People's Democracy

  Jharkhand State Khetmazdoor Union 

Organising Committee Formed

SEVEN districts of Jharkhand state are predominantly populated by agricultural workers, whose living conditions are as precarious as elsewhere – in fact, much worse. These rural working people have no work, no wage and they are forced to migrate to different states along with their entire families in search of livelihood. But such a large mass of rural working people is not involved in any organised battle for their livelihood as they are not organised. They are victims of enormous feudal and capitalist exploitation. Moreover, they are also subjected inhuman social oppression, as most of them belong to Dalit, SC/ST, backward or minority communities.

With intensified implementation of globalisation policies, the number of such rural proletariat is increasing by the day. Also, with the growing infiltration of capital in land, their number is growing. They are emerging as a distinct rural working class. To organise them in a strong class organisation is the most important and urgent task before the democratic movement. To that end, a meeting of rural activists from districts was held at Ranchi on June 6, 2005 where a Jharkhand State Khetmazdoor Union Organising Committee was formed. The meeting elected an eleven member organising committee with Sanjay Paswan and Rameswar Prasad as it convenors. The committee will meet  twice a month and build up the union and movement in a planned manner.

The meeting was inaugurated by AIAWU joint secretary, Hannan Mollah. He explained the conditions of the agricultural workers in the whole country and how they are fighting for survival. He gave a picture of organisation of agricultural workers in different states and their movements for wage, land, work, public distribution system, and a comprehensive central legislation, for their protection and welfare. He also explained their struggle against social oppression and how to resist different arms of the State and organise struggles for their rights.

The meeting was also addressed by Gyan Shankar Majumdar, CPI(M) Jharkhand state secretary, who asked the gathering to build up the union to resist the growing attacks on Dalits and other weaker sections in the state. The activists who attended the meeting also reported about the economic and social problems in their areas and the need to organise themselves. The meeting was presided over by AIKS leaders, Ram Dev Prasad and  Praful Lingda and CITU leader Ramanand.

The meeting decided to organise general body meeting of agricultural workers and activists in all seven districts, which included Chatra, Sarai Kalan, Latehar, Palamon, Lohardaga, Garhwa etc and start enrollment of membership from June itself. At least one thousand members from each district will be enrolled first and then unions will be formed at different areas so that state level conference may be held after one year after building the lower level organisational structure. During this period, campaign and movements will be organised for the work, wage, land, and social justice and on other demands of the agricultural workers.