Educational & Social Action :-
1) Educational support to the students from weaker section: 100 Children.
2) Media Literacy for creative & positive social change.
3) Conducting meeting, Workshop, Exams, exhibitions, film shows with students, youths, citizens on Gandhian Ideology.
4) Post Covid 19 and post lockdown social education.
5) Explore establishing community radio.

Health Programme:
6) Post Covid 19, post lockdown Health education and preventive programme.
7) Exploring establishment of Centre of Dignity Home for senior citizen.

Women Empowerment Programme:-
1) Publication of case studies.
2) Strengthening woman initiatives in rural area.

Environmental Programme:
1) Activities of IRN, SWGM and other Environmental issues.
2) Promote organic farming in PS campus.
3) Planting 100 trees in PS Campus under Tree Adoption programme.

Swaraj Programme:
1) Consultations on measures to be taken to mitigate situations arise after Lockdown.
2) Consultation / Dialogue with Swaraj Programme Associates.

Networking:
1) Effective networking and collaboration with Gandhian, environmental and other voluntary organisations.
Research, Documentation and Publications :
1) Completion of Digitalization of office Doc, photographs, paper clippings etc.
2) Update Web site.
3) Gandhi Photo exhibition in PS Campus
4) Publications of books, souvenir and reports.

Organisational:
1) Organising meetings of Executive Committee, Council, Core Group and Sub-committee/s
2) Increase membership base.
3) Disposal of old records including accounts.
4) Complete statutory compliances.
5) Improvement of amenities in the PS Campus.

Approved by Council and EC Meeting held on 18ththApril 2020
( to be approved through e-mail and virtual meeting on 18th April 2020)

REPORT OF ONE DAY WORKSHOP ON

BIODIVERSITY  OF GOA

ORGANISED JOINTLY BY

PEACEFUL SOCIETY – Goa, ECONET-PUNE and INSTITUTE OF SAFETY, OCCUPATION HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT, GOVT. OF GOA.

NOV. 1, 1996.     ISOHE COMPLEX  ALTINHO, PANAJI – GOA.

Objectives of the workshop:-

The local organizers had aimed at exposing influential participants to several areas of biodiversity in local language and to focus priority areas of biodiversity conservation, protection and utilization.

The workshop inaugurated by the Chief Secretary of Govt. of Goa, Dr. G. C. Srivastava who also holds the environment secretary’s office.  Dr. Srivastava acknowledged the threats to ecosystems in Goa and agreed with the need to conserve local biodiversity.

Dr. Vijay Paranjape  in his introductory remarks highlighted the awareness brought about by the Rio convention on biodiversity and attempts in India to motivate the people and the Govt.  to take suitable initiatives for protection of the rich biodiversity.  He expressed the need to work closely with the Govt. bodies by offering them ideas and through consistent advocacy. Dr. Nandkumar Kamath led team of Peaceful Society along with Bharati Bandodkar and Niraj Naik in the workshop and presented an overview of status of biodiversity in Goa.

Salient aspects of the workshop:-

1. this was the first such workshop in history of Goa on biodiversity in the local official language-KONKANI
2. the workshop was organized in collaboration with ISOHE, a state govt. institution thus bringing together the NGOs, members of the public and the govt. agency.
3. the participants were selected on basis of their social / cultural track record, ability to transmit new ideas to grass roots level and influence the public opinion.
4. the resource persons included folklorists, scientists, ecologists providing ideal interdisciplinary input for meaningful discussion and interaction.

Workshop topics:-

Summary of issues which emerged from the workshop:-

1. People are generally ignorant about the extent of biodiversity and its economic and ecological significance
2. Biodiversity knowledge, especially ecosystem, habitat, plant and animal biodiversity is well recorded in Goa’s traditional and non formal indigenous knowledge systems such as folkfore
3. There is no inventory/checklist of Goa’s biodiversity.  A statistical data sheet was produced by Dr. Kamat which shows about 4500 species.
4. OBCs of Goa and women are important guardians of natural resources and biodiversity.  Their role is not fully acknowledged at govt. or academic level.
5. Pressures of development, especially construction activity, mining, quarrying, tourism, urbanisation, industrialization are eroding biodiversity
6. Coastal Goa is facing biodiversity erosion due to pollution in estuaries, damage to beach ecology and mangrove ecosytem and destruction of coconut groves and khazan (saline) paddy fields.
7. There is no emphasis on biodiversity in education.
8. Existing environmental acts are not enforced in Goa.
9. There is no literature on biodiversity in local languages.
10. There is marginal interaction between the NGOs and the Govt. and NGOs and the Village Panchayats for taking up biodiversity issues.
11. It is important to catalogue the wealth of medicinal plants of Goa and document their issues.
12. Wild germless needs to be conserved in local seed/gene banks.

Recommendations of the workshop  :

1. Goa needs an All tax a biodiversity inventory.
2. Sacred groves of Goa need to be surveyed and conserved.
3. State Govt. should pass an appropriate law to protect indigenous knowledge systems and biodiversity.
4. Hot spots of biodiversity erosion within the state of Goa need to be identified for remedial action.
5. The coastal and western ghats areas are especially vulnerable to developmental pressures.  Biodiversity-rich zones from these areas need to be  protected.
6. Every village panchayat should be encouraged to prepare a local natural resource list and community biodiversity conservation scheme
7. Women and OBC’s form important components of biodiversity conservation movement.  They should be consulted and involved at all stages of biodiversity conservation schemes.
8. Biodiversity education should form a major component of environmental education from school to university level.
9. Bio economic Assessment of biological wealth of Goa should be done through experts.
10. Bio diversity impact Assessment should be made compulsory for all developmental projects.

Proposed follow up action :

1. preparation of approach paper on biodiversity conservation for the State Govt. to be included in the 9^th five year plan proposals
2. Publication of workshop papers after revision and editing
3. Organisation of taluka level mini-workshops/meetings
4. Publication of a scientific checklist of all know local species
5. Setting up a central biodiversity documentation center for west-coast / western ghats

Actions initiated by the state govt. after the workshop:

1. encouragement to biodiversity research  projects, establishment of nurseries
2. passing of a legislation on control of non-biodegradable waste
3. Ordinance banning wetland filling and indiscriminate hill cutting to be promulgated

Response from media:

The workshop was well received by the local media both vernacular and English.  Two papers presented in the workshop were published in modified form in the 1996 DIVALI issue of KONKANI, the official literary magazine of KONKANI BHASHA MANDAL.

Conclusion: The workshop was widely appreciated for its theme and substance and succeeded in creating tremendous awareness among the opinion leaders about the threats to Goa’s biodiversity and the need to take timely action.

PERNEM – TALUKA SALT – PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

(PERNEM TALUKA MITH UTPADAK SANGHA)

Memorandum

For Assistance to Salt – producers of

Agarwado – Pernem

The father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi undertook the famous DANDI MARCH to offer Salt-Satyagraha, in 1930.

During this period Goa under the Portuguese occupation was exporting Salt to rest of India and countries in Africa.

After India’s independence Salt-production, being a traditional village industry was given constitutional protection.  An office of National Salt Commissioner was established at Jaipur – Rajasthan.

However, the Salt-industry in Goa did not received any encouragement after liberation.  As a result number of villages producing Salt was reduced, number of Salt-pans decreased and the Salt-production fell drastically.

Despite lack of support from the government of Goa in production and marketing villages like Agarwado in Pernem, Nerul in Bardez, Merces and Bhatim in Tiswadi, Sirlim in Salcete have been striving hard to keep the industry alive.

Needless to say, Salt-production is environmentally clean, non-pollutiong, low-capital, labour intensive, employment generating rural economic activity which should get full government support.

That’s why the Salt-producers of Agarwado-Pernem make this appeal to solve their problems and help them to raise their production.

I.          Problems of Agarwado Salt-producers

           Agarwado as the name itself implies is one of the ancient Salt-production center on the West-coast.  It is situated a few kilometers from the Arabian sea on the north bank of Chapora river.

           More than sixty families of Agarwado derive their livelihood from Salt-production.

           Agarwado Salt, being purest of natural Salt in Goa, with less silt and sand is highly prized.

           The total 16 Salt pans in the village only 4 are presently used for Salt production and  3 are particially damaged.

           The rest 9 have been damaged due to destruction of outer protective embankment and sluice-gates since 1987-88.  This caused a loss of Rs. 8.9 lakhs / year.

           Wave-action has caused massive erosion of outer embankments.  Four large breaches haves wrecked havoc by incessantly flooding the Salt-pans.

           The outer embankment known as “AGOR POILEM” need immediate attention.

           The Salt-pans are inaccessible from the main road, thus marketing becomes expensive.  An approach road from the Ferry-wharf at Chopadem may solve the problem.

           The time required for preparation of Salt-pans is normally 90 – 100 days.  This is mainly because of non-availability of diesel pumps for removing water from the Salt-pans. Agarwado Salt-pans are constructed below the sea-level for intake of water.

           Provision of diesel-pump on subsidized basis will help in reducing pre-production period.

           There is no minimum price support policy for locally manufactured Salt.  This leads to dumping of sub-standard, adulterated with  sand at cheap rates forcing Agarwado Salt-producers to lower their prices.

           There’ re effective solutions to the above problems which the government need to apply.

1. Suggested solutions for solving Agarwado-Salt-producers problem

1. Immediate survey and reconstruction of the eroded “AGOR POILEM” bundh on permanent basis;
   1. Reconstruction of damaged sluice-gates regulating “saline-water” intake in 4 damaged Salt-pans;
   1. Widening of “AGOR POILEM” bundh so as facilitate transport of light-goods vehicles for speedy, cheap transport of  Salt;
   1. Provision of diesel-pump sets to Salt-producers on subsidized basis for the production season;
   1. Notification of Salt as commodity under state marketing act and declaration of minimum support price;
   1. Grading of locally produced crude Salt;
   1. Encouragement to set-up co-operative society for producing refined White Salt and Iodized Salt.

III.        Economic fallout of Govt.  action

1. Government intervention will enthuse not only Agawado Salt-producers but other Salt-producers in Goa.  Many damaged Salt-pans could be reclaimed with government assistance.
   1. Reconstruction of “AGOR-POILEM” bundh and sluice-gates will help in commencing production in 12 damaged Salt-pans.
   1. Salt-production in Agarwado will increase from present 750-1000 Mt. To 1000 -1500 mt/year.
   1. This will provide direct employment to 70 persons and indirect employment to 100 people.
   1. Salt-trade  will boost  from Rs.5-8 lakhs/year to Rs.10-14 lakhs/year.
   1. Government assistance will also help the producers to use their Salt-pans as multipurpose production units for producing “prawns, brine-shrimps, algal bio fertilizers and valuable medicinal seaweeds, using latest technology.

IV.        Plan of action

Concerned government departments such as RDA, soil conservation, Industries & Mines, Revenue need to co-operate.

A high level meeting comprising above departments and representatives of Panchayat, Salt-producers need to be held followed immediately by “on the spot inspection”.

A time bound plan to implement the solutions as suggested need to be prepared.

Since RDA and soil conservation dept. will have to play an active role they need to closely liaise with the committee of Agarwado Salt-producers.

It is hoped that government will take positive steps to remedy the situation by reconstructing the bundhs  so as to make Salt-production viable from 1994-95 season.

 PEACEFUL SOCIETY

35 Years of Service

KEY ACTIVITIES

At A Glance from 1984 to March 2019

PS : Objectives and Strategy for Next 20 Years.

Recommendation of National Consultation Held on 22.10.03

Strengthening  Panchayati Raj

Peaceful Society

Background

The 73^rd Constitution Amendments came into existence in April 1993. It is an enabling provision, re-empowering Gram Panchayats and rural masses. Gram Panchayat, with all its limitations, remains the best possible local body created by the Constitution to elicit people’s participation in development process. Impacting and empowering the PRIs would lead to more sustainable development process. Kumar Kalanand Mani, Peaceful Society did organise a national seminar on behalf of Gandhi Peace Centre, Hyderabad at Mahatma Gandhiji’s abode Sevagram Ashram in October 1993 and did compile a book on the subject.

WIFPR

A follow-up 2 days western region consultation  was organised by Peaceful Society in its campus in Goa. The like- minded activists, organisations and development thinkers from the states of Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat took part and and discussed the 73^rd and the 74^th Constitution Amendment. The consultation formed a regional level Forum to carry out task of popularising the Amendment and strengthening the PRIs. State Coordination Committee and Regional Coordination Committee were constituted to plan and oversee the programmes in the three states. The main objective of the forum is to work on aspects of PRI work, which would strengthen the 73rd Constitution Amendment in general and participation of women, STs, dalits and OBCsin particular. While the forum intends to cover panchayats at all levels, the main focus and area of intervention has been the village panchayats.

The Western India Forum for Panchayati Raj (WIFPR) is an informal network and comprising of  associates belonging to various organisations, NGOs, academic institutions, individuals, Sarpanch and other elected panchayat members. At present WIFPR have associates from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.  The secretariat of WIFPR was first with Peaceful Society and after few years it was shifted to Ahmedabad with its convener-ship to  Rajesh Bhat.

Interventions and Impact

• Panchayati Raj Margadarshan Kendra (PRMK) the guidance cell for panchayats in Gujarat is accessible to all panchayats in the State.
• Sarpanch the Marathi, English and  Gujarati newsletter of WIFPR was published every quarter and has become popular. The Gujarati edition sustained for long  time and its reached out to many remote Panchayats in Gujarat. The Marathi newsletter was named as Chavdi.
• The panchayat calendar highlighting the important dates and events in the panchayat is published annually and distributed. Posters and pamphlets in local languages are also produced.
• Training of the panchayat members and NGOs has been an ongoing programme of the forum. These programmes are tailor made and include pre and post election-training sessions for village panchayats, special programmes for specific categories of panchayats (industrial, tribal etc.) and training
• The Goa state forum has been involving the local press to highlight issues related to PRIs. It has also networked with an NGO working with consumer movement. The state forum has also strategically used the support of the state government especially in the designing of the booklets. Expsoure tours were organised to provide broader spectrum to the PRI functionaries.

After having established the presence in the western region, consultations were organised in Northern, Eastern and Southern region which culminated in to formation of Forum for Panchayati Raj with Kumar Kalanand Mani as its national convener. Peaceful Society formed Centre for Panchayati Raj to carry out the mandate of the Forum at the national level. Mr. Soter D’Souza took responsibility as its honorary director of the Centre.

The forum at national level did three notable task. One was preparing a Model National Act for Ideal Village Panchayat in India ensuring building of Indian democracy from the bottom. This was done in four years of rigorous processes of consultations  at state level and 4 dialogues at the national level ( Goa, Ahmedabad, Sidh – Mussoorie, Trivandrum) and in-depth research . The state level scenario and experiences based on outcome of implementation of 73^rd constitutional amendment  were shared by PRI functionaries and social organisations in state and region level consultations. A three days national level seminar on Gram Sabha was organised in PS campus which was focussed on the status and relevance of the Gram Sabha in Panchayati Raj. At last 4 members team of Rajesh Bhat, Ramesh Shah, Soter F. D’Souza and Kumar Kalanand Mani did the final drafting of the Model Act for Ideal Village Panchayat in India. The draft  was presented before some of stalwarts related with PRI in India for their suggestions and thereafter final draft was endorsed in a national conference held in PS campus in Goa.

This model act was briefed and submitted to Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Govt of India by Mr. Soter F. D’Souza. The minister  not only appreciated   the draft model act and Peaceful Society , but quickly forwarded it to his team of senior officers to work on it.

The second notable work of National Forum for Panchayati Raj was as stated above organising a national seminar on Gram Sabha in PS campus with the objective to understand and highlight the status of Gram Sabha and strengthen its relevance. Later a report of the seminar was printed and widely circulated.

The third task Forum did was studying the present status of the Panchayati Raj in India. Mr. Ramesh Shah, a retired dy. Commissioner of Govt of Gujarat and an authority on PRI and Prof. Baldev Khosha visited many states, met PRI functionaries, academic institutions, government officials, social organisations. They attended series of state and regional level dialogues organised for the preparations of Draft Model Act. They penned a status report titled as Panchayati Raj In India: A Post 73^rd Constitutional Amendment Scenario. This was published and circulated by Peaceful Society in 2007. The book was submitted to PRI ministry in every states and union govt of India. 

For taking overall task of strengthening Panchayati Raj ahead, one unit within Peaceful Society was formed as Centre of Panchayati Raj headed by Mr. Soter F D’Souza.  This unit was coordinating the activities at national and at Goa state level and also within the state of Goa. The Centre organise series of training programme on Panchayati Raj all over Goa, took leaders of PRI on study tour to reputed and renowned Panchayats in India and did publish series of booklets on the subject,

• The Gram Sabha,
• The functions ad responsibilities of the Panchayat.
• The powers and duties of the Sarpanch.
• The Finance & Planning of Panchayat.
• The Construction Rule.
• The Planning, Accounts, Budget and Audit of Goa Village Panchayat.
• 73^rd Constitutional Amendment.
• Handbook on Panchayati Raj.
• Report on The State of Panchayat in Goa.
• Two posters on Gram Sabha.

These have been sent to all the 186 PRI institutions in the State and the response has been encouraging. PS also serves as a resource center for individual members, village panchayats as well as the government department. Its booklets are considered standard documents by the concerned dept. and are being distributed through official circles. PS has collaborated with social organisations in Goa to hold workshops for PRI members to help them participate more effectively in the PRIs as well as seminars and public meetings to bring greater awareness to the general public about PRIs in general.

For a brief period the activities of Centre was supported by Indo German Social Service Society, New Delhi, otherwise whole of programme was carried by Peaceful Society of its own and also in between under PE & SD programme supported by EED, Germany till 2011.

Organisations either formed by Peaceful Society or played major role in its formation:

1. Vanvasi Sangathan
2. Gandhi Youth Fellowship
3. Save The Western Ghats March
4. Save The Western Ghats movement
5. Eco Forum, Goa
6. Nav Nirman Abhiyan
7. Movement For Goa Survival
8. Gram Vikas Kendra
9. Koshi Consortium.
10. Gandak Consortium.
11. Ganga Consortium.
12. Save Damodar Campaign.
13. Save Idukki Campaign.
14. Western India Forum For Panchayati Raj (WIFPR).
15. “SWRAJ” – A Forum For Gandhian Societal Perspective and Action.
16. Indian River Network (IRN).
17. Forum for Societal Peace.
18. Gandhi Jan.
19. Karyakarta Parivar Trust.
20. National Panchayat.
21. Peaceful Trust.

Since 1988

Aims & Objectives:  With the prevailing ‘misconceptions’ and attitudes of people in the society regarding essential aspects of health and nutrition, Peaceful Society decided to have a concrete initiatives on Health for a year with monthly follow up health check ups and health talks in the year 1987. Dr. Poornima N Usgaonkar, Ponda, Goa kindly agreed to pay one visit every month. This was also conceptualise to secure health and economy of rural poor women and their children.

Work Processes: The first health camp was held at Bandora-Goa. A talk on “worm infestations” was given. Medicines required were prescribed and guidance towards nutrition was given since Anemia was prevalent with many cases of faulty feeding. Same Children attended the next follow up camp and it was obvious that the medicines prescribed were not bought and there was no much change in the health status of the children. Earlier there were hundred queries about the deworming. The deworming trend began which was an outcome of proper explanations on hazards of worm infestations, exact method of medication which again was a very important factor since improper way and inadequate medicine would disturb worms, and create false impression on the patients about deworming. But to our surprise, over a period of time they were the most regular patients later on and the camps became a pleasant work with wholehearted participation of patients.  The health camps continued in Bandora even after transfer of PS office from here to Madkai in September 1990. Similar monthly camp was started in Madkai too in PS own campus. Initially the number of patients was not under control but later it was restricted to 25-30 per camp with their mothers. After few years since Sept. 1998, separate doctors for women were requested for their assistance in the check ups.  

The children since being diagnosed regularly could be grouped out from their weights. The inability to gain weight in spite of nutritional improvements, removal of other infective conditions etc. and those other children with persisting respiratory complaints in spite of timely treatment and treatment for esosinophilia etc. were grouped out for investigations and they were investigated for tuberculosis, with blood tests, PPD and X ray chest, PPD test The cases found positive were started on treatment. Later to screen the contacts, a survey was conducted in various parts of Madkai by the Tuberculosis Department and Peaceful Society with sputum examinations and the positive cases were given treatment by the TB Department with follow up carried out by Peaceful Society. A case of TB spine, some cases of primary complex, progressive primary complex were the cases found in children which were treated adequately with the help of Health Centre, Madkai,  ID hospital Ponda-Goa.

The immunization record of every patient is kept in the books and timely reminders are given for boosters and subsequent immunizations, if required.

Blood Group is a very important factor in certain health conditions and prior knowledge of an individual’s blood group is very useful and helpful tool in situations like Blood Donation, Blood reception and Prevention of certain blood group incompatibilities in the newborn e.g. Rh incompatibility, ABO incompatibility.

PAP’S SMEAR For early detection of Cancer Cervix of uterus, a camp for women above 40 was done with pap’s smear with the help of ID hospital and Goa Medical College, Pathology Department.

DENTAL CHECK UP Dr. Chhaya Bandodker Practising dental surgeon from Ponda, did dental check up with talk on oral hygiene on .

EYE CHECK UP Dr. Bandekar did eye check up and Peaceful Society supplied spects to the patients.

FIRST AID BOXES First aid boxes containing Scissor, towel, nail-cutter, antiseptic cream, lotion, cotton, gauze, adhesive tape, toothbrush, paste etc. were supplied to each family with proper detailed instructions, to mothers for how and when to use each item.

Certain special cases like a perforated eardrum was operated by Dr. Acharya, ENT Surgeon, from Madgaon, free of cost. Patients with congenital heart defects, epilepsy, mental retardation etc. were given special treatment jointly by Usgaonker Clinic & by Peaceful Society.

Health Talks: During every health camp a health talk on different health problems and prevalent misconceptions regarding infective diseases, worms, immunization, nutrition, care during pregnancy, care of the newborn, care during adolescence, health problems in the rainy seasons, tips towards family health, hygiene, rabies, measles mumps, tetanus, chicken pox, anaemia, calcium deficiency, nutritional deficiencies, mental health, jaundice, malaria, tuberculosis, fungal infections, were given from time to time.

Information materials distributed from time to time on malaria, worms, nutrition, immunization, rabies, scabies etc.

DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED Beginning of the camps was a tough encounter to overcome certain fixed concepts prevailing.

• Purpose of health camp was not understood.
• Mothers also could not buy necessary medicines, so samples were distributed and later Peaceful Society arranged the required medicines.
• Doubts about medicine samples – expiry dates etc.
• Inadequate medications – overcome in course of time by persuasive attempts of teaching the importance of adequate medications and removal of false fears.
• Faulty attitudes of the elderly – were timely taken care with assurance and subsequently accepted with practical experience.

Social Stigmas: Tuberculosis was and is taken, as a social stigma. Even today, more public the issue is made more difficult is the cooperation. So the matter is tackled in a different way without making it public, with personal advices, and management. Assurance about the cure after proper treatment and ways of prevention of spread are stressed upon. 

SPECIAL CASE STUDIES

1. Potts spine.
2. A.S.D – A care of acyanotic congenital heart disease
3. Eczyma
4. Kwashionker
5. Mentally – Retarded
6.  A case of Perforated ear drum
7. V.S.D
8. Cleft Palate.
9. DUB.
10. Umbilical grannuloma
11. Fancom’s Syndrome a primary complex Adenoids Chronic tonsillitis

Report :-  Dr. (Mrs.) Purnima N. S. Usgaonker

The doctors who associated with Health Programme so far

Dr. Purnima N. Usgaonkar (Paediatrics who led the programme from the front). Dr. Shila V Gupte (Gynaecology) Dr. Sudha Vaidya (Gynaecology) Dr. Smita R. Usgaonkar (Gynaecology) Dr. Santosh Usgaonker (Paediatrics) Dr. Naraina Edo, Dr. Porob (Chest), Dr.Lalana Bakhale, (Cardiology)), Dr.Bandekar, Dr. Pradeep Naik (Ophthalmology,), Dr. Dhaimodkar, Dr. Uday Kerkar, Dr. Ghanshyam Mardolkar, and few others.

Coordinated and organised by:  Bharati Bandodkar, Coordinator, Women Development, Peaceful Society.

Background

Soon after Independence, India embarked on a path of development through the five-year plans. Big dams across rivers were planned and constructed with aim to improve food production through irrigated crops and increase industrial production through generation of electricity.  However over the years, the over exploitation of water and natural resources for industrial as well as food production (demand for cash crops) has not only polluted the water bodies and ground water, but has also caused  severe depletion of water resources and extensive damage to the environment.

IRN Initiative

Swaraj Forum of Peaceful Society organised a national conference on ‘River valley and water’ in March 1999 at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand. More than 100 activists, journalists, artistes, eminent persons from theatre, persons working with movements and mass fronts, professors, social scientists and researchers from across the country attended the conference. The topics discussed included protection of environment, the adverse effect of big dams on the local community, encroachment of river beds, death of small rivers, issues such as displacement, flood, drought etc. It was felt that strong people’s movements have to be evolved and these have to be linked regionally, nationally and globally.

The Jamshedpur conference culminated in the formation of a national network of activists and movements who are working with communities located on river valleys and basins. The Indian River Network (IRN) as it is called will be a peoples’ forum and initiate, support and strengthen the struggle of common people against the discriminatory and exploitative development processes in the river valleys. It was also decided that this network should link up with other national forums for effective lobbying and advocacy.

The river based four consortiums- three in Bihar and one in Jharkhand; One of Tel and Koel-Karo rivers in Odisha and Save Idukki Campaign in Kerala became part of IRN..

Damodar Consortium (Save Damodar Campaign)

Damodar is one of the major rivers in the State of Jharkhand. The Damodar Valley Corporation is one of the largest and oldest thermal and hydel power stations in the country had lead to large-scale displacement of the local population affecting their livelihoods. A number of coal mining units, thermal power plants, cement and tin factories located on the riverside release the effluents into the river thereby causing massive pollution and contaminating the water bodies. This has had an adverse effect on the drinking water sources and the health of the communities living in the vicinity of the river basin.

The problems faced by the local communities of the Damodar river basin were undertaken as part of the PSP process of Swaraj. After due analysis of the problems, certain core issues were identified and accordingly activities were framed. Damodar Bachao Abhiyan (Save Damodar Campaign) was launched to create awareness and plan interventions. The objective of the programme is to save Damodar river from industrial pollution and to prevent destitution of local people owing to deforestation, mining and industrial expansion and displacement caused by dam.

Consortiums in Bihar

Bihar is the worst flood affected state in the entire country. According to a state government report, 37% of the total geographical area of the state is flood prone. North Bihar is especially vulnerable to floods with as much as 76% of the region coming under the influence of floods. This phenomenon has aggravated largely due to building of large dams, barrages, canals etc. on the rivers without giving due consideration to the natural flow of the river and ecology. This resulted into damage to the lives of the people living in the vicinity of these rivers adversely affecting their livelihoods and surroundings.  The three major rivers Ganga, Koshi and Gandak together are the major source of devastation and destruction caused due to floods every year.  Swaraj has initiated three consortiums in the state (Ganga Koshi and Gandak) to organise and strengthen people’s movements and persue the government to address issues in the region.

Koshi Consortium

In 1993, about 189 NGOs, people’s organisations, activists, villagers and individuals with strong faith in Gandhian, Vinoba and Jai Prakash ideology came together and formed a river basin network called Koshi consortium. The purpose of the consortium is to bring awareness among the local people and make sustained efforts to find solutions to the problems of the region.

Gandak Consortium

Gandak is one of the major rivers of North Bihar, which originates in Nepal and traverses through parts of North Bihar and Uttar Pradesh before merging into the Ganges. Another river called Budhi Gandak also flows in this region and floods about 8.21 hectares of land annually. Floods are common during monsoons every year and the Gandak and Budhi Gandak cause extensive damage in more than 8 districts in the region. In terms of disaster and damage caused due to floods, Gandak ranks third after Ganga and Koshi.

The Gandak consortium was constituted in the year 1997. A group of activists, institutions, people’s organisations and individuals who were inspired by the efforts of the Koshi consortium and Swaraj came together and decided to address the issues in the Gandak region. The work of the consortium extends to six districts in the region. 

Ganga Consortium

The Ganga Consortium was formally constituted in January 2000.

The problems faced by the community in the region due to floods, displacement, and environmental degradation other relevant issues such as lack of education, poor health and sickness, rights and provisions under the new panchayat rule, gender equality and women’s empowerment are being taken up by the Consortium.

IRN- Orissa ( Tel & Koel-Karo Rivers)

There are10 main rivers and more than 300 small rivers and rivulets in the state of Orissa. There are four major hydroelectric projects in the state- Hirakud, Machhakund, Rengali and Indravati. Besides, these there are many steel plants, paper mills, aluminium plants etc. The river valley projects, industrial, mining and defence projects are mainly responsible for large-scale displacement of human habitat and destruction of vegetation cover.

IRN-Orissa has been working on the issues relating to the environment and rivers in the state. One of the initiatives is the Tel River Eco- Expedition and Study (TREES) programme. The fellows and activists associated in this programme have more than a decade of experience on the environmental and development issues in the Tel river basin. Some of the critical issues facing the region are

• Rapid loss of natural forest cover on both the sides of Tel.
• Soil erosion, loss of water retention capacity of soil and loss of fertility of agricultural land.
• Increasing frequencies of drought.
• Increasing trend of migration of agricultural labourers.
• Acute scarcity of water for both drinking and irrigation purposes.

IRN- Kerala

21 organisations, movements and activists are associated with Save Idukki campaign. One fellow is associated full time with the programme. Besides this, many environmentalists, social workers, nature lovers, literacy workers, and government officials etc. based in Ernakulam and Idukki districts lend support to this campaign.

The Periyar dam and other small dams built over the river Periyar and its tributaries along with the surrounding industries have caused enormous environmental degradation in the region especially in Idukki district. Encroachments on the riverbanks and in forestlands are another major issue. Idukki being a hilly terrain landslide, soil erosion is common in the region. Save Idukki campaign aims at protecting and reducing pollution of the rivers in Idukki district in Kerala.

Save  Chaliyar Campaign:  Chaliyar is another prominent river flowing from the Western Ghats to the Arabian  sea near Calicut. The river was extremely polluted due to an industry which was later closed down due to people’s resistance. IRN/SWARAJ revived the movement in the name of Save Chaliyar Campaign to fight against sand mining, possible pollution and protects her from encroachment etc.

IRN hold national level conferences at Jamshedpur – Jharkhand, Sevagram-Maharashtra, Cochin-Kerala, Birahi-Uttarakhand, Alwaye-Kerala and Kodaikanal- Tamil Nadu.

IRN prepared a draft policy  through series of consultations for Conservation and Restoration of Rivers in India and the same being submitted to the Govt of India.

The Western Ghats & Save the Western Ghats Movement

The Western Ghats, a mountainous ridge running parallel to the west coast of India’s ancient peninsula, has a rich and intriguing history. They boast an age of 150 million years, and have seen variations of climate that have helped shape the soils and geology of the hills. The escarpment of the Western Ghats probably formed during the Gondwana supercontinent break-up and is the faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau.The mountain chain called Western Ghats, covers 51 districts in six states, is one of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots and is home to many indigenous communities. These mountains are under tremendous pressure and the ecology and environment is at stake.

Western Ghats passing through six states, from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, for the fact that it neutralizes no less than 4 million tonnes of carbon, equivalent to 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The diverse forests ecosystems in the region neutralize 10 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions neutralized by the country’s forests. It had also put on record that the region has been one of the important global biodiversity hotspot that harbours 1,741 species of flowing plants and 403 species of birds among a vast variety of reptiles and large The Western Ghats, older than the Himalayas, are among 34 Global Hotspots of Biodiversity in terms of flora, fauna, landscape and ethnicity.

They are full of bewitching locations that are home to known 4,050 types of plants, 121 species of frogs, 508 bird species, six types of turtles and terrapins, 87 species of snakes, 63 types of lizards and a wide variety of large mammals.

Save the Western Ghats Movement

Peaceful Society, a Gandhian voluntary organization convened a 3 days consultation in October 1996 of prominent environmental activists from South India, mostly from the 6 states of the Western Ghats to discuss and develop common programme.  The discussions  brought out the important role played by Western Ghats in India’s environment, cultural life and economic development. The consultation decided to organize a foot march to understand the state of the Western Ghats and highlight ongoing degradations. The consultation  entrusted Peaceful Society to take all necessary step towards organising the  dream environmental March in 1987.

The Save the Western Ghats Movement was a landmark event in environmental activism in India since its beginning in 1986. And foot march was organised  in 1987-88 with the participation of people from every sections and active involvement of more than 150 organisations.

Organizational Structure;

:- Central Organisation Committee (COC),

:- National Advisory Committee (NAC),

:- Regional Coordination Committee (RAC),

:- State Coordination Committee (SCC),

:- State Advisory Committee (SAC)

:- Route Committee,

:- Resource Materials Committee,

Kumar Kalanand Mani was Central Coordinator of the COC which had overall responsibility of organising Save the Western Ghats March. Others coordinators and members were Jagdish Godbole (Pune), Pandurang Hegde (Sirsi-Karnataka), A Mohan Kumar (Trichur-Kerala), Dinananth Manohar (Nandurbar –Maharashtra), S. Venkatachalam (Arcot-Tamil nadu) , SR Hiremath (Hubali – Karnataka), Claude Alvares (Mapusa-Goa), Archana Sadhale (Pune-Maharashtra), Vijay Paranpye (Pune-Maharashtra), Jay Samant (Kolhapur-Maharashtra), Subramanya Hegde (Sirsi-Maharashtra), Satish Chandra Nair (Trivandrum –Kerala), Sugatha Kumari (Trivandrum – Kerala), Civic Chandran (Trichur – Kerala), N Baddusha (Waynad-Kerala), Ulhas Rane (Mumbai), Dinkar Gangal (Mumbai), Ajit Patil (Sangli- Maharashtra), Sudhakar Khomne (Ahmednagar – Maharashtra), Anant Hegde (Sagar –Karnataka) .

National Advisory  Committee was led by Prof.  Kailash Chandra Malhotra, Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta  and noted environmentalist, anthropologists, as its chairman. Other distinguished members were Dr. Anil Agrawal, CSE, Delhi, Darryl D’monte, Mumbai, Thomas Mathew,WWF, New Delhi, Vijay Tendulkar, noted script writer, S.R. Ramaswamy, Prof. Madhav Gadgil, Indian Institute of Environmental Science, Bangalore, Erich Bharucha, Anupam Mishra and LT Sharma were the members of the national advisory committee.

The key objectives of the March.

1. To generate awareness among the people about ecology and related issues like denudation of forests, afforestation, preservation of wildlife, natural resources etc.
2. To learn more facts about the nature and extent of ecological destruction of the Western Ghats.
3. To expose young research scholars to the filed situations so that they could view the problems in a wider perspective.
4. To bring together all voluntary organisations working in the region, to formulate some long –term common ecological programmes.
5. To encourage academic institutions, involvement of schools in the area to take up afforestation and other ecologically relevant programmes.

The foot march along the Western Ghats was divided into 2 parts up to Goa border which was further divided into 4 groups in Goa. The March started simultaneously from two extreme ends of the Western Ghats on Nov. 1^st, 1987 and moved towards Goa. The Northern March was started from Navapur in Dhule District of Maharashtra whereas Southern March started from Kanyakaumari in Tamilnadu. The Northern March was flagged-off by noted environment campaigner and one of the founder leaders of Chipko Movement Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt. The Southern March was flagged-off  by noted Gandhian and historian Shri Dharmpal. 76 years old Mr. Fadake was the oldest marchers of northern team whereas 6 years old Gautam was the youngest marchers of southern team.  In average 50 marchers were always with the both team .  Total 169 men and women from 11 states and 4 countries were in the March. The March finally reached Goa on January 27^th and converged into huge Save Western Ghats Conference at Ramnathi. The March concluded in a public meeting at Panaji on Feb 3^rd, 1988.

The activities like public meetings, village level meetings, filed observations, survey, seminars, rallies, orientation camps etc were organised during the March.

The Marchers surveyed 55 villages in Maharashtra, 2 in Goa, 52 in Karnataka, and 7 in Kerala during the March to Panaji, Goa.  The finding of survey was drawn by a competent team from Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.  The main findings were;

1. Decrease in rainfall, late onset of the monsoon, its shorter duration, increased incidence of thunderstorms and rise in temperature.
2. Scarcity of drinking water for human and animal consummation during summer. Only 16.7 % villages in the north and 8.5 % villages in the south had availability of drinking water throughout summer.
3. Reduction of groundwater table and availability of water for agriculture and horticulture.
4. Reduction of forest resources such as fodder, fuel, food, timber and medicinal plants etc. 
5. Siltation of tanks, drying up of rivers and springs, invasion of eupatorium.
6. Increase in monoculture plantations of teak , rubber, eucalyptus,
7. Changes in agriculture practices and crops pattern.
8. 9 types of animals or birds were in domestication by the hills people.
9. In addition to organic manure like Leaves, cow dung, compost,  chemical fertilisers were also in use in agricultures.
10. Waterfalls, rivers, wells, canals, springs, tanks, tube-wells were the sources of irrigation.
11. Coconut, areca nut, pepper, cardamom, cocoa, coffee, cotton, cashew, tea, rubber, tobacco, sugarcane, banana, betel leaf, pineapple, lemon, and eucalyptus were grown as commercial crops
12. Deforestation led to damaging crops by wildlife species such as the Indian elephant, wild boar and monkeys.
13. Deforestation led to the appearance of new human, animal and plant diseases.
14. Forest-fire and destruction of sacred groves.
15. Encroachment in the forest areas and illicit tree felling.
16. 6 types of domestic fuel were in use in surveyed villages.  These included firewood, agricultural waste, cow dung, biogas, kerosene, and electricity.
17. Increase in displacement, migration  and food crisis,
18. All types of pollution,
19.  Damming rivers, establishment of medium and large scale industries, mining, tourism and putting atomic plants were big concerns among the public in general and in particular among the activists and environmentalist.

The March converged into Save the Western Ghats Conference where they shared their experiences. Prof. Madhav Gadgil, chairman of the technical committee presented post march follow up plan  which led to the discussion about the direction of saving the Western Ghats. The Conference took following decisions;

1. Support & strengthen people’s movement in Kodgu, Karnataka against Galebeedue Tea Estate due to which 5000 acres of forest land was threatened.
2. Support & strengthen people’s movement against  Nylon 6,6 of Thapar group in Goa
3. Support & strengthen people’s movement against Narmada Sagar and Sardar Sarovar project.
4. Firm demands were made to scrap the river projects like upper Bhadre project in Chikmaglur, Sharawati Tailrace project in Uttara Kanara, Haggnur dam in Mysore, Pullingam  Dam in Kerala , Naiya dam in south Kanara.
5. 5)       Requesting Maharashtra govt. not to allow Dahanu Thermal Power Plant that would threaten the ecological fragile zone.
6. Requesting Maharashtra govt not to venture to displace 50 villages in Shirpur taluka of Dhule dist.
7. Requesting Kerala govt to organise public debate on energy crisis in the state.
8. Opposing the move of central and state government of distributing surplus degraded forests, grazing lands to the industries and institutions in the name of social forestry. The conference urged that instead such land / forests must be given to the land less and poor for their subsistence.
9. The government should inform public about each development plan and seek their consent.
10. Urged Tamil Nadu govt not to convert virgin Janmam forests of Gudlur for other commercial plantation.
11. To undertake afforestation activities at mass scale to ensure more green cover.
12. It was decided to continue with existing structure of the March in the name of Save the Western Ghats Movement but it should not be registered. This arrangement was proposed till Nov 1988.

Slow but steady progress of SWGM

The SWGM was a landmark event in the environmental sector, on par with other key movements like the Chipko Movement and later on the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

Due to defunctness of 2^nd committee, situation compelled Peaceful Society to continue with the role of maintaining contacts, communications with all stake holders. A vehicle Yatra was organised in 1998 on completion of 10 years covering northern part of the Western Ghats up to Goa  .  At the end of  vehicle Yatra , 2^nd conference of SWGM held on 1-3 November 1998 at Peaceful Society, Goa. The conference took stock of ongoing work by various groups on various issues pertaining to ecology and environment of the Western Ghats. Thereafter SWGM was registered under Society’s Registration Act 1860 in Goa under the chairmanship of Kumar Kalanand Mani.

The real boost emerged in 2008 when Mr. Pandurang Hegde of Prakruti, Sirsi, Karnataka along with Dr. Sudhirendar Sharma, Ecological Society of India, New Delhi approached Peaceful Society to rejuvenate the movement and  to convene 3^rd  Save the Western Ghats Conference. Both took pain and re-established contact and communications with existing environmental organisations and individuals working on various issues of the Western Ghats. The 3^rd conference was organised on 08-10 February 2009 in Peaceful Society campus. The conference demanded in one voice for the formation of a Western Ghats Authority to ensure that all developmental work must be governed under one roof.   The follow-up meeting came with the proposal of requesting Government of India for constituting a study team to bring out present status of the Western Ghats, recommends for its sustainable and comprehensive conservation measures and mechanism of governance. Accordingly Mr. Jayram Ramesh, minister of Environment and Forest, Govt. Of India was invited to inaugurate 4^th  conference of Save the Western Ghats Movement held on 18-20 February 2012 at Keystone, Kotagiri in Nilgirti Hills, Tamil Nadu. The minister responded the demand for a panel to study the Western Ghats and recommend about conservation and governance mechanism positively  which resulted into formation of Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) headed by Dr. Madhav Gadgil, environmental scientist. Dr. Gadgil was one of the members of Advisory Committee of Save the Western Ghats March in 1987-88 and had presented a follow-up plan in post march conference held at Ramnathi, Goa.

The development after the submission of report by WGEEP  to the Govt. Of India was quite negative. The government refused to accept the report whereas prior this  the SWGM was divided into two fractions at 5^th conference held at Moodbidri in  28-30 January 2011. Hereinafter some anti forces succeeded in spreading negative propaganda against the recommendation / report of the WGEEP. This also provided needed ammunition to the state governments for adopting anti stands. The two fractions failed to do mass mobilisation in favour of the report. Again Peaceful Society came forward and organised 6^th conference of SWGM in its campus on 17-18 November 2012. It was commemoration conference on completion of 25 years of SWGM. One key objective of conference was to the WGEEP report and recommendations and to create positive propaganda in its favour. This was followed by a  planning consultation at Wildernest in association with Sahayadri Research Centre, Prakruti and Peaceful Society. The fraction group did organise another conclave at Mahabaleswar as mark of 25 years of the Save the Western Ghats Movement. Meanwhile Goa Foundation, an associate of SWGM moved a joint petition  before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi requesting implementation of the WGEEP recommendations. In between the govt. appointed another commission as Western Ghats High Level Working Group (WGHLWG) headed by Dr. Kasturi Rangan. Almost after 2 & ½ years, the union government did express before the NGT to implement the recommendations of HLWG. The SWGM continued propagating in favour of WGEEP but at the same time also propagated the HLWG because it was accepted the  government. PS did organise series of consultations in every state of  the Western Ghats . Sarvanan, Aranya, Aurovile and core marchers of SWGM took lead in organising 30 Years of SWGM at Kanyakumari on 1 Nov 2017. 7^th Conference which was organised by Peaceful Society on 1-3 February 2018 as mark to 30 years of SWGM. An ad-hoc committee was formed in this conference with three advisors, three Coordinators as Coordinators collective and two representatives from each state as SWGM Presidium. The mandate of this committee was to organise state level conferences, formation of state level committees and to organise 8^th Conference where presidium shall be constituted formally. The conference resolved to pursue the governments in Western Ghats to expedite implementation of recommendations of  HLWG and to mobilised people of WG.  The progress is that the union government have issued notification for Sensitive Ecological Zone as per the recommendation of  HLWG . Peaceful Society took initiative to convene consultation of SWGM to understand the notification and suggestions are submitted by the associates accordingly for a better, comprehensive notification.  The consultation held on 1-2 February 2018 at Peaceful Society had decided to organise a national level conference as Ecological Festival of Western Ghats in October 2018. Osai, Tamil Nadu 8^th conference of SWGM  on 1-3 February 2019 at Coimbatore  as Ecological Festival of the Western Ghats at Shrikrishna College campus, Coimbatore. More than 1300 participants from the states of the Western Ghats and other parts of India attended.

“SWARAJ”

A Forum For Gandhian Societal Perspective and Action

Introduction

Swaraj  as networking programme of Peaceful Society was formed in November 1996 in a  three-days national consultation on growing fundamentalism and the adverse impact of globalisation. The aim was to bring solidarity and provide a common platform for like- minded individuals, voluntary organisations, social action groups and people’s movements who have deep convictions in Gandhian philosophy.

As follow-up series of state level consultations were organised in Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, and Tamil Nadu and state level committees were formed between January to July 1997.

The Participatory  Strategic Planning (PSP) process  was adopted to develop common structure and the vision, mission, role, strategy and programme (VMRSP)of Swaraj. This was carried in 72 districts of 7states till June 1998. The national level VMSRPO was based on state level VMSRPO.

State Units: Swaraj – Bihar

The Bihar unit of Swaraj was formed in 1996. North Bihar has many rivers and the issues related to these are many. Therefore the main focus in Bihar has been the issues in the river basins of Koshi, Gandak and Ganga. These are dealt with separately in the chapter on IRN. The three consortiums constitute the state unit and as such the state does not have a separate programme. The consortium committee members are represented in the state committee.

Swaraj – Jharkhand

Swaraj was first programme which was bifurcated with Bihar and recognised separate state as Jharkhand. The state unit was formed in Feb 1997 in a meeting held at Madhupur. The state like others went through PSP processes, shaped it own VMSRPO and followed the state and national plans. Indian River Network was launched in a national meeting held at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand in 1999 as an offshoot of Swaraj programme.

Swaraj- Maharashtra

Maharashtra joined the Swaraj process late and although many NGOs, people’s organisations, social action groups etc. working with dalits, women and other weaker sections showed interest and took part actively in the PSP process, the programmes did not take off. The process was revived in 2000 and the activities are centred in a few villages in Loha taluka of Nanded district. The focus is largely on dalits , women and droughts.

Swaraj- Gujarat

The Swaraj processes started bit lat also due to unstability among the founders in Gujarat. There were about 10 organisations associated with Swaraj and 2 fellows associated with the programme.

Swaraj – Tamil Nadu

The programme in the state was in the districts of Tutucorin , Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts. The state unit was closely working with the Swaraj Kerala. Like others, state adopted PSP processes and developed its VMSRPO.

Swaraj – Kerala

The Kerala Swaraj started in 1997 during the first phase of the programme.  During this period, 3 regional meetings and one state level workshop were organised on – ‘Issues in the state and addressing these through Gandhian ideology’. During the second phase, training on PSP was taken up at state, district, panchayatand community levels. 345 villages in 10 districts were covered under this process. During the current phase, the activities are focused in 8 districts. There were 7 fellows working in the state including the state coordinator and an accountant. However, only 4 districts have fellows. Although the fellows work under the 5-village concept, in most places they are covering entire panchayat, which has more than 5 villages. Save Idukki Campaign (SIC) is part of the IRN network and coordinated at the state level.

Vision

In the given situation of growing fundamentalism, economic imperialism and increasing trend of cultural and environmental degradation, we wish to intervene and stop further detonation and the other hand we aspire for a society which will be based on Gandhian ideology and certain humanitarian values for the restoration of peace and communal harmony and harmony with nature.

Economically, people will be self-reliant on the basic needs and amenities for a happy and comfortable living. People will be free from the clutches of debt, exploitation and alcoholism.

Politically people will be self-ruled. There will be decentralisation of power and resources. There will be democratic system, structure and policies. There will be real participation in decision-making process by both women and men.

The people will feel proud of and take care of their unique cultural heritage and healthy traditions. But, the superstitions and blind belief must go away. There will be unity amidst diversity.

Mission

“SWARAJ” a forum for Gandhian societal perspective and action comprising national Swaraj and seven state units which also consists of various VOs, NGOs, people’s movements, action groups and like minded individuals working among and with marginalized sections of the community, particularly among adivasis, dalits, women and other vulnerable groups in seven states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

We want to ensure self- rule of the community to re-establish its rights and access on natural resources and other means of production for sound and sustainable development.

We want to realise transformation in all spheres of life namely, social, political, economic, cultural and environmental with special emphasis to brush aside issues like gender inequality, fundamentalism, casteism, alcoholism and cultural deterioration in the next ten years. We also strive to reject the influence of internal and external exploitative forces operating in the society through NEP, WB, WTO and MNCs.

Organisational Structure of “Swaraj”

National Forum (NF)

Members of the core team of the various state committees constitute NF also called Swaraj Parliament. Besides these, every state unit also nominates/ elects three to five members (out of which one/two are women) from the community to the forum. 50% of the total members of the forum shall be women. Currently, there are 116 members in the NF. Besides being the designing and implementing body at the national level, the NF also elects the national team. The forum meets annually and the event is termed as national convention. (See Swaraj – Organisational Structure). 

National Coordination Team (NCT)

The national team has 19 members (7 women and 12 men) and comprises of the state coordinator and at least one-woman representative from the state. In addition there are three nominated members from the NEU. The NT is elected for a three-year term and works in coordination with the NCC.  It meets twice a year. 

National Convener Collective (NCC)

The national team elects the NCC and has three members who are elected for a three-year tenure. It is mandatory that at least one among the three is a woman. The chief functionary of the project implementing institution (in this case Peaceful Society) is a permanent member. At least one of the members must devote full time and he/she should not hold major responsibility of any other organisation.

NCC is entirely responsible for the overall implementation and monitoring of the project. NCC meets at least four times in a year.

National Executive Unit (NEU)

The head of Project Implementing Institution (PII) is a member of the NEU and assists the NCC in its task. NEU is located at Peaceful Society, Goa. The NCT members can join NEU. Members of the NEU shall be paid persons and the NCC should finalise their remuneration.

Working Groups

Swaraj has constituted six working groups at the national level.  The six groups are capacitation, finance, coordination, publication and documentation, fund mobilisation and family affairs. Each working group has three members including the convener.

State Units

The state and consortiums have a three-tiered structure.  At the village level there is the Village Council (VC). The members include one male and one female member from each family. One fellow of Swaraj is also a member of the VC. The local facilitator is the coordinator and there is a chairperson. The VC elects the village committee. It has a chairperson, convener and treasurer. At the district level there is a district council in which all the members of the village committee are members and the facilitator and documenter for each village. The district council elects the district committee, which has 7-21 members. At the state level there is the state council and the state working committee. This is the structure in most states and consortiums with some minor variations in some places.  

PSP CONVENTION Berhampur ?

The concention finalised the VMSRPO of Swaraj and ten years programme at state and national level.

Thiruvananthapuram Convention: – The Second National Convention held in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, from 30^th January to 2^nd February 2001. Theme of Symposium held alongside was “Gandhian Strategy in the 21^st Century. The 248 delegates elected the new National Team and unanimously resolved that Kumar Kalanand Mani should continue to be the National Convenor.

The Convention discussed questions of SWARAJ structures, struggles, training and publications.

Third national convention and symposium was held on the occasion of Centenary years of Jayprakash Narayan from 8^th to 10^th October 2002 at the Town Hall, Bettiah in West Champaran in Bihar. A total of 268 delegates from eight states – Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat – participated in the event.

States put forward their action plans for the next two years. An overwhelming majority of them decided to concentrate on the five-village concept. All states unanimously decided that Kumar Kalanand Mani should continue as the National Convenor. The National Forum and the National Team was elected after this.

CAPACITATION

Capacitation for SWARAJ meant – Orienting, Motivating, Directing and equipping all relevant actors associated with ‘SWARAJ” to become aware of the values, worldview and programmatic perspective of SWARAJ and to be able to translate the same into the respective realities in our Society with the requisition to knowledge and skills. The capacitation was divided into two parts– Organisational Capacitation and Programme Capacitation. Organisational Capacitation would be on, values, enhancement and strengthening and philosophy of the Forum and concept of People’s Organisations and networking. Programme Capacitation was to be on: – Self-Rule, Rights over Natural Resources, Sustainable Development, meaning and implications of social evils and divisive forces like Casteism and Fundamentalism, New Economic Policy and Globalisation, Economic Literacy, Gender Sensitisation and Cultural Degradation.

1985-1996

Centres in Bandora, Cotigaon and Pedne.

The initial programmatic thrust of Peaceful Society (PS) was rural development with more focus on women, children, small farmers.  The PS gained primary exposures and needed experiences of undertaking developmental activities from two years work of providing additional income generating opportunity to 20 women in Banodra in 1985-86.

While implementing the WEP project in Bandora, the PS decided to expand its wings into other remote area of Goa. In this regards a small support from Gandhi Peace Centre, Hyderabad under Disposition Funds becomes very useful. 4 more villages in 4 different taluka were identified by the executive committee to work in active association with  board members. These were  Deusu-Korgaon of Pedne, Maulinge – Kudchire of Bicholim, Cumbharjuve of Tiswadi and Cotigaon of Cancona taluka of Goa. The processes like Bandora was adopted here of conducting socio economic survey to decide short and long term activities. The survey part was completed in all above mentioned 4 villages. However, post survey processes were undertaken only in Deusu – Korgaon and Cotigaon.

The Package Programme:

On the basis of experiences gained from WEP programme and outcome of survey done in Korgaon and Cotigaon, a project under Package Programme of GPC-EZE was prepared for fincnancial support.

The PS IRDP (integrated Rural Development Programme) was implemented in collaboration with Gandhi Peace Centre, Hyderabad with support from EZE(Protest Association for Development) Bonn, West Germany in 2 phases, PP III ( 1987-1989) PP-V (1990-95) The project objectives were threefold:

1. Livelihood enhancement of poor and marginal farmers through setting up service centres (Agro Centres) to provide services in agriculture and animal husbandry. The objectives were to increase productivity in these sectors as well as provide income-generating opportunities, both on-farm and off farm for these families.
2. Mobilizing the community and creating an overall awareness towards social reconstruction. This was through activities in the health and education sectors.
3. Women’s Development through training for economic skills and opportunities for employment.

The project was implemented in three of the original five villages, with Agro Centres opened in Deusu Korgaon and in Cotigaon, while the WEP activities were continued in Bandora.

The GPC-EZE package programme 2^nd phase had ensured the continuity of activities undertaken during 1^st phase with following learnigs and objectives; The work continued with expanded scope of activities and an increased geographical range. The project objectives were also modified based on the learning, both of the earlier development work as well as the experience of organizing communities around issues in the campaigns. The new approach was:

• Agricultural development was seen not only in the context of economic self-reliance but also in the context of ecological balance. As a result there was an increased emphasis on sustainable agricultural systems and in particular on organic farming. PS took it as challenge and started various experiment on organic farming in its campus.
• The social reconstruction goal was possible only if there is a cadre of committed persons in the community, committed not just to short-term project activities but to broad based civil society associations through setting up autonomous institutions with strong and committed leadership. This insight would take full shape in and through the Swaraj Movement.
• Women’s. Self-reliance is not just an output of the project activities but must be an integral aspect in the very process. As a result, the practice of free services was discouraged and eventually discontinued and participants were motivated to pay fees for the services accessed.

THE COTIGAON EXPERIMENTS &  EXPERIENCE

After putting its legs firmly in  Bandora, PS opened its centre in Cotigaon of Cancona taluka and Deusu-Korgaon of Pedne taluka to implement GPC-EZE package programme designed on the basis of outcome of survey conducted in Bandora, Cotigao and Korgaon. Cotigaon was 80 kms south from Banodra, the registered office of PS and Deusu – Korgaon was about 70 kms in north.

Cotigaon was remote and relatively under-developed even as compared to the other areas in Goa. The inhabitants were almost entirely adivasis besides few hindu middle and upper caste population in one wada of Cotigaon. The village had no pucca road and was rich in bio-diversity. Adivasi were quite content with the life they were living. Only one private bus was playing in mid of 80s. There were no liquor shop, no market, no shop in entire Panchayat area in mid 80s. The entry points were the house-to-house survey in 1985 and opening of two Balwadi  then the project work in 1986. PS introduced agricultural service activities and enhancing the skills of women for additional income generation. However while doing so and even during survey time there were two common problem which entire Panchayat area was facing and population was looking at PS to resolve it. One was possible displacement of entire population from major parts of Panchayat area due to proposed Wild Life Sanctuary (WLS) and having no drinking water. The life was quite hard and harsh due to severe water shortage. Therefore henceforth PS activities were focus on addressing these two primary issues of the Panchayat area.

THE VANVASI SANGATHAN

Fight against displacement

Kumar Kalanand Mani along with PS centre in Cotigaon and Adivasi leaders started mobilizing affected population and others who were sympathetic with the issue. Only few families of upper caste Hindu were favouring displacement in hidden way and whole population of entire village Panchayat area were against. After holding series of meetings in affected area, mostly during night time and ascertaining support to the possible movement against displacement.  A conference was organised on Martyr’s Day, 30^th January 1986 at Dabel on the bank of a river and under forest canopy.  Most encouraging was total presence and active participation of women who came with lot of cooked food with them.

The food for 200 plus people came from each house including for activists from effluent families from out of Cotigaon  gathered there for extending solidarity tasted the Adivasi food first time in their life. The conference ended with unanimous resolution to protest displacement non-violently, not protesting against proposed WLS and formed own organisation named as Vanvasi Sangathana. The Sangathana entirely led by local population persuaded village Panchayat to convene the Gram Sabha. The Panchayat convene the Gram Sabha where resolution against their displacement due to WLS was passed unanimously.  After consistent persuasion with the state government the idea of displacing people from WLS was dropped.

Water Crisis in Cotigaon:

PS tried  for few years to resolve the water crisis in Cotigaon. Hydrological surveys were done by noted NGO AFPRO for drilling the bore-wells in Avalim, Avem, Badde, Edda and Pansulemal. PS  managed needed fund for four bore-wells through FORRAD, Delhi with a condition that fifth bore well should be installed with local (govt or non govt) support. The politicians created hurdles by forcing PS to get clearance for installing bore wells in Wild Life Sanctuary  (WLS) area. The approval never came till the project period. Finally the money was refunded to the donor. However PS succeeded in installing on bore-well outside WLS with the help one government dept. This hand-pump is still (1987-2019) source for people of Avali.

PS got another opportunity of addressing water problem of Cotigaon and some other such starved area of Goa. PS was selected as nodal organisation by Technology Mission on Drinking Water, Govt of India to provide safe drinking water. As per norms, PS approached the state government for NOC for the project to be implemented in Goa. The response was far negative and discouraging.   The sad is that water problem is not Cotigaon is not yet resolved whereas PS stopped working in Cotigaon in 1992.      

The Pernem (Pedne) experiment and experience :

As one centre was open in Cotigaon after having firm feets in Bandora. Same time a centre was open in Deusu in Korganon Panchayat in 1985. Mr. Raju Talunekar, one of the founder of Peaceful Society was instrumental in starting centre at Deusu.  Initially one balwadi was open at Deusu. For the promotion of milk production one separate cooperative was established besides having one Balwadi. The activities here were expanded under GPC-EZE package programme in 1986. Later Centre office was shifted to Agarwada and after 2 years finally to Pernem when activities expanded in 6 more villages including Arambol, Morjim, Mandrem, Agarwada, Parcem and Malpe. Besides having  agro services providing agricultural tools like power tilles, irrigation pump,  support for seeds, bio-gas, milch animals etc, However, the centre focused more enhancing skills of the women population of these villages and helping them in production and sale of their products. This became possible due to enthusiastic support from women population of these villages.  26 tailoring classes were run that too without any stipend to the benificiaries.  Pedne centre also accessed support for hundreds of women under DWCRA scheme of state government. In all there were 7 such groups, which eventually achieved autonomous status. 

Following were key activities in nutshell undertaken under GPC-EZE package programme III & VI from 1986 till 1995 in Bandora, Cotigaon and Pedne.

Agro-Centres

These centres were the base for a variety of services and training programs. These included

• Power tiller/sprayer services
• Desilting of tanks
• Farming systems inputs
• Land improvement
• Organic farming training and demonstration
• Afforestation
• Biogas system

Livelihood Training Programs

These included

• Farmers camps
• Fisherman’s Training program
• Training in Production of foodstuffs for women entrepreneurs

• Vocational Training for Women specially in tailoring & embroidery,

Women’s Economic Program

• Production centres for foodstuffs
• Production training Program for independent entrepreneurship
• Vocational Training
• Handicrafts promotion.
• Marketing Assistance.

Community /Social Issues:

• Running Balwadi in Cotigaon and Deusu, Agarwada in Pedne.
• Youth & students mobilisation through Bharat Jodo Yatra.
• Promoting aforestation.
• Environmental Awareness.
• Inculcating rational mind.
• Youth camps.
• Health clinics.
• Action against domestic violence with women.
• Adult literacy.
• Linking beneficiaries with various government schemes. 

While implementing package programme III and VI, Peaceful Society had two notable achievement. One was successful organisation of massive Save the Western Ghats March and holding Save the Western Ghats Conference which gave birth of Save the Western Ghats Movement between 1986-88.  The second one was PS acquiring land and constructing needed infrastructure in Madkai, 10 kms away from Bandora. PS shifted its main office in September 1990 .  Some the funds of Package programme III and VI was used for acquiring land and constructing low cost infrastructure with the due permission of GPC and EZE.  

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME  2001
The Government of India declared the year 2001 as Year For Women Empowerment. Series of welfare programmes were conducted all over for the benefit of the women.
PEACEFUL SOCIETY took the lead to commemorate the year as the Empowerment of Women in Goa and designed a 6 months intensive programme .
Peaceful Society launched the Women Empowerment Programme’01 on 28^th July’01at Peaceful Society premises in Madkai. The inauguration of the programme was done at the hands of Shri Ravi Naik, Deputy Chief Minister of Goa, The other invitees were MMC Chairperson Kamlini Painguinkar, Dr. Pramod Salgaonkar  Chairperson of Women’s Commission, Dr. Poornima Usgaonkar.

The Special features of this programme were conduction of  workshops on varied issues concerning the women in the society. Workshops were held on subjects like Law & Judiciary, Education, Health, Banking, Politics, Women Commission, Government Schemes,  Women & Literature, Entrepreneurship, Media & Theatre, Difficulties encountered in Marriages , Journalism.
Eminent personalities were invited to deliver talks, to share their views and opinions, with the woman folk. Women usually confine themselves to their houses , their life revolves around their husband and children , they are bound  by their household duties, meeting the expectations of their in-laws. As such it  becomes our  duty   to enlighten them on various developments and facilities meant for their betterment. A small working group  comprising of Mrs. Bharati Bandodkar, Dr. Poornima Usgaonkar, Mrs. Jyoti Kunkolicar  was constituted to design the programme.

Following 11 workshops were organised as part of Women Empowerment Year,

                                                  
 LAW AND JUDICIARY.

The participants for the workshops were mostly women from Ponda Taluka.

Ms. Bharati Bandodkar did attended various such programme organised by the Govt. Of Goa as part of Year of women Empowerment.

Peaceful Society organised follow-up planning meeting in every wada after survey of Bandora village Panchayat area. The findings were shared with the people present in programme planning meeting. One consultation of founder members of PS and well wishers was organised to decide plan of action. The meeting resolved to undertake economic generating activities among women in Dhonshi wada of Banodra. Dhonshi was situated in watershed area having 42 families of one community and surviving mainly on  managing horticulture of landlords and doing labour work outside. Mr. Laxmikant Gosain, a professional social worker from Orissa and well wisher of Peaceful Society met the people of Dhonshi and team of Peaceful Society and designed a proposal for financial help. This was a small project for two years intended to provide additional income to 20 women. The project proposal was submitted to Shri Radhakrishna. He managed to get the support from Save the Children Funds of British Columbia, This was first project of Peaceful Society supported by an INGO. The project objective was to provide additional income to 20 women from poorest economic background and lower social strata. A training come production centre was established in a small rented place in Dhonshi. The women were trained to make  areca-nut leaf plates, broom and eatable item based on locally available raw materials. The areca nut leaves were plenty available in Dhonsi which were mostly burnt as firewood.  Large number of jackfruits were of no use. Centre made further efforts to provide skill training in stitching, broom making,  embroidery and making of eatable items by using jackfruits. The initial response from local women subsided after few months and PS  faced problem in running the programme in absence of adequate number of women. This was primarily due to local politics.  After 18 months, the centre in Dhonsi was shifted to nearby village where it picked up very well. The enthusiastic participation of women from other OBC communities provided meaning to WEP programme. This was continued till 1993.  Later activity of health care of women and children was added to ensure better and healthy living.

1. Organising Campaign for 100 % Literacy and Land to Landless, House to Houseless
   1. Adult Literacy classes were run in PO in Bihar, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu to achieve the target 100 % literacy in terms of writing (signature, name etc,) and reading.
   1. Following Chart explains about envisaged target and achievement so far.