People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Vol. XXVIII

No. 30

July 25, 2004

        CPI (M) DEMANDS

 

Following are the ten demands placed before the prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh by the CPI(M) Assam state committee:

 

  1. Adequate relief materials, including foodstuff, kerosene, safe drinking water, preventive and curative medicine, baby foods, fodder etc. must be provided at least for 3 months for the flood-affected people.

  2. All party relief committees down to the Panchayat level must be formed to supervise fair distribution of free rations and basic necessities to the affected people.

  3. The flood-affected people must be exempted from land-revenue tax at least for 3 years. Similarly, the agricultural and co-operative loans of the peasants must be waived. Steps for rehabilitation measures in post-flood situation must be launched on a war footing.

  4. Free corrugated iron sheets and other building materials be provided to those rendered homeless by the flood fury. All affected families must be granted at least Rs 25,000/- as aid for construction of dwelling houses.

  5. Road communication should immediately be restored and the centre should provide full financial assistance for repairs/constructions of roads, bridges, culverts, embankments and school buildings damaged by the floods.

  6. Free distribution of seeds for ‘rabi’ crops and paddy seedlings must be provided to the peasants.

  7. Free textbooks and uniforms must be supplied to the students of the flood-affected areas.

  8. The ‘food for work’ programme must be started and intensified in the rural areas.

  9. The Brahmaputra Board must be restructured and made a functional executive authority with a view to playing a meaningful role in tackling the problems of perennial floods in Assam. A scientific study must be conducted immediately to control the mighty river Brahmaputra, Barak and the tributaries and also to strengthen the embankment networks.

  10. The flood and erosion in Assam must be treated as a national problem and the centre should bear full financial responsibilities for seeking a permanent solution to the problem.

   (INN)