INTAF - INTERNATIONAL TASK FORCE FOR THE RURAL POOR

Cordially invites you to the

SIXTH INTAF WORLD CONFERENCE

To be held in London on Saturday, July 2nd and Sunday, July 3rd , 2005

The theme of the conference is:

INVESTING IN THE RURAL POOR

Venue: Friends’ Meeting House, 456 Rayners Lane, Pinner, Middlesex

Investing in the Rural Poor

At a time when technological advances make it possible to reach the most distant places and put man in touch with man right across the globe, the rural poor remain the most exploited, oppressed, ignored and powerless people. Small, marginal farmers, the landless, agricultural labourers, the low caste and the low classes, tribals and village women and children – who is there to represent them, to fight for their interests? They make up some 3 billion of the world’s population yet they have no voice, no international forum and no assets except their own labour. They are illiterate and cannot speak out. Their whole lives are taken up with the struggle for survival. They are weak yet they work hard for long hours in extreme conditions.

Yet no one really knows them and no one wants to find out. The only ones interested in reading about them in the press are those who work for and among them and the few who support their cause.

Ironically, they are regarded as a burden. Since they have no modern, marketable skills, they are seen as non-productive although the truth is that they are the pillars of any society, the foundation of any production pyramid. They consume little, work in natural sustainable ways with the land and often follow diverse, complex methods of farming that produce the highest and best quality yields. Yet no one wants to learn from them; they are regarded as good for nothing unless they become literate, get jobs in the towns and join the consumption trail. Any training or credit schemes prepared for them rarely take their real needs into account and often equip them with useless skills or else offer them credit without the necessary support, training and advice on how best to use it.

How long can this situation continue?

The Sixth INTAF World Conference, 2005

According to INTAF’s constitution, a world conference should be held every three years. The last two were held in India in 1999 and 2002. The next will be held in London in July 2005.

The World Conference is usually the occasion for triennial elections of INTAF’s International Co-ordinating Committee and other organisational business. However, the international gathering also provides a good opportunity to discuss and debate issues of great concern to members of INTAF. The topic for 2005 is “Investing in the Rural Poor”.

The aim of the conference is to draw the attention of the world community to the plight of the rural poor and to the need to bridge the unjust gap that exists between rich and poor. The aim is also to show the public that this gap, if not bridged, poses problems to all humanity including the rich.

The number of delegates to the conference is limited to 70 as follows:-

Delegates from countries of the South	20
Delegates from the UK and other countries of the North	30
Guests and observers	20
Total	70

Programme

Saturday, July 2, 2005

10.00 am Arrival and registration of delegates

10.30 am Pre-conference Session:- Formation of the conference steering committee Approval of the agenda for the conference

11.00 am Inauguration of the Sixth World Conference 2005 by the chief guest Theme: - Investing in the Rural Poor Keynote speakers present papers on the theme Open discussion by delegates

1.30 pm Lunch Break

2.45 pm Formation of four groups and appointment of group leaders Discussion in groups on:-

1. Investing in services for the rural poor / creating a safe and fair environment for the rural poor
2. Investing in the creation of assets/workplaces for the rural poor
3. Investing in the human resource development of the rural poor/ making them productive assets
4. Investing in the creation of sustainable jobs for the rural poor

4.00 pm Tea break

4.15 pm Further discussion in groups and preparation of group reports

5.15 pm Presentation of group reports

Sunday, July 3, 2005

10.30 am Conference Plenary Session Presentation of recommendations, formulation of a common declaration and adoption

11.30 am INTAF Business Session:-

• Reports of International Convenor and National Convenors
• Reports from Rural Development Projects
• Election of International Convenor and Co-convenors
• Election of the new International Co-ordinating Committee
• Election of new National Convenors

1.30 pm Lunch Break

2.30 pm INTAF Planning Session (under the newly elected international convenor)

3.30 pm Conference ends

Conference fee

1. Delegates from the countries of the South will not have to pay a conference fee. Limited accommodation will be available.
2. Delegates from the countries of the North will be required to pay a conference registration fee as follows:-
   1. Unwaged and students - £ 10.00
   2. Waged- £ 15.00

Cheques should be made payable to INTAF. Bank drafts should be made payable to:-

HSBC Bank plc,
International Bank Account No. GB39MIDL40231361150561
Sorting code: 40-23-13.
INTAF A/C no. 61150561.

Contact details

Mukat Singh, International Co-convenor, INTAF,
Amarpurkashi – 202411,
(Bilari), District Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Tel:- 0091 5921 270567, M:- 0091 9412236547,
E-mail: apk_gram@yahoo.co.uk

Delegates from all other countries should contact:-