People's Democracy

KERALA

Land Struggle Enters Second Phase

N S Sajith

THE historic land struggle commenced on the New Year day enters into second phase. The volunteers deputed by Bhoosamrakshana Samithy will build temporary huts in the excess land they occupied from January 1 onwards. Bhoosamrakshana Samithy decided to build huts because the government continues its indifferent attitude, Samithy convener A Vijayaraghavan and chairman E P Jayarajan said.

Currently 14 centres are occupied from dawn to dusk daily. Samithy had identified several excess lands in all districts. On January 11, the volunteers will start to build the huts, they said. Landless tribals and dalits and other landless families will enter the land to build the huts. Samithy volunteers will protect these families from any kind of atrocity. If the police arrest, the volunteers would not take the bail and will resist any kind of oppression. The leaders also warned the government not to oppress the land struggle.

The samithy demanded the time bound distribution of land to the landless families, distribution of minimum one acre to the tribals. So far 27,200 volunteers and 57,435 protesters attended the struggles, Vijayraghavan and Jayarajan said.

INDEFINITE STIR

AGAINST CPS BEGINS 

A majority of government employees and teachers have started an indefinite stir in Kerala against the UDF government’s decision to implement contributory pension scheme (CPS) from April. More than 70 per cent of government staff and teachers have participated in the struggle that began on December 8, 2012.

Giving a staunch warning to the government and expressing solidarity with the staff and teachers, the employees in Kerala water authority, Kerala State Electricity Board and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation observed a day-long strike on December 8. KSRTC employees stir hit the operation of bus services across the state. In the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, a meager 30 per cent of employees signed in the attendance register.

Functioning of government offices and schools were totally paralysed. 90 per cent of village offices and panchayat offices remained closed. Functioning of state secretariat, universities, corporation and municipality offices were also paralysed. All employees except those owing allegiance to the Congress party participated in the strike.

Challenging the victimisation tactics of the government, lakhs of employees organised protest march in front of respective offices.

At the same time, the government began victimisation of its staff. Several employees are facing the threat of transfer and suspension. Many employees were taken into custody. Chief Minister Oommen Chandi said that ‘no work, no pay’ would be effected for striking employees. He also warned that strict action would be taken against those who prevented employees from attending offices and schools. He also termed the strike as ‘politically motivated’.