Media Release

Mangaluru, Oct 8: Movement Building workshop at Roshni Nilaya College was organized by the voluntary organizations of Dakshina Kannada district, on October 6.

Dr Olinda Pereira, the founder principal of Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work, inaugurated the workshop, symbolically by pouring water to a plant, as a symbol of concerted action of the voluntary organizations committed to the upliftment of the vulnerable of Dakshina district. In her inaugural address, she appreciated the voluntary organisations of the city and their commitment in the process of empowering the weaker sections of the society through community development, social action and people’s participation. Having felt the sufferings of the people, she called on the participants to be open to respond to the different needs of the people.

Dr Rita Noronha, in her keynote address focused on the wider scenario of development of India. She analyzed the socio-economic and political situations of our country and called on the voluntary organizations to make appropriate interventions on behalf the vulnerable, poor, derived masses. The socially excluded to be the focus of our attention and asserting their rights should be our mandate. The issues of malnutrition, unemployment of youth, child sexual abuse, environment degradation, water issue, organic farming etc. she presented the statistics of death occurred due to non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as cancer, diabetes and other life style diseases. The crisis of the civil society organizations can be combated only through movement building and networking of like-minded peoples and organizations that the vulnerable face in the society.

Raghavan the president of the NGO forum, Mangalore presented a brief history of NGO forum being initiated from 2001 onwards. It is a matter of pride that NGO forum has successfully conducted the meetings every month with its inception. It was praise worthy to note that it had handled the burning issues like ADB loan, environment, self-assessment tax at the Corporation, anti-corruption measurers, clean Mangalore etc. He appreciated the voluntary organizations for being part of the forum and keeping alive the flame of sharing, networking and planning strategies for concerned issues of our city.

Harish A, the president of the organizing team presented the concept note on the history of FEVOURD-K. He said, “Those who are motivated by voluntarism organize themselves into voluntary organizations, the effective and efficient actions. Further effectiveness and efficiency is obtained through networking, sharing resources, knowledge and expertise. Joint actions sensitize the public on social issues, lobbying for the basic needs of the poor and the marginalized, the disabled and the disadvantaged, the economically and socially excluded in our society. He invited to join hands to make the voluntary organizations of our Dakshina Kannada as part of FEVOURD-K and to assert our oneness and unity.”

Renni D’Souza, the director of Padi and Chair Person of CWC, spoke about the possibilities of networking based on issues. He said networking is the process of synergizing resources and among the like-minded people. Networking can be based on issues, area specific, identity based. It finally leads to coalition, alliances, network and federation. He spoke on the advantages of networking and how we can be strengthen in our issue based action through mobilization and people’s participation.

With the concerned issues, the participants were guided by Sr Mariola on the process of movement building of voluntary organization. She affirmed that social transformation comes through building the lives of the people both individually and collectively. The process of ‘campaign, advocacy, lobby, network and movement building will lead to social advocacy.

We need to lobby with the duty bearers in order to protect the rights’ holders. In is possible through a process of movement building, taking into consideration the stakeholders at every stage.

Then the participants discussed the various issues of our district, they were grouped themselves and expressed the issues of concern that affects the life of the people of DK. The following issues were listed:

1. Food insecurity,
2. Dalit issues
3. Organizing the domestic workers
4. Organizing and recognizing the rights of the construction labourers.
5. Issue of migrants
6. Protection of environment
7. Protection of the rights of the senior citizens
8. Way out or support mechanism for those who are post 18 (of those were in child care institutes)
9. Substance abuse
10. Unemployment of youth
11. Water crisis
12. Protection of Western Ghats
13. Sexual abuse in children
14. Corruption free society
15. Communal disharmony
16. Plastic menace
17. Issue of street vendors
18. Beggary
19. Waste management and hygiene
20. Public amenities

Several other issues were brought into discussion. Sr Mariola BS during the plenary session focused on the issues and how it can be remedied through networking.

Identifying and framing the issues. Collecting information, mobilizing interested people, networking, forming alliances, forming and sustaining coalitions, planning campaigns, involving media, building pressure on the legislature, establishing contacts within the systems would be the probable measurers for networking. Indeed the voluntary organizations were enthused with the day’s input and felt the need of joining hands, to make our voice known as single and only voice of voluntary organizations of Dakshina Kannada district.

The programme was compered by Asha Latha Suvarna from Sanchalana. Hilaria Pinto, DHM director, Family Service Agency Roshni Nilaya welcomed the participants. Harini, the secretary of NGO forum proposed the vote of thanks. Sr Anna Maria BS and Sr Leena D Costa BS led the invocation. The principal of Roshni Nilaya College, Juliet CJ DHM, hosted the programme. Sr Anna Maria BS Jeevandhara Social Service Trust Kulshekar took initiative to organise the programme. As many as 60 voluntary organizations participated in the workshop. Indeed the day was good, and enabled the voluntary organizations to widen their horizon, and expand their vision and extend their hands in network to assert the rights of the vulnerable of the society.