From 80s onwards governments across South Asia have drafted a many new policy measures mainly with two aims: 1) To mitigate the effects of globalisation process on the society especially on the pressures from social movements and people struggles; 2) To meet the demands posed by neo-liberal economic policies on the economy, environment and resources.
Past few decades have been tumultuous for the civil and political struggles across South Asia and seen birth of ‘new’ social and political movements centred on issues of identity, caste, gender, environment, development paradigm etc. and then networking of these movements at global levels in the forums such as Peoples Global Action, World Social Forum, etc. leading to ‘globalisation of resistance’. The networking of these movements has contributed to the evolution of a whole new perspective on the issues of rights, justice, development, governance, transparency, and accountability. The struggles have not been limited to the resistance but have struggled to develop alternative modes of development, reclaiming the commons, and democratise development to make it meaningful for greater common good. The resistance has become fierce from the time neo-liberal economic policies have occupied the centre stage of governance and development. The protests have been stringent especially because of its predatory effects on the poor and marginalised communities, now pushed further along paths of impoverishment and disempowerment. These protests emanate from the enhanced understanding of the globalisation process among people who are beginning to see the linkages between the government’s policies, wider economic processes and the impact on their livelihood.
This module is to critically engage with the government’s policies and analyse its effects on the socio-economic rights of the marginalised communities in the context of changing national and global realities and see how far they go in achieving the aims of governance, socio-economic equality, well-being of people and demands and challenges posed by peoples movements and struggles. By critically reviewing these policies and practices we aim to analyse the justice delivery and programme implementation mechanisms of the government and their gendered nature. The policies on the following provisions and themes would be discussed during the programme:
- Programmes and Policies relating to sustainable livelihood, social and political participation: Access to food, shelter, work, education, health and common property resources.
- Promotion of the status of women
- Promotion of the rights and well-being of the child
- Armed conflict and the vulnerable groups [Module D]
- Internal Displacement, Resettlement and Rehabilitation [Module D]
- Globalisation and the vulnerable groups. [Module B]
These programmes and policies would be studied in context of these significant questions:
- Have these policies been able to help the sustainability of rights and administering justice especially to marginalised communities under globalisation?
- If these policies form part of what has been called as “safety net”, what kind of safety do these policies provide?
- Where and to what extent do rights feature in this landscape of policies?
- To what extent the concerns of various marginalised groups are reflected in these policies, which could ensure their enhanced social and political participation, in governance structures and civil society?
- To what extent these policy measures bridge the divide between civil and political rights and social and economic rights?
- To what extent the justice delivery mechanism established by the state and Non-governmental actors has been efficient ?
Significant case studies of the alternative development practices and resistance strategies developed by these communities and popular struggles would be used for teaching and training here.