January 9, 2002

Dear friends,

Please find attached two messages, one directly from the convenor of the Friends of Uttarakhand project on the upcoming elections, and one detailing the history of the group itself, and a fair evaluation of where the new state stands.

The work that the Friends of Uttarakhand is initiating is the need of the hour in Uttarakhand. The first ever state assembly elections of the new state will take place on February 14, and people of goodwill who want to have a say in the politics have very little time to organize and make their views known. This is so crucial, that I am personally requesting from you as friends and colleagues to consider contributing some funds to carry on the work of the people's manifesto, a NON-PARTISAN effort to gather the views and aspirations of the public before the tone of politics is set for the next five years -- a very long time where much irreversible damage can be done to the social and environmental fabric of our homeland.

This past year has revealed how dismal the political situation has remained, and no political group enjoys the confidence of the people at this point, as seen by the complete indifference to the election by the vast majority of the voting public. Though much care has been taken to respect the martyrs of the movement for a separate state as well as to promote a new identity, the politics is still the same and there is not much scope to change the downward spiral and for the politicians to shed their hapless, ineffectual, and venal image. Unfortunately, most people are disillusioned and increasingly upset about the new state which seems like a carbon-copy of Uttar Pradesh, which is the last thing people wanted, but there are few options outside the mainstream political parties and mainstream politics.

However, what the Friends intend to do will help at least convince the politicians of all stripes to take our issues seriously, and to serve notice that we are watching and looking to them to make a break with the past. They hope to do this by staying out of the fray as a partisan factor, and acting as a watchdog and enabler of democratic processes such as candidates' forums that will facilitate greater accountability and respect for the public. In particular, FOU will try to get clarifications on environmental issues for which none of the major political parties have good records.

- Rajiv Rawat

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Dear friend,

This concerns the upcoming elections in Uttarakhand!

Most elections in this country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh are known to form governments using caste and religion as the driving factors, rather than the elections being an opportunity for debate and discussion on the people's issues. Since most of the political parties and their players in Uttarakhand come from the same school of thought it is a common fear that they would be replaying the same methodology and tactics.

These being the first elections in the newly formed state, we as a forum of concerned citizens are planning to intervene in the process by initiating a debate on the pro-people issues in the region -- natural resources (jal, jungle, jameen), unemployment, dismal education scenario, liquor mafia, land mafia, widespread displacement due to the apparent development activities (dams, mining etc), etc. to gather the reflections of people as to their aspirations and expectations from the new government -- using this people's manifesto as the basis for debates among the various political players -- after all 'our government' the essence of the Uttarakhand movement meant a happier life for the hill people, didn't it?. If we lose this very first opportunity then it will always be others who will define our agendas for us. (The details are attached).

Though the plan seems to be ambitious but we strongly believe that a process towards a truly people's government necessarily needs to be initiated. We all definitely need to get together and dare.

However this being essentially a student's initiative so finances do become a problem. But it is not that colossal a problem also it is more towards the involvement of all of us 'people' in building up this people's manifesto that we request for financial contributions from all our friends in this cause.

We request all the concerned citizens, organisations, networks, and other friends to support and cooperate with us. We might be lacking in planning this exercise so please we welcome all suggestions also.

Please forward this mail to as many friends, organizations and others whom you feel would be concerned for the cause.

Please send your contributions in the name of 'Friends of Uttarakhand' at the following address:

Ms. Manisha Joshi
229, Ganga Hostel
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi - 110067 INDIA.
Phone: 98-110-73273, 98-681-68416

Looking forward to hearing from you!
Greetings for the New year!

Sincerely
Manisha Joshi
(Convenor)

We, 'Friends of Uttarakhand' a forum of research scholars and activists from different walks of life have come together to create an environment of reasoned debate and discussion based on facts rather than on emotions regarding development choices, policies, strategies and programs.

Our vision is to channelize the energy of non-resident Uttarakhandi in general; and students, researchers, institutions and Struggling Communities in particular towards the greater cause of development.

'Friends of Uttarakhand' got established formally in late 1998, when students and research scholars from various universities and institutions came together to share their understanding of development in Uttarakhand and furthering the cause of Uttarakhand under the auspices of a seminar 'Role of Researchers and Students in the Development of Uttarakhand' at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Yet, the seeds of such an activist group were sown during the involvement of leading activists and organizers of this seminar in the last phase of the Uttarakhand movement, 1994 onwards in different places of Uttarakhand. Having witnessed the state oppression of the movement during their student life in Garhwal and Kumaon universities, where some of them were even in jail and on Police hit lists; when they came for their research in various institutions in Delhi, they felt uneasy about their inability to actively participate in the ongoing movement and started thinking about developing a support group culminating into a seminar where the idea of 'Friends of Uttarakhand' got fruition and took shape.

On the path of our journey during the last three years we have been enriched by members/friends at places like Hyderabad, Bombay, Lucknow, Meerut, Haridwar, Nainital, Dehradun, Almora, Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi, Gopeshwar, Shrinagar, Pauri and Rishikesh working as students, researchers and teachers at various colleges, Universities and institutions. In keeping with the quest for creating an environment of reasoned debate on development choices, the forum, in the spirit of its theme developed its working style with fourfold division, as following:

• Policy intervention,
• Information dissemination,
• Campaign,
• Resource initiatives.

We commenced our activities by bringing together the intellectuals, thinkers, social workers, and well wishers of Uttarakhand, for a Seminar in J.N.U., New Delhi (6th May 2000) on the theme 'Designing People's Forest Policy'. Submissions and discussion papers covered issues such as political economy of forests, forest related conflicts, role of local communities and their institutions in management of forests in Uttarakhand, and concern for women's issues. The programme towards developing a pro-people forest policy is still going on.

Keeping with the theme of The International Earth Day - "Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency," the Forum took up a campaign for the revival of traditional water mills (Gharats) in the hills. Organizing various awareness campaigns at Kausani, Pithoragarh, Gopeshwar, Pipalkoti and Dehradun, the campaign also entailed a unique exercise of collecting organic wheat from the villages and getting it grounded at the local Gharats. The forum in collaboration with the local NGOs is already pursuing an in-depth study of 'Gharat based power generation and community level industrial activities involving local resources in two blocks of Pauri Garhwal district'.

The Friends of Uttarakhand has been endeavoring to integrate research, advocacy and communication so as to create pressure groups at various levels. In this regard the forum has brought out two publications in collaboration with the Delhi Forum. The Making of Uttarakhand State (UPDATE, Issue 126, November 15, 2000) presented an in-depth analysis of the Uttarakhand movement, including the contemporary socio-economic and political scenario in the newly formed state. Gharat: The Wheel of Life (UPDATE, Issue 131, March 28th 2001) provided an informative account of the traditional water mills with their socio-cultural and economic implications for the region.

The forum has been earnestly pursuing its foremost aim of functioning as a resource center in Delhi for information support to the youth, students, and others from the region. The forum has been networking with various institutions and social organisations to gather essential information about the region. This aims at facilitating the student community to take up relevant academic/research initiatives with an eye to the development issues in the region.

We participated under the leadership of Shri Dhan Singh Rana, Gram Pradhan, Lata, Joshimath, Chamoli, Garhwal; in the workshop organised by Indian Mountaineering Foundation and presented the arguments of struggling community of Nanda Devi about proposed mountaineering and eco-tourism plan. Further, we participated and supported in organizing the workshop on community-based conservation and eco-tourism by Gram Sabha, Lata at Joshimath on 29-31 October 2001.

WHEN POLITICS DECIDES YOUR FUTURE, DECIDE THE KIND OF POLITICS!!!!

India is a democratic country. Being the largest democracy in the world, the institution of Election has an utmost importance in he federal set up of Indian nation-state. The beginning of the new millennium saw the fulfillment of the dream for separate statehood, conceived as far back as 1904. There is a danger that political players in Dehradun, like those in Delhi and Lucknow may still follow their old UP brand of political mobilization in the hill state. Citizens of the newly crafted state are also concerned that powers that be show some commitment towards their aspirations and dreams, rather than shattering their hopes by playing out a mirage of promises initially followed by hide and seek once elected.

As it is known that most of the political leadership are born and brought up on the diet of UP style of political discourse. It is a widespread fear that they will practice the same style of functioning in Uttarakhand also. Given the context, it is imperative that intellectual community, non-resident Uttarakhandi and other well-wishers of Uttarakhand shall participate from the very beginning of the very first election.

OUR PLAN

We, 'Friends of Uttarakhand' as concerned citizens of the state plan to intervene in this election as non-participatory participants. Neither do we support any political party or individuals, or contesting any election. We have plan of undertaking rigorous intervention programme from now to election time in phased manner.

Phase: 1

• We plan to collect people's aspirations as to what shall be the issues to be raised in the elections through organizing small group meetings and seminars of local communities at different places covering all socio-economic, cultural and geographical zones.

Phase: 2

• To put the views and aspirations of people on local, regional and national issues in the form of People's Manifesto. In this endeavor we will take help of intellectual community by the way of organizing a Symposiums. To release People's Manifesto and make copies available to different political parties, analysts, and journalists inviting their comments.

Phase: 3

• We will collaborate with different Press Clubs and with their support, we will call all political parties on a single dais first at state capital and subsequently at district level to make their stand public on the issues raised in People's Manifesto. We will document all the views of political parties and will incorporate them and make the comparative analysis public.

Phase: 4

• We will identify the prominent issues and thrust areas from People's Manifesto. During election, in some particular constituencies we will invite all contesting candidates on single dais to voice their stand on those issues and areas.

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST

We have got the volunteer support and team of young and enthusiastic students/researchers/intellectuals to put this plan into action. We have got the networking skills, well linked resource center and mobilization power for such a programme. However, being mainly a students/researchers initiative we lack the financial resources needed.

We seek your co-operation and blessings in this mission.

We request all individuals and organisations to extend their financial as well as logistical contribution towards the cause.

Friends of Uttarakhand
Delhi: c/o Prem Bahukhandi, 215 Jhelum Hostel
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067
Phone: 011-6194752, 0-9868168416,0-98110-73273
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.friendsofuttarakhand.org