Biju Monthly Report for the month of April 10

For the month of April 2010

1. On my arrival back after three months visit in Europe i had a meeting with Rajaji at CESCI on the 5th of April 2010. In this meeting I was given responsibility of Ekta Parishad South India coordination along with CESCI Centre coordinator work. We have drafted a EP south Indian project perspective for the year 2010-11. (a copy of the same is available). In-order to work as a South Indian coordinator, it is important to get the ekta parishad national coordination support, for that a letter was forwarded to the national convener to seek his support and help.

2. It was decided to change CESCI India news letter as Ekta Parishad South India News letter, to begin the process of South Indian EP coordination work. An editorial was drafted by Rajaji and Biju will collect and include other news items of South India and will send it out the friends by electronically by the end of April.

3. Minutes of CESCI committee meeting (5th April 2010) was prepared with some important decisions. (copy is available at office)

4. Biju will complete his Europe visit report by the end of April and will forward to the national convener and Rajaji for further follow up. (Report forwarded- so far no response from any one except Jill madam)

5. In-order to support JS 2012 action CESCI can offer a carnival workshop in November 2010 instead of theatre festival. We can invite 100 activists and train them to make a Carnival before the JS action on the route Gwalior to Delhi and during the JS action. Raja will develop a concept and plan in consultation with the resource persons. We need a confirmation from the EP national team to organise such a carnival workshop at MGSA resource centre in November 2010.

6. On 10th April I had a meeting with Mr. Udayan and Mr. Suresh Babu at KGNS office. They were just back from the tsunami filed visit and have a impression that the project should continue as a separate federation or a small organisation by empowering the team. EP has done substantial work in the field of the tsunami area and it is important to continue the work by empowering the team and it is also not easy to withdraw from that villages. KGNS will continue its work in the direction of networking with its nine partner organisations, adivasi and land agenda, tsunami rehabilitation, women empowerment, youth mobilization and anti liquor campaign in Kerala. They have money available for three months for some limited activities and need support to continue the work. Jill madams have formulated some five proposals and are waiting for its response from the donor agencies.

7. A group of 20 Teachers from SAWRD (a partner organisation of KGNS) wanted to participate a Nai Talim training program at CESCI Madurai. IGINP can invite these teachers to participate in their regular non-violence and peace programs. (discussed with Dr. JP ji and decided to organise the training during 14,15,16 May at CESCI).

8. Visited CESCI organics on 14-15 of April along with Dr.Razak (Algerian Vetinary doctor) to understand its progress. The oil unit is fully functioning now and it need further investments to continue the work. Razak has prepared a small report with some photographs and it can be forwarded to Solidarity along with account report.

9. Razak has visited CESCI villages along with Lalitha and found out that the possibility to integrate animal husbandry as a income generation activity for the village community. He has developed a small proposal in this direction to benefit 20 farmers from the beginning. (copy of the proposal is available at CESCI office)

10. On 16th April, i had a meeting with Mr.Raja of ARUDECS. He is interested to work for EP by working among the paliya tribals. Throgh this process he wants to bring about 2000 people to JS 2012 action. He need some scholarship and program support. He will get Rs 3,000/- per month from April onwards to this task. He is in a process of developing a program proposal in this direction. There will be a separate committee for working on Adivasi agenda and will focus JS 2012 mobilization and participation.

11. Participated KGNS board meeting on 28th and 29th to understand the program direction of EP kerala. KGNS will move in a direction in to women leadership empowerment with its network partners and federation groups with a perspective on socio-economic development. The newly elected executive committee will have 19 members (16 network members + 3 individuals).

12. On the 29th afternoon we had a EP Kerala workers meeting along with Jill madam. (Suresh, Vijayan, Mhalaxmi, Anu Srija, Vasu waynad, Biju, Jill madam).

a. Mahalaxmi will continue her work among the tsunami project area and will try to mobilze people to participate JS 2012 action. She is planning to bring about 200 people to Delhi in this direction. She need support in terms of programs and finance. Udayan and Suresh babu will visit her project area and will help her to develop a program plan.

b. Srija is planning to bring about 500 people to JS 2012 from EP kerala Mahila manch working areas. She also needs program and financial support. Srija will organise a MM leaders meeting and will develop a plan of action for the year 2010-11 and will forward to the EP MM national office and Jill madam.