Kathgodam, Uttrakhand

Three days advocacy training for the members of Bhoomi Adhikar Manch (BAM) was organized at Kathgodam in Uttrakhand from the 8th to 10th December 2009.

This training was imparted by two eminent resource persons, one from Chhatisgarh who is a social activist and an activist cum journalist of Madhya Pradesh.

The topics in these three days training included-

• People Centered Advocacy (Sangathan, Forest Rights)
• Issue based Advocacy ( Land Rights and Legal Aspects)
• Policy Level Advocacy
• Advocacy amongst Legislature
• Media Advocacy

BAM members decided that the planning should be done considering a three tire system and all should follow the set norms at the State Level, District Level and Block Level while carrying out nay activity that is related to BAM.

Some of the points like- conducting meetings on the decided dates and place, proper documentation in the meeting registers, discussions to have major focus on forest and land related matters, to have presence and raise issues at village level meetings, include all gram sabhas (village committees).

Resource Kit to BAM Members was distributed which contained the following materials-

• One Bag for each BAM Members which contained
• Brief Summary of Forest Act
• NREGA write up with application form
• RTI form
• Name and addresses of District Administration Officials with contact Nos.
• Details of other welfare schemes run by Government/NGOs