Projects in South Asia

Find here details on concluded projects in all of our three main working areas.

Political Representation of Minorities in India

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF DALIT STUDIES | Despite laws to protect marginalised groups in India, such as Muslims or Dalits (formally known as ‘Untouchables’), they still face widespread discrimination in India, especially with regard to economic status and their representation in the legislature.

Engaging with the Legacy of Rosa Luxemburg

CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES | The project attempts to engage with the Legacy of Rosa Luxemburg by disseminating and critically engaging her ideas on women's struggles for equality and socialism within contemporary Indian society. The project has been successfully completed in 2019.

Promoting Dialogue and Exchange on Sustainable Farming

FOCUS ON THE GLOBAL SOUTH | For small-scale farmers in India, it has become increasingly difficult to earn a living. They rely on agricultural businesses for their seeds and fertilisers and have to compete with big industrial farms. While the agricultural sector is still the largest concerning workforce, its share in India’s economy keeps shrinking. The project has been successfully completed.

Empowering Migrant Workers

PRAYAS | In rural India, shrinking gains from agriculture forces more and more farmers to look for alternative sources of income. Outside the harvest season, many of them migrate to urban hubs with high hopes, only to find insecure jobs under precarious conditions.

Read more … Empowering Migrant Workers

Spaces to Discuss Marxist Theory

SOUTH ASIAN UNIVERSITY | How relevant is Marxist thought for us today? The annual international conferences organised by the South Asian University and RLS are devoted to discussing this question and strengthening networks of people from the left political spectrum. The project has been successfully completed in 2019.

Social Movements as Actors of Change

MAHANIRBAN CALCUTTA RESEARCH GROUP | The Indian states of Bihar and West Bengal have seen the emergence of various socio-political movements during the second part of the 20th century. Although many of them decisively influenced the course of Indian politics, the social context which allowed them to emerge is still poorly understood. The project has been successfully completed in 2019.

Sustainable Small-Scale Farming

AGRAGAMEE | India’s small-scale farmers are increasingly under stress: shrinking cultivable land, large corporations dominating seed and pesticide markets as well as the effects of climate change make it more and more difficult for Indian farmers to sustain themselves. The project was completed in 2019.

Women in Agriculture

FOUNDATION OF AGRARIAN STUDIES | Women in rural areas have especially felt the ramifications of globalisation and economic liberalisation. The research on women in agriculture, however, does not reflect the complex changes that are occurring with respect to their work and livelihood. The project was completed in 2018.

Promoting Sustainable Farming

FOCUS ON THE GLOBAL SOUTH | For farmers in India, it has become increasingly difficult to earn a living. Our partner Focus on the Global South supports small-scale farmers and advocates for a change in public opinion and policy, so that sustainable forms of agriculture become more viable for the farmers. The project was completed in 2018.

Political Education for Nepal's Youth

CENTRE FOR NEPAL STUDIES | The Centre for Nepal Studies seeks to provide an open space for Nepali youth to come together, discuss, and learn more about current political issues. While our partner’s research and workshops lies on theoretical and practical questions of the contemporary political left, the centre also aims at establishing a network of intellectuals, political actors and youth activists in Nepal. The project was completed in 2018.

Innovative Tools for Migrant Workers

SOCIETY FOR LABOUR AND DEVELOPMENT | Every year, millions of people in India leave their villages in order to find work in urban areas. Often, they belong to the most deprived and vulnerable social groups. Together with the Society for Labour and Development, RLS has supported migrant workers in asserting their rights. The project was concluded in 2018.

India Looks East

MAHANIRBAN CALCUTTA RESEARCH GROUP | For a long time, India did not pay much attention to its eastern neighbours and had a difficult relationship with China. Since the late 1990s however, India has begun to increase its engagement and seeks to foster strategic relations with countries in South East Asia. The project was completed in 2018.