Apr. 1st-3rd, 2016: KISAN SWARAJ SAMMELAN, HYDERABAD

KISAN SWARAJ SAMMELAN

A Confluence of Farmer organizations and

Well-wishers of the Farming Community

 

Organized by:

Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA)

 

April 1-3, 2016: HYDERABAD

 

The 3rd Kisan Swaraj Sammelan comes at a time when the agrarian distress in India is continuing unabated, worsened by two consecutive years of drought in many states. There are mighty forces working to take away land, seed and government support systems from small farmers and pave the way for corporate-controlled, chemical, mechanized agriculture. At the same time, we see a greater resolve and alliance-building among various farm movements, pushing back on anti-farmer measures such as the Land Acquisition Ordinance, and stronger momentum for ecologically sustainable agriculture resisting the Green revolution paradigm and corporatization. Public pressure is building on the governments to address farmer suicides and the ecological and economic crisis in agriculture.

 

At such a time, the Sammelan is as an occasion for strengthening our understanding of the highly complex challenges before us, and for rejuvenating our common bonds so that even as we work independently on many fronts there is a synergy in thought and action. We invite into the Sammelan all the organizations and individuals who are part of the broad ASHA-Kisan Swaraj family, as well as friends and allies from like-minded organizations and alliances.

 

Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture or the ASHA-Kisan Swaraj network is a national platform created in 2010 through the nationwide 71-day Kisan Swaraj Yatra, drawing attention to the issues of Food, Farmers, Freedom. ASHA-Kisan Swaraj draws strength from associated farmers’ organizations, consumer groups, women’s organizations, environmental organizations, individual citizens and experts on related subjects, who are committed to the cause of sustainable and viable farm livelihoods in rural India. We believe in a 4-pillared Kisan Swaraj Neeti that provides a framework for a forward-looking agricultural vision and policy for India, and call on governments to adopt the same. The four pillars of Kisan Swaraj are (1) income security for all farm households which guarantees minimum living incomes for dignified living; (2) environmental sustainability of agriculture so that resource conservation and sustainable use is ensured for sustainable farm livelihoods; (3) people’s control over agricultural resources like land, water, forest and seed; and (4) access to safe, healthy, nutritious and sufficient food for all.

 

Keeping with the inclusive and broad-based approach, the Kisan Swaraj Sammelans are organized not only as national conventions of the Kisan Swaraj network for mutual learning, sharing and collective planning, but also as occasions to reach out to various networks, alliances and people’s movements to extend solidarity and draw from their expertise and experience. We hope that the Sammelan will help strengthen the work of everyone involved. The Sammelan will be hosted by Rythu Swarajya Vedika.

 

Objectives of the Sammelan

 

1. Exchange of knowledge, perspectives and information about various policy developments impacting farmers, through interactions with chosen resource persons for each theme;
2. Interaction among various members of ASHA and re-energizing; sharing information about work;
3. Building solidarity with like-minded networks and various campaigns that ASHA has been involved in, Learning from each other’s experiences, struggles and strategies; plan future action wherever possible;
4. Generating public awareness through a Seed Festival, Exhibition, and panel discussions organized during the Convention.

 

Themes

 

The Sammelan will focus on Ecological Agriculture; Free Trade and Agricultural Livelihoods; Women Farmers’ Rights; Hazardous Agri-Technologies like Pesticides, Fertilisers and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs); Seed Sovereignty & Diversity; Land Rights; Economic Policies impacting Indian agriculture; Adivasi Agriculture, Climate Change, consumer support/empowerment etc. The sessions would mainly centre on current policies, laws and programs, what the alternative policy discourse should be, ongoing work on these issues and advocacy agendas for future work. This may include discussions on grassroots level alternatives which need to be replicated.

 

Format

The Sammelan will have plenaries and parallel sessions to meet its objectives, in addition to a BioDiverstiy Festival, Exhibition on relevant themes, Public Lectures and cultural programmes. The parallel sessions will be the main activity of the Convention, so that discussions are interactive and participatory. Resource persons will be drawn from various like-minded organizations and platforms.

 

Where?

 

The Sammelan will be held at PGRR Centre for Distance Education, Osmania University, Hyderabad.  

 

How to Participate?

 

Participation is only through prior registration, through fully filled-out convention registration forms and on a first-come, first-served basis given that there are a fixed number of slots for participation in the Convention. This will be subject to some adjustment to ensure diversity of participation from different states and from all quarters. If you wish to participate, fill out the attached Registration Form, and send the fully filled form to Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (address below), or as an electronic version to asha.kisanswaraj@yahoo.in.

 

A registration fee of Rs.750/- is requested as contribution from each participant, to cover costs related to simple, shared dormitory-style accommodation and organic food on all 3 days. Participation of women is encouraged with a reduced registration fee of Rs. 500/-. NGO representatives and professionals are requested to contribute upto Rs. 1000/- per person if possible. Please mention date and time of arrival and departure. If you plan to stay for more than 3 days of Convention, the additional cost will have to be borne by you. Contributions can be made (along with the filled registration forms) in the name of Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, as Demand Draft or Crossed Cheque and such contribution has to be from Indian fund sources. To use bank transfer facility and electronic registration forms, please e-mail us separately (asha.kisanswaraj@yahoo.co.in) for account details. Online registration facility, through online payment, is available on this link. Here, you will be requested to pay the requisite amount first, followed by registration of participants’ details. Registration closes on March 7th 2016.

 

April 1-3, 2016: HYDERABAD

 

Registration Form

 

1. Full Name:
2. Male/Female/Other:
3. Full Address:

 

 

1. State:
2. Phone No:
3. E-mail ID:
4. Website, if any:
5. Category (tick or circle as appropriate):  (a) Farmer (b)Farmers’ Organisation Representative (c) NGO Representative (d) Activist (e) Student (f) Researcher (g) Media (h) Others (Specify)
6. Organisational Affiliation, if any (mention full name):
7. Describe your Work with Farmers, if any:

 

1. Please Specify Interest to Participate in Exhibition/Cultural Programmes /Any Specific Theme of the Convention:

 

1. Any Special Request (like childcare facility) for the Duration of Convention**:

 

1. Expected Arrival Date and Time:*

 

1. Expected Departure Date and Time:*

 

1. Details of Registration Fee Paid:

 

 

1. If you are registering several additional participants through this registration form as the team leader, fill out the following additional information:

Sl. No.	Full Name of the Participant	Female/  Male/ Other	Category  (Mention (a) to (h) from 8. Above)	Arrival Date & Time	Departure Date & Time	Phone Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

 

* If possible, please specify train details also in this Registration Form, or send the same to us later at: asha.kisanswaraj@yahoo.in

* Registration fee will cover 3 days of stay at Hyderabad. If you plan to stay for more days, the additional cost will have to be borne by you.

** Organisers promise to try their best to provide for these needs, but cannot guarantee the same.

Registration Fees: All participants are requested to contribute at least Rs. 750/- as basic registration fees that will go to meet the costs of simple accommodation and organic food. Women delegates’ participation is being encouraged with a registration fees of only Rs. 500/- for such delegates. Additionally, NGO representatives and others are requested to contribute up to Rs. 1000/- per person. PLEASE MENTION ASSOCIATED PAYMENT DETAILS OF REGISTRATION FEES WITH EACH APPLICATION FORM.

Please send fully filled forms to:

Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, 12-13-445, Street No. 1, Tarnaka, Secunderabad 500017

E-mail soft copies to: asha.kisanswaraj@yahoo.in