| Alliances
and Networking
MARAG’s
focus on child rights, women’s empowerment and
creation of sustainable livelihood through natural resources
management brought it in close touch with other like-minded
non-government organizations (NGOs) and networks. MARAG
is a member of the National Alliance for Fundamental
Right to Education and Equity (NAFRE), Mahila Swaraj
Abhiyan (MSA), Janpath, Citizens’ Initiative,
Rupen Lok Vikas Manch, Pravah, Padkar, World Herders
Council and World Social Forum.
Since
its inception, MARAG has been actively involved in championing
the cause of Child Rights. The organization is an active
member of NAFRE. MARAG took the initiative in bringing
together NGOs and CBOs under the state alliance for
child rights which is called as BAAG (Buniyadi Adhikar
Andolan Gujarat).
As
a member of the core group, MARAG has been playing an
active role in the Mahila Swaraj Abhiyan, a state-level
network of NGOs working on the issue of women’s
empowerment. The MSA has been carrying out a state-wide
campaign for creating awareness among the elected women
members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions about their
rights and responsibilities. A series of regional conferences
and state-level conferences have been held for the women
members and sarpanches of village panchayats, besides
holding training camps for them.
As
an active member of Janpath, a state-level network of
over 200 NGOs, MARAG has been involved in campaigning
for issues related to marginalized communities such
as Maldharis, Dalits, Muslims and tribals.
MARAG
actively collaborated with several NGOs to mobilize
earthquake-affected people of Kutch under the banner
of Lok Adhikar Manch, which successfully carried out
a long drawn out struggle for getting justice and rehabilitation
aid to the victims from the government agencies.
|