Ekta Parishad
Encyclopedia
Ekta Parishad is an Indian
activist movement founded in 1991 by Rajagopal P. V. Ekta Parishad is a federation
of approximately 11,000 community based organizations and has thousands of individual members. It is currently operating in 11 states
.
in India working on land and forest rights at a national level. It has been built up over twenty years growing from the local, to the state, to the national and increasingly, to the international level. The purpose of ‘a-massing’ a larger and larger grouping of poor people into a movement, has been to put pressure directly on the central government
which is resisting reform and structural change. The structural change that Ekta Parishad is calling for is a complete land redistribution to enable the marginalized and downtrodden, to get out of poverty
. Land reform—essentially giving the poor access to small plots of land or title to the land they already farm—is a strategy that could bring 40% of the populace out of absolute poverty and reduce substantially the violence that is gripping Indian society. One of the successes of Ekta Parishad’s history is that people have found a social space in which to come together, and demand their rights. In normal society, it is not easy or possible for a marginalized person, like a single impoverished woman, or a bonded labourer
, to stand up for their rights (even though they have them). Ekta Parishad is guarding democratic space by bringing groups together in a mass organization. By doing this it is constantly reminding the government that, it is their role as given by the Independence Declaration and the Indian Constitution
, to provide that all people basic human rights
and freedoms.
level. Yet both are interlinked: people are struggling at the bottom level and their struggle is supported by a formation of institutions giving them the tools to fight for their rights
(using democracy
) at the top level, through dialogue
. Vice versa, there are supporters dialoguing at the top level to give space for political action or struggle at the bottom level.
The grassroots struggle is centred on the struggle for land rights
. Approximately 70% of India’s population depends on access to land and its natural resources for their livelihood. Without any legal claim to these lands, thousands of people are forced to migrate to urban centers everyday where they are left with no choice but to become manual laborers without rights or financial and life security. Thousands of people in India unite to free themselves from the oppressive hold that the land policies of this country have over their lives.
Ekta Parishad thus pressures the top and the bottom of the Indian political and administrative system, which is mainly blocked due to corruption
. The latter engenders an inefficient distribution of information and inequitable distribution at the grassroots levels. The people at the bottom level don't receive what they need to live in a decent way and are powerless. Ekta Parishad helps the people by empowering them in order to defend their rights and provides a platform for people to share their experiences and ideas with the confidence that their voices will be heard.
at Seva Gram in Wardha
. In the early 70s he worked in the violence-ridden area of Chambal
(Madhya Pradesh
) helping to rehabilitate dacoits. In the years that followed, Rajagopal travelled to several tribal areas and developed an understanding of plight and needs of India's tribal people
. Their cause became part of his lifetime mission. After setting up a number of training organizations across Madhya Pradesh
, Bihar
and Orissa
, the subsequent mobilization led to the consolidation of a people's organization, namely, Ekta Parishad in 1991. This organization is focused on people's control over livelihood
resources in an environment where land is being grabbed, and where forest rights are not being implemented. This is making the Gandhian vision of the advancement of self-reliant communities and local governance, more challenging.
After consolidating a membership of 200,000 people (majority women) across six states, Rajagopal began using the Gandhian technique of foot-march, padayatra
to galvanize greater support among the poor. With a track record of 10 state level foot-marches, he led a national march to Delhi in October 2007 called Janadesh 2007
. 25,000 people marched 340 kilometers from Gwalior to Delhi and compelled the Government to take action on land reforms and forest rights.
With the continued and accelerated industrialization in the country, the need to organize people for maintaining a democratic governance
has become a main activity of Ekta Parishad. The plan is to have another march on Delhi, Jansatyagraha 2012 which will involve 100,000 persons. The planning and carrying-out of the padayatra
or footmarch will be done by 6,000 leaders across 25 states.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
activist movement founded in 1991 by Rajagopal P. V. Ekta Parishad is a federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
of approximately 11,000 community based organizations and has thousands of individual members. It is currently operating in 11 states
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
.
Advocacy for Land and Livelihood Rights
Ekta Parishad is the only non-violent social movementSocial movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....
in India working on land and forest rights at a national level. It has been built up over twenty years growing from the local, to the state, to the national and increasingly, to the international level. The purpose of ‘a-massing’ a larger and larger grouping of poor people into a movement, has been to put pressure directly on the central government
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
which is resisting reform and structural change. The structural change that Ekta Parishad is calling for is a complete land redistribution to enable the marginalized and downtrodden, to get out of poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
. Land reform—essentially giving the poor access to small plots of land or title to the land they already farm—is a strategy that could bring 40% of the populace out of absolute poverty and reduce substantially the violence that is gripping Indian society. One of the successes of Ekta Parishad’s history is that people have found a social space in which to come together, and demand their rights. In normal society, it is not easy or possible for a marginalized person, like a single impoverished woman, or a bonded labourer
Debt bondage
Debt bondage is when a person pledges him or herself against a loan. In debt bondage, the services required to repay the debt may be undefined, and the services' duration may be undefined...
, to stand up for their rights (even though they have them). Ekta Parishad is guarding democratic space by bringing groups together in a mass organization. By doing this it is constantly reminding the government that, it is their role as given by the Independence Declaration and the Indian Constitution
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
, to provide that all people basic human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and freedoms.
The Gandhian, Nonviolent strategy of Ekta Parishad
The two main activities of Ekta Parishad: dialoguing with the government at the state and national level and mobilizing the villagers for struggle at the grassrootsGrassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
level. Yet both are interlinked: people are struggling at the bottom level and their struggle is supported by a formation of institutions giving them the tools to fight for their rights
Rights
Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory...
(using democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
) at the top level, through dialogue
Dialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
. Vice versa, there are supporters dialoguing at the top level to give space for political action or struggle at the bottom level.
The grassroots struggle is centred on the struggle for land rights
Land rights
Land law is the form of law that deals with the rights to use, alienate, or exclude others from land. In many jurisdictions, these species of property are referred to as real estate or real property, as distinct from personal property. Land use agreements, including renting, are an important...
. Approximately 70% of India’s population depends on access to land and its natural resources for their livelihood. Without any legal claim to these lands, thousands of people are forced to migrate to urban centers everyday where they are left with no choice but to become manual laborers without rights or financial and life security. Thousands of people in India unite to free themselves from the oppressive hold that the land policies of this country have over their lives.
Ekta Parishad thus pressures the top and the bottom of the Indian political and administrative system, which is mainly blocked due to corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
. The latter engenders an inefficient distribution of information and inequitable distribution at the grassroots levels. The people at the bottom level don't receive what they need to live in a decent way and are powerless. Ekta Parishad helps the people by empowering them in order to defend their rights and provides a platform for people to share their experiences and ideas with the confidence that their voices will be heard.
Accomplishments of Ekta Parishad and Future
Rajagopal P. V. the son of a Gandhian worker, is the founder and guiding spirit of Ekta Parishad. He studied agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
at Seva Gram in Wardha
Wardha
Wardha is a city and a municipal council in Wardha district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarters of Wardha district. Wardha gets its name from the Wardha River which flows at the North, West and South boundaries of district. Founded in 1866, the town is now an...
. In the early 70s he worked in the violence-ridden area of Chambal
Chambal
Chambal may refer to:* Chambal Jatt* Chambal Division* Chambal River...
(Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
) helping to rehabilitate dacoits. In the years that followed, Rajagopal travelled to several tribal areas and developed an understanding of plight and needs of India's tribal people
Adivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
. Their cause became part of his lifetime mission. After setting up a number of training organizations across Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, the subsequent mobilization led to the consolidation of a people's organization, namely, Ekta Parishad in 1991. This organization is focused on people's control over livelihood
Livelihood
A person's livelihood referers to "means of securing the necessities of life". For instance a fisherman's livelihood depends on the availability and accessibility of fish.- In social sciences :...
resources in an environment where land is being grabbed, and where forest rights are not being implemented. This is making the Gandhian vision of the advancement of self-reliant communities and local governance, more challenging.
After consolidating a membership of 200,000 people (majority women) across six states, Rajagopal began using the Gandhian technique of foot-march, padayatra
Padayatra
Padayatra is a journey undertaken by a politician and/or prominent citizens to interact more closely with different parts of society, educate them about issues concerning them and to galvanize his or her supporters...
to galvanize greater support among the poor. With a track record of 10 state level foot-marches, he led a national march to Delhi in October 2007 called Janadesh 2007
Janadesh 2007
Janadesh is the name of a national campaign on land rights in India launched by the movement Ekta Parishad. The word "Janadesh" means "The Verdict of the People" in Hindi...
. 25,000 people marched 340 kilometers from Gwalior to Delhi and compelled the Government to take action on land reforms and forest rights.
With the continued and accelerated industrialization in the country, the need to organize people for maintaining a democratic governance
Governance
Governance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...
has become a main activity of Ekta Parishad. The plan is to have another march on Delhi, Jansatyagraha 2012 which will involve 100,000 persons. The planning and carrying-out of the padayatra
Padayatra
Padayatra is a journey undertaken by a politician and/or prominent citizens to interact more closely with different parts of society, educate them about issues concerning them and to galvanize his or her supporters...
or footmarch will be done by 6,000 leaders across 25 states.