SAPI and Social Forums
World Social Forum IV, Nairobi 2007
Six of the SAPI delegates also took part in the Ignatian Family Encounter preceeding the WSF.
Karachi Social Forum, 2006
Though an effort was made for a big representation of the SAPI delegates in Karachi in March 2006 due to the unsettled political issues between Pakistan and India the visas were issued just three days before the programme. Some who had applied also could not get their visas. Due to these problems a small delegation of 5 persons 2 from India and 3 from Sri Lanka participated.
India Social Forum, New Delhi, Nov 2006
India Social Forum (ISF) was the third event organized by WSF-India after ASF - Hyderabad, 2003 and WSF – Mumbai, 2004. Around 1200 SAPI delegates participated in this event, nearly 50% being women. The Inaugural March that began from Indian Social Institute after the inauguration set the tone for the dynamic participation of the delegates. The delegates of SAPI organized over 8 workshops and seminars, 10 dances and 11 street plays. While the seminars and workshops brought out the concerns of the marginalized in South Asia particularly of Dalits, Adivasis, women and elected panchayat leaders, traded women etc., the dances brought out the cultural ethos. Siddhis, Lamanis, Gowlis from Karnataka; Hos, Oraons, Santals, Kharias from Central India; Bihus from North-East; Dalit youth from Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh; Dalit activists from Tamilnadu, Andhra, Bihar and UP contributed their share for overall visibility of SAPI. The delegates of SAPI occupied almost one-third the cultural stage of the ISF every day. Sunitaben from Gujarat summed up the feeling of the delegates: “I am happy to meet so many people who are also struggling against injustices because it gives us a feeling that we are not alone in this struggle.”
World Social Forum V, Porto Alegre, Brazil 2005
Thirty one delegates from India and Sri Lanka participated in the Fifth World Social Forum held at Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2005. Before the WSF the delegates also visited Manaus and participated in the Pan-Amazon Social Forum. This experience was great eye opener to the delegates directly experiencing the plight of the indigenous people of Amazon. Useful contacts were made with number of people’s movements, particularly with CIMI in Manaus. Later SAPI’s participation in WSF was conspicuous by the various open space activities, press conferences and various interviews and workshops. As the Jesuit delegates commented: SAPI group had come with a purpose and at every level they bring out the concerns of the marginalized in South Asia. Later a Video documentary titled: A Movement in the Making was prepared based on the participation of SAPI in WSF which is widely screened in villages to share the experiences of the smaller group to all the members of SAPI. Many articles were written by the delegates reflecting on the process of World Social Forum. The Sri Lankan delegates who were basically from the plantation sector evolved the concept of World TEA Day in WSF jointly with other organization involved in labour issues.
World Social Forum IV, Mumbai 2004
As a follow up of Mumbai WSF, the SAPI delegates have come together to discuss various important issues at the National level particularly to intervene and contribute at the governance and policy making levels. Some of them are enumerated under the head background information in the proposal.
Asia Social Forum, Hyderabad 2003:
Over 120 delegates from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal participated in the Asia Social Forum and organised two workshops: Globalisation and Impact on Livelihood Rights of Dalits and Tribals and Dalits in search of Identity. In both the programmes over 200 delegates participated and these were well attended seminars. We also had the privilege of linking issues of the marginalised form India, Sri Lanka and Nepal as we had experts participating from these countries.
