: This is responsible for formulating policies and Guidelines and to
monitor the functioning of all other committees. There are 68 organisations involved in
this.
IOC-INDIA ORGANISING COMMITTEE: It is the executive body and
responsible for organising the event with the help of 8 functional groups. It consists of
45 individuals who are committed to take forward this task, by giving their time and
energy.
FUNCTIONAL GROUPS:
The following 8 groups have been set to take up different task for this
world conference.
1.Program
2.Mobilisation
3.Venue and Logistics
4.Finance
5.Culture
6.Liason
7.Media and communication
8.Youth and students.
All these Committees and Groups are extremely active for the past 6
months to make this world event a grand success. Mumbai has been selected as the Venue for
WSF-IV and the dates have been announced as 16th - 21st January 2004. A secretariat has
been set up in Mumbai to undertake the day to day activities. The exact venue has been
fixed in Goregoan in Mumbai. All
other arrangements are in the full swing.
THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ENVISAGED FOR WSF-IV
The Program Committee met several times and proposed the following
events and the IOC / IWC have given their consent to go ahead with this:
PUBLIC MEETINGS/ CONFERENCES: (Total 12 Numbers-4 public Meetings
–All Officially organised - and 8 conferences in which 4 would be officially
organised and the remaining 4 would be self organised)
- Public Meetings in the evening with the expected participation of
around 25,000 people
- 4 Conferences in the morning and 4 in the Noon with the expected
participation of around 10,000 people.
PANELS : 4 Numbers in which One would be officially organised and the
remaining 3 would be self organised
WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS: There would be space for 800 -all self
organised -at 200 per day
CULTURAL EVENTS: Round the clock
FILM/PHOTO/POSTER EXHIBITIONS: Series of Photo /Poster exhibitions
would be organised.
DALIT CONCERNS IN WSF
WHY DALITS SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN WSF?
The Dalits, widely known as untouchables in India and from other South
Asian countries (Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and the similar social group
namely the Burakumin from Japan constitute sizeable percent of population in their
respective countries, who suffer social and economic discrimination arising out of the
practice of caste system and untouchability and also descent and work based
discrimination. In South Asia the Dalits alone account over 200 million people. In India
alone they account for 20 percent of the present day Indian population. Historically this
group has been excluded from social and economic rights including right to education and
employment other than the forced traditional and customary undignified labour, owing to
the restrictions imposed on them under the myth of the caste system and the institution of
untouchability. They also suffer from social exclusion in so far as they are residentially
segregated and excluded through the practice of untouchability.
However, until 1980s there has been a sizable growth and development,
if not the desirable level, in the lives of dalits in terms of increased opportunity in
education and employment, raise in wages, fall in poverty and their access to land, water,
health, education, housing and other
resources owing to the Reservation Policy that has been guaranteed to
dalits by the Constitution of India. This trend has been by and large sidelined and
shattered due to the advent of Economic globalisation and the Dalits have started deprived
of the benefits and are forced to become vulnerable and pushed to the periphery.
As part liberalisation the Indian government economic policy has
undergone a significant change since the beginning of early 1990. The main feature of the
policy of liberalization has been (a) general reduction in the role of state in the
economic governance, (b) withdrawal by the state in some economic sectors and its
replacement by private sector(c) future development through wider participation of private
sector and hence (d) more dependence on the market for exchange of goods (capital and
consumer) and services.
Deduction in the government economic role is reflected in decline in
public spending. The total government expenditure had increased at a per annum rate of 11%
during 1960's,by 7.10 % in 1970's, 6.46% in19 80's but it decline at per annum rate of
4.7% in the1990's. Correspondingly the government and public sector employment has also
deduced by significant margin. Similarly
there has been privatisation of number of public sector enterprises.
According to 1990 New Industrial policy introduced under the Principles of Neo-Liberalism,
only six to eight type of industries are retained under the government and public sector,
as against eighteen under the 1956 'Industrial policy Resolution". The private
banking and insurance is now openly allowed.
The consequence of reduction in government and the public sector and
its replacement by the private sector mean that the access of Dalits to Land, Labour,
Employment, Capital and social services like Education, Housing, Health and other
Essentials hither to enjoyed under reservation has now become much less. Decline in
economic role of the state, and shift towards to private and international sectors means
that Dalits have to now deprive the benefits that they started enjoying under the Policy
of Reservation to uplift their socio, economic status. Adding fuel to the fire, now this
marginalised and disadvantaged sector has to depend on the market in much
greater degree and to compete with other oppressive and well
strengthened forces in this country. There are studies, which show that they suffered from
exclusion from market through discrimination, less access to the land, capital,
employment, and social amenities and faced unequal treatment that does not appear to
justify on any ground.
Decline in the social protection due to withdrawal of the state from
many public economic activities and shift towards private sector and absence of
alternative forms of protection in the private sector has denied the fair access of Dalits
to the resources and sources of income as well. This will have its impact on the income
and poverty of this group. The official data did indicate decline in employment of Dalits
in state sector. The composition of their employment has also shifted from
regular/salaried to casual labour. Thus the structural adjustment of the Indian economy
under the process of globalisation and liberalisation involving transaction from public
sector to private sector, moving away from Governmental economic planning and leaving the
economic decision to the market has created new forms of vulnerability and uncertainty for
the Dalits.
Beside Dalits in India, there are Dalits from Nepal, Bangladesh,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and also identical social group like Burakumin in Japan also faced
similar impact of the globalisation and liberalisation on their socio-economic situation.
Therefore Dalits need to participate in the WSF and focus the following
issues.
WHAT DALITS WILL FOCUS IN THE 4TH CONFERENCE OF WSF?
In view of the situation discussed above, The Dalits and the other
socially disadvantaged groups need to highlight and discuss the challenges posed by
Globalisation, with an objective of forming alliance with in themselves and also with the
other marginalised forces to work out the strategies for a joint venture to oppose
Neo-Liberalism and Casteism and to find out alternatives to regain their share and
strength and Human Status.
The following issues need to be discussed in the forthcoming World
Conference:
The nature of new forms of vulnerability being faced by the Dalits and
other social group due to:
(a) Decline in the role of the state in provision of public services
like education, housing, health, and its impact on Dalits and other social groups;
(b) Decline in the control of government and the public sector over the
nature and functions of basic and key industries, viz, banking, insurance etc., and its
impact on employment on dalits, particularly under the policy of reservation and on
poverty;
(c) Decline in the role of economic planning by State;
(d) Shift towards private sector in supply of capital and consumer
goods, including basic services and their impact on access to Dalits and other social
groups;
(e) The nature of economic discrimination in various markets
particularly in land, labour, employment, capital, and social services faced by the Dalits
and other social groups;
(f) The lack of any relevant mechanism to provide protection to Dalits
against the discrimination in the market, particularly in capital, employment and social
service.
(g) The absence of a vital role of the State with respect to the
relationship with market in providing access to the market, particularly land, capital,
employment and social service.
These issues will be discussed under the following proposed Ten broad
themes:
1. Militarism War and Peace: The increasing threat to peace in the
world by US on the pretext of protection and promotion of Human rights and establishment
of democracy, and the continuance of everlasting conflict among some countries in across
the globe. This trend is assuming dangerous proportions and strengthening the existing
conflicts between caste, ethnic,
religious, sectarian and other contending groups. The Imperialist
Globalisation and the heightened intervention of Militarism as factor inthese conflicts
need to be examined in detail, as much all other factors involved in increasing conflicts
and heightened insecurity. Security of individuals, communities and societies continue to
be neglected as compared to state security. Dalits and the other marginalised people are
facing severe threats to their civil, political and livelihood rights and thus facing
downfall in their living standards especially in the context of
globalisation. Their genuine protests and demands of people,
particularly when voiced by Dalits, are viewed and treated as security threats by the
state, and it resorts to use of force through Police/Army in the name of establishing or
maintaining 'Law and Order'. These are related aspects and require detailed attention.
2. Media, Information, Knowledge and Culture: Present day Media, both
Print and Electronic, is in the hands of the dominant and oppressive forces. Therefore the
information and the knowledge given by this powerful segment is always in favour of the
dominant forces and profit centric. They are being extensively used to promote a
uniculture in the world and broadly against to the interest of pluralism and diversity.
The voices of Dalits, Adivasis and Women for their rights and their demand for a due share
in the nation's wealth and power are mostly manipulated and reported as against to the
interest of the nation, state and unity. This needs special attention and extensive
discussion in this conference.
3. Democracy, Ecological and Economic Security: Processes of
globalisation are eroding the sovereignty of nations and the decision-making powers of
democratically elected bodies. Equally this process increases the power of finance capital
and market forces. Therefore it is imperative to discuss the importance of Democracy and
its prevalence in legal and in all institutional frameworks to safeguard the interest and
life of all marginalized sections, including Dalits, indigenous peoples, Women and ethnic/
religious/linguistic or other minorities.
Similarly the traditional knowledge of this marginalised sector should
be viewed as relevant and its richness be recognised and applied in all possible ways and
means for productive results in all fields to protect the economic security of these
people and also to protect the natural resources from extensive exploitation by the profit
oriented market forces of the globe.
4. Sustainable and Democratic Development: Land, Air, Water, Space and
Energy have been put into enormous amount of exploitation by the Privatised market forces.
The depletion of non-renewable resources, dumping of hazardous wastes, destruction of
forests and undermining the biodiversity endangers not only the life of the present living
creatures but also the future generations. The irrational attitude and the undemocratic
functions of the unholy trio - WB, IMF and WTO - pose unimaginable threat to the very
existence of human beings generally and particularly the life of the marginalised who face
deprivation and displacement. An imminent need is there to discuss the salient features of
sustainable and democratic development to protect the livelihood rights of the
marginalised, especially the dalits and the indigenous communities.
5. World of Labour and Work in Production and Social Reproduction:
Economic Globalisation primarily advocates free flow of capital, technology and knowledge
and when it comes into the issue of free flow of labour crossing boundaries, it is
restrict and oppressive. It advocates
minimising costs and maximising profits and there by exploiting the
labour. The present day industrial development which builds on the sweat and labour of the
workers is hardly opening its coffers in terms of sharing the profit or increasing the
wage for the workers. The role of the state
is reduced to restrict the movement and freedom of labour. Enactment of
black laws, Lay offs and derecognition of trade unions are the few signs of the present
market economy. The right to work, living wage, social security, compensation and other
demands of the workers are crushed. The social reproduction by dalits, marginalised
communities, indigenous communities and women are hardly recognised.
6. Social Sectors-Food, Health, Education-and Social Security: The
Nation state which primarily builds up on the concept of providing social security to its
citizens is slowly giving up its role to the market forces in the era of globalisation.
Globalisation advocates for market supply and market economy on the one hand and on the
another, it influences the Nation States to reduce its budgetary allocations to social
sectors. Amidst the plenty of surplus food grains and bumper harvests, the percentage of
hunger death also increases. The privatisation of health sector and its five star
corporate hospitals offer no beds for the poor. The corporate spending on
Research and Development are interested in reaping its profits by
protecting its patent rights there by making the fruits of results as marketable
commodities thus denying the access to the poor. The concept of universal education,
literacy to all has no relevance and education has become highly profitable business thus
shattering the dreams of the poor and the marginalised especially the Dalits and women
have left with no access to better education. Right to work, employment, job security,
just wages, food security and the social welfare schemes have come under severe threat and
the Dalits need to discuss all these and raise relevant questions and demands.
7. Exclusion, Discrimination, Dignity, Rights and Equality: The
sovereignty, its role and its social responsibility in terms of protecting and promoting
the interest of the discriminated communities like dalits and indigenous people have been
reducing day by day. The changes being incorporated by the state, in the legal rights,
welfare measures, protective mechanism and other socio-economic rights in the context of
globalisation are hard blow to these communities. The economic sovereignty of Nation-State
and the decision-making powers of democratically elected bodies which protects the rights
of the marginalised are alarmingly decreasing day by day. On the other hand, provision and
space available for the power equations for finance, capital and market economy is on the
increase. It is necessary to discuss the changes in legal and institutional frameworks in
this context and their impact on marginalized sections viz., Dalits, indigenous peoples,
Tribals, ethnic/ religious/linguistic or other minorities, women and their response to
these processes. A more inclusive Nation state is the bare minimum requirement for the
strengthening of the rights and livelihood necessities of these marginalised sections.
8. Caste, Race and other forms of Descent and work based Exclusions:
The Caste discrimination, Racism and other forms of descent and work based discrimination
is on the increase. The interests of the Market Forces and the Brahmanical Forces in this
country are complimentary to each other and the concentration of wealth and power is
continuous to be in their hands. Apart from the deprivation of the policy of Reservation,
the Dalits and Indigenous forces are employed as only casual labourers, forcing to
undertake their traditional work of sweeping, scavenging and cleaning. The market, which
operates with the slogan 'professionalism and merit based selection,' prevents Dalits and
other discriminated communities from entering into the private sector. The socalled
affirmative actions that guarantee protection to the discriminated communities are no way
in sight as the state does have any prominent role in the market economy. Therefore, the
plight of the excluded and discriminated groups is worse and the do not have any share in
the capital, profit, wealth and power of this Globalised economy.
9. Religion, Culture and Identities: The September 11th incident has
further aggravated the conflict between the Religious fundamentalist groups functioning in
the world. Communalism is at the height of its worst form and Religious Fundamentalism
plays a vital role in gaining power and
strength. Narrow interpretation of faiths, claiming superiority within
faiths lead to confrontation and the vested interests take advantage of the silence of the
secular forces and misleading the masses for their undue influence and achievement. In the
Indian context, the Hindutva forces
gaining momentum by dividing people on faith lines and in the name of
the interest of majority, they try to push the minority into untold miseries. Dalits are
cajoled by these fundamentalist forces and they are brainwashed to accept the cultural
nationalism that they promote and set them before the minorities. This trend prevents
dalits to join hands with the other marginalised forces to challenge the Communal forces.
Globalisation for its part, strengthens the hands of these communal forces for its market
interest and add fuel to the fire by further marginalising the poor and the downtrodden.
The western culture is also being introduced by these market forces which eliminates the
indigenous culture of the dalits and other discriminated communities in the world.
Therefore, the time is up to discuss these cruel trend to gain back the strength of
plurality and diversity which alone would render a congenial atmosphere for human kind to
live in peace and harmony.
10. Patriarchy, Gender and Sexuality: Patriarchy is the only concept,
which endures from day number one of the creation of this world. Gender discrimination is
universal, despite the existence of umpteen number of Acts, Rules, Conventions and
Treaties. Sexual inequality exists in all its worst form in all Socio, economic and
cultural fields. Women battering and sexual harassment is not uncommon in all countries.
Women are treated as secondary in all dimensions and their contribution to the family or
the nation is neither regarded nor rewarded. Though they constitute slightly above 50% of
the total world population, still they are being viewed as unskilled and unrecognised
forces living in this world for the process of reproduction. Globalisation further
marginalises women by exploiting their work as cheap labour. Market oriented tourism
pushes women into sexual work and they are being extensively used for certain professions
with
the aim of doubling the profit. This trend does not leave Dalit and
other discriminated women and they are the worst affected in terms of Economic and Social
exploitation. Their hard labour, right and genuine demands are hardly heard and
recognised. Therefore this needs special attention for a vital discussion.
PROMOTION OF DALIT SECTOR FOR WSF AND THE ROLE OF
NCDHR THEREIN.
The following sectors have been actively participating in the WSF
process in India.
* Trade Unions
* Peasants
* Dalits
* Indigenous People
* Women
* Youth
* All Marginalised Sectors
* All Social Movements
* Human Rights Organisations
* NGOs
* Civil Society Organisations
* Minorities
Each sector has evolved its own process to mobilise its own
constituents and to organise programs to address their issues. Similarly Dalit Sector has
also been formed. NCDHR has been recognised by this process as a prominent and vital
organisation and entrusted with the role of forming the Dalit Sector with the association
of other three Dalit Organisations functioning
at the national level. Already two meetings have been organised towards
this attempt and strategies are being worked out collectively to involve in this process.
NCDHR on its own also planning to mobilise its own constituents and decided to hold its
own self organised programs in this world event.
The Proposal of NCDHR:
Objectives:
1. To provide an opportunity to study deeper impact of Globalisation on
Dalits and disseminate them at all levels.
2. To help to have a conceptual clarity among grass root Dalit
activists on globalisation and its impact on Dalits.
3. To ensure clear strategies to address the grave issues that
globalisation has been posing at the community level.
4. To promote and strengthen advocacy and lobbying efforts at different
levels.
5. To articulate Dalit concerns and issues of Globalisation with the
mainstreams Dalit concerns and also to align with other social movements and especially
with other discriminated communities across the world.
6. To promote a Process for the participation of all Dalit
organizations to strengthen and to ensure a Dalit perspective in all interventions and
programmes.
7. To assist Dalit activists to get exposed to the different problems
of Dalits and other discriminated communities in different regions of India and across the
world and to unite our struggle with a larger context.
8. To a Create base to follow up General Recommendation of UN Committee
on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on Caste and descent based discrimination
with concrete field data.
9. To explore the possibility of joining hands with Indigenous people,
Minorities and Women to work out a common strategy to oppose Imperialist globalisation and
other forms of discrimination.
10. To join the mainstream movements in the world to oppose all
dominant, oppressive and divisive forces and to find out alternatives to promote 'another
world where justice, equality and peace will prevail.'
Anticipated Participants:
NCDHR plans to mobilize 1500 Dalit activists, AS DELEGATES, from all
over India (Maharashtra - 400, Gujarat 150, Rajasthan 150, Bihar 75, Uttar Pradesh 75,
Punjab 50, Delhi 50, Madhya Pradesh 50,Jharkand 50, Chattisgarh 50, Orissa 100, Andhra
Pradesh 100, Tamilnadu 100, Karnataka 50, Pondicherry 50) to participate in this world
event.
Besides this, the Dalit sector of WSF has a plan to mobilize around
20,000 dalits for joining the inaugural and closing events, in which NCDHR on its part
would try to mobilize 10,000 dalits with its contacts and members, through the following
Activities that it proposes.
Proposed Activities of NCDHR:
1.Public Meeting-Ones Number: Casteism, Racism, Exclusion and other
forms of Discrimination has been identified as one of the Foci for this World Conference.
Dalits Sector was capable enough of getting a slot for holding a Public meeting which
would be attended by around 25,000 people. Although this has been decided as the
officially organised event of WSF, the Dalit Sector and especially NCDHR has to take up
the major responsibility to identify the Speakers, mobilising the participants and to take
care of the logistics.
2. Conference- One Number: A Conference on Globalisation- Economic and
Social Security (for the Discriminated and Disadvantaged Groups) has to be organised
officially by WSF. Here NCDHR has to play a major role in organising this conference which
would be attended by 10,000 people.
3 Panel- One Number: NCDHR plans to organise a Panel Discussion on
Caste and Descent based Discrimination: Exclusion in Markets, Governance and Civil Society
with the collaboration of National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), India, Buraku
Liberation League (BLL), Japan, Federation of Dalit NGOs, Nepal, Dalit Groups of Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Inviting participants also from Nigeria and Senegal and
US. This would be attended by 4000 persons.
4. Studies-6 Numbers: NCDHR plans to undertake intense studies in not
less than 10 states on the livelihood rights of Dalits viz Land, Labour, Water, Education,
Employment, Housing and Health under the broad 10 themes of WSF with the association of
several of its constituents in various states.
5. Seminars and workshops-4 Numbers: Based on the studies undertaken in
the states with the help of various dalit constituents, NCDHR plans to organise 4 seminars
in the conference. This would be used as a base document to hold the Government
"accountable" in future when NCDHR undertakes the monitoring and intervention on
the Livelihood rights of dalits.
6. Photo Exhibition and Documentary film shows: Documentary will be
screened on the issues like child labour, bonded labour, migration, livelihood rights
violation, caste based violence, Jogini system (Ritualistic Temple prostitution) etc.
These issues will also be presented through photo exhibitions.
7. Cultural Events: Cultural activity will be one of the major
activities in WSF. Cultural shows will be organised on different Dalit issues by Dalit
cultural groups of India and outside.
8. Mobilisation Rally: This is the major event of NCDHR prior to the
conference. NCDHR decides to undertake 4 Rallies, dividing India into 4 Regions, covering
14 states. Each rally will touch all major cities and towns of these states within a spell
of 30 to 45 days. Each day the rallyists would cover 40-50 k.ms. and every night they
would organise a public meeting and perform a cultural program in the city or the town
that they stay for the night. This would be an occasion that NCDHR could establish contact
with various dalit groups all over these states and this contact would facilitate NCDHR to
under take its Monitoring and Advocacy Intervention in future on the Livelihood rights of
Dalits. The rally will carry pamphlets, posters, photos, Press clippings, besides our
cultural Drums and bands. This would be an occasion to expose the demerits of
Globalisation in General and how dalits are being marginalised in particular. Further,
this would be mainly used to contact and consolidate all dalit organisations in these
states to form a kind of a broader alliance beyond WSF to address the issues of Dalits.
Each Rally would be led by one of the leaders of NCDHR and a team of 25 persons would
constantly take part for all the 45 days and it would be joined by many in the course of
its moving. This event would certainly create a tremendous impact in the minds dalits and
in the involvement of various dalit organisations. All the four Rallies would culminate in
Mumabi on the inaugural day of the World
conference.
Expected Outcome and Monitoring Indicators:
i.Making visible of the issues advocated by Globalisation and its role
in pushing the Dalits in to the periphery.
ii.Internationalising the Issue of Caste and Untochabillity and its
various heinous forms of discriminations.
iii.Trying to understand the issue of other Discriminated and Excluded
communities across the world.
iv.Helping to forge an alliance with other marginalised sectors within
and outside India to undertake a common struggle against all oppressive and divisive
forces.
v.Evolving clear demands to be placed before the Government of India
and other National and International Forums who work for the protection and promotion of
Human Rights.
vi.To evolve clear strategy to take up the task of Monitoring and
Advocacy for the Livelihood Rights of Dalits and other marginalised sectors.
vii.To have solid study reports on the livelihood issues of Dalits
which could be used as base documents to approach GOI.
viii.To formulate methods to sensitize the Civil Society organisations
and other Social Movements to address the issue of Dalits.
ix.Learning to use the International Events to address the issues of
Dalits effectively and to win over the support of other organisations for the cause of
Dalits.
x.To strengthen and intensify the commitment of Dalit Activists to
expedite the Socio-Economic Liberation of Dalits and to form a Discrimination free
Society, where Equality, Justice and peace will Prevail.
