About NAPM

The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) is a collective of diverse people’s movements and organizations and likeminded people that struggle across India against injustice, exploitation and communal, ethnic-, caste- and gender-based discrimination.

We struggle along with Dalit, Adivasi, women, fisher communities, minorities and other marginalized groups to bring about social, political and economic justice based on Equality (SAMTATA), Simple Living (SADAGI) and Self-Reliance (SAVAVLAMBAN).

We believe in non-violent means of struggle, people’s democracy and respecting the individual identities of diverse people’s movements. ‘Struggle along with Reconstruction’ through alternative politics is our vision.

The Genesis

Millions of marginalized people of India are struggling against the present methods of development based on oppression, injustice, exploitation, destruction, displacement and discrimination. They are struggling to protect their livelihood resources, and to shape an alternative social political and economic vision of sustainable, humane development with equal right to livelihoods. NAPM also aspires to develop a discourse of harmonious relationships among various communities based on true democracy and pluralism, and against the threat of fundamentalism and communalism.

The struggle has sharpened due to imperialist globalisation based on neo-liberalism, new economic policies and the onslaught of religious fundamentalism. The movements can no longer fight the battle alone on their own issues at their own geo-political situations. Thus, many movements have felt the need to come together as a collective while retaining their individual identities to struggle against the imperialist global forces.

Thus was the genesis of the National Alliance of People’s Movements in 1992, by various movements in India including Narmada Bachao Andolan, National Fish Workers Forum, Samajwadi Jan Parishad, Ganga Mukti Andolan, Shoshit Jan Andolan, Sarva Seva Sangh and many others. It was based on common strategies, programmes and common minimum ideological understanding while respecting the diverse ideologies that influence the people’s movements including Gandhian, Ambedkarite, Lohiaite, Feminist and Marxist.

NAPM’s ideology is an ongoing and evolving process, constantly changing and adapting to situations around us. It challenges the various organisations such as the World Trade Organisation, World Bank and IMF. It stands out as a unique force of people’s politics that challenges present corrupt and criminal electoral politics in India.

We believe that social transformation needs a multi-pronged strategy. NAPM thus uses four tools to bring about social change: Values and Thought, Struggle, Reconstruction and Electoral Politics.

Milestones in NAPM evolution

– 1992: The genesis and movements coming together to form a collective

– 1996: Nation wide tour leading to a convention at Wardha where over 300 people representing 100 organisations and 17 states gathered to develop strategies to give an organisational form to NAPM and to initiate state-wise processes.

* A People’s Resolve was evolved during this convention that clarifies NAPM’s ideological positions on most of the issues.

* Struggle against Enron Corporation, which is a corrupt US-based power generation multi-national corporation (MNC).

* Struggle against Coca-Cola launched.

* 1998: Anti-nuclear movement and a four month Global Peace March from Pokhran, Rajasthan (nuclear testing site), to Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.

* 2003: Initiation of Desh Bachao Desh Banao (Save the Nation Build the Nation) Campaign, a three month long tour covering 15 states of India and culminating at Ayodhya to evolve a national movement.

* 2004: Formation of People’s Political Front (PPF): Some of the constituents of NAPM had a strong belief that in order to bring about social change it was imperative to get directly involved in electoral politics along with people’s movements. This idea has a long drawn process within the NAPM strategy. Ultimately it was decided that NAPM should retain its autonomous identity and there should be a separate, but related front to directly intervene in electoral politics. As a result, PPF was launched in 2004.

* 2005: Campaign against slum demolition in Mumbai and formation of an alliance of organisations working on slum issues (Zopadi Bachao Sayukt Kriti Samiti).