Gene Campaign has been organizing meetings at district and block levels in various states to generate awareness on subjects like IPRs, Farmers Rights, and Community Rights. It has helped raise awareness and made people vigilant about biopiracy and its implications in terms of lost revenue. It has worked hard to sensitize people about national and international developments relating to genetic resources and their impact on rural economies and livelihoods - the likely impact of WTO/ TRIPS, new international agricultural trade regulations and impending agricultural imports.

CAMPAIGN LITERATURE AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL

Preparing simple literature explaining recent developments and their impact on the Indian economy and people is a major focus. This literature prepared in regional languages in the form of booklets, posters, handbills and flyers, uses local idiom and examples to explain alien concepts like patents and intellectual property rights, and the impact of agricultural agreements. Gene Campaign's calendars giving the medicinal uses of Indian flora like flowers, fruit trees and common spices are an effective and popular conservation medium.

SYMPOSIUMS AND PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS

Gene Campaign has organised a number of discussions on policy and legislation related to the various aspects of biological resources, including microorganisms, like the sui generis legislation for new plant varieties and the National Biodiversity Act. It is holding discussions on Indigenous Knowledge and has started a consultative process to develop policies in this field.

PREPARING REPORTS AND POLICY DISCUSSION

As part of its public education work, Gene Campaign has been preparing reports and policy papers on various aspects of bioresources for use by NGOs, academic institutions and government departments. It works together with these institutions for better dissemination of ideas, and to develop new models of scientific research. It has been preparing briefing papers for leaders of political parties for debates in the Indian Parliament and State Legislatures.

WORKING WITH FARMING COMMUNITIES

Gene Campaign has been active in mobilizing farming communities and farmer associations. It works with rural communities to secure for Indian farmers their traditional freedom in agriculture and control over seed and seed sources. It has organised seminars and workshops to provide an interface between the farming and scientific communities.

TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Gene Campaign has collected considerable experience in the field of genetic resources, having worked in the areas of conservation, inventory, awareness generation, and policy-making and legislative action. It organises training programmes with civil society groups to share its knowledge.

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