This is a draft declaration, which was used mostly to garner grass-roots support in India. Please ignore the grammatical errors in English and concentrate on the content. DRAFT DOMKHEDI DECLARATION OF NAPM AGAINST GLOBALISATION (Prepared in Domkhedi Meeting on July 6,7,8, 2001. To be finalised after suggestions by Aug. 15th, 2001) INTRODUCTION 1. National Alliance of Peoples' Movements (NAPM) has been opposing Globalisation-New Economic Policy- Liberalisation-Privatisation- WTO ever since its inception. Globalisation is the free movement of foreign capital to make more money. This takes place under the pretext of 'development', which is however highly destructive to the vast majority of the population and environment. Depletion of Natural Resources and polluting the environment has become the norm for making profits. 2. The profiteering development model has destroyed life and livelihood of the vast majority of people, particularly, peasants, artisans, traditional communities, unorganised workers, women, dalits, tribals and fisher people. Globalisation has not only deprived vast numbers of working people of the basic needs of life, employment opportunities, but with Sovereignty of the country has been eroded. We have been borrowing under the guise of development, but reaching a stage of indebtedness, that is ever increasing having no possibility of paying back- paying back a life long slavery and dependency. 3. WTO is institutional expression of this Globalisation, WTO is the legitimisation of Global exploitation by the MNCs. A few rich nations grouped as G-7, MNCs, rich class and the ruling class in our countries are better placed to compete with the lesser ones and smaller ones. The logic is very simple - MNCs, rich companies are better placed to make more profits - leading to the extinction of smaller ones. Therefore we are option but that of quitting WTO. 4. a) In this age of cut throat competition and privatisation, the police and military are at the service of MNCs, privatisation and globalisation. The victims of globalisation are at the mercy of police, and army. 4. b) When the vast majority of people are the victims of globalisation, the ruling class resort to communalism for their own survival. The ruling class is exploiting minority and majority communalism. However majority communalism can lead to fascism. 5. It is here that we have to begin the second freedom by uniting all the victims of Globalisation. It is freedom from Colonialism. It is a freedom from Corporate rule. It is from Destructive Development. It is a freedom from Foreign Capital. It is a freedom from Market Economy. It is a freedom from Militarisation and Police Raj. It is a freedom from Foreign Debt. It is a freedom for Participation by all in decision making. It is a freedom for controlling and managing Natural Resources by those people who depend on these for their livelihood. It is a freedom for meeting the Basic Needs of all. It is a freedom for leading to Gender Equality. It is a freedom for protecting Employment of all by Labour Laws. 6. FEAST AND FAMINE side by side The beginning of Globalisation even goes back to colonialism. In the 15th Century Europe was the most overpopulated and unemployment prone region. They addressed these two problems through migration to all the other continents. It all started with trade leading up to political power. It enslaved people and destroyed cultures. It amassed wealth. Thus through plundering and exploitation of natural resources, displacing the very aboriginals from their natural capital, the colonialcountries amassed wealth almost taking away 80% of the world's wealth. Though all the colonial countries won political freedom, economic colonialism continued through MNCs. Thus Europe and MNCs are feasting at the expense of the 80% of the world's population. The New Globalisation- WTO- New Economic Policy is nothing but a conspiracy to take away the 20% of world's wealth from the hands of 80% of the world's population. There is no more free movement of people or labour- though we call Globalisation free movement of Capital to make more profits. The initiators of New Economic Policy were promising increase in wealth, latest technology, higher employment opportunities. It is a programme of removing famine and poverty through a feast. What has really happened? We are witnessing computers and internet flooding everywhere. We see Pepsi, and Coco Cola even in villages where there is no drinking water. FCI godowns are overfilled with grains. Foreign investment is flooding in and privatisation is rampant everywhere.. Enron, Sterlite Industries, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chickens, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Monsanto, Cargill Seeds, International Airports and Harbours to be constructed by TNCs are ubiquitous. Yes, a feast for MNCs, Engineers,Ruling Class and the rich. Super speciality hospitals, most modern schools are on the in the increase, Super Markets are flooding. More and more private engineering colleges and medical colleges are found everywhere. There is no dearth of money to pay, capitation fees between 4 to 10 lakes are common. Are we not seeing a Feast everywhere? On the other hand, we find more and more retrenchment of workers in the organised sector. Labour Laws are amended to legitimise exploitation of the working class, farmers and hand loom workers are committing suicide, no protection of workers by Labour Laws, PDS is almost killed, vast majority of people have no purchasing power to buy grains, Primary Health Centres have no medicines, Government schools are becoming empty. Rubber and Coconut industry is finished. Tea, ground nuts cultivation is collapsing, pollution is mounting everywhere. Famine and poverty are everywhere. 7. AGRICULTURE Indian Agriculture which has been highly protected from international competition are now exposed to global competition. Certain sectors such as Oil seeds, Horticulture, Sugarcane, Rubber, Coconut, and Dairy Industry are all on the verge of total collapse. Unremunerative prices and rising indebtednes have driven many farmers to suicide. In the name of reducing financial deficit, subsidies on food through PDS have been reduced or eliminated. This has forced Food Corporation not to food grains. This has created crises in Agriculture as well. This in turn has created a paradoxical situation of full godowns and starving millions. Chemical Rubber is going to destroy the entire Rubber industry in India. Banking on high tech farming which neglects and destroys the productive potential and livelihood of the vast majority of peasants and landless labourers. In the name of Agricultural development we are witnessing mega dams which have displaced 50 million people from the Agriculture sector and dumped them into slums. Massive destruction of land and forest is not taken into account when studies Cost and Benefit. Our emphasis on Genetically Modified seeds, hybrid seeds will lead to more pollution, increase in pesticides and destruction of our land. Agriculture has been starved of public investment, the policy of state intervention to guarantee remunerative prices has been virtually abandoned, and agricultural products have been exposed to unfair and sudden import competition resulting in widespread and unprecedented distress in the rural hinterland. 8. ENERGY Shortage of electricity and power is felt all over India. This is interpreted as the main cause for underdevelopment in India. At the advent of the New Economic Policy import of petroleum increased and the mounting burden of repayment in foreign exchange increased by three times. Dependence on imported Capital and Management in the Energy sector has been encouraged. ENRON is the best example of this. The alternative of bio mass produced energy not even being seriously explored. Wind Energy, Solar energy are not fully explored. In the name of producing Nuclear energy, destructive weaponisation is pursued, when a country cannot feed their millions. the pricing of electricity is being determined to guarantee high returns to private sector. Enron pricing its power at more than Rs.7/unit is the best example. Now the governments are in a vicious circle, one cannot keep Enron in nor keep it out. The protest in Hyderabad on 28th August 2000 was an example for the people a the only alternative. Human Power and Animal power are not utilised to its full potential in the era of Globalisation. Even when we talk about the share of this energy, villages are neglected. 9. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has clearly spelt out moving polluting industries from the North to the South. This shows very clearly that MNCs have no ethics but to make more profit whatever the cost may be. So there is a flooding of polluting industries coming to India such as Sterlite factory in Tuticorin, mono fish culture, Du Pont Nylon, chemical industries etc., etc. Our ruling elite welcome them under the guise of development. Of course, the ruling elite is developed by getting commissions and kickbacks not only in India but flooding the reserve in foreign banks. Another reason for industrial underdevelopment is Labour Laws. With growing casualisation of employment and encouragement for lax implementation of Labour laws, the quality of employment has deteriorated. Industries are invited to all the states in the name of development and Labour laws re flouted everywhere. Closure and retrenchment have become a common phenomenon. 10. DENIAL OF BASIC NEEDS OF PEOPLE The direct consequence of the slowdown of the Social sector expenditure has been a marked deterioration in vital public services of Education, Health, PDS, Drinking Water Supply. With the inception of the New Economic Policy, all these areas are have deteriorated. On the other hand, all these areas are booming with private investment. A few are getting benefits at the expense of the vast majority. More and more Super speciality private hospitals are coming up everywhere, super public schools, engineering and medical colleges are sprouting everywhere. On the other hand a vast majority of the people do not have even drinking water, food, clothing, primary education, shelter and primary health care. The nexus between local mafia, MNCs and the ruling class is a new development with far reaching consequences for the livelihood of the poor and the civil society at large. With the quality of public services going down, with reduced or nil outlays on the rural infrastructure of roads, irrigation, land improvement, electricity, drinking water supply, education, health, PDS, and with little prospect of gainful employment, the quality of rural life has become intolerable. Take any index- drinking water, PDS, housing, health facilities, education, roads, transportation, electricity consumption, public transport system, employment prospects, the contrast between the Rich and Powerful and the weak, Urban and Rural, Public and Private was never so stark. The brunt of the evils of this process is being borne by the working people. The self-employed people, the artisans, fisher people, Dalits, tribals, small farmers, the landless, agricultural workers, unorganised workers and women are the worst victims. Poor traditional fisher people are threatened by foreign fishing vessels and import of fish. The thrust of Monsanto seeds, Cargill seeds, import of all agricultural goods are threatening the very existence of small farmers and agricultural workers. Mega dams are displacing millions of tribals and Dalits from their Natural resources and sources of livelihood, Mega airports and harbours are threatening millions of small farmers and fisher people. We have come to a stage where MNCs can buy anything in this country. The whole situation is creating mass exodus from villages to cities, creating more and more slums in cities and towns of India. People in slums are treated like outsiders, strangers and criminals by bureaucrats, administrators and ruling class. 11. PRIVATISATION AND INCREASING REPRESSION There is rampant bureaucratization and corruption at all levels, particularly in the Public sector. The ruling class and bureaucrats create corruption and ineffectiveness in Public Transport, Public Industries, Railways, Post and Telegraphs, then there is a cry for privatisation as the only solution. Therefore we are opening all our sectors to the Private sector. MNCs are flooding in to take over all our Infrastructure and Natural Resources. In the name of development Land Acquisition Act is used to confiscate land for any MNCs and private entrepreneurs to make more and more profits. Construction of Ports, Airports, Mega dams are all given to Private companies. MNCs are displacing millions of poor people and taking over all our Natural Resources- land, water and forests. All these are at the same time risking our National Security and Sovereignty. There are spontaneous protests everywhere by victims. They are contained by police repression. the answer is found in the form of augmented Reserve Police Force, Special Rapid Action Force. Police firings on peaceful demonstration against harsh consequences of Globalisation have become routine affair. What happened in Hyderabad on 28th August 2000 was a pitched battle between unarmed victims of Globalisation and the armed police force for about five hours. Killing of leaders by the Police has become common. Lt. Col. Pratap Save of Umargaon and Subramanyam of Hyderabad are the two victims of such Police killings. The State is arming itself with draconian laws by introducing some legal changes. Increasing authoritarian character of the State and intensifying State repression are inevitable byproducts of this anti-people Globalisation process. Scarce resources of the country are being diverted into ever-expanding militarisation and hence to an unavoidable arms race. Police is used to help the process of Privatisation and not to protect the vast majority of our people struggling to meet the basic needs of life and livelihood. 12. COMMUNALISM In the face of such draconian Globalisation, the ruling elite want to remain in power by hook or by crook. Today the ruling class wants to remain in power, to deflect growing resentment of the masses against Globalisation by whipping up communalism, chauvinism, regional politics and war hysteria. Hate campaign against minorities, attack on places of worship, saffronisation at all levels have become a way of life to gather votes and get elected. All these are destroying our very foundation of secular life. This is a repetition of history- when colonialism began with a combination of Politics, Religion and Trade. Similarly, invasions took place by mixing up Politics, Religion and Arms. Our existence as a Nation is built on the sacred values of Secularism and Democracy. The ruling class wants to change all this. That is why the review of our Indian Constitution is called for, viz., to destroy the foundational character of Secularism and Democracy. Even the Judiciary, in general, is on the side of Globalisation. The very Judiciary that upheld Secularism of the Indian Constitution is now upholding 'Hindutva'. The very Judiciary that stood with the poor, adivasis and fisher people is now turning against them. 13. GENDER EQUALITY Globalisation is built around trade and profit. Women are reduced to become property and a means to make money through advertisements, tourism. Women are used for everything. And they have become victims of all the ill effects of Globalisation. The worst victims of all Globalisation are women. Women everywhere are treated as property to be sold and bought. This gender inequality if fundamentally based on patriarchy in every form. It has become a real political struggle between politically powerful men and women concerning 33% reservation for women in Assemblies and Parliament. 14. COMMON PROPERTY RIGHT The crux of the issue is property right. The alternate development paradigm has to be built around property right. Public property right and state ownership of Natural Resources- land, water, and forest lead to bureaucratization and corruption. And yet, in certain areas this tight has to remain in the areas of Public Transport, Posts and Telegraphs, PDS, Security of the Nation etc. On the other hand, free and open Privatisation lead to legitimising exploitation of labour, unbridled accumulation and appropriation of Natural Resources. When the vast majority of our people lack basic needs of life. We have to struggle foestablishing Common Property Right, when the community is totally dependent on Natural Resources for their livelihood. They should control and manage these Natural Resources which cannot be sold or bought unless the entire community agrees to it for a common good, not for privatisation. Land Reform has to take place at all levels including estates, and urban ceiling. These should not be uncontrolled amassing of wealth by any companies. There should be social controls on all the companies. There is a need for such legislations. The tools of production, the areas livelihood should be owned and controlled by those who are dependent on these for livelihood. This should not be opened to profiteering groups. A life style based on nature, economy and culture of adivasis and traditional fisher people, artisans- cannot be encroached upon. Their Natural Resources, tools and life support taken away by illegal means or immoral ways should be returned with proper historical investigations. We stand for tribal Self-Rule, and traditional and customary rights of fishing communities areas over Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), with their rights to Natural Resources and their distinctive cultural identities. Globalisation that gives such enormous power to these companies to buy any Natural Resources has to be checked by People's Rights over Natural Resources meant for livelihood cannot be sold or bought. 15. SECOND FREEDOM STRUGGLE If the 20th Century was characterised by people's struggle against Political Colonialism, 21st Century is going to be characterised by the people's struggle against Economic Colonialism and Corporate Rule. This struggle is characterised by protests and construction. There is a need for struggle and alternate constructive work side by side at all levels. First of all, we are committed to people oriented and ecologically sound economic giving priority to protectors of people's livelihood and production to meet the bare needs of people. Such policy requires people's control over Natural Resources. This is built from village, to the state and national level through a revised Panchayati Raj (Gram Swaraj). We oppose all forms of foreign imperialist intervention, MNCs' intervention alienating the vast majority of our people. We therefore propose that India quit WTO and campaigns for an alternative institution to regulate world trade in a democratic, pro-people and environmentally sustainable way. We want to put an end to "Green Rome". Decision making and create a UN forum of decision making without the Security Council. We join in all struggles against WTO with other people, workers, students, youth around the world. We refuse to submit to any conditionalities and structural adjustment programmes imposed by IMF, WB and similar international institutions. These organisations should not be allowed to formulate and influence policies in any sector, particularly, the vital areas of health, education, communication, media, PDS, bio diversity, environment, labour legislation and natural resources. These institutions should be appropriately democratised to reflect the composition and the aspirations of every nation and people in the world. Foreign debt is an imposition of the rich for profiteering. This so-called debt has been repaid several times over. It must be unilaterally written off. India should seek support from fellow southern countries for an alternative international exchange, trade and finance system. We support the legal protection of people's right of access to common property resources of forests, common lands and water. Our aim is to revitalise the village economy and to empower everybody first by meeting the basic needs of life. We oppose the present industrial policy which abandons social responsibility and devalues human labour. We should encourage a labour intensive Industry Policy in the country. We oppose the irresponsible policy of closures and lockouts in the organised sector, takeover of units by the workers. We stand in solidarity with the struggles of the Dalits to secure fundamental human rights and justice. We support the policy of reservations. We reaffirm freedom of religion and the foundational secular traditions of India. We stand for education, health and food for all. We have to initiate this process at the village level by strengthening primary health, primary education and PDS. We oppose gender inequality and strive towardsproviding all basic Human Rights for women irrespective of caste and religion. We value women's empowerment and participation in all fields equal with men in all decisions, policy-making and implementation in social, economic and political aspects. We also believe that this struggle and constructive work by the victims of Globalisation is a new politics and development which has the power to change the present system of politics that support Globalisation. This is a slow process by bringing in victims of Globalisation, particularly the student community and youth of the country. This struggle and constructive work must lead to electoral politics taking over state power as well. 16. NAPM's POLITICS : NAPM needs to remain OPEN but not VAGUE on the issue of politics. NAPM is an Alliance process though working for evolving common Understanding, Ideology and Strategy; so that it would become strong political force in this country. Politics means creation and resolution of crisis in society. Any organsation or forum restoring or rebuilding the power relations in various sectors of life eg. social, economical, political etc. is a political force. Party, State, Civil society, Organisation and Communities can become such force if it has mass base to change the present Power Relations. Electoral Politics is one way of doing it. NAPM see important role for Electoral Politics yet its limitations as well, for the total change of society. There are power relations beyond party politics also. Role of the state is the result of present nature of Electoral Politics. NAPM does not believe that state would whither away and some other form of civil society should take over. NAPM gives equal importance to the Non Electoral Politics, as well! NAPM does not deny Peoples^Ò Movements and organisations actively involved in Electoral Politics e.g. Constituents of Shoshit Jan Andolan, Maharashtra or Narmada Bachao Andolan have successfully contested several Gram Panchayat elections. At many places in Panchayat elections people and parties play role not as party. Present status of electoral politics is very confusing. Deliberately it is made vague so that ^Ñalliance politics^Ò becomes possible on any ground. It has become game of numbers. While relating to any party its ideology, programmes, strength of cadre and supporters is required to be analysed. However it has become very difficult to analyse any party. NAPM do not reject the possibility of interacting and relating with some of the so called main stream political parties purely on merit basis and on the specific issues. On the issues of Nuclear Disarmament, Opposition to Globalisation , Fight Against Enron etc. NAPM has been in alliance with such parties. Off course, there is no chance for any alliance with any of the pro globalisation Congress party or Communal Prties like Bhartiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena , Muslim League etc. There is a need of immediate intervention in the electoral politics, other wise present day winning parties will continue to dominate their anti people development paradigm on the people under the name of democratically elected representatives. There is a need for a strong alternative Party in the electoral politics to evolve the alternative, pro people, development paradigm. Constituents of NAPM like Samajwadi Jana Parishad (SJP)is a political party. Sarwa Sewa Sangh contest elections through the concept of peoples^Ò candidates. Any other constituent or group of constituents within NAPM can join electoral politics or become party as SJP.NAPM will decide its relationship with such political forces as Azadi Andolan related with the then Congress. In any case NAPM as Non party political force will have to continue. 17. NAPM resolves to commence an indefinite campaign against Globalisation through a series of demands and actions. All organisations and individuals agreeing with the above statement, demands and actions are appealed to participate in the campaign with own banners with the consent of campaign committee of NAPM. The life and the dependent health of the planet cannot be sacrificed for the greed of a few in the world. We have enough resources for the needs of all. 18.IMPORTANT NATIONL DEMANDS 1) Right of village society over JAL(water),JUNGLE(forest),JAMIN(land) and water and mineral property be considered primary. Keeping right of individual property in proper limits, natural resources be under the control of local community. The decision of its use, development or distribution be taken with the participation and the permission of the affected people which will ensure their Right to Information and proper rehabilitation before taking up any project where displacement becomes inevitable though minimum. 2) If W.T.O. is not for us , India should come out of WTO. India must QUIT WTO and all foreign debts on India must be deemed as cancelled, because it has already been repayed many times by interest and unequal terms of trade. 3) Land reforms must be strictly implemented so that land in the name of absentee landlords and corporate farming companies must be redistributed to the land less workers. 4) Stop or withdraw all unjust bills and amendments like Amendments to Land Aquisition Act, Aquaculture Authority Bill, The Electricity Bill 2000 etc. The attempt to get the Samata Judgement reversed must be given up. 5) Health, Education and Work should be introduced in the list of fundamental rights and should be guaranteed to all. 6) All attempts to destroy the basic democratic basis and ethos of Constitution, under the name of Review must be stopped. Directive Principles of the Constitution must be made justifiable just as fundamental rights. 7) Apart from looting the country, economical destruction and violation of legislation, power projects like ENRON and similar companies giving electricity to common consumer at the exorbitant tariffs must be legally and by taking political stand be cancelled. Under the name of economic reforms, attempts to disintegrate the power sector, division of State Electricity Boards, must be stopped and cancelled. The public sector should be de bureaucratised. Employees be given substantial role in management. 8) People should avoid using products of Multi National Corporations as much as possible. Government must preserve the right to ban or curb the imports. 9) Liquor manufactured in factories and state protected liquor business must be stopped. 10) Reservation and facilities to Dalits, tribals and all backward classes in both public and private sectors must be there. 11) 50% reservation for women must be given in all spheres of public life tom achieve the objective of gender equality. Atrocities of all kinds against women should be stopped. 12) The Gramsabhas of every village should be made final aythority in respect of decision making about local levels so as to proceed towards the objective of self rule and self development. 13) The subsidy for Public Distribution System (PDS..Rationing) should be increased. The rates of the grains to be distributed should be immediately reduced so that not only the people who are poor and,marginalised but those slightly above the official poverty line, can also access the PDS. The grains overflowing from godowns should be distributed under various ^ÑFood for Work^Ò, programmes. The present adhoc process of defining poverty line and fixing the number of families below poverty line should be changed with immediate effect and it should be based on mere objective and scientific criteria. 14) Urban Land Ceiling Act of 1971 must be re enacted, with more stringent rules for implementation. Urban land use must be guided by respect for the working classes, especially in the unorganised sector. Peoples^Ò Right to Work and their Right to Stay within easy access of their work place is crucial and must be defended. Peoples^Ò Right to Life and livelihood has to have priority over private transport. 19. ACTION PLAN TILL NOVEMBER 2001: A. From Aug.6th..Hiroshima day as Anti Nuclear Energy Day and Aug. 9th ..Quit India Day as ENRON QUIT INDIA DAY campaign against Globalisation will be further intensified. B. From Aug. 15th to Sept. 15th regional/state and district level preparatory meetings and contact tours will be organised all over. C. Sept. 19,20,21, 2001..National Camp at Sewagram Ashram , Wardha, Maharashtra "To Understand Globalisation and to chalk out strategy and Action Plan to fight it "will be organised where activists of different organisations within NAPM and individuals will participate. D. Oct. 2nd..Gandhi Jayanti to Oct. 26th..Dhamma Parivartana Day :several of the following events are getting initiated in different parts of the country. 1.CONTACT TOUR from Andhra Pradesh to Rajasthan covering Chchattiagarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, U.P., Hrayana, Delhi etc. 2.Public hearing on LAND and Farmer^Òs Jury, in Andhra Pradesh. 3.Mobilisation in College Students in Banglore and elsewhere. 4. Sell of cottage, Khadi and Village Industry products. 5. Gram Swarajya Abhiyan in 1000 villages. E. Nov. 1st onwards: Beginning of Mass Anti WTO Political Action( as WTO meeting begins on Nov. 5th.) which will continue beyond Nov. 18th as well, like Worlds fisheries strike on Nov. 21st. The indefinite action can be on any of the issues like PDS, LAND, UNEMLOYMENT, ELECTRICITY TARRIFS etc. 20. SUGGESTED NATURE OF MASSIVE POLITICAL ACTION: 1.Take back the land occupied by aquaculture, MNCs, Governments etc. expropriated by the State and the corporate sector 2.Take control over food grain godowns, water parks etc. 3.Occupy circuit houses, lawns and other such premises for harvesting. 4.Stop paying electricity bills 5.Indefinite BLOCKADE of High ways all over on same day. 6. Marching towards state capital from different parts same time then marching towards Delhi from different state capitals and indefinite action in Delhi etc. 21. APPEAL TO ALL: A. SPREAD THIS MESSAGE TO AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. B. SUGGEST THE LIKE MINDED ORGANISATIONS, FRONTS, FORUMS TO BE CONTACTED FOR APPEALING THEM TO JOIN. C. PARTICIPATE IN WARDHA CAMP ON SEPT. 19,20, 21, 2001.