SKAWWA holds rally on climate change
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 24 2015:
A mass rally on Climate change and Water was organized at Senapati DHQ by Senapati Karong Area Women Welfare Association on Tuesday.
The mass rally participated by more than 500 women including all unit members of SKAWWA and various CSOs leaders apart from Jiten, Secretary, Centre for Research & Advocacy, Manipur and Joyson Mazamo, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has been flagged off by Dominic Azuna, President Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) at Senapati bridge.
The rally marched towards the central traffic point and proceeds to the northern entry point of Senapati Public Ground where public gathering on the Climate change and Water has been critically discussed.
|
In her keynote addresses D.Daileeru, President, Senapati Karong Area Women Welfare Association said that India's National Action Plan on Climate Change has no clear process to consider suggestions to opt for real solutions, such as promoting the low carbon oriented way of life of many indigenous peoples.
She informed that there is little scope to participate and seek redressal at the decision making processes on clearing CDM project at both the national and CDM board level where as there is also no process to conduct a holistic impact assessment by the projects and to comply with human rights standards.
.DDaileeru also cautioned that the Forest Rights Act (FRA) should rather be a process to recognize collective rights over land and resources and not to undermine it.
Speaking at the gathering, Jiten, Secretary, Centre for Research & Advocacy, Manipur stressed on the need for consultation on the part of the communities when any developmental programme is to be implemented.
He pointed out that the plan to build various mega dams in Manipur was made without taking the free, prior and informed consent of communities to be affected by such projects.
Joyson Mazamo, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights also stressed on the need to safeguard and protect the indigenous peoples land, forest and other survival sources in the meeting.
The rally displayed placards reading, "Implement Action Plan on Climate Changes', "Respect the Rights of the communities over the resources", "We oppose Chakha-Khongnem dam construction", "Revoke MoU on Chakha-Khongnem Dam between NEEPCO and Govt.of Manipur", "Go Back NEEPCO and NHPC", etc.