Global Launch of ACT Alliance in India

In India, the ACT Alliance Launch was done collectively by the ACT Alliance India forum, which has 26 organisations (5 implementing orgranisations & 20 Resource Agencies & 1 observer) members of the ACT Alliance, including CASA.  We decided to jointly work towards the launch and share the  expenses between us.  Thus various working groups were formed  such as Programme Group, Media Group, Logistics group, etc among the member organizations.  CASA took the lead role to coordinate this event.

The Launch:

After a month long preparations, on the 24th March, a national event was organised at New Dlehi.  ACT Alliance  was    formally launched here in India  by Sri Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities by lighting the traditional lamp as well as through an electronic medium. (please see the link for the electronic launch http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ANYFD98P). The member organizations of ACT also lighted the lamp along with the chief guest.  As a symbol of our commitment to the poor and marginalized, some of the community members from the tribal, dalit background also lighted the lamp. Various dignitaries, intellectuals from the Civil Society Organisations and Political leaders attended the function. The Moderator of ACT Alliance, who also happens to be the Director of    CASA, was present at the Launching ceremony and introduced the ACT Alliance to the gathering. He highlighted that with the formation of this huge alliance to address the Humanitarian aid and long term development issues, ACT will get greater visibility, stronger advocacy, better access to funding and better coordinated efforts by the member organisations of ACT Alliance.

Panel Discussion:

Later on a Panel Discussion was held on the theme: “ Globalised world and inclusive Development: Challenges” .  Several eminent panelists from the CSOs and the Political leaders across the party affiliation spectrum spoke at the panel discussion. The panelists brought in various dimensions to the issue of Inclusive development from the perspective of Excluded communities, women and CSO’s participation. The Panelists comprised of members from the CSOs, namely Dr. Rajesh Tandon, Ms. Annie Raja – National Federation of Indian Women, Prof. T.K.Oomen – Schumacher Centre for Development , Sri Amitabh Behar- WNTA     (Don’t break your promise campaign)  and among the  Political leaders were present Sri Atul Anjan, National Secretary, CPI and Smt. Reeta Bahuguna Joshi, President, UP State Congress Committee.  The Panel discussion was  moderated by Dr.(Ms.) Belinda Bennet, South Asia Head of Christian Aid. There was overall appreciation from the dignitaries from the Civil Society Organisations, the Chairperson of the  National Minority Commission, Government and various political parties present, who congratulated the members on the global launch of the ACT Alliance and hoped  that with the formation of this new global alliance, the ACT member organizations in India will be able to respond to emergencies and sustainable development issues more effectively.  They also emphasized on the need of increase participation of the CSOs with the government for effective service delivery mechanism in the state.  Including most of the member organizations of ACT Alliance in India, around 200 prominent members from the CSOs and government organizations participated in the event.