People's Democracy

JHARKHAND

CPI(M) To Mobilise People Against Munda Govt

THE CPI(M) state secretariat of Jharkhand state committee has chalked out a concrete programme to mobilize people on the burning issues of starvation deaths, famine, tribal deprivation, attack on democratic rights etc. It has called upon the people to make success this struggle against the anti-people policies of the BJP state government.

The secretariat has decided to conduct block-level general body meetings of Party members and sympathizers to explain the issues during October 20 – November 10. It has also decided to organise padayatras and hold village, mohalla meeting explaining the issues with hand bills and hold block-level demonstrations on concrete demands on burning problems of the people of the areas arising out of the above mentioned situation during November 20 to December 20, 2005.

Two big rallies for ensuring tribals right to forest have been planned. One would be held at Ranchi on November 18 and another at Pakur on November 19. The CPI(M) state secretariat has appealed to the people to make these rallies a big success.

Following is the text of the resolution, covering the major issues in the state, adopted by the Jharkhand state secretariat of the CPI(M), at its meeting in Ranchi on October 15-16, 2005.

ON STARVATION DEATHS, FAMINE SITUATION & PAUPERISATION OF THE PEASANTRY

Reports of starvation deaths are coming from Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Palamau and other districts. Famine situation is emerging due to successive droughts and government’s policies. The state secretariat of CPI(M) demands from the government to:

•  Declare famine in the entire state

• Provide food security in every village on war footing, beyond PDS

• Strengthen PDS and provide foodgrains and kerosene; Control black marketing.

• Provide free seeds, subsidy and loans to peasants

• Implement irrigation work on priority

ON DEVELOPMENT MODEL OF ARJUN MUNDA MINISTRY

• Arjun Munda government is abrogating its responsibility of providing utility services to the people like electricity, water, road, health and education. It is handing over these responsibilities to private industries, making utility services activities for profit. As a result, the people are being forced to bear increased burdens through hike in tariff and costs for such services. The government is also withdrawing subsidies on these utility services through back door by privatising them.

• Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) are being signed with international and national capital by the Arjun Munda ministry, which are totally one-sided with mainly the state government giving commitment to supply mineral resources of the state like iron ore, coal and bauxite in fixed quantity and time frame as against vague assurance of investment. The main aim of the industrialists is not “development” as is being propagated but to grab the mineral resources of the state.

• The government does not have a plan for industrial development oriented for the requirement of the state and its people. The present model will lead to increasing disparities, both regional and amongst the people, with a minuscule upper strata minority reaping benefits while pushing vast toiling masses to pauperisation and loss of land threatening large scale displacement.

• 75 per cent of the already displaced persons in the state are still crying for rehabilitation, compensation and jobs.

• Thousands of acres of land are locked up in closed industries and in the unutilised land of big industrial establishments like Tatas, Bokaro, HEC etc. Attempt should be made to revive the closed industries, failing which the government should acquire the land, including the unutilised land of big industries and establish new industries on such land. The affected workers of closed industries should be given training and re-absorbed into the new industries and priority should be given for jobs to displaced persons.

• Only government land should be provided to new industries, that too without giving land rights, for mining. Samta judgement of the Supreme Court must be fully adhered to.

ON DENIAL OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

The Arjun Munda government is denying democratic rights of the people by not holding panchayat elections and municipal elections in the state despite Constitutional direction. Therefore the CPI(M) demands from the government to:

• Hold panchayat election in the state early, including in scheduled areas under PESA Act.

• Challenge the September 2, 2005 judgement of Ranchi High Court in the Supreme Court to defend its own law.

• Hold elections to municipal corporation, municipalities and notified areas early and till the elections are held the administration shall refrain from taking any major policy decisions.

 (INN)