SANAM is committed to working for the growth of a democratic culture as well as the secular unity of culturally, linguistically and ethnically diverse peoples of the Indian subcontinent and its neighbouring regions.

SANAM stands for peace and friendship between the countries and peoples of South Asia. It is committed to offering resistance to communalism, casteism and inequality at local, regional and global levels.

SANAM supports all popular movements for democracy, for economic self-reliance, and for people's participation in decision-making specially in determining developmental priorities at the local level.

SANAM works for the defence of human rights, defined in the wider sense of the right to a good life, and believes that benefits from development should accrue to people at large. It endorses internationalism as opposed to globalisation.

SANAM believes in women's equality and emancipation. It opposes all forms of discrimination against women in the name of religion or culture.

SANAM also contributes to larger efforts to impart secular education by supporting struggles for educational reform, and by the promotion of democratic media which would reflect people's interests.

SANAM sees its role as part of and complementary to the democratic political processes in the subcontinent. With this in view it supports all secular and democratic forces, groups and individuals. It does not believe that NGOs and voluntary groups provide an alternative political space but that their effectivity lies in meaningful alliances with established progressive movements.

SANAM has among its members and supporters people with diverse specialisations, interests and work experiences.To work for peace, understanding and friendship between the peoples of South Asian countries.

To work for peace, understanding and friendship between the people of South Asian countries.

To establish communication networking, via electronic and non-electronic media, among organisations and individuals committed to the promotion of secular, democratic and scientific values.

To generate and project creative alternative perspectives on vital issues affecting the life of South Asian societies in the areas of education, culture, social development, media, science and technology, law, public health, women and ecology through:

SANAM is engaged in:

Creating an electronic forum, a database, and a news and views channel which will provide alternative information and perspectives on major sociopolitical and cultural issues. The focus will be on defence of the democratic and secular heritage of South Asian peoples; on human rights, social justice and peace.

Imparting training in computer literacy and electronic communication to facilitate the use of the new media for the democratic cause.

Establishing a media resource centre with technical facilities for audio video production, which will provide training and facilities required for the production of community videos.

Imparting secular education by supporting struggles for educational reform; and organising popular workshops, discussions and written material for use in colleges and schools, and in forming support groups for similar activities all over India.

Promotion of literacy and learning through the publication of reading material for neo-literates and for use in various education schemes.

Organising workshops to impart training for preparation of reading material for a neo-literate readership, for creating an interface between social scientists and literacy activists, for environment-building programmes of the literacy movement.

Creating a dialogue between literacy activists and volunteers all over the country and a linkage between them and the National Literacy Mission (NLM) through the publication of the NLM magazine Saksharta Mission (in Hindi).

Promoting a democratic and secular voice within the print media, particularly the Hindi and Urdu regional press, through a fortnightly feature service.

Working Office