In 2005, CAG embarked on a 24 month project titled Grassroots Reachout & Networking on Trade & Economics (GRANITE) in partnership with 7 other civil society organisations across India co-ordinated by CUTS International, Jaipur to promote economic literacy and understand the relationship between trade policy and livelihoods in the sectors of Agriculture and Textiles for greater participation of the stakeholders on issues of trade, economics and livelihood promotion.
Goals
The aim of this project is to promote ‘economic literacy’ through capacity building of civil society organisations, consumer groups and other community based organisations working at the grassroots level. The goals of this project are to:
Demystify issues relating to WTO and globalisation by collecting the existing perception of people and dispelling myths and half-truths;
Establish upward and downward linkages between citizen-consumer and policy makers by setting up a platform for the two sides to interact;
Build capacty for civil society groups so that they may play an active role in ushering in pro-poor economic policies.
Scope
Though there are virtually no sectors that are not affected by global trade and trade policies, the main areas of focus chosen for this project are agriculture and textiles & clothing (T&C), because they provide employment to a large section of people, especially in the low-income, rural population.
For more information about the national programme visit: www.granite.org.in
