Image Courtesy:entri.app
Adivasi organisations like the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) and others assembled in pockets across the state on August 9, 2021 to celebrate the International Indigenous People Day and remember the community’s beloved activist Father Stan Swamy.
Core committee member Elina Horo and activist Arvind Avinash talked about how indigenous folk talked about Adivasi issues like land banks and exploitative mining in forested areas. Fr. Stan was particularly invested in fighting for Adivasis’ rights to around 10 lakh acres of forest land in the state that has been allegedly handed over to business houses through illegal means.
“Every event is prefaced by a few minutes in memory of Father Stan. He constantly voiced these issues. Now, we in turn are condemning his custodial death,” said Avinash.
The meetings and assemblies were also part of a persevering movement across India campaigning for democracy and decrying draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Jharkhand’s Adivasis demanded the release of similarly charged Bhima-Koregaon accused activists whose families worried about their worsening health.
Similarly, in Ranchi, Horo said people celebrated 25 years of the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act after a short ceremony for the Adivasi activist. The Act encourages local self-governance in rural India, thus strengthening Adivasi rights.
The event worked on both the virtual and physical level. The second-half of the virtual meeting will continue on August 10 at 2 PM.
While on the local level, people raised awareness, lakhs of farmers and workers agitating against centre anti-people-dubbed laws celebrated the Quit India Anniversary Day on Monday. People from 25 states sloganeered ‘Modi Sarkar Hatao, Corporate Loot Band Karo, Desh Bachao’ (Remove Modi government! Stop Corporate Loot! Save India!)
Left organisations like AIKS, CITU, AIAWU, AIDWA, DYFI, SFI and others gathered people in hundreds of districts. The major demands of this struggle were the repeal of the three farm laws and the four labour codes, withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill, legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP) at C2 + 50 percent.
The peasantry demanded an end to privatisation of the public sector as well as immediate halting of rising diesel, petrol, gas and other essential commodities prices. To jumpstart India’s economic situation, people called for an increase in MGNREGA work days and wages and an urban employment guarantee scheme.
Further, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, protesters appealed for free, universal and speedy Covid-vaccination to all, Rs. 7,500 per month to all families not paying income tax and free distribution of 10 kg grain per head per month to all needy families.
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