Principles

The following principles form the foundation of SOPHIA’s projects and work with both the Van Gujjar and village communities.

The placement of ‘indigenous’ within a wider context.

As of the 2011 Census, the Indian government has listed 705 peoples as ‘indigenous’.  SOPHIA moves beyond the Government’s definition to include a history of residence, ethnicity, lifestyle and means of production.  Hence, the term ‘indigenous’ may apply to those who are unlisted.  SOPHIA seeks to avoid anthropocentrism and exoticism by considering the contemporary natural and socio-political environment in which indigenous people are embedded.

That SOPHIA’s relationship with all communities is founded upon an equal partnership of mutual trust and respect.

Partnership with the communities is constructed through regular and continuous field meetings between the participants and SOPHIA’s staff. The NGO works with the Van Gujjars in total transparency so as not to provide the community with false expectations. Similarly, this principle has been translated into SOPHIA’s work with the village communities.

The participants’ ownership of the projects.

The communities’ ownership of the projects is essential to their sustainability. By actively formulating, carrying out and participating in the projects the communities own them. To identify the main issues the Van Gujjars face and their causes, the community underwent an extensive ‘self diagnosis’ workshop. Thus, the projects were born out of the Van Gujjars’ perceptions and opinions of their issues and how to resolve them. Furthermore, SOPHIA conducted numerous meetings with the village communities to raise awareness about forest rights and discuss how they wanted to proceed with the project.

The sustainability of projects’ results through community empowerment via a rights based approach.

SOPHIA operates through an awareness of the necessity of the communities’ non-reliance upon the NGO. This principle is achieved through the mobilisation of the community and the formation of socio-political platforms. By employing the rights provided by the state as a means of maintaining and supporting the communities' livelihoods, the results of the projects are founded upon legal channels and therefore cannot be revoked.