The Jan Vikas Andolan (JVA) invites all NGOs and NGOs to its meeting in Visakhapatnam on July 24-25, 1993. It had two special sessions - on communalism and on the new economic policy-during its plenary meeting during April 16-18, 1993. This was the first time JVA had discussions focused on specific topics. Discussions for what? Obviously so that we do something about these issues. So what is JVA doing? Where is the action? What support does JVA give? This discussion led to questions about JVA’s identify. The distinct identity of JVA is that it is a process open to individuals, organisations, movements. There is no exclusive framework to regulate membership. There is a group against destructive development that is engaged in a search for alternatives. This group is ever-expanding and will eventually include a wide range of people, movements, individuals, organisations, engaged in developing various forms and instruments - social, cultural, economic and political such that a Jan Vikas Movement becomes possible. Action is already taking place at various levels - at the grassroots, as well as at intermediary and national levels. JVA relates to these actions. There is no entity, JVA, that supports groups and movements outside of itself. Groups, individuals, movements within the JVA framework relate to each other in support and solidarity with each other. Though amorphous, there is a distinct understanding of JVA’s identity; though slow and not able to respond immediately to situations, there is a constant movement forward; though the members ebb and flow, there is a distinguishable increase in the constant groups; though informal, there are consistent action groups emerging. The next plenary meeting will be held on September 10, 11 and 12 at Kushalnagar, Coorg district, Karnataka. The format that was followed during the April meeting will be retained. On the first day the focus will be on regional issues in the morning, and on the communalism question in the afternoon. On the next day the focus will be on understanding the various facets of non-party politics and the options that are available in this context for successfully developing and promoting various structures and institutions - economic, social, cultural, that bring third day, the ongoing programmes of the various working groups will be dealt with. The working groups are on “Forest and Common Property Resources”, “Alternatives to Centralised Water and Energy Systems”, “Promotion of People’s Industries, and some others. q
The JVA can be contacted at:
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