JESA / SAPI : Feature Reports

Reports

Revisiting Eraiyur by the same team on 4th Sept. 2008
Report of Eraiyur visit by the 3 member team in April 7th on the Caste violence
Report of Jesuit Lawyers meeting, 15-17, Aug. 2008, ISI, Delhi
International Indigenous Peoples' Day Rally Report, Aug. 9, 2008 at Surat, Gujarat
Kerala JESA Team Meet: July 19-20, 2008 at Calicut.
Training of Coworkers of Jesuit Social Centres of Madurai Province, July 23-24, IDEAS, Madurai
Patna Social Action Team Meet July 1-4, 2008 at Patna
Central Zone Bagaicha Team Meeting July 4-5, 2008 at Bagaicha, Ranchi
Research Methodology workshop, April 21-28, 2008, ISI, New Delhi
Report of the West Zone meeting held at Seva Niketan, Feb. 12-13, 2008
Workshop on 'Displacement and Migration: In Search of Identity', Nov. 20-22, 2007, ISI, New Delhi
Report of the First West Zone meeting held in Vinayalaya, Bombay, 27th Aug. 2007

Workshop on Displacement and Migration: In search of Alternatives

20-22 Nov. 2007, ISI, New Delhi

Ms. Medha Patkar inaugurating the Workshop SAPI organized a workshop on Displacement and Migration: In Search of Alternatives at ISI, New Delhi from 20-22 Nov. 2007. One hundred and twenty delegates representing various states in India and Sri Lanka participated in the workshop.

Ms. Medha Patkar, a well known human rights activitst inaugurated the workshop. Professors, directors of research and advocacy centres, documentary film makers, leaders of people’s movements, stepped onto the dais and spoke in Hindi, English, Tamil, Marathi and so many other languages.

SAPI Zonal Workshop on Displacement and Migration, Bagaicha, Ranchi, 10-12 March 2008

Following the national workshop, a similar workshop on the same theme was also organized at Bagaicha from 10-12 March, 2008. Around 110 participants from Jharkhand and Chattisgarh participated in it. The participants were mainly from the project affected areas all over these 2 states. The 3-day workshop brought together many of the people's movement based groups and struggling poor.

Campaign against SEZs in Goa

People of Goa protesting against SEZs SAPI delegates, under the initiation of Fr. Simon Fernandes SJ and many other NGOs like, Goa Bachao Abhiyan, Jagrut Goem and Council for Social Justice and Peace came together to form a SEZ Virodhi Manch to oppose the many SEZs that were coming up in the state of Goa. The peoples' movement gained momentum all over the state with the support of church based groups, NGOs, intellectuals and concerned citizens of Goa.

A massive rally was organized by SEZ Virodhi Manch on 14th Dec. 2007, where the SAPI coordinator too participated, and in a week's time the state government had to withdraw the SEZs for the time being, though the battle is not won yet.

The SAPI members spearheaded the movement and are still active in trying to keep the momentum going before the pro-SEZ group does not buy up the people.

Campaign against Esselworld SEZ in Gorai-Uttan near Bombay

Protest against SEZ in Gorai SAPI/JESA delegates, under the leadership of Sr. Christel Tuscano SRA, joined the movement of people 'Dharavi Bet Bachao Samiti' in oppossing the EsselWorld taking over the Gorai sea coast where the fisherfolk and the ordinary people live.

The people have been protesting against it for a few months now. During the protest Meet that was held on 15th Dec. 2007, around 10,000 people gathered to oppose any move to take away the land from people. SAPI Coordinator too joined in this protest along with many other SAPI delegates.

Again on March 1, 2008 again a massive protest was held. Here again the movement is gaining momentum and the EsselWorld seems to say that they are withdrawing the acquisition of land.