I attended the regional committee meeting of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization at Negombo yesterday. There were around 65 women leaders attended the meeting and my colleagues of Pradeep Wanigasuriya, the alternative economic development coordinator, A.Jayawathie, Coordinator, Praja Shakthi Development Foundation at Karuwalagaswewa were also attended the same meeting.
The main theme Pradeep and Jayawathie were discussed is that how the organic rice we produced at Blue Green Garden [BGG] and also with the collection of rice paddy we collected from 13 organic rice farmers in Karuwalagaswewa area with our involvement.
The women group's main concern is to get the rice with the lowest price whether it is organic or otherwise. So, there will be a big task to do as people's man concern would be to face the challenges due to inflation.
However, the team agreed to buy some rice and would cooperate with the farmers.
We see this is a good system if we could effectively carry out what we are talking about the exchange of farmers and fishers productions eliminaing the middle men.
The next agenda item in which I was fully engaged is that how to build the people's power in an organized manner. In clear terms, I explained that the necessity to involve in the power structures and intervene to deal with people's issues. I explained the idea which we had since 2008 November with the courage and determination we experienced at the WFFP GA4 when we organized it in Negombo.
SVFWO was in the forefront and did their best to demonstrate the people's power in Negombo.
So, I explained that the necessity to run the regional council elections as a team of poor and oppressed people. Our women leaders must be there. We will discuss with fisheries organizations. I have already discussed some of the landless people's leading agency about this and he did agree on principal and to discuss further within the organization and let us know. Also, some of the media group like Meepura also agreed to this on principal and would discuss further. We want to discuss with minority groups such as Muslim & Tamil community leaders should be approached.
So, women have already have some ideas about this and wanted to dicuss some matters how to run the elections.
After explaining how we did some work at the Karuwalagaswewa Regional COuncil and preparation of Area development plan, the players who involved the development process, how the government agencies, NGOs, people's organizations engaged the same development plan, the enthusiasm was raised among the women leaders. After my intervention, Brito Fernando, Chair Person of Right to Life organization was also addressed the women leaders and tried to get their real feeling and commitment on the campaign.
What we agreed at the meeting is as follows;
> We need to run the elections as a part of the overall program of SVFWO/ NAFSO,
> SVFWO membership and leaders should discuss this matter in detail in their small groups, village meetings, regional committee and the general body meeting,
> The NAFSO and R2L leaders will attend the village meetings and convince the women and their families why women need to run the elections at Negombo.
> Convene a special meeting with concerned few for discuss this matter further,
So, Brito and Herman agreed to discuss this further with other groups in the Negombo town for gather more people towards the campaign.
Herman Kumara,
21 April 2010
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