New Delhi: A global alliance of civil society organisations and activists called CIVICUS has expressed disapproval over the decision by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to award Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Global Goalkeeper Award and decided “in principle not to attend the awards ceremony”. CIVICUS is a partner of the Goalkeepers Youth Action Accelerator.
The alliance, which describes itself as an alliance “dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world”, in a press statement said that the decision to give Modi the Global Goalkeeper Award “sends the wrong message”.
CIVICUS noted that Modi’s violation of civic freedoms and his government’s dismal human rights record “should not be overlooked” and expressed concern over the impact that the presentation of the award would have on global philanthropic endeavours and the collective advancement of human rights
The statement also pointed out that Modi, who is being awarded the Global Goalkeeper Award in recognition of his work to improve sanitation through the Clean India Programme, had persecuted activists and undermined “the watchdog roles of the media and civil society groups”.
Taking into account the Foundation’s efforts and contributions to enhance livelihood around the world in the fields of health and sanitation, CIVICUS pointed out that awarding Modi would mean ignoring “serious concerns raised by civil society on the decline of civic freedoms in India”.
Also read: Gates Cambridge Scholars, Alumni Call on Foundation to Revoke Modi’s Award
The press statement further said that failing to implement commitments related to public access to information, inclusive decision making and fostering civil society partnerships, the Modi government was in breach of the democratic ideals recognised under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Chief programmes officer at CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Mandeep Tiwana said that all 17 sustainable development goals were interdependent and co-related. “The Modi government has a lot of ground to cover with regards to the fulfillment of SDG commitments on inclusive governance, civil society partnerships, access to information and fundamental freedoms. In fact, it has deliberately suppressed these,” he said.
CIVICUS cited a slew of anti-democratic measures and a pattern of attacks and violations against freedoms of expression including the recent clampdown in Kashmir, raids on the offices of Lawyers Collective, Amnesty International, and a crackdown on journalists and members of the civil society.
The CIVICUS Monitor, which rates the degree of civic freedom in 196 countries, rates India as ‘obstructed’.