Bringing together Parliamentarians from across the globe for indigenous peoples’ rights

Parliamentarians for Indigenous Peoples’ Empowerment (PIPE)

We are a not-for-profit organisation to bring together Parliaments and parliamentarians who play a central role in enacting legislation that recognises indigenous peoples’ rights.

The percentage of indigenous population across the world is approximately around 5 percent. However, in spite of that, their representation in Parliament, their involvement in taking part in the democratic processes or choosing their representative or form of Government is very low. Even though they are not the part of development process, they have been adversely affected by the displacement over the years. Their voice is either suppressed, not heard or heard as a means of reaching consensus in letter but never acted on in spirit. They have always remained a story of us versus them. Indigenous people are renowned for their rich cultures, traditional knowledge systems and unique ways of life. In many countries, however, they are dispossessed of their ancestral lands and territories, as well as deprived of the natural resources upon which they depend for their survival. This can result in the denial of their very right to life. Many indigenous communities continue to suffer discrimination, extreme poverty and exclusion from political and economic power. Their belief systems, cultures, languages and ways of life are often threatened, even to the point of extinction

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IDEA

Inspiration

Historic Violation of Indigenous Rights

Innovation

Collate best practices and great ideas for uplift of indigenous communities

Impact

Giving Voice to Marginalised Communities

Action

Inequalities and Disparities

Include and strengthen participation of indigenous peoples in hearings and committees, while respecting the principle of free, prior and informed consent in relation to legislative and administrative matters affecting them.

Poverty and Hunger

Respect indigenous peoples’ internal decision-making processes and associated institutions, considering that these facilitate the participation of indigenous peoples in public affairs in a manner that is philosophically and culturally consistent with indigenous peoples’ own understanding of governance.

Extinction of Indigenous Language and Culture

Allocate sufficient resources to parliamentary committees on indigenous peoples’ rights to guarantee the involvement and participation by indigenous peoples in public hearings and other activities.

Founder

Prof Achyuta Samanta’s life story reads like a powerful saga of grit, determination, and social responsibility. Born and brought up in poverty in a remote village in Odisha, he was dealt a cruel blow at the tender age of four when he lost his father, after which his life became a struggle for food and education for 15 long years. However, he persevered, and at the age of 22, joined teaching. At 25, he embarked on a journey that would change his own life, and the lives of thousands of people. With just Rs 5000 in his pocket, he started KIIT (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology) and KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences) in two rented houses.

Today, these institutions are beacons of hope, providing world-class education, decorated with all possible national and international accolades and global reputation. KIIT has become one of the most sought-after universities in India for professional education. It currently has 40,000 students and representation from 65 countries. KISS is a ray of hope for tribals, providing education, healthcare, sports, and vocational training to 80,000 disadvantaged students – all fully free in a residential campus. KISS has a school, a college, and a university – KISS Deemed to be University, which is the first and only university exclusively for tribal scholars providing innovative tribal courses. KISS has made a huge impact in arresting naxalism, harassment, trafficking, malnutrition, illiteracy, and superstitions by promoting education. He has founded Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences and Kalinga Institute of Nursing Sciences, besides an attached 2600 bedded state-of-the-art hospital, a super-speciality center and a cancer care hospital.

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Office of PIPE