Alternatives Transformation Framework

Self-assessment & Facilitation towards Radical Change

Kalpavriksh for ACKnowl-EJ project

India: alternative initiatives for well-being

Water

Crafts

Shelter

Food

Energy

Governance

Livelihoods

Conservation

Village revitalisation

Urban sustainability

Learning

Health

Producer companies

Inclusion

Sexuality

Gender

• Reviving traditional agr diversity, community grain banks • Empowering women/dalit farmers, securing land rights• Creating consumer-producer links (Zaheerabad org. food restaurant) • Linking to Public Distribution System• Community media (films, radio)

Deccan Development Society (Andhra Pradesh)

Arvari Sansad (Parliament), Rajasthan: water and food sovereignty through ecoregional governance

Self-rule & decentralised governance: Mendha-Lekha (Maharashtra)

Informed decisions through monitoring, and regular study circles (abhyas gat)

All decisions by consensus in gram sabha (village assembly)

Conservation of 1800 ha forests, now with full rights under Forest Rights Act

Vivek Gour-Broome

Earnings from sustainable forest use (over Rs. 20 million in last few years), and use of govt schemes towards: •Full employment, energy security, new livelihoods (barefoot engineers, GIS mapping)

2013: all agricultural land donated to village, collective ownership

“Our government in Mumbai and Delhi, we are the government in our village”

Maati Sangathan, UttarakhandWomen’s empowerment through local resource-based livelihoods

Rural revitalisation: outmigration is not inevitable

Ralegan Siddhi & Hivare Bazaar (Maharashtra), Kuthambakkam (TN)

Kudumbashree (Kerala)

Right to a Sustainable City ‘’Homes in the City’, Bhuj (Kachchh, Gujarat)

•self-reliance in water (India’s lowest rainfall)•solid waste management and sanitation•re-commoning of spaces •livelihoods for the poor•self-built, dignified housing for poor •women’s mobilisation, rights

(Hunnarshala, Sahjeevan, Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan, ACT, Setu)

Learning / education: re-locating it in community, ecological roots, creativity, inquisitiveness … •Adharshila, MP •Jeevanshala, Narmada•SECMOL, Ladakh •Imli-Mahua, Chhattisgarh•Marudam, Tamil Nadu •Adivasi Academy, Guj•Swaraj University, Rajasthan •Beeja Vidyapeeth, Uttarakhand•Bhoomi College, Karnataka•Various shalas, Kachchh

Skhole = leisure!

Technology by/for/with/of peopleTechnological innovations to reduce ecological impact, reach & be governed by the marginalised (malkha cotton weaving, AP; Hunnarshala housing, Kachchh; Solar passive architecture, Ladakh)

Alternative Media, Communications, ArtsFreedom from govt & corporate control:

•Community radio (>150); FM? •Mobile-based (CGNetSwara, Chhattisgarh)•Movement newsletters, folk theatre•Film/video (Video Volunteers)•Internet (Scroll, Wire, Infochange, India Together …)•‘Social’ networks … virtual communities

Pic: Puroshottam Thakur

Context

Initiatives towards changing situations of injustice, inequity, unsustainability, exploitation …

Some tackling root factors (capitalism, patriarchy, statism, caste, etc): transformatory

Some tackling symptoms, within system: reformist (and at times only strengthening system, providing a ‘green’ or ‘red’wash)

What is an alternative?

Worldviews

individual/collective views of position in relation to nature, other people, the cosmos;

values and principles, ethics, spiritual beliefs

• Diversity and pluralism (of ideas, knowledge, ecologies, economies, ideologies, polities, cultures…)

• Self-reliance for basic needs (swavalamban)• Self-governance / autonomy (swashasan / swaraj)• Cooperation, collectivity, solidarity, commons• Rights with responsibilities of meaningful participation • Dignity & creativity of labour (shram) • Qualitative pursuit of happiness• Equity / justice / inclusion (sarvodaya)• Simplicity / sufficiency / enoughness (aparigraha)• Rights of nature / respect for all life forms • Non-violence, peace, harmony (ahimsa)• Reciprocity and interconnectedness• Fun! • ….. and more

Values & principles of transformative alternatives ….

The Format

Objective: self-assessment by community / organisation of their activities, to see how transformative they are, e.g.:

How holistic: do they cover all or many spheres?

How coherent: do they work well in one or two spheres, but make situation worse in others?

Sphere Element Indicator Comment

Ecological Conservation of flora / fauna

Are populations of relevant plants sustained / restored?

Social Basic needs Does everyone have access to clean water? Adequate nutritious food?

People with special needs, people earlier marginalised …

Political Opportunity Do forums for participation exist, do people have access to these?

Special access to those who need, e.g. separate women’s forums?

Applying the format

• Methods for applying indicators to be worked out • Who applies? Primarily actors in activity, with help

from researchers/activists if necessary … not top-down

• Existence of baseline • Format is basic; will need modification, addition

based on local context • Not rigid, use with flexibility; not a ‘pre-chewed’

format• Not primarily quantitative, more qualitative