Responses To Action Aid Article
06 October, 2010
On October 3, we published an article By Vibhed Dhurvey tiltled "Inside Story Of A Funding God: A Case Study". The article contained several allegations agains Action Aid India, which was found to be untrue. So we promptly removed the article. We regret publishing the said article and sincerely apologize for the untruth that contained in the article.
Editor
Here are some responses we recieved on the article
Response - I
By Sarika Sinha
I place below the following facts and some questions for the perusal of Mr Dhurvey (it seems there’s a bunch of writers though). Since I am not able to locate his id on the net, I trust you’ll pass it on to him.
I want to begin by responding only with facts though his obsession with ActionAid seems dangerous! I hope it does not lead to psychopathic behavior at some point in time!
Para 2- conclusion that AA is the world’s biggest network! I find it surprising that the author has reached a conclusion we never did! I was a part of the conclave and don’t remember any poster of this kind! (perhaps Mr Dhruvey might have been kind enough to preserve it)
Para 3- about us funding the right to food campaign- I don’t think AA ever claimed that it funding the campaign! I am sure activists who work closely with the campaign would be extremely perturbed to hear this! So this is another of the author’s biased conclusions! However, I would like to draw your attention to the Hungerfree campaign which looks into corporate abuse and the question of women and land rights! Our national campaign looks into entitlements and social security schemes as focus. Do you see any difference? Do you also realize that because of a variety of issues, common campaigns across the world would be based on CMP. The author has perhaps decided to dictate what campaign ActionAid should run! And obviously feels very threatened by Hungerfree campaign which is not even a word we ever used in India!
In the same para, the author(s) talk about the inability of partners to raise the issue of malnutrition. In the NCPCR hearing that happened on 31 july-1st August,’10, all the partners (funded or not since that seems to be another obsession) shared the name, banner and platform! Its surprising that the same partner’s good work was being published by others in their own name and the authors did not have time to look into it!
Para 4- I would seek for the time and place where we (AA) has made claims about non existence of platforms! It is hilarious that what the author claims as our forum, even the name was never given by us! And please explain what is the ‘cunningness’ behind getting people to come together as a political block (let’s accept, though it is not true, that we did it for our sake!)?
Para 5- The author is self contradictory in his explanation that on one side we are under huge pressure to spend money and on the other side, he claims that we were coerced to get into RBA since we had no money! So what is the truth? And our public actions are certainly not a secret! Perhaps had the author bothered to talk to a few members from the community, he would have realized it himself. There are three booklets available and I could personally hand over these to him with copies of policy level changes which have come due to our interventions as well as minutes of follow up!
Para 6- hungry to hold flags? Had we been that, we would have named Jan Pahel and managed it differently! I would also seek to know the names of these 10 banners on women’s rights please! It would be very educating for us! It is also strange that an organization which got registered (WRRC) did not have a single member of ActionAid in the board! So much for our interference! And it is denigrating to call garima abhiyan and many other alliances as AA platforms! It is surprising that the author does exactly what he cautions us not to do! Wonder who’s digressing from democratic values!
Para 7 – the author has decided to completely take over the micro management of AA here! So he suggests we should not even get into policy anlaysis! I would like to bring to his notice that there are many organizations who believe that the communities should be able to do a critique of the policies and use it to their benefit!
Para 8- Here the author gives the surnames of people leading the campaign…Let me add to this for his clarity. There’s a Saket,Shikh, Mewada, Khadse, Adivasi, Gond and many others who you have missed out! All these all tribals and dalits (some also Muslims). There are also many names which seem to be a figment of your imagination and do not exist in Jan Pahel!
I would also demand to know when have we abused a partner/project staff? The recent case of a non-performing, sexually abusive man who was asked to leave has perhaps been taken. I would want to know about the values of the author!
Para 9: In the next para, the author contradicts himself by claiming that we control people’s movements. Isn’t it very simplistic to imagine that we can control people’s movement? And in the same breath, he says that NGO’s are a part of parallel networks (but he apparently only has problems with Jan Pahel!)
Para 10: Here some erroneous details are given. We did not register child rights center nor do we have any plans of doing so (just in case if you want to quote it in the future!). Moreover, it is very simplistic to imagine that setting up an institution is the best way possible to get public attention! Had this been the case, all organizations would have done so! Isnt’ it? So my friend, CRRC or WRRC does not get you public visibility!
Para 11- Here I would like to challenge the author to come and look into our work and see if we actually support the neo liberal agenda! (self contradictory!) at one place, he says we encourage discussions on policies that put forward the agenda and then this statement. It would be good to make up one’s mind for once and for all!
Para 12- About us not being parts other platforms! Eg 1- In Oct, we supported the release of NBA activists. We have been mentioned in their press release (and nothing about AA). In Feb 2010, we were a part of the chutka Parmanoo SAngharsh SAmiti (anti nuclear power plant agitation) under their banner! In June 2010, we came together in support of Bhopal gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathana…I can actually send in a report of the platforms where we go nameless!
In the same para, the author talks about how we have usurped a 20 year funding organization bashing leftist ideologue! He must understand that something about our work must have moved him deeply to stand in solidarity! Not everyone can be sold off and not everyone thrives on maligining and breaking! Some people believe in building things as well…
And yes, do tell us the national reports where the sangathana are mentioned (since you’re a keen reader of AA’s work).
For your info, there does not exist an advisory board of Jan Pahel!
Para 13- This is self contradictory again! Our work with small grassroots CBO’s to support them time and again should not be stopped under the FC legality!
Para 14- Since sexual harassment is a much focused topic, I would look forward to the testifiers of this. I would also suggest people to refrain from moral policing.
Para 15- I would urge the author to prove the spy/scout! And do it with facts! We would, in our place, prove why we do not tolerate money swindling senior leaders!
Para 16- Lastly, I would urge the author to refrain from the simplistic moral policing again! People have a right to choose and many have also gone away. We welcome it! Let’s not try giving it a colour!
Response II
By Sachin Kumar Jain
I am Sachin Kumar Jain and working with Right to Food Campaign at national and state level in Madhya Pradesh since its inception.
Since I represent Right to Food Campaign in Madhya Pradesh, I would like make a few basic points clear to you. Actionaid as an resource organisation supports number of non-governmental and advocacy organisations in Madhya Pradesh with a rights based perspective. And it had made sincere efforts for building capacities on Hunger, Poverty and Right to Food of these grassroot organisations fighting for rights of the most marginalized, especially Dalits, Tribals, Women, Children and Disabled with a mandate to build crosscutting linkages. I have been associated with Actionaid for last 10 years on the issue of Right to Food. Actionaid surly run an right to food initiative in the state to support a coordinated action on right to food but didn't try to shrink the space for any other organisation or network. To be more clear today not only Actionaid's network is putting strength in the campaign's actions, but other networks are also holding the same space with no strings attached to it. In last 10 years whenever state or regional consultations on right to food are organised, always we registered the participation and involvement of more then 8 networks-alliances and 70 individual organistaions, that happened just because of inclusive approach of Right to Food Campaign.
Grassroot organisations might have been supported by actionaid, but campaign never provided structural control, at any level, to actionaid or any other agency. I would like to mention here that Right to Food Campaign in Madhya Pradesh is one of the strongest and active segment of the national body, and that could happened just because it has grown out of any control and gave space to all arguments and point of views.
I am surprised to see the terrible way analysis presented in the article and we discard all allegations mentioned in it.
Sachin Kumar Jain
www.sachinwriteson.blogspot.com
www.mediaforrights.org
Response III
By Ashif , Jan Sahas / Garima Abhiyan
My name is Ashif and I am associated with an organisation named Jan
Sahas which is working on the rights and empowerment of Dalit
community in Madhya Pradesh since past 10 years. Some nine years back
Garima Abhiyan was initiated together by some voluntary organisations
from Bhaunrasa village in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh to
eliminate the practice of manual scavenging. Jan Sahas is coordinating
Garima Abhiyan since past 9 years in Madhya Pradesh and other states.
I would like to assert that Garima Abhiyan is an independent social
movement to eradicate the inhuman practice of manual scavenging and
more than 30 Community Based Organisations and Voluntary Organisations
from Madhya Pradesh and outside are associated with the movement.
I read this article and would like to say that the contents of the
article are far from facts and truth. There is a mention of Garima
Abhiyan also in the article regarding which I would like to clarify on
behalf of Garima Abhiyan that it is an independent social movement of
marginalized dalit community and civil society organisations to
eradicate the caste based inhuman practice of manual scavenging
signifying slavery.
Not to forget that Action Aid is providing important contribution and
support to the movement but it is along with many other national and
international organisations. To say about this important social
movement that it is a platform of Action Aid would be injustice to the
individuals, institutions and organisations who have been able to
liberate thousands of Dalit women from this inhuman practice. There is
absolutely no second opinion on the fact that organisations like
ActionAid have a very important contribution with respect to rights
based work in this country and not in suppressing social movements as
the article mentions. I would sincerely request and invite Sri. Vibhed
Dhurve to come and meet those about whom he has written baseless and
factless things.
Thanks,
Ashif
Jan Sahas / Garima Abhiyan
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Email – [email protected] , [email protected]
Website – www.jansahasindia.org , www.mailamukti.org
