Vigil India Movement – Bangalore
Vigil India Movement (VIM), is a grass root level non-governmental organization committed to the protection and promotion of human rights and democratic principles in India. The Vigil India Movement was founded during the dark years of India’s authoritarian dictatorship and Emergency Rule (1975 – 1977) in which all democratic institutions were paralyzed, constitutional and judicial machineries were controlled by the authoritarian leaders of the country, freedom of the press was suppressed and gross and systematic human rights violations were the hallmark of the days. The VIM was officially launched after the lifting of the Emergency Rule in 1977.
Ever since the VIM was formed, it has been striving to promote human rights education and human rights advocacy, mostly at the grass root levels in India where human rights violations are rampant. The VIM has been developed and grown as a people’s movement in several areas in India through its constant efforts to strive for the furtherance of a truly democratic, secular and just society in India where human rights, human dignity of every individual is respected and protected and human values are taken seriously. It endeavours to create awareness in the minds of the people, especially at the lowest level, about their rights and encourages them to struggle for securing them.
Hope, Fearlessness and Struggle…
“Vigil India Movement strives to insist HOPE in the minds of the people, make them FEARLESS and equip them to STRUGGLE for the realization of a truly democratic and egalitarian society”
Aims and Objectives of VIM:
- To strive for establishing and promoting a truly secular, egalitarian, democratic and just society.
- To promote human rights and human values that embraces every sphere of life.
- To take steps and measures to make democracy in India meaningful to the people and improve their economic and social standards.
- To inculcate and promote in the people of India respect for democratic institutions and higher values of life.
- To support measures calculated to prevent oppression and exploitation by what so ever means or by whosoever of the poorer and weaker sections of the community.
- To take steps for the amelioration of the rights of women, children, tribals, dalits, minority communities and other persecuted and marginalized sections in society.
- To strive for people’s participation in decision making process at every level of society where people can raise their voices on concerns, especially to protect their human rights
Activities:
The main focus of the activities centered on following areas:
• Awareness Building:
(Seminars, Consultations, Discussions at local, regional, State, and National levels)
• Advocacy and Campaign:
(Signature campaign, public rallies, through schools, colleges, educational institutions, etc)
• Institute of Human Rights:
(A special department, Institute of Human Rights, has been set up to provide human rights education and training to various sectors in society with a more professional approach. This is mainly done with the assistance of human rights educators, activists, legal specialists, retired judges, etc.)
• Publications:
(Publishes, VIGIL INDIA, an Occasional Bulletin, Monthly Human Rights Diary, Human Rights Year Book, books and booklets on various issues)
If we are asked to single out what is the achievement of Vigil India Movement during the past thirty years, we could say that it has brought dignity to thousands and thousands of people, both men and women, and have made them fearless to struggle for their rights and the rights of others.
Starting from 1977, the Vigil India Movement formed more than 900 Vigil Groups in various parts of India, among those there were about 300 groups worked exclusively on rights of women.
The VIM has its strong roots in States such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala.
M. A. Thomas National Human Rights Award:
The M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award, instituted in 1993, in memory of Rev. Dr. M.A. Thomas, Founder President of Vigil India Movement, is given biannually to an individual or institution who/that has made significant contributions in the field of human rights. The award was given annually till 2002. It consists of a citation and a cash prize of one lakh rupees. This award is considered as a significant recognition in the area of human rights in India.
Governing Board of the Vigil India Movement:
The VIM is a registered Trust under the rules and regulations of the Government of India.
The Members of the Board of Trustees:
1. Advocate K. Pratap Reddy ( President) – Lawyer, Human Rights Activist
2. Justice P.P. Boopanna, Jurist, Constitutional and human rights law expert
3. Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, Specialist on International Affairs and human rights
4. Dr. M.J. Joseph, (Managing Trustee), Professor, Environmental Activist
5. Dr. Mani Chacko (Secretary) – Professor, Educationist and social and human rights activist
6. Advocate Mrs. Shyla J. Nair, Lawyer, Women’s rights activist
7. Mrs. Anila George, Educator and women’s rights activists
Programme Manager assigned by the Board of Trustees; manages the day to day activities, programmes and administration of the organization with the advice from the Board of Trustees. The National Office is located in Bangalore.
Contact:
Vigil India Movement
61, Charles Campbell Road
Cox Town,
Bangalore – 560 005
Ph.: +91-80-25486831, 25486237, 25487114
Email: vigil@youtele.com
www.vigilindia.org
