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 3rdKisan 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 resolveand 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, theSammelanis 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 networkis 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 Neetithat 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 RythuSwarajyaVedika.
Objectives of the Sammelan
- Exchange of knowledge, perspectives and information about various policy developments impacting farmers, through interactions with chosen resource persons for each theme;
- Interaction among various members of ASHA and re-energizing;sharing information about work;
- 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;
- Generating publicawareness through a Seed Festival, Exhibition, and panel discussions organized during the Convention.
Themes
The Sammelanwill 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 centreon 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 Sammelanwill 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 Sammelanwill be held atPGRR 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 filled form to Centre for Sustainable Agriculture(address below), or email it to .
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 uptoRs. 1000/- per person if possible. Please mention date and time of arrival and departure. If you plan to stay for morethan 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 () for account details.If we are able to provide online registration facility, details will be provided at
Registration closes on March 7th 2016.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, 12-13-445, Street No. 1, Tarnaka, Secunderabad 500017.
Website: Email:
Kavitha Kuruganti:8880067772; Ramanjaneyulu:9000699702; Kiran Vissa:9701705743; Ashalatha:9490119242;