Vikalp Sangam

ASHA's Kisan Swaraj Sammelan (Northern & Western India) in Lokniketan, Ratanpur, Gujarat
2026-01-11 08:00 - 2026-01-13 17:00 (Asia/Kolkata)
Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture or the ASHA-Kisan Swaraj network announces the 6th edition of Kisan Swaraj Sammelan, for Western and Northern regions, during January 11, 12 and 13 of 2026 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) in Lokniketan, Ratanpur (6 kms from Palanpur, Banaskantha district, Gujarat). This Sammelan is co-organised by Lokniketan Trust and JATAN. ASHA-Kisan Swaraj is a pan-India informal citizen-volunteers’ platform to promote sustainable farm livelihoods and to protect farmers’ rights. More about ASHA Kisan Swaraj is available on www.kisanswaraj.in.

ASHA has been organizing periodic Kisan Swaraj Sammelans to create an occasion for strengthening our understanding of the highly complex challenges before us, and for rejuvenating our common bonds so that even as we work independently on many fronts, there is a synergy in thought and action. These are also confluences that bring in new people, thoughts, analyses, energies and plans, to collectively move forward towards improving farm livelihoods in India.

In the past, such Sammelans were organized in Bhopal (2013), Hyderabad (2016), Ahmedabad (2018) and Mysuru (2022). ASHA joined hands with OFAI (Organic Farming Association of India) to organize an organic farmers’ convention in Chandigarh (2015), keeping in line with the biennial organic farming conventions of OFAI.

Kisan Swaraj Sammelans (KSS) are intended to bring together members of India’s agroecology community in particular, even as they draw in those working for farmers’ rights in general. This includes pioneering practitioners, civil society representatives, activists, academics, scientists, social entrepreneurs, writers and journalists, artists etc. The movement is also concerned about consumer choices and consumers’ right to safe, sufficient, diverse and nutritious foods; participants will also be from this domain. Our Sammelans reflect the values, perspectives, experience and knowledge of a citizens’ movement focused on building farmers’/farming communities’ autonomy and sovereignty (with positive outcomes for consumers also), with careful attention to economic prosperity, social equity and environmental sustainability. These Sammelans re-connect people in this community, hold conversations around emerging issues, share and learn from ground level solutions and plan for policy level interventions needed.

We are attempting a new format this time, which is to have three regional Sammelans, rather than one national Sammelan. This Western and Northern Region Sammelan in Lokniketan Ratanpur will be followed by Southern and Eastern Regions’ Sammelans. The Western and Northern Region Sammelan in January 2026 will cover participants from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

KSS 2026 will have special focus on four emerging issues in India:

Seed Sovereignty: Fresh developments in the form of Seeds Bill 2025, proposed amendments to the Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act 2001 and proposed amendments to International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) – also known as Plant Treaty are threatening our farmers’/nation’s seed sovereignty and thereby our food sovereignty;

HT Crops/Weed Management: India’s seed market now has 3 non-GM herbicide tolerant (non-GM HT) crops introduced, in addition to genome edited rice varieties, both developments based on compromised regulatory systems, science without integrity and undemocratic policy-making. They will largely compromise the very integrity of organic/natural farming by spirit, standards and practices;

Labour in Farming: Human and draught labour in agriculture is undergoing complex changes and needs practical and policy solutions to be put into place, for a win-win solution for agricultural labourers, farmers, environment and livestock;

Human-Animal conflicts: They are on the rise, with wildlife attacks on farmers’ lives, crops and livestock leading to losses and strife, which also need both policy level and practice level solutions.

For more details see this pdf

KSS 2026 – W&N Invite to RegisterDownload

Certificate Course on Agroecology for Food Systems Transformation
2025-12-20 08:00 - 17:00
We’re excited to announce our next 10th batch of the 3-month hybrid Course in Agroecology for Food Systems Transformation (Application Form: https://forms.gle/LYX9zekcTa1br2kL7), under the Food Systems Multiversity platform (www.foodsystemsmultiversity.org), starting 5th January 2026.

The Course will be conducted by Welthungerhilfe and Sambhaav Trust, and accredited by The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU) Bengaluru.

This 13-week program combines online interactive sessions and expert-led sessions with hands-on fieldwork alongside Enterprises and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across India. The Course is open to graduates from any background and is free. Participants only have to cover their own fieldwork expenses. Facilitators include a range of practitioners, researchers and academicians from across the country.

Fieldwork will be organised across India, in partnership with Lok Chetana Manch Uttarakhand, SeSTA Assam, Paushtik Life West Bengal, SEWA Baradia Group West Bengal, PRAVAH Jharkhand, PRAGATI Odisha, Pandhari Maharashtra, Adisil Trust Tamil Nadu, WILD Trust Bihar and Sambhaav Trust Rajasthan.

Participants will develop practical skills for designing and managing food systems based on agroecological principles, as well as gain insights into the political, socio-cultural, and community engagement dimensions of food systems from practitioners, scientists, and farmers. The Course also emphasizes participation in transformation processes, beyond conventional fieldwork.

Key Details:Duration: 5th January 2026 – 3rd April 2026 (13 weeks)Structure: 9 weeks of online coursework and 4 weeks of fieldworkEligibility: Graduates from any backgroundFees: Course is free of cost (participants only cover their own fieldwork expenses)Accreditation: The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), BangaloreApplication Deadline: 20th December 2025Course Brochure: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jOHC9cOhVEyJjTzQK9EkIYpVYxdHf5hK/view?usp=sharingApplication Form: https://forms.gle/LYX9zekcTa1br2kL7

For any queries, please contact us at foodsystems.multiversity@gmail.com or via WhatsApp at +91-9443434227 / +91-7977905741.

Thanks and regards,

Ashis Panda

On behalf of the Food Systems Multiversity TeamWelthungerhilfe | Sambhaav Trust | TDU

Roots and Routes Adda Series with Ashish Kothari
2025-12-16 20:00 - 21:30
On the 16th of December at 8:00 pm IST, we will have Ashish Kothari at the “Roots and Routes” (https://www.youtube.com/@livingrootsarchive) Adda with us engaging in “grasroots environmentalism” and sharing stories about his community collaborations, activism, and initiatives.

In case you are interested, the joining details are given below:

Topic: Grassroots EnvironmentalismTime: Dec 16, 2025Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us05web.zoom.us/j/88958849725?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 889 5884 9725Passcode: [REDACTED]

Sayan

Applications: Green Hub Fellowship
2025-12-10 08:00 - 17:00
Greetings from the Green Hub Western Himalayas!

We are delighted to announce the call for applications for the 3rd edition of the Green Hub Western Himalayas Fellowship for 2026-2027, launched by Dusty Foot Foundation and Royal Enfield. This fellowship opportunity is extended to youth residing in the Western Himalayan Region of India (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir). The fellowship aims to involve young individuals to learn about the environment, wildlife, conservation, climate sustainability, sustainable livelihoods, and social transformation through the medium of filmmaking. Specifically, this fellowship is for those hailing from indigenous communities, economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and remote rural areas.

Selected candidates will participate in a one-year residential fellowship program headquartered in Theog, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Here, they will receive training from distinguished wildlife and environmental filmmakers, conservationists, and experts. Throughout the fellowship, participants will have the unique opportunity to learn through field experience with organizations working on diverse issues, ranging from wildlife conservation and rural development to social enterprise, sustainable livelihoods, and other areas pertinent to social change and climate.

20 fellows will be selected every year through an online application process. The selection is a three-stage process that includes phone interviews and face-to-face interviews. The fellowship will commence from the 2nd week of March 2026.

Background of the Green Hub Fellowship:

The Green Hub Fellowship, initiated in northeast India in 2015, has since expanded its reach to Central India in 2021 and the Western Himalayas in 2024.

How to Apply:

To apply for the fellowship, please follow the links below based on your preferred language:

• English Application Form: Click here

• Hindi Application Form: Click here

Learn More:

To gain further insights into the Green Hub Fellowship experience, we encourage you to watch the following videos:

• Green Hub Northeast: Watch here

• Green Hub Central India: Watch here

For any queries, feel free to reach out to us at +91-9414983969 (Saurabh Sharma-Program Manager) or +91-7011787604 (Chhavi Bathla-Program Associate) available from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Last date to submit the application: 10th December 2025

Stay Connected: To stay updated on the latest news and developments, please visit our official website and social media channels:

Website: www.greenhubindia.net ; www.dustyfootfoundation.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenhub_india/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@greenhubvideodiary187

Please share this opportunity within your group.

We eagerly look forward to your applications and the opportunity to work together toward a sustainable and environmentally conscious future.

Warm regards,

The Green Hub Team

Ancient Indian Astronomy - efforts to achieve the right model of planetary motion
2025-11-24 16:00 - 17:00
FLAME University’s India Centre announces a session featuring Dr. Shylaja B S., Visiting Scientist, Bangalore Association for Science Education, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore. Titled ‘Ancient Indian Astronomy – efforts to achieve the right model of planetary motion,’ the talk will outline the methods used by Indian astronomers to predict planetary positions and trace how these techniques advanced from Aryabhata through later scholars.

The session will highlight the analytical approaches and scientific progression embedded in this longstanding tradition.

Venue : VKS 002

Date and Time : Monday Nov 24, 4.00 pm.

Speaker Bio: B. S. Shylaja worked on the binary stars with Wolf-Rayet components for her doctoral thesis. She continued her research on comets, dwarf novae, and magnetic and metallic (Am) stars. She has authored 150 research papers in astronomy and the history of astronomy. After joining the Planetarium, she engaged in educational activities, including teaching on weekends, producing sky theater shows, and conducting outreach. She worked on various interactive demonstrations and models and taught a range of age groups. Currently, she is working on the history of astronomy in India, focusing on medieval-period manuscripts, stone inscriptions, and temple architecture.

Ten Day Residential Course: Nature, Culture and Economy
2025-11-14 08:00 - 2025-11-23 17:00
Nature, Culture, and EconomyA ten-day residential course on rethinking our economy14th–23rd November 2025Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Are there ways of producing beautiful objects for our use that are both ecologically sustainable and can ensure dignified livelihoods to all? What role has economics played in creating a disconnect between nature and our culture, and can we reforge a new relationship between them? Could spending a few days with artisans in a village offer wisdom for our times?

To explore these questions, Pagdandi Collective is organising a 10-day residential course on Nature, Culture & Economy at Jeevika Ashram. The course will combine lectures and discussions, as well as hands-on craft practice with artisans in the village.

The last date to apply is 30th September, 2025.

For more details, please see the link here: https://pagdandi.substack.com/p/nature-culture-and-economy

The course is offered as a gift and is made possible by contributions from several well wishers and past participants. We are seeking support to put this program together. If you would like to make a small contribution towards the organising of this program, please use the UPI number 8056219285 (Shyam) (do mention ‘for pagdandi’).

Regards,

Shyam, Irina and Aryaman
