Chennai: The Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM) pledged to safeguard and expand the hard-won customary rights of the forest-dwelling people in its fourth national conference held between September 19 and 21. It resolved to strengthen the struggles against the “anti-tribal policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government and the multi-pronged attacks on adivasi people”.

The three-day conference discussed a number of pressing issues affecting tribal people on Thursday.  Large-scale land grabs, fund cuts, attacks on gram sabhas, shrinking education opportunities, unfulfilled vacancies in the public sector and the struggle to obtain Scheduled Tribe certificates were some of the issues.

Around 380 adivasi activist delegates, representing 14 states, participated in the conference held in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu.

On the final day of the conference, AARM elected a 61-member executive committee and 17-member national coordination committee (NCC) to lead the struggle at the national level. Jitendra Chaudhury was elected as the chairperson, Brinda Karat as vice chairperson, Pulin Bihari Baske as convenor, Dhulichand Meena and Thirupathi Rao as vice convenors and Dilli Babu as treasurer.

AARM is a joint platform of state-level organisations fighting on tribal issues.

INAUGURAL SESSION

As part of the inaugural session, president Baburao hoisted the AARM flag, delegates paid homage to martyrs and vice president Tirupathi Rao moved the condolence resolution.

P Rajeeve, Kerala minister for industries and law, delivered the inaugural address. He said, “Although we belong to different ethnic groups, cultures and traditions, we are united by one point, that of being Indians. But the present BJP-led Union government is trying to destroy the philosophy of unity in diversity.”

AARM leaders with the martyrs’ torch ahead of the inaugural session.

He added, “As a basic right, internet facility is taken to all parts of Kerala. Underprivileged and backward students are given financial assistance of up to Rs 25 lakh to study up to post-graduation. Poverty-free Kerala project plans to provide housing to the homeless by 2025.”

RESOLUTIONS PASSED

The conference rejected the recent amendments to the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, stating that they undermine the constitutional and legal rights of gram sabhas to own and manage forests. The amendments also usurp powers of the state government, the Manch observed.

The Manch expressed deep concern about the situation in Manipur underscoring that even after four months, the Northeastern state is far from returning to normalcy with thousands of people displaced. The conference condemned the horrific cases of sexual assault on Kuki-Zo tribal women, and the prime minister’s refusal to intervene – giving a free hand to the chief minister.

Brinda Karat addressed the delegates at the conference.

The AARM opposed the demand made by some RSS-affiliated organisations that adivasis converted to religions other than Hinduism, particularly Christianity, should be delisted from Scheduled Tribes. The resolution read: “A sinister objective of this campaign is to bring land belonging to Christian adivasis outside the coverage of protections granted by the Schedule V of the constitution to make land-grabbing easier.”

The conference also noted that adivasi/tribal does not refer only to people living in the hills, but the issues of urban people belonging to tribal communities will also be addressed by the Manch.

COMMISSIONED PAPERS

Studies were commissioned by the AARM to understand communalism among adivasis, the status of adivasi women, and the state of education among the tribes of India.

The paper on growing communalism among tribal people read: “The continual denigration of converted communities and the aggressive ‘ghar vapasi’ campaign by Hindutva forces have resulted in a significant divide between Christian and non-Chrisitan groups.”

The delegates diligently participated in the sessions.

The commission paper on everyday challenges and struggles of adivasi women argued that with the deepening capitalist and neo-liberal transformation, adivasi women emerge as the most vulnerable. “The limited rights that women in certain adivasi communities possessed, such as property transfer, are also being snatched away from her,” it said.

With the “disintegration of the adivasi world and proletarianisation”, adivasi women form a large part of the migrant labourers, and human trafficking and sex rackets are an offshoot of the migration, noted the paper.

The paper on the education of adivasi children observed: “Under the Modi government, the approach of the Indian State towards compulsory and universal education for all children shifted from an indifference to one of active obstruction. […] The prolonged closure of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in an irreparable loss to the education of adivasi children.” This has led to a large number of dropouts, irregular disbursement of scholarships, and learning gaps among students who returned to school, it states.

Leaders from fraternal organisations participated in the conference and extended their solidarity. Among them were Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) secretariat member G Sukumaran, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) general secretary Vijoo Krishnan, All India Agriculture Workers’ Union (AIAWU) general secretary B Venkat, Students Federation of India (SFI) president V P Sanu, All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) secretary P Suganthi, and Dalit Soshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) leader Samuel Raj.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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Earlier in the day, trade union representatives met respective ministers and demanded to withdraw the amendments. The demand was not accepted.

Trade unions strongly condemned the government’s decision to extend the daily work hours from eight to twelve hours in private companies. It was passed in the state Assembly on April 21, the final day of the recently concluded session.

CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions), AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress), HMS (Hind Mazdoor Sabha), INTUC (Indian National Trade Union Congress) and other unions have given a call for strike on May 12, demanding the withdrawal of the Factories Act 2023. The amendment was made without consultation with trade unions. Even DMK’s (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) trade union, Labour Progressive Front, has demanded a rollback of the Bill.

Some spontaneous protests were witnessed in various parts of the state since the amendments were proposed last week.
DMK ALLIES OPPOSE MOVE

The bill was tabled by state labour minister CV Ganesan. It was passed despite strong opposition from political parties, including the allies like CPI (Communist Party of India), CPIM (Communist Party of India (Marxist)), Congress, MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and the VCK (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi).

BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) called for a review of the Bill. The main opposition party, AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), members were not in the Assembly, having walked out earlier in the day.

However, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami gave a statement opposing the amendment on Saturday. Similarly, PMK said the move would result in a loss to the working force in the state.

Protest held in north Chennai. Image courtesy: CITU, Tamil Nadu

“Eight-hour working-day was won after a struggle of 150 years. Many people sacrificed their lives; many lost their jobs, and others lost their families and went to prison. This is not a fight we can afford to lose,” said CPI(M) Tamil Nadu secretary K Balakrishnan.

“By increasing the eight-hour working day to 12 hours, the Act would legalise labour exploitation by factories,” said MDMK leader Vaiko.

“Creating a situation where employees work for more hours for more wages is a human rights violation,” said Veeramani, general secretary of Dravidar Kazhagam. Dravida Iyakka Thamizh Peravai, general secretary of the SuPa Veerapandian, asked the DMK not to implement such a law in its rule and “needless to say, it will only lead to exploitation of labour”.
DMK’S DOUBLE STANDARDS

Trade unions have pint-pointed the hypocrisies of the DMK by making amendments to the Factories Act.

CITU, Tamil Nadu observed that the DMK outrightly opposed the BJP-ruled states and the union government when they overstepped the labour laws. Still, the Tamil Nadu government has moved in the same direction.

When BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh decided to stay labour laws for three years, and Gujarat increased working hours to 12 hours, Stalin opposed them, terming them ‘anti-labour.’

In 2019, the Union government passed four labour codes, and many political parties, including the DMK, opposed them. Even four years after the bill’s passage, it has yet to be implemented in many states. Trade unions criticised the DMK government for taking the codes as a precedent and making amendments to the Factories Act.

Protest held by SICDO workers in Coimbatore. Image courtesy: CITU, Tamil Nadu

“This move is not only anti-employee but also violates the principles of social justice and democracy,” said Alagunambi Welkin, General Secretary of the Union of IT and ITES Employees.

The DMK has claimed to be a votary of social justice and democracy. The All India Social Justice Forum was floated by Stalin in February 2022 as an initiative to build a united opposition against bigotry and religious hegemony.

The trade unions have been demanding a reduction in work hours from the existing eight hours to six hours.

“A shorter workday can lead to increased job satisfaction, improved mental health, and better work-life balance. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity and better quality work, benefiting both employees and employers,” said Welkin.

Workers all over the world fought for eight hours of work. In 1917, the Soviet Union enforced the eight-hour of work per day rule. In 1919, the International Labor Organisation declared the same, and India adopted it under British rule.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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Image Courtesy: NDTV

Chennai: Around 200 members of the Scheduled Caste communities entered the Sri Muthaalamman temple in Thenmudiyanur village, Tiruvannamalai district, defying a ‘ban’ imposed by the dominant castes.

They were taken into the 200-year-old temple with the help of the district administration and heavy police protection on January 30,
after seven decades of being ostracised.

Hundreds of members belonging to the privileged communities held a protest in opposition.

The village comprises 1,700 families, of which 500 are dalits, while the rest are caste Hindus.

Notably, this temple comes under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) under the Tamil Nadu government and is built on poramboke (public) land.

The Tamil Nadu government administers an anti-untouchability pledge on January 30, Martyrs Day.

STRONG OPPOSITION

As part of the yearly Pongal celebration, each community is slotted a day to carry out worship rituals in the temple. However, the dalits were not involved in this practice.

Some dalit youths submitted memoranda to the district administration urging intervention. In response, the authorities held peace committee meetings with members of the dominant communities before initiating the temple entry move.

The night before the entry was to take place, 500 police personnel were deployed to avoid any untoward incident. Yet, hundreds of
dominant caste people gathered outside the temple, opposing dalits’ entry to the Muthaalamman temple.

They argued that around 30 years ago, an understanding was arrived at between the Scheduled Castes and dominant communities to worship in different temples, adding that there was “no need to break it off” now.

The district collector and other local body representatives held meetings with them on the spot, stating the temple was a common
property.

Members of around 15 dalit families who came forward to carry out the worship rituals took out a procession. They carried garlands, firewood, and other items for preparing the Pongal dish and entered the temple at 10:30 a.m.

While a handful of dalit families entered the temple with State protection, it remains to be seen whether they will continue to visit
the temple without any opposition from dominant castes.

DMK LEADER ‘ABUSED’ DALIT BOY WHO ENTERED TEMPLE

Meanwhile, a purported video of a DMK union secretary verbally abusing a dalit youth for allegedly entering a temple has gone viral.

The incident occurred in Salem’s Thirumalaigiri, where a dalit youth, on January 19, had entered a temple maintained by the Vanniyar community. This temple also comes under the HR&CE department.

The DMK has suspended union secretary, Manickam for “acting against the party’s policies and bringing a bad image to the party.” But, Manickam alleged that the boy had entered the temple drunk.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) will organise a national campaign involving all sections of society to fight the “increasing” violence against women.

At the conclusion of the four-day AIDWA’s 13th national conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, Mariam Dhawale, who was re-elected as general secretary, said, “The youth are being targeted by drug agents, and violence against women is increasing.” 

The AIDWA will “organise a national campaign involving all sections of society and reach out to every woman”, she told the media.

During the conference, which started on January 6 with the slogan “Struggle in unity for equality”, 103 members were elected to the AIDWA central executive committee, which comprises a 34-member secretariat.

PK Sreemathi was elected president and S Punyavathi was re-elected treasurer respectively. Out of the 850 delegates, around 110 belonged to Scheduled Castes, 48 Scheduled Tribes and 310 Other Backward Classes. 

After a grand inauguration, the delegate session commenced with the general secretary placing two reports on work and organisation, and national and international issues. Over the next two days, delegates from 25 states and Union Territories deliberated on the reports. 

They discussed several issues at length such as the growing price rise, destruction of the Public Distribution System, rising unemployment, increasing debt through microfinance institutions and ending of the gas subsidy. The impact of such issues on women and the AIDWA’s role in countering them were highlighted by the delegates.

The rising violence against women with public spaces and nights becoming unsafe was also discussed. The delegates observed that the “menace of drug nexus between the police, politicians, ruling parties and agents” needs to be addressed.

AMENDMENTS & PUBLICATIONS

On the third day of the conference, a historical amendment was made to the AIDWA Constitution by including transwomen as members.

Article 4(c) was amended to include any woman, even transwomen, of 15 years and above as members. They need to conform with AIDWA’s aims and objectives and pay a membership fee of Rs 2.

Two more amendments were adopted pertaining to the nomination of patrons to the district committee and regarding the actions to be taken against those violating the AIDWA Constitution.

The AIDWA released five booklets—An All India Women’s Organisation Takes Shape: Proceedings of the First and the Second Conferences of AIDWA, Gumnam Virangnye (Unknown Women Fighters), Early Struggles for Law Reform: Dowry and Rape, Women Torchbearers of Kerala and a book by MC Josephine—and one diary.

AIDWA members release the proceedings of the first and second conference. Image courtesy: AIDWA.

COMMISSION PAPERS

The AIDWA conference simultaneously deliberated on six commission papers on January 8. The paper on ‘Climate Change and Women’ observed women as the “immediate victims” of climate change and called for urgent intervention.

The paper on ‘National Education Policy, 2020: A Setback for Women’s Struggle for Equality’ laid bare the “patriarchal vision of NEP, which violates the spirit of the Constitution”. It observed that “girl children face the repercussions” of clubbing boys and girls schools and of online education.

The paper on ‘Rights of the Girl Child’ discussed the right to health and education, allocation of separate and adequate budgets for welfare schemes for girls, and strict monitoring of child marriages and girl child trafficking, among others.The fourth paper, ‘The Women’s Movement in India and the Freedom Struggle’, discussed the need to document and assert women’s role in historic struggles given the “fabrication of history by right-wing forces”. 

The paper on ‘Women’s Rights and the Question of Unity’ stated in strong terms the urgent need to unite all women against the “imposition of a Manuvadi Hindu Rashtra”.

The sixth paper, ‘Unemployment and Women’, gave special focus to the “deterioration caused by the lockdown and the weakening of MNREGA”.

RESOLUTIONS

The conference in total adopted 13 resolutions, including a resolve to fight the “corporate loot of common property and natural resources” and for the right to work and employment guarantee. It also adopted a resolution to struggle to foster scientific temper and countering superstition.

The conference strongly resolved to fight for deregulating microfinance and drug abuse. The other resolutions included resisting attacks on federalism; protecting the rights of states; stopping targeted attacks against scholars, activists and journalists; revoking the remission of the sentence and expediting justice for victims of the Gujarat riots; taking forward the Kerala model of development; resisting the impact of the erosion of Ganga banks on women and their displacement, and the international refugee crisis.

FRATERNAL GREETINGS

The conference was greeted by DYFI president and MP AA Rahim, All India Agricultural Workers Union president A Vijayaraghavan, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) general secretary Vijoo Krishnan and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) general secretary Mayukh Biswas.

Rahim said that Kerala had “provided a Left alternative and women’s resistance was an important part of building such an alternative”.

Vijayaraghavan noted that more than half the membership of AIAWU comprises women and there is a “need to intensify a joint action to build an alternative”.

Krishnan gave the slogan of “Mahila-kisan ekta (Women-farmers unity)” and noted that the Kisan Sabha had taken up many issues related to women farmers, particularly, land rights for landless families.

All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Vijoo Krishnan addresses the AIDWA conference. Image courtesy: AIDWA.

Biswas said that women and girl students are “facing several challenges in the wake of the NEP’s implementation”. “The SFI is taking several steps to counter it”, he said hoping that there would be several joint agitations and actions by the Federation and the AIDWA. He ended his speech with the slogan “SFI-AIDWA Zindabad”.

SFI general secretary Mayukh Biswas addresses the conference. Image credit: AIDWA.

The conference concluded with a rally in which around one lakh women participated and a public meeting addressed by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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Chennai: Lakshmi (48) lost her job and became homeless the same day her husband Kalidas (52) died on July 29. He died of asphyxiation after inhaling poisonous gases while cleaning a ring-well in Kallukuttai, near Perungudi in Chennai.

Lakshmi worked as the caretaker of a farmhouse along the East Coast Road (ECR) on the outskirts of Chennai for over five years. Her employers removed her from work and sent her home upon hearing about Kalidas’ death.

Unemployed and homeless, Lakshmi is now residing at her daughter’s house, along with her son-in-law and two grandchildren. She hopes the government would provide her with due monetary relief.

However, the police have not filed an FIR in this case under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) is taking steps to register an FIR and ensure that compensation of Rs 10 lakhs is granted to the legal heir of the deceased.

A month after the fatal incident, NewsClick visited Lakshmi and other family members of the deceased to learn about their present situation.

A NORMAL DAY TURNED FATAL

Kalidas and Lakshmi lived on the premises of the farmhouse they were maintaining until the former’s death. Simultaneously, Kalidas worked as a manual scavenger whenever he got called for work.

“From time to time, my husband was summoned to remove blocked drains, and he was paid around Rs 500,” said Lakshmi.

She said, “On July 29, Saravanan came on a two-wheeler around 1 pm to the Panaiyur mainroad to pick up my husband for work.” Kalidas died while cleaning the ring-well in Saravanan’s house. When Saravanan saw Kalidas lying unconscious, he jumped into the well; he also inhaled the poisonous gas and fell unconscious.

“By 3 pm, I got a call from the police saying my husband was dead. I caught an auto and hurried towards Perungudi,” she said. It is a distance of around 12 kms.

“By the time I reached, he was being taken in an ambulance to the government hospital in Royapettah. I stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road and asked them to show me his face. I wanted to confirm it was him,” she said.

“The same day the owners of the farmhouse, who are living abroad, sent me away with all my belongings. I have not returned to that house since then,” added Lakshmi.

Gandhipan, Lakshmi’s brother, shed some light on why Lakshmi lost her job. He said, “The farmhouse owners feared they would be dragged into the legal matters in Kalidas’ death and be put into trouble.”

FAMILY ACCUSES POLICE OF FOUL PLAY

Kalidas’ family members were expecting some monetary relief from Saravanan’s kin as Kalidas died while working at their house. However, they feel that the police are siding with Saravanan’s family.

Gandhipan said, “We were not called to identify Kalidas’ body before it was sent for post-mortem. The police itself filled the necessary forms. Why would they do that?”

“The police said ‘it is so sad we can’t even demand money from the owner as he is not a wealthy fellow. He lived in Kallukuttai’. How does the police know whether he is wealthy?” asked Siva, Lakshmi’s other brother. Kallukuttai is a large slum area in south Chennai.

“But Saravanan was running a printing press. Why can’t we expect something from them?” asked Siva.

The family members also feel that the police are not taking interest in the case because Saravanan also died on the same day along with Kalidas.

JUSTICE DELAYED

A month has passed since Kalidas’ death, and a case has still not been filed under the relevant Act.

“Kalidas was summoned because bad odour was emanating from the well. But, it later rained and the well is now filled with fresh water. If someone visited the house now they would not believe he died from inhaling poisonous gases,” said Gandhipan.

Samuel Raaj, general secretary of TNUEF, said while clarifying that “wherever poisonous gases are released, humans should not be hired to work there – whether it is a septic tank, underground drainage or even urai kinaru.”

Urai kinaru is a kind of well used to store fresh water. Kalidas died while cleaning such a well.

“It is a matter of one second; people die as soon as they consume the poisonous gases,” said Samuel Raaj.

He said, “The money given to the legal heir of those deceased due to manual scavenging is not compensation for the death. It is because the job is a banned one and people should not be pushed to engage in it.”

“The police are not aware that there is an Act prohibiting such work, and that a case should be filed when it is overstepped,” he added.

Murali of TNUEF said, “When we approached the Assistant Commissioner urging for an FIR to be filed, they said they are busy till Vinayaka Chaturti and asked us to wait.”

Meanwhile, Lakshmi is coming to terms with her husband’s untimely death. Around five years ago their son died in a road accident.

Notably, the first instance a case was filed under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 was in Sholinganallur, within 10 kms radius from where Kalidas died.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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Intervention by the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) was successful as nineteen dalit panchayat presidents hoisted the national flag for the first time on August 15, the 76th Independence Day.

At the Senthangudi village in the Pudukkottai district, caste Hindus prevented the dalit Panchayat President from hoisting the national flag at the Keezhaiyur government school.

According to a TNUEF survey report released on August 11, in 20 village panchayats, dalit presidents were not allowed to hoist the national flag.

Following the report, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu wrote to all the district collectors in the state. He asked them to ensure that no elected leader of any local body is prevented from hoisting the national flag on Independence Day on the grounds of caste.

TNUEF’S ACTIVE INTERVENTION

After the report’s release, TNUEF followed up on the 20 village panchayats where the Scheduled Caste presidents were not allowed to hoist the flag.

Pudukkottai District Manjanviduthi Panchayat President Suresh Kannan hoisted the national flag for the first time with state protection.

“Even the superintendent of police (SP) was present at the venue to prevent untoward activities,” said Chellakannu, President of TNUEF.

In Vadakuchipalayam village, Vikravandi Block in Villupuram District, the gram sabha secretary, who belongs to an MBC community, tried to prevent Kaliyaperumal, Scheduled Caste panchayat president, from hoisting the flag.

“The gram sabha secretary said there was no flag pole in the village; thereby, he cannot hoist the flag. But, higher authorities intervened and ensured Independence Day was celebrated without any hassle,” said Sankaran, TNUEF leader in Villupuram.

He added, “the circular sent by TNUEF has been very fruitful. The government immediately acted on it”.

Speaking to NewsClick, Samuel Raaj, general secretary of the TNUEF, said, “upon the findings of the survey, we proactively intervened to prevent caste-based discrimination against the civic body presidents with hoisting the national flag.”

DALIT CHIEF ‘INSULTED’

In the Pudukkottai district, the Senthangudi village panchayat president Tamizharasan could not hoist the flag at the Keezhaiyur Government High School.

“Upon pressure from caste Hindus, the Headmaster (HM) of the school requested the panchayat President not to hoist the national flag in the government school,” said President of TNUEF Chellakannu to NewsClick.

He further said, “As soon as we got the information, we intervened; we met the Alangudi Tehsildar and urged him to ensure that the chief hoists the flag. But, he said, ‘there is no norm that the Panchayat chief has to hoist the national flag in the neighbourhood government school’.”

However, it has been the practice for the Panchayat President to hoist the national flag on Independence Day at the Keezhaiyur government school.

“We demanded the Tehsildar to give it to us in writing that there is no such norm, but he refused to do so,” said Chellakannu.

“The HM invited the Panchayat President to the school on Independence Day, but the HM himself hoisted the flag and insulted the President”, he added.

The TNUEF has urged action against the HM and the caste Hindus who were behind the discriminatory act.

TNUEF SURVEY

The TNUEF survey was carried out in 24 districts, covering 386 village panchayats. It was based on a questionnaire and was implemented by 400 trained volunteers.

According to the survey, in 22 village panchayats, dalit presidents were not allowed to sit on chairs, while in 42 panchayats, they were not allowed to have a name board. It also said that dalit presidents were not allowed to function independently.

The survey pointed out that in 17 panchayats, women dalit presidents were facing gender discrimination. Other issues highlighted include attacks/threats faced, disrespect, and bias shown by Union Councillors and government officials.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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Tamil Nadu: Rural agricultural workers staged demonstrations in front of Collectorates in district headquarters across Tamil Nadu on August 1. It was part of the nationwide call with a 28-point charter of demands, including the right to land, food, work and pension.

In some districts including Kanyakumari and Erode, police denied permission to hold the demonstration in front of the district Collectorates and pressurised the protestors to hold it at alternative locations.

In Tamil Nadu, the protest call was given on behalf of five left-leaning associations including the All India Agriculture Workers Union (AIAWU), All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and All India Rural Workers’ Union.

As reported by the organisers, more than 50,000 workers participated in the protest. At the end of the protest, the leaders submitted petitions containing the demands to the District Collectors urging them to be sent to the Prime Minister.

The nationwide protest call was against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Central government’s multi-pronged attack on workers, specifically on the rural poor.

Women and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers participated in large numbers.

DEMANDS TO STATE GOVT

As part of the protest, agriculture and MGNREGA workers in Tamil Nadu made specific demands from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK)- led state government.

They called for the State government to fix a Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce and to create a separate Welfare Board for farmers. The protestors raised slogans to provide rice and vegetables free of cost through Public Distribution Systems.

Agriculture workers protest in Salem. Image courtesy: CITU Tamil Nadu

The protestors also demanded that public distribution should be strengthened and free grocery packages should be provided like the Left Government in Kerala.

They demanded the State to properly implement the Land Reform Act wherein the surplus land and alienated land should be distributed to the landless poor. They want free house-site pattas to build houses at a cost of Rs five lakh each for people below the poverty line.

Attacks on the downtrodden – tribals, women and minorities – must be stopped immediately, and privatisation of education and healthcare should be abandoned were part of the demands placed.

The protestors demanded the MGNREGA work days be increased from 100 to 200, pay Rs 5,000 as pension for people above the age of 55 and Rs 21,000 as salary to conservancy workers.

In its election manifesto, the DMK promised 150 workdays under the MGNREGA and increase the pay to Rs 300. It also promised that the state government would urge the Centre to extend the scheme to cover municipalities.

OTHER DEMANDS

The overall demands included 300 days of work and a daily wage of Rs 600 for agriculture workers, adequate funds for MGNREGA and paying the dues to workers.

Protest in Tirupur. Image courtesy: CITU, Tamil Nadu

Taking into consideration the recent Wage Commission recommendations, the protestors urged that the daily wages of agricultural labourers should be fixed and implemented in line with the price rise.

The charter of demands also included that all rural workers should be registered with the e-Shram portal- the national database for unorganised workers, and social security schemes should be implemented.

Interest-free loans provided to agricultural labourers through nationalised banks and cooperative banks were also a part of the 28-point demands.

The protestors also urged the union government to immediately withdraw the Goods and Services Tax (GST) tax on essential commodities like rice, wheat, curd etc, and to revoke gas price hikes.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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