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Re: response to: humanist movement - empowering the people through
self
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Please help make the Manifesto better, or accept it, and propagate it!
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Dear Lizzie Corke
I read your posting with interest. I am a natural resource and environmental
economist, part of a group of professionals working with different state
governments, through multi-lateral and bi-lateral funding agencies, which
has been grappling with this issue for some time now. It is clear even to
state governments that individual market-based strategies are of limited use
to those who are currently disempowered poor - especially women, and the
disabled - and that group based strategies are needed. That community-based
decision making on wider issues like natural resource management or social
and physical infrastructure management is necessary is also evident - the
problem is determining how exactly this is to be done. For instance, if
community rules have to be set for groundwater management, what exactly does
this mean. If producer groups have to link up to a wider market, should they
co-opt existing commission agents or set up parallel structures (to increase
their profit margins)? etc. The potential threat from WTO-released products
is also very real.
If you have any experience or ideas, please do point me to the right
sources. I would also like to know some more about your organisation.
Regards
Viju
------------------------
Dr. A. J. James
Environmental & Natural Resource Economist
B 9 FF NDSE 2, New Delhi 110 049, INDIA
Telephones: (011) 626 2331, 626 2487
Voicemail: (011) 939 7531
Fax: (011) 625 8006
----- Original Message -----
From: Elizabeth Corke <elac@ecorke.fsnet.co.uk>
To: <debate@indiapolicy.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 11:27 PM
Subject: response to: humanist movement - empowering the people through self
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Please help make the Manifesto better, or accept it, and propagate it!
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Dear Sudhir Gandotra.
>
> The political situation in India, as you correctly point out, poses a
> central problem to the empowering of individuals and groups. Thus action
> for change must come ground up through the formalization of effective
> strategies that can function in a positive way within a given mechanism;
> which, hopefully, will eventually lead to a restructuring of political,
> economic and social systems. The situation as it stands however, is futher
> compounded by the desire for further integration into the global
capitalist
> economy. Indeed, such a system, fundamentally based on inequality -
through
> the principles of individualism and competetive markets, cannot be seen to
> provide the resolve it claims to offer in terms of equality, rights,etc as
> the western experience has proved. What is crucial therefore is that ways
> are sought that will enable the people of India to empower themselves
> through the western system whilst putting in place effective strategies
> that will avoid further exploitation at the hands of western governments
> and transnational companies. It is my belief that this can be achieved
> ground up, by establishing an equal partnership in the world of trade -
> underpinned by a strong ethical policy that seeks to empower rather than
> exploit. A partnership that will enable villagers to become pro active in
> developing their whole communities, rather than individuals - who often
> leave behind collective notions of social responsibility as the race for
> capitalist gain unfolds.
>
> My colleagues and I are currently building the foundations for such a
> partnership, and seek to launch a holistic business enterprise this autumn
> based on this principle.We are all professionals in either education,
> academia or human rights in India and the UK, and also have knowledge of
> business strategy and the various markets. As a group, we have a strong
> committment to the philosophy that will underpin the enterprise, which is
> reflected in the primary aims . The aim is two fold : 1.to penetrate
> western markets, through the use of modern technology and a solid
marketing
> strategy, for the sale of Indian goods - in a way that will enable profits
> to be maximised. 2.to redistribute profit to the villages that produce
> goods, through an india based charity that will be organised solely for
the
> purpose of this enterprise. The charity will encourage active involvement
> from the villages in terms of how the money can be best spent to empower
> the whole community: i.e the creation of medical, educational, social
> provisions; and will thus also encourage the voices of women to be heard
as
> they will be significant contributors to the projects success. It is hoped
> that through this mechanism, the project will be able to utilise the
global
> economy in a positive form - through a policy of empowerment.
> Although the negative tendencies of capitalist forces at work in the west
> are dominant, there is a growing market that would actively support such a
> project - which, in turn, will raise an awareness of how alternative
> strategies can be put in place effectively - thus exposing ever more the
> 'needless' unscrupulous tactics that dominate the trade markets.
> Although the project is in its birth stages we are interested in making
> contact with various organisations that are seeking to empower various
> social groups through a principle of self help, who may be interested in
> supporting our endeavour. This may take the form of a written endorsement
> to be published on the web site, advice on motivating social groups
towards
> a mechanism of self help, or building contacts with villages who may
> benefit from involvement, and other organisations for the purpose of
> raising awareness.
> If you would like more information please do not hesitate to contact us.
> Two members of the team are returning to Delhi in the summer but we are
> currently all UK based.
> Many regards
>
> Lizzie Corke.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> This is the National Debate on System Reform. debate@indiapolicy.org
> Rules, Procedures, Archives: ../debate/
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>
>
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This is the National Debate on System Reform. debate@indiapolicy.org
Rules, Procedures, Archives: ../debate/
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