BANGALORE: The National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) "unreservedly supports" reservation for Other Backward Classes in higher education, said Medha Patkar, a national convener of the alliance.

"NAPM unequivocally supports reservation for Other Backward Classes in higher education and in higher technical jobs. We demand that there should be reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in private jobs," Ms. Patkar told presspersons on the sidelines of the 5th biannual conference of the organisation here on Thursday.

She added that members of the NAPM had decided to launch an indefinite national people's movement in 2007 against "anti-people developmental policies" of the Government and against globalisation.

The biannual conference discussed the privatisation of water supply and the problems that it posed for the poor. "Privatisation of water is a major problem. Women will be the biggest sufferers of such a move," said D. Gabrielle, a convener from Tamil Nadu.

Ms. Gabrielle also stressed the need for comprehensive legislation that would ensure social security for workers in the unorganised sector. "Thirty-seven crore unorganised sector workers in the country contribute 65 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. Yet, we do not have a social security system in place for them," she said.

The NAPM also drew up a resolution to oppose the creation of special economic zones, as it would result in the exploitation of labourers.

At the conclusion of the conference, more than 250 members of the NAPM took out a rally from Shivajinagar stadium to the Mahatma Gandhi statue on Mahatma Gandhi Road.

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