gates on his recent trip to India. Now it is being performed once again in December to help the cause that led to its production. Contact 044-24511784/2958 email: desh@vsnl.com

BOOKS
Comet Media Foundation, working in the area of educational communications announces some new publications: Contact Comet Media Foundation, tel 386 9052/382 6674 email: comet_media@vsnl.com

Bharat Ki Chaap Reflections on science, history & society, by Chayanika Shah, Suhas Paranjape, Swatija Manorama.(available in English, Hindi and Marathi) Rs.150/-
Companion book to the highly acclaimed television series Bharat ki Chhap it defines the identity of India in terms of science and technology achievements through history.

We and Our Fertility by Chayanika, Swatija & Kamaxi. Rs. 75/-
About reproduction and the range of technological interventions into the reproductive processes. The emphasis is on information about various techniques, for both contraception and assisted reproduction, but this book is also about the making and breaking of values circumscribing the development of these technologies and their uses.

Women at work in India Rs.25/-
A handbook containing information on some of the laws which can be used protect the rights of women as workers. This book is an outcome of a project of training and information dissemination on Women Workers' Rights in India conducted by ILO. It covers issues relevant to women employed in different sectors of the economy and act as a reminder of the legal rights of women workers.

Beyond Illness by Swatija & Chayanika Shah, Rs.75/-
A reader for women health activists in urban areas, it is an exploration of the much used term, "the holistic understanding of health". It deals with body physiology, the emphasis is on the basic concepts which help in understanding the co-ordinated action of the whole body.

Getting Down to Earth
The Down To Earth 200 Special Issue - a compilation of articles published in Down To Earth from May 31, 1992 till September 15, 2000 covering over 200 issues, contains the most debated articles Down To Earth has reported since its inception. Priced at Rs.290. Available at: Society for Environmental Communications
41, Tuglakabad Institutional Area , New Delhi 110062.Fax at 011-29955879
email:sales@cseindia.org or goutam@cseindia.org

Guide to the accounting function for voluntary organizations in India
Price Rs. 100 (available at CAP centphil@vsnl.net)
Keeping proper accounts is not only a statutory requirement under the various laws affecting voluntary organizations but also a requisite for enhancing credibility in the eyes of all stakeholders. The Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy has published this resource book to help voluntary organizations in India understand the accounting function. There is also a useful section on accounting standards.

The book, authored by Freddy R Daruwala (chartered accountant) and Sharukh N Tara (cost accountant), is a useful guide for trustees, staff and accountants working with voluntary organisations in India.

Peace thru Music
New Delhi: It was the kind of music festival that brings all kinds of youth together and unties them and that is exactly what happened when Anhad launched their Youth for Peace initiative on September 27. Indian Ocean, the fusion band that is "in" nowadays, the live performance was the beginning of activities like a survey among youth to probe their attitude on the issue of communalism; Workshops for peace education in schools and colleges; form a resource centre with all kinds of media, and use street theatre to perform plays conveying the message of peace and harmony. Youth for Peace is already working in Gujarat and will go to Bhopal soon and in a year's time plan to be able to host a National Youth Festival. Anhad has been founded by KN Panikkar, Shubha Mudgal, Harsh Mander and Shabnam Hashmi. All peace to them! Contact 011-23327367 email: anhadinfo@yahoo.co.in

Larzish tremors
Mumbai: As part of a campaign to raise awareness on issues of gender and sexuality, Larzish: Tremors of Revolution, an International Film Festival of Gender & Sexual Plurality was held from 17to 19th October, organized by Humjinsi, (part of India center for Human Rights and Law), a support group and a Helpline for women who love women. The agenda of the festival is to primarily create a forum for showcasing works emerging from South-East Asia, Middle East, Africa, Latin America as well as other parts of the world. This festival is an attempt to compliment already existing and on going work within the sexuality and gender minority movement at the grass-root level. Contact: Humjinsi,2371 6690 Email: festival_humjinsi@yahoo.co.in

Model school bus project
AGNI's 'D' Ward has worked out a [Model] School Bus Project, which aims at decreasing vehicular congestion and noise pollution created on school roads at opening and closing time of schools. Starting with the Cathedral & John Connon School this model was used by Bombay International School, Chowpatty and Bombay Scottish, Mahim. The process is on to implement it in other schools in Mumbai.

Traffic Police and Parents of school children have worked together resulting in streamlining of traffic, decreasing congestion and pollution, and safe transport for children to and from school. Contact Coordinator 'D' Ward: - 2364 0113

Nirmala Niketan gets a Gold!
Mumbai: One of India's most prestigious social work institutes, Nirmala Niketan, announced plans to celebrate their Golden Jubilee at a pre-launch function at the YBChavan Hall on Sept. 26. The chief guest was Mr Jayantrao Patil, finance minister, Government of Maharashtra. On the cards is a Cultural programme in January 2004 as a fundraiser for the various expansion plans of the Institute, followed by a National seminar of Social work students and ending with an International conference on Community care support of HIV/AIDS victims to end celebrations in January 2005.

Nirmala Niketan has spawned many NGOs which have started off as projects: these include Sakhya- for women's rights, Salokha Centre for Communal Harmony; Nirman for migrant construction workers; Ankur for mentally challenged children in municipal schools. Some projects that have become independent organisations are Yuva for youth development; Van Niketan for liberation of bonded tribals; Prerna for prevention of trafficking of women; Vasundhara for environmental protection and Vatsalya for capacity building of street children.

HelpAge India Greeting Cards launched.
Mumbai: The new HelpAge India range of Greeting Cards for 2003-4, their Silver Jubilee year, were released by Naseeruddin Shah at the International Convention Centre, Bombay Stock Exchange. The range has Greeting Cards, Desk Calendars, Organisers, Wall Calendars, Diaries and Telephone Indexes The proceeds from these cards a partnership between Archies India and HelpAge since the last 15 years are channeled into age-care projects. The cards this year consist of 54 designs for Diwali, Christmas and New Year. A box of 12 assorted cards for different occasions costs from Rs. 60 -- Rs. 120.

Over 250 schoolchildren from Mumbai participated in the "Global Embrace Walkathon 2003" organized by HelpAge India, in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO). Chief guest film television and personality Alok Nath, flagged off the walk from Five Gardens, Dadar Parsi Colony which culminated at Shivaji Park.
Contact Helpage: 022-26370740/54

Mumbai Pukar
Mumbai:At the annual Bombay show of the NGMA, "Ideas and Images" this year, PUKAR curated a show of documentary movies and videos which encapsulated the spirit of Mumbai.Curated by Paromita Vohra, the program had two distinct sections - a table of video films and a set of screenings in the auditoriumof: Fearless-The Hunterwali Story - directed by Riyad Vinci Wadia; Narayan Gangaram Surve - by Arun Khopkar; Bombay - Our City - by Anand Patwardhan; and New Empire -by Kurush Canteenwalla
The videos shown were: Aur Irani Chai-- Wilson College Students; Living With the Dead--Students of Social Communications Media, Sophia Polytechnic; Sambhawami Yuge Yuge--Madhushree Dutta; Phantoms:--Tushar Joag; Occupation Mill Worker--Anand Patwardhan; Crystal--Students of Social Communications Media, Sophia Polytechnic; Circadian Cycle-- Mahesh Mathai; and I Ranu Gayen-- Shyamal Karmarkar
For details contact Pukar

First World Suicide prevention Day
The battle against suicide is being stepped up.The international Association for Suicide Prevention(IASP), in conjunction with the World Health Organisation(WHO) has designated September 10 as the day of focusing attention on the problem world wide. For the first time, World Suicide Prevention Day was launched on 10th September at Stockholm during the XX11 Congress of International Association for Suicide Prevention, (I.A.S.P)

Suicide worldwide is estimated to represent 1.8% of the total global burden of disease. Each year, some 786 000 people commit suicide around the world. Therefore, Suicidal behaviour is now considered a major public health problem in all countries. In India, 15% of those who undergo depression commit suicide. India contributes 10% to global suicide figures.

Around the Globe representatives of the IASP will be seeking to raise awareness of World Suicide Prevention Day, focusing on the problem and the actions needed to tackle it.like improved treatment methods and facilities for those with psychiatric disorders, increased awareness of the signs and symptoms of suicidal behaviour and of where people can get help. Contact Aasra: 022-27546667, email: aasrahelpline@yahoo.com

BLP observes Foundation day
Mumbai: Reminiscing about their long journey of 27 years of struggle, founder members of Bombay Leprosy Project recalled the day 11th September 1976, when they started a research oriented field project to check the spread of leprosy in Bombay slums. Dr Pai, Deputy Director of BLP, in his welcome address, recalls that this day made history in the leprosy control work in Bombay as the Bombay Leprosy Project was born. Dr R Ganapati, Director, BLP and founder-secretary remembered leprologists like Dr RV Wardekar and Dr P Kapoor who encouraged him to start the project to fulfill his ambition to reach the goal of a "World Without Leprosy".Physically Challenged trainees who received computer training at the Vocational training Centre of BLP were honoured on this occasion. Congratulations BLP.

Hope for Leprosy Patients
Thalidomide, a drug which was banned in India for several years due to fear of its misuse (as it damages the foetus in the womb) is now available with the permission of the Drug Controller, Govt. of India. This drug is invaluable in treating a dreaded and refractory complication due to leprosy called "lepra reaction",which continues to be the major cause of death.

BLP encounter a very large number of such patients in whom timely administration of Thalidomide may save them from irreversible damage leading to disabilities. The Project is authorized to use the drug and has the necessary medical expertise but needs funds to buy the expensive drug. Contact BLP 022-25220608, 25223040 Email: blproject@vsnl.net

Jatha for Peace
Mumbai: As part of the WSF programme, The All India People Science Network (AIPSN) and the Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS) launched an innovative and creative mobilisation campaign: a nation-wide Jatha for Peace and Justice. The main themes of the Jatha are peace, harmony, and self-reliance were the focus of a myriad of cultural performances by troupes of artistes travelling across the country.

"Through art, we want to motivate them to express their own opinion and create a sense of hope... it is possible to create a new world. We don't have to sit in desperation and only watch what is happening".

The numerous troupes or jathas participating in the nation-wide campaign will travel in buses and follow different routes through the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and Bihar. In Mumbai, the troupe performed on September 26th.

On October 2nd , Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, the jathas converge at four specific locations: Jalianwalla Bagh (Amritsar), Raj ghat (New Delhi), Champaryana (Bihar), and Wardha (Maharashtra). The culmination of the Jatha for Peace and Justice was celebrated with a grand programme presenting novel art performances.
For more information, please write to bgvs@vsnl.net

Open Day at Akanksha
Mumbai: "Open Day at Akanksha" on Sept 19 meant the slum children who come in for special tuitions from 9.30 -11.30 every day could interact with children from other schools and with friends. I met Kanhaiya, Shaanu and Priyanka, all about 12 years old at the Basement of the Nehru Planetarium where they meet everyday. They study at formal schools in Worli, staying "nearby". Kanhaiya welcomed me : "Can I help you. These are the things we students have done…flags, stories, pictures". Priyanka and Shaanu insisted I write in the book…but were a bit hesitant to discuss sati and dowry in one of their posters. Their favourite subject: "English!" Later "Open Day" continued at the Colaba centre.

Meanwhile during the month teacher training programmes continued with Maths being given a special focus. The children in Bombay were taken to the Imax theatre to see "Lion King" by Accenture; the RPG Teachers training workshop commenced and :the German Consulate organised an Art competition for their budding artists. The theme was "Monuments of Germany" and paintings will be put up in their office.

Akanksha opened another outlet for their products called 'ThisNThat' in Koregaon Park -Contact Lopa, 23700253

Registrations on for WSF 2004
Mumbai: The World Social Forum, the single largest annual global event that challenges neo-liberal globalization being held in Mumbai is all set to take off. The programe is being finalized and the arhcitectsare working on the stalls. Accomodation has been arranged and registrations have started.

Seventy-five thousand people from around the world are expected to gather in Mumbai between January 16 and January 21, 2004, to discuss strategies to build a more just, people-centred global order. This global forum, which grew from the anti-Davos movement, moves to Mumbai after being held for three years in Brazil, and will be held at the NESCO Exhibition Centre in Goregaon.

The six-day forum will feature huge public meetings, panels and approximately 800 seminars and debates focussing against unjust globalisation, patriarchy, casteism, racism and social discrimination, religious sectarianism and fundamentalism, and militarism and peace.

The discussions will be accompanied by cultural performances, which will highlight the responses of artists from around the world to the onslaught of globalisation, and the politics of exclusion, sectarian violence and war. A Youth forum, with 10,000 participants from around the world, will run concurrently with the WSF.

NGOs/Organisations who want to register can do so on their website, www.wsfindia.org. Those who wish to participate in the events/ hold their platforms or can volunteer (800 volunteers are needed for the event) may contact 022-24216249/6251

Having fun in an Oasis
Mumbai: It's all a matter of having fun as you learn about the environment and at Oasis it is children who make a commitment and work towards improving things themselves. Since the last three months, there have been Suryanamaskar classes, Drawing and Colouring Contests, a five-day workshop at the Marico amphitheatre with 50 children participating in a program on "Earth our Heritage".

The children planted trees, learnt meditation and produced skits on Anti-tobacco day. In fact on every "Day" they made it a point to participate in a venture. International Joke Day, Water Conservation Day, World Population Day, World Shark Awareness Day, Parents Day, Hiroshima Day, Independence Day, Ganpathi, Teachers Day- anti-fanaticism Day, World Ozone Day, World Heart Day and even Green Consumer Day (Sept. 28)- the Oasis kids had a message and program ready! Contact Dr. Puja Sukhija, 23883491.

Imprisoned
Mumbai: Recently, Prayas, an NGO that works towards rehabilitating persons in crime and prostitution, began working in the women's section of Mumbai Central Prison, Kalyan District Prison and Bharuch sub-jail. It has already been working with the young adult sections of Mumbai and Thane central prisons and the male section of the Bharuch sub-jail. Working with the undertrials, the Prayas volunteers offer services like legal literacy, home visits, writing of applications to represent requests at court, working with families and children in the prison.

Besides counseling, vocational and occupational activities are conducted and a pre-school nursery for under-5s has been established with the mothers. Contact:

Documenting silver
Mumbai: For over 25 years now, the Centre for Education and Documentation (CED), has been the first place for researchers, scholars and activists. Collecting and documenting data on social issues like human rights, civil society, gender, environment and development, CED under its director-founder John D'souza have the most comprehensive Clipping file on these issues. Culled from 10 newspapers, 32 magazines, 42 newsletters and other publications the Clippings service has been orgaised into 750 categories specially developed to highlight social and developmental issues.

Many present stalwarts in the field of documentation began their careers at CED, one of the first documentation centres of its kind which has spawned several of the same. Expanded now to include Reports of government documents, NGO studies, books (some of which they publish), back issues and videos, they switched to electronic mode some years ago. Ten years ago, they started the Bangalore office which is housed in a building of its own. "We would not like anyone to be deprived only due to financial reasons. So, if you have an urgent or important need, we will not close our doors to you" is how they function. Happy Birthday CED Contact Bombay-22020019, Bangalore- 535397

"Pappa" looks ahead

Chennai: On the cards at the famed Udavum Karangal are a 50-bed hospital which is getting ready, a hospice for cancer/Aids patients, a training centre for social workers and expanding their school.
The Udavum Karangal already has a reception centre and Homes for abandoned and orphaned children, at Gokulam - their children's village on the concept of SOS villages. There's also the "Kutty pappas" home for abandoned handicapped children, "Manasa" for the mentally retarded children and Boys Town for orphans till they are 18.
And above and beyond all that, are their schools, their home for women psychiatric patients, and a home for the aged- "Mukthi".
When the hospital is ready it will take care not only of the inmates of their various homes, but others in the vicinity. Contact 044-26216321/6421 email:udavum@vsnl.com

$ news
Mumbai: Voluntary Organisations (VOs) received Rs 4,535.2 crore by way of contributions from abroad during 2000-01- the latest data available. The highest receiver of foreign funds was the Sathya Sai Central Trust in AP (Rs 88 crore), World Vision of India (85 crore), Watch tower Bible and Tract Society (75 crore).

Over 50 NGOs receive contributions of over Rs 10 crore in foreign donations every year and over 600 organisations get over Rs 1 crore yearly. The largest chunk was for rural development followed by health and family welfare. Around 10 percent is used for religious activities.

The USA heads the list of donors with Rs 1492 crore ( World Vision International was the largest donor with Rs 80 crore) followed by UK (677 Crore) and Germany (655 crore).
(Economic Times,Sept.4)

Home away from home
Pune:The number of destitute women and children at Maher (which means 'mother's home') an institution dedicated to the care of destitute women and children touched 200 last month.. "We expect to eventually rehabilitate them into the social mainstream to lead meaningful lives," they say.

Maher now has homes at Vadu Budruk, about 30 km from Pune, off the Ahmednagar highway, at Apti, Kendur, Moseswadi, Vadgaon Sheri and Bakori. The home at Bakori houses 20 boys, most of who are in the adolescent age group. Children are placed in "houses" under the care of a house-mother.

To get to the root of the problem, Maher has instituted several outreach programmes in a number of villages and tribal hamlets. Balwadis, self-help groups have been formed, workshops on health and hygiene, adult literacy programmes, counselling are regularly done. As a practical measure, a bore well was built for the residents of a remote tribal village Contact 02937-42974 email: maher@pn3.vsnl.net.in

Going up on Down
Mumbai: A two-year vocational training programme of simple skills that can be job-oriented has been started by Atmavishwas for the mentally challenged in the age group 18-25. A residential home cum sheltered workshop where the mentally challenged can live productively after they are adults is also being planned to be started in Goa. Contact 2642 3550.

Girls get going
Allahabad: While learning mehndi, weaving, tailoring, candle making, food preservation, bee-keeping, soft toy-making and cooking, the girls also learn about their bodies, reproductive health, relationships with the opposite sex, benefits of delaying marriage and earning independently. The livelihoods and savings programme in the slums of Allahabad, run by Population Council, an international NGO focusing on reproductive health, along with CARE India (an INGO), attempts to address some of the issues to prepare adolescent girls who have received little attention by NGOs. In 2002, about a 1000 girls (14-19 years old) in five slums chose some of the 21 short-term vocational courses offered. The girls were also offered assistance in opening savings accounts and follow-up support to make sure they were able to use the acquired skills.

The organizers carried out a survey at the start/ end of the project and the second survey revealed that the girls spent less time on household chores, and more on personal care, recreation and paid work. Parental attitudes changed too. --- Rrishi Raote . Contact:Population Council P.O. Box No. 3140 Jor Bagh Post Office New Delhi - 110 003.

PEOPLE
"Trafficking of rural and urban poor Philipina women to the brothels of neighbouring wealthy countries must be stopped and economic rights of urban and rural women must be safeguarded so that they can lead a dignified life. The family laws should grant rights to dignified life to women in their parental as well as matrimonial homes and that means that rural women must have land rights."Prof. Fatima Castillo, Dean of School of Social Sciences of University of Manila said at a talk organized by the YWCA in Mumbai.

Currently working with several community organisations on holistic health and women's reproductive rights, because of her pioneering work in the women's movement of the Philippines, YWCA and Women Networking requested her to speak on "Women's Human rights in the Phillippines."

Fatima talked about the history of colonialism in the Philippines when it was ruled first by the Spaniards and later on by the Americans. Exploitation of women in farm work, factories led to trafficking of women. Torture and violation of human rights during the dictatorship of Marcos were vividly described by her. She also spoke about the misgivings of imperialist globalisation that treated Philipino women as cheap labour.

Invited to Mumbai by Cehat, Sahayog and Dilaasa, Prof. Castillo who was a Director of Women's Studies, visited communities in Jarimari and Dindoshi where Cehat and Sahayog are providing education and health services, and also visited a crisis centre for women victims of domestic violence at Bhabha Hospital run by Dilaasa. .Contact Dr. Vibhuti Patel.

Towards Uttam Pradesh??!
Lucknow: A Forum for Good Governance was recently constituted to find novel ways of making a beginning in its mission of improving governance in Uttar Pradesh. Headed by Lok Ayukta Justice SC Verma, "We propose to address governance related issues on micro level and create success stories of organizations to generate confidence within the organizations, and to establish benchmarks for other organizations," Justice Verma said.

An off-shoot of the Lucknow Management Association, the forum has proposed developing centres of excellence, through effective improvement in their existing performance, at primary health centres, district hospitals, educational institutions, electricity sub-stations and the trade tax department.

The effort is generating a lot of interest with Principal secretary higher education, R Ramani asking them to pick various kinds of degree colleges to be developed as models of good governance. Lucknow Electricity Supply Authority chief JS Puri has promised to build the 33 KV substation at the Institute of Engineering and Technology in Janakipuram as its first centre of excellence.

The Forum includes retired IAS officers , officers from the Police and other departments, professors from IIM Lucknow.

Bagged Concerns
Mumbai: Top artists from Mumbai, including Bose Krishnamachair, Brinda Chudasa Miller, Jehangir Jani, Jaideep Mehrotra, Lalita Lajmi, Meera Devidayal, Deepak Shinde, Naina Kanodia, Charan Sharma amongst others, got together to paint designer canvas bags at the Artists' Centre in August to raise funds for Concern India. In association with Sun n Sand the workshop cum sales, titled, "Canvas Art" had artists styles come alive on three shapes, in various colours and with Italian leather handles. Paints were contributed by Camlin Paints and bags by Hide-Out. The funds will go to nearly 100 organisations working with destitute and orphaned children, deserted and abused women, tribals, disabled, aged and the environment. Contact 022-2202 9708 mumbai@concernindia.org

Very special awards
Vadodara: Five physically and mentally handicapped students of "Sunday School, managed by Friends Society, Fatehgunj who had won awards at an all India painting competition organized by "Very Special Arts India", New Delhi were felicitated by Smt. Jayaben Thakkar.

Anil Vasava and Ashish Solanki stood first, while Rakesh Thakkar, Sandhya Shakala and Asiq Pathan stood second and won cash prizes. Friends Society has been engaged in community service projects since 1969. Very Special Arts India's efforts are directed towards awakening the creative ability of those with disability. Contact: Friends Society 0265-791629, VSAI 011-4615243 graf@vsnl.com

Sometimes you wonder what makes people who talk simply, dress simply and look, well, simply smart, resort to jargon. It is a known fact that all "specialities" have their own jargon. Management has its own jargon; medicine has its own and lawyers have their own absolutely incomprehensible lingo.

But for sheer guesswork nothing beats development jargon. Of course there are initiatives at work that make the development process access some sustainable arguments for empowerment and debate. But more than that, it's the fact that when OTW (organisations that work) meet SOs (sister organisations) or even OAs (Other organisations), they feel a need to work on alphabets. When the MOH comes to meet the SOH then the BMC holds a meeting of all MWA. After this the DA has to spell out why DOs are not made per schedule and are left to MOs to do.

Of course somewhere at the beginning or end all these nomenclatures are explained but can you see what it means if you have to read something like this all the time.

And of course when it's a matter of policy nothing can beat being anti-militarist sectarianism and being against racism, casteism, fundamentalism, neo-liberalisation, gender-bias and …….
I'm beginning to understand how complex equality really is.

-Rima Kashyap