Over the past few years, several groups have systematically come together to closely monitor the World Bank´s functioning in India, especially with regard to its Country Assistance Strategy; its review of its social and environmental standards; its proposal of using Country Systems in lowering regulatory standards, etc. As part of this process, it has been considered important to undertake a broad-spectrum enquiry into the World Bank and the functioning of its allies and to review their impacts nationally. This is the origin of the Independent People´s Tribunal on the World Bank Group in India.
The purpose behind the Tribunal is to provide a just and unbiased forum for people who have faced the impact of projects and policies funded or promoted by the World Bank Group. The Tribunal is an opportunity to express their grievances and propose alternatives.
Given what seems to be the record of the projects funded and promoted by the World Bank in terms of human rights violations and environmental degradation; the feeble response of these agencies and the Indian government to proposals and appeals by the people of India to reconsider its projects and approaches, it is time to examine and judge their claims to serving the wider public interest. The chief focus of this exercise will be to study the impact of the World Bank´s policies and projects as it is increasing its influence in all directions encompassing the country´s economy as well as its educational, social and cultural fabric.
In order to formalize the process, several consultations have been done with groups, individuals and organizations in various parts of the country. At the National Consultation on Housing and the Urban Poor held in Mumbai in October 2005, where over two hundred groups participated, a call was issued to take forward this process. Since that time the Tribunal has been evolving, with new convenors and participants entering the process.
The three main objectives established for the Tribunal are:
- To dispel the myth that the World Bank operates independently and does not espouse the cause of any country or private agency.
- To determine the Bank's influence on the policy-making decisions of Indian government officials.
- To determine the impact World Bank's policies have had on poverty and democratic structures in India.
To conduct an investigation of this size, depth and proportion will not be possible without the efforts of a large collective. As members of the Tribunal we appeal to you to not only support this initiative but to speak to other like minded groups, individuals and organisations and ask them to be integrally part of this process and contribute in terms of cases to profile, suggested panel members, raising resources and endorsement of the Tribunal.
