People's Democracy

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Campaign against Price Rise,

 For Food Security & Drought Relief

 ON the call given by the Central Committees, both, the Communist party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have decided to hold a massive campaign in the state in the months of November 2009 to January 2010.   To start with, a state level convention was held on 27 October 2009 at Hamirpur. More than 300 delegates from all the districts of the state participated in this convention. A presidium comprising of nine members, six from the CPI(M) and three from CPI was elected.

 The draft was placed by Onkar Shad, state secretariat member of the CPI(M).  The draft highlighted the precarious condition as far as the availability of food items is concerned.  Apart from the squeeze from the central government in the ration quota to the state that has been reduced by over 50 per cent from 16,144 metric tonnes to 7,118 metric tonnes, the BJP government in the state has added further misery to the situation. There are over 4,408 ration shops for a population of near 70 lakhs. The total families in the state are 15,90,927 of which 3,16,900 are BPL; 1,97,100 antyodaya and 10,77,927 of the above poverty line.  The previous government just before its exit had announced a food subsidy of Rs 100 crore. Through this, the people even of the APL category used to get 20 kilogram of wheat flour per family per month and 15 kilos of rice along with 3 kilogram of pulses, 2 litres of edible oil with 1 kilo salt at a fairly subsidised rate. This acted like a buffer to the price rise. But after assuming power,  the BJP has hit this scheme as well. They have reduced the food items from 35 kilograms per family quota to 25, since last three to five months at many places this ration is not being disbursed. This, the BJP is also doing to appease their support base who comprise of middle traders who were hit by this scheme.   

The other issue that has hit the people of the state worst, is one of the severest drought that has effected the peasantry. It is estimated according to government estimates that more than 70 per cent rabi, 80 per cent kharif crop that includes maize and paddy in certain areas and  60 per cent horticulture produce   of the state  has been lost. The hardest hit has been the apple crop that constitutes the chief product of the state. The production of apple  fell from 2.5 crore boxes to just 80 lakhs this year.  The total loss calculated by the government agencies because of drought is Rs 1000 crore. The other major loss has been the fodder which used to be imported from neighbouring states.  As of now, no relief has been provided to the farmers either by the state or the central governments.

In all, eight demands were highlighted in the convention, which included checking the price rise, strengthening the public distribution system, ban of futures trading of food items, providing 20 kilos of wheat flour, 15 kilos of rice, 2 kilo edible oil, 3 pulses i.e 3 kilograms, 700 grams sugar per person and 1 kilogram salt to the family, immediate relief to the farmers from drought, besides providing cheap fodder.

Others who spoke on the occasion included, Vasudev Vasu, Deewana Mal and Mukesh Kumar from CPI and Kushal Bhardwaj, Kapoor Singh Supahya, Sudesh Kumari and Kashmir from CPI(M).

The resolution of tasks was placed by Rakesh Singha, state secretary of CPI(M). A call to hold massive campaign from November to January 2010 was given. During this campaign leaflets, nukkad meetings, massive wall writing and two mass mobilisations will be held at Mandi and Shimla. The Shimla rally will take place on 11 December and in Mandi on 11 January 2010.