SARSON SATYAGRAHA: 

CITIZENS STEP UP THEIR DEMAND TO BAN GM MUSTARD – 

MAJOR ASSEMBLY PLANNED IN DELHI ON OCTOBER 25TH 2016

New Delhi, October 22nd 2016: While the regulatory body for gene technology in India called Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) moves ahead with the approval processes related to GM mustard in India without publishing the full biosafety data in the public domain or giving adequate time for independent scrutiny of such data, and with the Supreme Court currently hearing two petitions that seek to stop GM mustard approval amongst other prayers, citizens from 20 states of India, representing around 30 large national organisations/networks/alliances/campaigns and more than 120 state level/local organisations will congregate in Jantar Mantar on October 25th 2016 to press home their demand for an immediate ban on GM mustard and other such GMOs.

Joining the protest will be leaders from various political parties, all major farmer and farm workers’ unions of the country, trade unions, honey industry representatives, people’s movements and other civil society formations. Scientists and other experts will be joining them in support and solidarity.

Please find enclosed a list of participating organisations at the time of issue of this press release, which is a list that is expanding.

SARSON SATYAGRAHA PROTEST AGAINST GM MUSTARD

OCTOBER 25^TH 2016, JANTAR MANTAR, DELHI (10.30 am to 4.30 pm)

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS

1. All India Agricultural Workers Union
2. All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS)
3. All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
4. Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA)
5. Azadi Bachao Andolan
6. Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch
7. Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS)
8. Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU)
9. Biodynamic Association of India
10. Coalition for a GM-Free India
11. Confederation of Beekeeping Industry of India
12. Greenpeace India
13. Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)
14. India For Safe Food campaign
15. Indian Coordination Committee for Farmers’ Movements (ICCFM)
16. Jai Kisan Andolan (JKA)
17. Kisan Ekta
18. Kisan Maha Panchayat
19. Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (KSS)
20. MAKAAM (Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch)
21. National Alliance for People’s Movements (NAPM)
22. New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI)
23. Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI)
24. Right to Food Campaign (RTFC)
25. Samajwadi Samagam
26. SANSAD
27. Save Our Rice Campaign
28. Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM)
29. Swaraj Abhiyan

Andhra Pradesh & Telangana:

Mahila Raithula Hakkula Vedika

Nelamma Mahila Raithula Sahakara Sangham

Pragathi Organic Farmers’ Cooperative

Rythu Swarajya Vedika

Sahaja Aharam Cooperative Federation

Bihar:

GM-Free Bihar Movement

Jeevit Maati Kisan Samiti, Kedia

Delhi:

Khadya Nyay Abhiyan

HUMSA

INSAF

Vividhara

Various other organisations which are local or national organisations based out of Delhi

Goa:

The Goa Foundation

Gujarat:

ANANDI

Asal organic Shop

Bharatiya Kisan Sangh-Gujarat

Daxin Gujarat Sajiv Kheti Mandal

Gujarat Khedut Samaj

JATAN: A Mission for Organic Farming

Kutch Sajiv Kheti Manch

Lokmitra

Madhya Gujarat Sajiv Kheti Mandal

Organic Trade Link

Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti

Ramkrushna Trust

Sabarkantha Sajiv Kheti Mandal

Saurashtra Sajiv Kheti Abhiyan

Shantigram Nirman Mandal

Uttar Gujarat Sajiv Kheti Manch

Haryana:

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Haryana)

‘Dr Surinder Dalal Keet Saksharata Mission’

Kudarti Kheti Abhiyaan

Swaraj Abhiyan

Swashaasan Mission

Himachal Pradesh:

Himalay Niti Abhiyan

Lok Vigyan Kendra

Paryavaran evam Jan Vikas Sanghatan

Rural Technology Development Centre

Youth for Development

Karnataka:

Bhoomi Network

Desi Krushikara Balaga, Haveri

Karnataka Alliance for Safe Food

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS)

Malnad Rice Growers Association, Banavasi

Millet Growers Association, Madhugiri

Nesara Farmers’ Market

Samvada

Sahaja

Sanjeevini Savayava Krushikara Balaga, Dharwad

Sharana Muddanna Savayava Krushikara Balaga, Davanagere

SOIL

SWARAJ Sanghatane

Kerala:

Haritha Sena

Jaiva Karshaka Samiti

Kerala Paristhithi Aikya Vedika

Thanal

Madhya Pradesh:

Beej Swaraj Abhiyan

Lok Jagriti Manch

MP Kisan Sangharsh Samiti

Maharashtra:

Amhi Amchya Arogyasathi

Apeksha Homeo Society

Chetna Samaj Sewa Mandal

Dharamitra

Dilasa

Gavkus

GM-Free Maharashtra network

Gramin Yuwa Pragatik Mandal

ISAR

Kisan Mitra Network

Matrubhoomi Organic Farmers Cooperative, Odisha

Nagpur Bijotsav group

Naisargik Sheti Beej Company

Sanwad, Rawala

Sarita

Sashwat Sheti Parishad

Sawitri Mahila Mandal

SIRDI

Vanvadi Agro-ecological Regeneration Assocation

Vasundhara Jaivik Kisan Sanstha, Maharashtra

Vidarbha Farmers Study Group

Odisha:

Birupakshya Krushak Sanghatan

Kandhamal Parompariko Chasi Sangathano

Matrubhoomi Organic Farmers Cooperative

Nabanirman Krushak Sanghatana

Paschim Odisha Krushak Sanghatan Samanvay Samithi

Pondicherry:

Pondicherry Organic Farmers’ Association

Punjab:

Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Punjab

Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta Sidhupur

Environmental Health Action Group

Hitkaari Kheti

Kheti Virasat Mission

Kudrat Manav Kendrit Lok Lehar

Kudrati Kisan Haat, Ludhiana

Rajiv Dixit Bharat Chetna Manch

Vatavaran Atey Samaj Bachao Morcha

Women Action for Ecology

Rajasthan:

Astha

Hanuman Van Vikas Samiti

Kisan Sewa Samiti Mahasangh

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sanghatan

Sikshantar

Swaraj University

Vaagdhara

Vagad Mazdoor Kisan Sanghatan

Vatvriksh

Yuva Mandal, Rajasthan

Tamil Nadu:

Peoples Livelihood Association

Tamil Nadu Organic Farmers Federation

Thalanmai Uzhavar Iyakkam

Thamizhaga Vyavasayigal Sangham

Vanagam – Nammalvar Ecological Agriculture Research and Training Center

Safe Food Alliance

Uttar Pradesh:

Bhartiya Kisan Union

SANSAD

Udaan Society and Youth Foundation

Uttarakhand:

Beej Bachao Andolan, Uttarakhand

Chintan

West Bengal:

Forum for GM-Free West Bengal

Gona Udyog

EarthCare Books

Kisan Swaraj Samiti

Mahatma Gandhi Gramodyog Sewa Sansthan