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India is showing a keen interest to adopt
and implement Agricultural Biotechnology. However, most people do not know much
about agbiotech. Administrators, politicians, policymakers and the general
public have little knowledge about the various aspects of this technology. The
decision making process of the government allows little room for public
consultations. And no study has been conducted in India to assess the relevance
of this technology to a predominantly agricultural economy like ours.
Why
conduct public debates?
In order to assess what agbiotech can offer
us and how relevant it is to India's needs, It is necessary to generate public
awareness and enable people to get involved in the debate. This would encourage
participatory and informed
decision-making. Gene Campaign is making
the effort to conduct public debates and discussions to facilitate an open,
consultative process for discussing the various aspects of the technology
including research, policy implementation and impact on agricultural economies
such as that of India.
These debates and discussions try to
include a range of participants like farmers, subject experts, lawyers,
academics, scientists, consumers, students, homemakers NGOs, concerned citizens
and the media. With this aim of generating awareness about the subject and
educating the public, Gene Campaign has been conducting a series of public
debates and discussions on GE Crops/Foods and their relevance to Indian
agriculture and small farmers. Our objective is to involve as many stakeholders
as possible in order to encourage informed and participatory decision-making.
So far, Gene Campaign has conducted a
number of public debates. From March to August 2006,such public discussions
have been held in Jaipur, Pune, Bhopal, Nagpur, Lucknow and New Delhi.
These debates are usually attended by a
broad cross section of people such as agricultural scientists, academicians,
subject experts, consumer groups, lawyers, civil rights activists and farmer
representatives.
At the end of the discussions, a series of
resolutions are usually adopted which include a mix of general issues like the
demand for a national policy and local issues like declaring a state organic
rather than adopting GE crops. Such resolutions are sent to the Chief Minister
and the political leaders, shared with the media for dissemination and
constitute the basis for local level advocacy.
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