Ekta Parishad is a movement inspired by Gandhi, born in the early 1990s out of a local open mobilisation held in several states of India and rapidly acquiring national status.
Urged on by their leader Rajagopal P.V., this organisation now regroups 150 000 members in 13 states with 5 000 associations, and an estimated 10 million people touched by their activities in more than 4000 villages.

With rural communities, the dalits(untouchables) and the Adivasis (tribal communities), Ekta Parishad mobilises so the poorest can claim themselves their rights and become independent in their fight.

Birth of a Partnership

Frères des Hommes, born in India in 1965, has always sustained rural and urban development projects in this country.

To maximize actions led by emerging local Indian associations, Frères des Hommes decided to call on an Indian representative from civil society. In this end, from 1983 to 1991, Rajagopal piloted about ten projects engaged by Frères des Hommes, in the domains of human rights, agricultural development and initiation to citizenry through theatrical apprenticeship.

The resulting significant increase of autonomy and know-how in the Indian organisations now allows for Frères des Hommes to work with them directly, no longer needing a go-between.

_As a result, since 1991 Rajagopal has been able to dedicate himself to the “Gandhi Peace Foundation” and found “Ekta Parishad”. Frères des Hommes has been intimately tied to Ekta Parishad since it’s foundation. This relationship has held for Ekta Parishad’s domains’ of intervention (defence of economic, social, political and cultural rights in the most discriminated against and oppressed populations, coordination of civic rallies, the battle for access to natural resources…) and their non-violent engagements are fully in accord with Frères des Hommes values.

Activities led together
Janadesh / Land Rights