People's Democracy

Launch EGA Immediately

Signature Campaign By SAHMAT

A nationwide signature campaign has been kick-started by SAHMAT and other organisations in New Delhi on November 20 demanding immediate launch of Employment Guarantee Act. Among those who participated in this campaign included former prime minister V P Singh, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, noted social workers Aruna Roy, Medha Patkar, noted economists, Prabhat Patnaik, Jayati Ghosh and Jean Dreze apart from many social and political activists and intellectuals.

All those who assembled for this campaign put their signatures on five huge white banners put up at the V P House lawns, which will be sent to different parts of the country for further signatures. It is planned to complete the signature campaign by mid-December. Noted theatre personality M K Raina conducted the meeting.

Speaking on this occasion, V P Singh said that right to food is one of the basic human rights of the people and underlined that people by asking this are not seeking any charity, but seeking employment to able-bodied persons in the family. Referring to the state of mid-day meal schemes in states, V P Singh said that it was being implemented properly in some southern states, but had turned into a middlemen-meal scheme in states like UP. A letter written by Singh to the prime minister on this issue was read out by Aruna Roy.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury in his brief speech assured the support of the Left parties to the Employment Guarantee Act, Right to Information and other assurances made in the CMP. He said that the Left will use its strength both inside and outside the parliament seeking implementation of such pro-people measures. On this occasion, Jayati Ghosh read out a statement signed by more than 200 noted intellectuals, artists, social activists seeking implementation of EGA.