Asha-Seattle
		The farmer's India: Is it Shining? Talk by Mr. P Chennaiah Date: June 4^th 2004 Venue: Olympic room, Building 27, Microsoft campus Time: 7pm onwards Mr Chennaiah is the founder and General Secretary of Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Viritidarulu Union (APVUU) - a federation of agricultural labourers unions in Andra Pradesh. During the 1980s, when the agricultural workers were not paid minimum wages and the bonded labour system existed, Chennaiah started an NGO 'Sahanivasa' for agricultural workers. Sahanivasa which literally means 'living together’; intended to work for promoting trade unionism, especially among agricultural workers. As Sahanivasa grew, some committed individual and agricultural workers came together under the leadership of Chenniah and independently formed a federation of agricultural workers and marginal farmers unions. The Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Vritidarula Union was registered in 1998 as a federation of 325 registered unions federated from 16 districts out of 23 districts in Andhra Pradesh. APVUU is a part of the National Alliance of People's Movement (NAPM) and also a member of the National Centre for Labour (NCL). It has a membership of about 3.2 lakh. Since its inception, APVUU has been involved in two major struggles - for land appropriation and against untouchability. Till now, the union has appropriated and distributed 150,000 acres of land in the names of women in Andhra Pradesh. Over the past decade, over 16,000 bonded laborers have been released and rehabilitated. The union has spread awareness against untouchability and struggled for protection of dalit rights. It has fought for gender equality and actively sought women's participation in all the movements. Recently, Chennaiah has been working on building alliances with national and international movements to struggle against the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its negative implication on agriculture and labour sector. His present focus is to unite the agricultural workers unions in India to campaign for the Comprehensive Agricultural workers Act, Employment Guarantee Act & Right to information Campaign to include Adivasis villages in 5th schedule. Without fear of failure, without being proud of the success, this 42-year-old crusader has been fighting against all odds for workers' unity. A detailed profile can be read at: http://www.labourfile.org/cec1/labourfile/lf_2000/Profile5.htm Suggested Donation: $10 (to cover Mr. Chennaiah’s travel expenses). Directions to Microsoft Campus: The building is on 157^th Pl NE. Call Rahul (425 890 8492) or Srijan (425 890 8515) if you need help entering the building. If you are driving from Seattle (520 East): Take the 40th street exit and then take right onto 40^th street. Take a right again onto 156th Ave. and then left onto 36^th street, followed by right onto 157^th Ave/Microsoft Way. Parking: If in case you are not from Microsoft then please let Rahul / Srijan know details about your car so that they can register it.
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