People's Democracy

Successful Movement To Procure BPL Cards In Gujarat

THE third stage of the recent state wide movement for procuring BPL cards in Sabarkantha district, in Gujarat began with a collective hunger strike that was observed in front of collectorate at Himmatnagar.

The participants assembled from different places of the district by noon. People came from Bhiloda and Shamalalji areas in sizeable numbers. A number of women also took part.

Since the beginning day was March 23, the portraits and slogans of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh also decorated the stage. Floral tributes were paid to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev and two minutes silence was observed in their memory.

On the second day, the programme continued with added numbers, the number of women participants increased, with the presence of a large number of minority women. Also hutment dwellers, match factory workers, and Hasannagar inhabitants together with people from Bhiloda, Vijaynagar, Idar, Meghraj and Prantij Talukas participated.

DHARNA

Those who addressed the dharna were Gujarat state president of Kisan Sabha and state secretariat member Pragjibhai Bhambhi, district leader Kuberbhai Bhambhi, Bamna sarpanch Purushottambhai, Dahyabhai and Chhaganbhai. Bamna group rendered folk songs and bhajans the whole night. A large number of leaflets were distributed to people who gathered around.

The dharna programme continued till evening the second day. The local presence increased on the second day, main being match-factory women. Kuberbhai especially thanked the peasants who attented despite the wheat-crop cutting season.

TRIBALS ARISE IN GUJARAT

In Panchmahal district of Gujarat, on March 21, a big rally of adivasis was held at Dahod.

Singjibhai Katara who is the district secretary of Santrampur-Dahod-Panchmahal district led the rally. It started from Navjivan commerce college and reached collectorate by after noon, covering long distance, full with participants. Tribals came to attend this rally from more than 27 villages. 10,000 pamhlets were distributed.

Memorandum was submitted to Prant Officer by a delegation led by Singjibhai Katara a popular tribal leader.

The demands included among others, to give BPL cards to the poor, to investigate corruption in co-operative societies, give back the forest lands to tribals and stop allotting village surplus lands to industrialists. Other fertile lands be given to the people whose lands got submerged in Kabutari-dam, fill up all back log reservation posts, withdraw proposed electricity hike, implement Rural Employment Guarantee Act in all areas and give 15 litre kerosene oil per ration card per month.

Gujarat state secretary of CPI(M) Arun Mehta led the movement and was guiding the movement regularly. State secretariat member Pragjibhai Bhambhi, Kisan Sabha president, Singhjibhai Katara and district secretary of Janvadi Mahila Sangh (AIDWA) Maniben Damor participated in the movement. Prior to this rally other two such rallies were held at Fetehapra and Santrampur of Dahod Pachmahal district.