People's Democracy

 JHARKHAND

 CPI(M) To Highlight Hunger Deaths Issue

THE CPI(M) has expressed deep concern over the hunger deaths of the rural poor in Jharkhand. Reports of such hunger deaths have come from Katkamsandhi block of Hazaribagh district, Kundobit block in Jamtara district and Leeliganj in Palamu district in the state.

In view of such a situation, the state secretariat of the CPI(M) has demanded that the state government undertake free distribution of food grains in affected areas by establishing relief camps. It must also effectively implement the Annapurna and Antyodaya schemes, and strengthen the public distribution system, particularly the targeted PDS to cover the rural poor. In the CPI(M)’s opinion, it is the absence of work for the rural poor in villages that is the main cause of these hunger deaths. The CPI(M) has demanded immediate food for work programmes in rural areas of the state.

The state secretariat of the CPI(M) raised these demands after its two day meeting at capital Ranchi, on October 31 and November 1.

RSS-PACKED COMMITTEES

The meeting noted that though the state government has formed vigilance committees on food security from the state down to the block level, they have been packed with BJP functionaries and RSS cadres only, and the other recognised national and regional parties have been ignored. The CPI(M) has therefore demanded the formation of all party vigilance committees on food security from the state down to the block level.

The CPI(M) has decided to stage dharnas and demonstrations at all district headquarters in the first half of November in order to draw the government’s attention to the above demands and to appeal to the people to stand by the hungry rural poor.

While the rural poor are dying of hunger in Jharkhand, the BJP-led government in the state is busy organising high profile Jharkhand Formation Day at Ranchi, and is spending huge amounts from the state exchequer, only to focus on the three years of BJP rule in the state. As reported in the media, the government has decided to selectively honour some gram pradhans. Obviously, the aim is to honour a few gram pradhans affiliated to the BJP and RSS while thousands of tribal village chiefs are being ignored and insulted.

The Left parties have decided to separately observe Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary and Jharkhand formation day by organising dharnas in front of the Birsa statue at Birsa Chowk, Ranchi, on November 15. They will highlight the misrule of the BJP government and the burning problems of the state’s people including the tribals.

In the morning hours on November 15, the CPI(M) will organise a central programme at Bundu and will also hold mass meetings at public places at block level throughout the state on the day.

Also, the CPI(M) will observe November 7 as the October Socialist Revolution Day in different parts of the state.

FAILURE AGAIN ON PANCHAYAT POLLS

The state secretariat of the CPI(M) condemned the Arjun Munda government for its failure once again in announcing the dates of holding panchayat elections in the state. This is despite the chief minister’s assurance on the floor of the assembly to announce the dates within October 25, 2003.

The CPI(M)’s state secretariat asked the rural poor of Jharkhand to gear up for the panchayat elections. Whenever these elections are held, the people must defeat the feudal sections, moneylenders, traders, contractors and their agents, and elect the real representatives of the rural poor to every level of panchayati raj system. The party has noted that these panchayat elections have become crucial for a vast number of the agrarian poor and would determine the future landscape of rural Jharkhand. The secretariat urged upon the tribal masses too to assert their rights during these panchayat elections.

The CPI(M) has also demanded of the state government to hold panchayat elections on party symbols.

The secretariat of the CPI(M) took strong exception to the attempts by the BJP-led government of Jharkhand to misuse the administrative machinery. Government officials are illegally holding gram sabha meetings just before the panchayat elections. The district collector of Koderma issued a press notification on November 1 for holding such gram sabha meetings in Markachho block. Similarly, the district collector of Deoghar issued a press notification for constituting a ‘Gram Vikas Samiti’ for Sampoorna Gram Rozagar Yojana. Such illegal activities by the district administration are obviously aimed at subverting the panchayati raj system and making the panchayat elections meaningless. Huge funds are being allotted to these so-called Gram Vikas Samitis just before the panchayat elections in the state.

A similar attempt was made earlier in the scheduled areas but that had to be stopped and the government’s September 2, 2003 circular was withdrawn after the CPI(M)’s protest which led to the governor’s intervention. But such illegal activities are still continuing in the non-scheduled areas at the instance of the Arjun Munda government. The CPI(M) has demanded immediate stop to the moves to hold elections to such ‘Gram Vikas Samitis’ that are designed to function as bodies parallel to the to-be-elected panchayats. The party has also demanded stop to the illegal holding of gram sabha meetings by government officials. Gram sabhas are part of the panchayati raj system and must not be allowed to be controlled by bureaucracy to subvert the panchayati raj system.

OTHER ISSUES

The state secretariat of the CPI(M) has decided to organise regional conventions at Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad to register protest against the Supreme Court’s observation attacking the right to strike by the workers. The party will invite the trade unionists, jurists, advocates, intellectuals and other democratic sections to these conventions. The issue has become crucial in the background of Jharkhand High Court’s order imposing a ban on strike in the Bokaro steel plant recently.

The secretariat of the CPI(M) decided to hold a state level tribal convention in December on the attacks on the tribals’ rights and lands by the BJP-led government in Jharkhand. To this state level convention, to be organised at Ranchi, the party will invite tribal intellectuals and other organisations who stand by the tribal interests in the state.

The secretariat of CPI(M) condemned the arrest of Hakum Mahato and Narayan Kumhar of Ramakunda village of Toohachi block in Dhanbad district on October 31 on false charges, after they won all the six seats in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Committee of Ramakunda panchayat. An attempt was made here by RSS cadres to capture the body. After they were defeated by popular vote, they conspired with the administration and got the two CPI(M) functionaries arrested. The CPI(M)’s state secretariat has demanded their unconditional release and punishment to the erring police officials. (INN)