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Souparna Lahiri, a Saathi since April 2006, focuses on rights of weaker communities, climate justice, and building national movements, particularly working on Forest Rights Act in Northeast India. Through documentaries and initiatives, he aims to address environmental issues and promote community empowerment.
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Souparna Lahiri’s Saathiship Update for 2010 Nov 21, 2010
Overview (2006 to 2010) • Has been a Saathi since April 2006 • Concerned with the rights of the weaker communities • Working with movements – local, national & international & bringing them together
…contd. • Building new national fronts • Working in remote parts of Northeast • Dissecting & understanding of national & international policies (Climate Change)
…contd. • Working against disproportionate leverage of IFIs (World Bank, IMF etc.) • Documentation thru writing & films (1 book & 3 documentaries so far)
SL’s Work 1st Half of 2010 • Movement building around Forest Rights Act through NFFPFW • Northeast Focus on Arunachal & Sikkim • Climate Justice: Natn’l & Intn’l • Alternatives to IFI (World Bank, IMF..)
Work on Forests Rights Act Working in Forest Villages Meeting with the community
…contd. Forest Rights Act • Ensure right to live in forest land for people living for generations • Collect and use minor forest produce • Communities living before Dec 13, 2005 • Rights are heritable but not alienable or transferable
…contd. SL’s work on Forest Rights • Visited forest villages in North Bengal, Jharkhand and Dibang valley in AP • Developing community rights and governance in context of Act in Duars region in North Bengal • Initiating interest in groups in AP to look into their rights & implementation of Act.
Documentary on Yazli, AP Town of Yazli
…contd. • Documentary Yazli released in Itanagar, meetings with good media coverage • Arunachal Citizens Rights has already distributed 1000 copies.
Work on Hydro Power Projects in Arunachal • Working to coordinate efforts of groups opposing dams in AP & Assam • Ensuring proper EIA, Public Hearing, Community Participation, using RTI etc.
SL’s Work 2nd Half of 2010 • Continuing to work on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD) • Tracking developments internationally on REDD as well as other climate change issues • Trying to create awareness about the implication of commoditization of forests for people living in these forests • Trying to facilitate a group of trade unions • To organize implementation of core labour standards in major infrastructure projects – power, transport, urban development • So far there is no such effort, and no union presence in such projects
SL Plans for the Future • Forest Issues • Climate Change • Doing in depth studies on Weaver, Leather Tanning, Tea industries • Arunachal Dam issues
AID’s Expectations from SL (2006) • Northeast and Environmental Justice Focus • Tribal Focus • Project Affected Communities Focus • Efforts to learn about policy intervention • Bridging intellectual/policy world & grassroots wisdom
VOTE • AID Boston votes to continue Souparna Lahiri’s Saathiship for 2011 and approves Rs. 2,00,000