The Structure of FIAN India

FIAN India is a network of various independent FIAN chapters in different federal states of the country. The oldest recognised FIAN chapter is Tamilnadu followed by West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Rajsthan. Since year 2000 these independent units of FIAN have decided to develop a national structure of FIAN for effective communication and collaboration. To this end a National Executive Committee (NEC) was developed in 2009, consisting of representatives of all FIAN chapters in India. NEC has set-up a liaison office in Delhi for further networking. FIAN India is a non-profit organisation and affiliated to FIAN International, a Germany-based Human rights organisation that works for the implementation of economic, social and cultural human rights (ESC rights), in general and the right to adequate food in particular.

FIAN India is a membership based organisation largely relying on voluntary work in FIAN groups and chapters in the country. FIAN India's key members are its chapters, which are legal entities in their own right and have their own membership and elected decision-making bodies but work within the FIAN India mandate. FIAN India has 6 chapters: in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajsthan, Karnataka, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The first stage of developing a chapter is the foundation of a co-ordinating group. On the local level, members of FIAN chapters form groups based on voluntary work. These groups work on the local level towards raising public awareness about the right to food. On the national and international levels the members of groups participate in protest letter campaigns and work on specific cases of violations that have been adopted by FIAN India or FIAN International. FIAN India has has some 80 active local groups and total membership of FIAN India currently stands at around 3,300.

The highest decision making body of FIAN India is National Assembly consisting of the delegates of the all FIAN units of the country. NEC meets bi-annually and defines FIAN's policy framework for India. Currently, the NSC consists of 9 representatives of FIAN units in India. Each FIAN unit has its own secretariat and FIAN India has a small office in Delhi for liaison purposes.