STATEMENT FROM ONE WORLD INTERNATIONAL
LATHA GAURI
On behalf of Civil Society Grassroots
Caucus
At WSIS, we are talking about grassroots caucus, but
among 17,000 people participating in WSIS, there are not
many grassroots.
When we talk of multi-stakeholder partnership, say
government, public/private sector, civil society, media,
advocacy groups, in all these, grassroots are the main
stakeholders and others are partners.
When we talk about health, HIV/AIDS, education, condusive
environment, I believe all these issues are talked in MDGs,
we forget about grassroots and we do not make them
understand these policy decisions in their local language.
Apart from digital divide, there is a need to address the
knowledge gap which is prevailing. Rural communities should
be enabled to have access to knowledge, especially those who
are earning less than a $ 1 day.
Grassroots representatives should be enabled to sit
across the table with policy makers to express their needs
while framing the policies.
I am here representing the grassroots communities and
speaking on their behalf as a member of the grassroots
caucus.
I thank OneWorld International Foundation to provide me
the opportunity to speak at this forum.
I am Latha Gauri from Kothlapur village of Hyderabad,
Southern India. I am using video as tool to educate the
community. I am also working as a Community Resource Person,
News reader in Manna TV, (KU Band) a local channel in
Hyderabad. I am also supporting Self-Help Groups for the
last 3 years.
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