“We participated in the Ms. Koovagam 2019 organised by South India Transgender Coalition with our play Vellai Mozhi, a solo show performed by Revathi. This was our 25th show. We were not aware that the organisation had received sponsorship from Vedanta group’ s Sterlite factory. We are shocked that this organisation has stooped to this level. It is also sad that the organisers, who are well aware of our political perspective, have embarrassed us. We publicly apologise for having been part of this event this year.”

அ. மங்கை, ஶ்ரீஜித் சுந்தரம், ஆ. ரேவதி:

“தென்னிந்திய திருநங்கையர் கூட்டமைப்பு சார்பாக மிஸ் கூவாகம் 2019 பொது நிகழ்வில் ஆ. ரேவதி வழங்கிய வெள்ளை மொழி ஒரு நபர் நிகழ்வு நடைபெற்றது. இது அந்நாடகத்தின் 25 வது ஆற்றுகை. அதில் நாங்கள் கலந்து கொண்டோம். தொடர்ந்து திருநர் மற்றும் மாற்றுப் பாலின சமூகத்தோடு பணியாற்றுபவர்கள் என்ற வகையில் மிகுந்த எதிர்பார்ப்போடு நாடகத்தை நடத்தினோம். இந்நிகழ்ச்சிக்கான நிதி ஆதாரம் ஸ்டெர்லைட் மற்றும் வேதாந்தா நிறுவனத்திடம் பெறப்பட்டு இருப்பதை நாங்கள் அறியவில்லை. இந்த அமைப்பு அவர்களிடம் நிதி உதவி பெறும் அளவு இறங்கும் என்ற அய்யம் கூட எங்களுக்கு எழவில்லை. அமைப்பாளர்களுக்கு எமது அரசியல் நிலைபாடு நன்கு தெரியும். மக்கள் விரோத நிறுவனமான ஸ்டெர்லைட் உதவியோடு நடத்தப்பட்ட நிகழ்வில் பங்கேற்றமைக்கு மனதார வருந்துகிறோம். பொதுவெளியில் மன்னிப்புக் கோருகிறோம்.”

Further reading on Vedanta’s human rights violations:

• Amnesty’s archives of human rights violations of Vedanta in Thoothukudi: https://amnesty.org.in/india-region/thoothukudi/
• Sterlite protests in Tuticorin: Vedanta’s businesses violate human rights, bypass environmental norms globally, says Nityanand Jayaraman. Greeshma Rai in Firstpost, 2018. https://www.firstpost.com/india/sterlite-protests-in-tuticorin-vedantas-businesses-violate-human-rights-bypass-environmental-norms-globally-says-nityanand-jayaraman-4482599.html
• Wikipedia page on Thoothukudi massacre  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoothukudi_massacre
• ‘Vedanta violated laws, tribal rights’: Sumana Narayanan in DownToEarth. 2015. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/vedanta-violated-laws-tribal-rights-50
• Video coverage of transgender women-led protests in Chennai against Vedanta-Sterlite. 2018. https://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/video/news/transgender-community-conducts-anti-sterlite-protests-in-chennai/videoshow/64329406.cms

Mainstream media coverage of the Koovagam-Vedanta issue is at https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/puducherry/koovagam-event-held-with-vedanta-backing-condemned/articleshow/68913789.cms

Deadline extended to Sept 10, 2013.

Click below to download

Kathmandu Concept Note 2012

SAHRA brief note

Expression of Interest (EOI) form

SOUTH ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION
Request for Expression of Interest (EOI)

Dear Friend,

SAHRA (South Asian Human Rights Association for Marginalised Sexualities and Genders) is inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) from people within the LGBTI community interested in working on LGBTI human rights. This is to participate in the election of two persons (one male and one female), for its West Zone Steering Committee. The election will be held in Goa on 26th and 27th of October 2013.

This election affords an opportunity to build and strengthen the human rights of LGBTI persons in South Asia by participating in documentation of human rights violation, responding to the violation, as well as advocacy with States and stakeholders. Thirty individuals representing various organizations and persons interested in/working on LGBTI rights in West India, will be shortlisted and invited to participate in the above elections. We are attempting to build representation across gender identity and sexual orientation, and hope to divide the above number of 30 within participants as follows: 10 trans persons (5 trans men, 5 trans women), 10 women and 10 men. This shortlisting for the purpose of elections will be made from the following states: Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Please see the salient points about SAHRA in the attached document entitled ‘Brief Note’.

For more detailed information about SAHRA, please refer to the linked document ‘Kathmandu Concept Note 2012’.

The West Zone Steering Committee will comprise of three members: one trans person, one woman (assigned female at birth and self identified as female) and one man (assigned male at birth and self identified as male). The Steering Committee will include the already elected Task Force members. Since for SAHRA West India the elected Task Force member is a trans person, the October elections will therefore be for the remaining two positions: one woman and one man.

Date of EOI: 16th August 2013

Closing time and date of receipt: 5 pm, 10th September 2013

Email address: sahra.indiawest@gmail.com

Procedure for submission of EOI 

Eligible persons and organizations are invited to submit the duly filled in application form attached herein. A maximum of two persons per organization are invited to complete one form per person and return it by email not later than the above deadline.

Please make clear reference to the EOI in the subject field and attach duly filled EOI form.

Eligibility

Organizations and LGBTI individuals from West India,interested in/working on LGBTI rights a in agreement with SAHRA’s vision, mission and goals, are eligible to apply.

Organizations should send applications of LGBTI persons who are project directors/managers, programme coordinators, project coordinators or those in a decision-making position. LGBTI individuals interested in standing for elections should be recognized activists for LGBTI issues and should have experience and credibility within their communities.

Please note:
1. All costs for accommodation and the following meals: dinner on 25th October, breakfast and lunch on 26th and 27th and breakfast only on 28th October will be borne by the organizers.
2. INR 1000 per day will be given on arrival for personal expenses including dinner, incurred
during travel and meeting days.
3. Travel by 3 tier A/C train will be reimbursed on the evening of 27th.
4. As it will be holiday season in Goa, applicants are advised to book train tickets
well in advance.

Contact Us
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at: sahra.indiawest@gmail.com

Hindi EOI and Related Documents
If you require this letter, Brief Note and application form in Hindi please email
us immediately to avoid delay in sending this to you.

We look forward to receiving your application.
Warm regards,
Satya Rai-Nagpaul , Task Force Member, West Zone, India

and

Cath Sluggett, Consultant

Click below to download

Kathmandu Concept Note 2012

SAHRA brief note

Expression of Interest (EOI) form