Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Persons Making Disclosure Bill, 2010 (the Whistleblower Bill) has been tabled in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of India's Parliament) yesterday (26th August 2010). The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, which piloted this Bill did very little to consult with people on its contents. They refused to publicise the contents of the Bill while formulating it despite being mandated to do so under Section 4(1)(c) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. During a full bench hearing at the Central Information Commission in my complaint case, representatives of the DoPT acknowledged that they had not disclosed anything about this Bill in the public domain. The Commission's decision in this case is awaited. Meanwhile the text of the Bill as introduced in the Lok Sabha is not available on the DoPT's website, nor does the link to the text of the Bill on the Lok Sabha website work. The attached text of the WhistleblowerBill has been sourced from the website of PRS-India. Congrats guys, you have proven again that civil society puts information about public documents in the public domain faster than public authorities themselves. The text of the Whistleblower Bill is accessible at: http://prsindia.org/uploads/media/Public%20Disclosure/Public%20Interest%20Disclosure%20Bill,%202010.pdf

The following issues are highlighted in the attachment which contains a preliminary analysis of the Indian Whistleblower Bill:

  1. Limited coverage of reportable actions
  2. Only one authority prescribed for receiving public interest disclosure
  3. CVC permitted to disclose the identity of whistleblowers to the Head of the Department
  4. Whistleblower Bill does not apply to the private sector
  5. Armed Forces have been left out
  6. Vexatious complainants will be imprisoned but no policy for rewarding whistleblowers
  7. No clarity on the kinds of protection that a whistleblower is entitled to receive

Advocacy Recommendations: Given the several major lacunae in the Whistleblower Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha, there is an urgent need to have this Bill referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice for detailed deliberations and improvement. I request readers to send their analysis of the Whistleblower Bill highlighting other weaknesses. I am sure a more detailed examination will reveal more grey areas which need rectification.

In order to access the complete text of this analysis and also our previous email alerts please click on: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/ai/rti/india/national.htm

Venkatesh Nayak
Aditi Datta
Media/Communications/Outreach Officer Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative www.humanrightsinitiative.org

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 Joining Hands

Discover the joy of volunteering through Joining Hands

In the past few years, sustainability has gained more and more attention in general life and in the tourism sector. Sustainable tourism believes in providing overall benefit to all stakeholders including the community; and is an effort to influence and improve tourism of all types by involving tour operators and the local community through local partnership for community development.

In 2008, World Conservation Congress launched 37 voluntary standards the minimum an organization dealing with sustainable tourism should follow to safeguard and sustain cultural and natural resources known as- Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. They are based on - Effective planning, maximum social and income generation for the community, promotion of cultural heritage and reduction in negative impact on the environment, and are part of the response of tourism community to the Millennium Development Goals.

Many travellers are starting to discover the concept of sustainable tourism and feel the need to maximize their stay to make it a meaningful one. The answer to this growing need is VolunTourism, combining as it does vacational travel with volunteering at the destination visited. It integrates the best of tourism - culture, nature, art and recreation - with the opportunity to serve and enhance the destination - its people and its milieu. Joining Hands is committed to making travel in India a meaningful and memorable one by its VolunTourism program. The program provides tourists with opportunities to visit and contribute to the mission of our partner NGOs.

For more information, visit us at www.joininghandsindia.org "

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 PRIA International Academy for Lifelong Learning

PIALL offers a three-month Certificate Course

  • Next Offering: October 2010
  • Application Deadline: 17 September 2010

This programme is a unique collaborative initiative of PRIA International Academy for Lifelong Learning (PIALL) in India and the Development Research Center (DRC) Citizenship Teaching and Learning Project research partners from around the world. DRC is a research consortium based at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex.

This programme will consider a range of conceptual and practical issues faced by practitioners, adult educators, researchers, resource providers and policy makers in strengthening citizenship, democracy and accountability. It will facilitate critical analysis of different debates and perspectives on the themes and encourage the development of innovative practices.

Completion of this programme will enable learners to develop critical understanding on the concepts of citizenship, democracy and accountability. It will reinforce their understanding on approaches for strengthening inclusive citizenship, participatory and accountable governance. It will familiarise them with international exemplars on the themes.

For more information and to learn about PIALL's other certificate courses, contact:

PRIA International Academy of Lifelong Learning (PIALL)
Phone: +91 11 296 0931 Email: education@pria.org Website: www.priaeducation.org

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 Wada Na Todo Abhiyan

We are happy to share that Wada Na Todo Abhiyan has planned to hold Women's Tribunal against Poverty (WTP-3) in 10 states across India. Women who represent most excluded groups (caste, religion and ethnicity as well as geographical locations) would be voicing their experiences in the context of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - specially reduction in disparities (social, economic and political), access to health services (comprehensive including maternal and infant health care services) and to quality education (universalization of education with quality).

The outcome of this Tribunal shall also be used to advocate re-arranging priorities of the Government as well as making inputs for 12th Five Year Plan so that it takes into account all these concerns whilst preparing 12th Five Year Plan and making it truly an instrument that addresses the diverse and differential needs of women.

All these tribunals will be consolidated at a National Tribunal subsequently in Delhi. We will inform you about this in due course.

Suman Dasgupta
9958798829
Programme Co-ordinator,
Wada Na Todo Abhiyan
Website: www.wadanatodo.net

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 National Confederation of Dalit Organisations

Considering the importance of Millennium Development Goals and India's progress, National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) is carrying out a Millennium Yatra to mobilise the community, to check the implementation system and delivery of various governmental schemes for the welfare of Dalits and Tribals, to mobilise media for their active participation to persuade the government and a mass awareness on MDGs, to contact political representatives to accountable them for the well being of marginalised, to involve stakeholders for their active participation.

Md. Mashkoor Alam Senior Program Officer

National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR)
website: www.nacdor.org
Educate Agitate and Organise; have faith in your strength. - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

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 Ministry Of Overseas Indian Affairs

'Travelling Light: A Journey With Ujjal Dosanjh'

A Film by award-winning filmmaker. Meera Dewan for Omni TV, Toronto
(46 minutes, 2010, DVD: English)
Date: 6.30 pm, September 9
Venue: Main Auditorium, IIC

How do you remain a patriot of both the country of your birth and your adoptive country, especially in the face of threats? Meet Ujjal Dosanjh, Indo-Canadian MP. Screening will be followed by a discussion on Punjab's Immigrants. Panelists: Mr. Ujjal Dosanjh; Mr Kuldip Nayar, Senior Journalist; Dr A. Didar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

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 IAWRT INDIA FESTIVAL

CALL FOR FILM ENTRIES

7th IAWRT ASIAN WOMEN'S FILM FESTIVAL, March 2011

The India Chapter of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) is organizing the 7th Asian Women's Film Festival to be held in New Delhi on 7-8 March 2011. This two day event will showcase the works of Asian women film makers in a range of genres - fiction, non-fiction, animation, television features. The term ''Asian'' refers to origin - the film maker can be working in any part of the world.

The six film festivals held so far have always coincided with International Women's Day. They were:

  • 2005 EXPRESSIONS IN FREEDOM
  • 2006 WOMEN, MEDIA AND SOCIETY : TRANSFORMATIONS
  • 2007 REFLECTIONS : WOMEN IMAGING REALITIES
  • 2008 INSIGHTS & ASPIRATIONS
  • 2009 DIALOGUES IN DIVERSITY
  • 2010 BREAKING BOUNDARIES : SHARED SPACES

Past editions of the IAWRT Asian Women's Film Festival have travelled to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram.

The theme of the Festival in 2011 is WAYS OF SEEING: RHETORIC AND REALITY. The selection of films will articulate through multiple lenses the lives, events and concerns of our layered society and reflect how women (as filmmakers and/or as protagonists) go beyond manifestation to question and express through new forms and content. The festival hopes to explore hierarchies and contradictions in our realities and rhetoric.

The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) is a non-profit professional organization of women working in electronic and allied media. It is a non- government organization (NGO), in consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). IAWRT collaborates with media organizations and organizes conferences, projects and other allied activities.

We take this opportunity to invite film makers to send in their entries by 30th September 2010.

All enquiries should be directed to: Jai Chandiram, Festival Director, jaichandiram@yahoo.co.in, mobile (0091) 9811277004
Reena Mohan, Festival Co-Director, iawrtindiafestival@gmail.com

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 INSAF

The UID Scheme is deeply undemocratic, expensive and fraught with unforeseen consequences. The technological, economic, social and political aspects of the National Identification Authority bill currently in the Parliament came under the scanner in a public meeting organized by a coalition of civil society groups under the banner of Campaign for No UID. Groups from Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi participated at the meeting held at Constitution Club.

Led by Nandan Nilekani, former CEO of IT major Infosys, the UID project has been pushed as a landmark initiative for ushering in 'good governance' and providing basic services to the poor. Speakers at the meeting asserted that such claims are grossly exaggerated, false and unjustified. For instance in the case of the Public Distribution System (PDS) systemic issues such as corruption and non-inclusion of families under BPL (Below the Poverty line) ensure that it does not meet its stated objectives. The issuance of a 12 digit number to the poor will therefore hardly result in them accessing cheap food.

The Campaign for no UID plans to hold further meetings across the country and lobby parliamentarians in the coming months.

For more information contact: Sajan Venniyoor (Delhi): +91-9818453483 - Bobby Kunhu (Delhi): +91-9654510398

INSAF national secretariat
124-A/6, First Floor, Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi-110016
Ph: +91-11-65663958, Telefax:+91-11-26517814
E-mail: insafdelhi@gmail.com URL-www.insafindia.org

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 UNICEF, Lucknow

Shifa ( Healing) is a play that has been in the making for the last six years. The play is being proudly presented by UPSACS and UNICEF, in collaboration with Department of Culture, UP

Some of the finest talents from National School of Drama and the Bhartendu Natya Academy (BNA) are involved in making this unusual theatre experiment. Among the cast is this year's National Award Winner for Young Talent in Theatre, Teekam Joshi, who plays a HIV+ narrator Sanjeev in the play.

Almost every word in this play scripted by Ms Tripurari Sharma Associate Professor National Scholl Of Drama New Delhi was dictated by women, children and men affected or infected by HIV. Every incident in the play is inspired by some one's true life experience.

And You have guessed it right. Shifais about stigma. It is about discrimination related to HIV/ AIDS, the discrimination that violates the fundamental rights of children and adults, the discrimination that drives HIV epidemic by making the services for people living with HIV/AIDS inaccessible.

Ms Tripurari Sharma, supported by UNICEF, has spent days with many positive people, held workshops and interactive sessions with many groups before writing the play. Ravi Nagar is providing the music.

The bad news is that the play will only be staged six times: August 28th at Allahabad, August 31st At Varnasi, September 06 at Balia, September 22 at Lucknow, September 29th at Bareily and October 06 at Saharanpur. In each of these places the play is staged on the eve of the arrival of the Red Ribbon Express to generate discussions and issues regarding the epidemic. All decision makers and influencers will be invited to watch the play.

For more info contact
Augustine Veliath, Communication Specialist UNICEF Lucknow
3/194, Vishal Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow 226010
Phone 91-522-4093311 Phone 91-5222303151 to 56 Phone 91 5224093151
Fax 915222303158 Fax 91 522 4093157
email aveliath@unicef.org website www.unicef.in UNITE FOR CHILDREN

Anjali Singh Consultant A and P UNICEF Lucknow/ Development Journalist
Director, Saaksham Foundation saakshamforchildrights@gmail.com

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 Vital Voices Global Partnership

Vital Voices of Asia Summit to Empower Women and Foster Growth

Women's Leadership and Training Summit to be held in New Delhi - September 14-17, 2010

Vital Voices Global Partnership, a leading non-governmental organization that identifies, trains, and empowers emerging women leaders around the globe, will host Vital Voices of Asia, a regional leadership and training summit in New Delhi from September 14-17, 2010. Vital Voices of Asia will build and strengthen a powerful network of regional women leaders across sectors, cultures and generations to help advance the regions of South Asia and East Asia Pacific socially, politically, and economically.

For information on media registration and participation at the Summit, contact:
Vidhya Arvind / Kavitha Kini
Email: vidhya@the-practice.net / kavitha@the-practice.net
Phone No: +91 093791 68989 / +91 093439 12427

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