Top Stories:-
Volume 1, Issue 1
Vedanta Mining Case: Forest Rights violations continue despite SC order
16th June 2013
NREGA Minimum Wages: Struggle continues across states Policy Watch: Food Security Bill
Violations of Forest Rights in Niyamgiri despite SC order
Footprints
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE’S MOVEMENTS
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he Vedanta Mining case in Odisha has taken another turn after the historic judgment of the Supreme Court on 18th April 2013. The Odisha government had issued notices on 27th May 2013 to Gram Sabhas in 12 villages in the Niyamgiri Hills (7 in Rayagada and 5 in Kalahandi District), entrusting them to take a decision within three months (from 18th April 2013) on whether the Vedanta group’s $1.7 billion bauxite mining project in the area can go forward or not. The decision of the government to call only 12 villages was met by criticism and resentment from the Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti – NAPM, Forest Rights Campaign Groups and Campaign for Survival and Dignity. Prafulla Samantara, National Convener, NAPM opposed it, saying, “the Odisha sarkar has chosen only 12 villages out of more than 100 villages that will be affected by the mining, thereby keeping away a large number of Dongria, Kutia and Jharnia Kondh tribals against the judgment of the Supreme Court”. He added that the state government is taking advantage of the loopholes to manipulate future mining decisions in the area. Facing such protests and opposition, the Odisha Chief Secretary, B K Patnaik sent a letter
to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) Secretary Vibha Puri Das on 1st June, explaining the decision to consult Gram Sabhas of only 12 villages in the Niyamgiri Hills. He said that the decision was based on the affidavit filed by it in the Supreme Court of India on 7th January 2013, as per Supreme Court’s direction in its prior order on 6th December 2012 asking the Government of Odisha “to file affidavit on the Status of the proceeding under Section 6 of the FRA (Forest Rights Act) before the Gram Sabha for the villages on the slopes of Niyamgiri Hill that are likely to be affected by the proposed project and the mining operations on the top of the Hill”. The Government of Odisha (GoO) justified it by saying that neither the MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) nor the MoTA had raised the issue of coverage of these 12 villages before the Supreme Court during Inside this issue: Protest Updates
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Events
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Policy Watch
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Editorial
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the hearing. The MoTA is vocally opposed to the decision of consulting only 12 Gram Sabhas, and has made it’s stand clear to the Odisha government. It had written to the Chief Secretary of the state on 7th June, directing it to ensure the exact number of villages that would be affected by bauxite mining, and reminding it of the Supreme Court’s orders which stated that Gram Sabhas of all affected villages are to be consulted. The MoTA even offered it’s assistance, should the government require it, in ensuring that “the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court are complied with in both letter and spirit.” The Supreme Court had given onus to the more than 100 Gram Sabhas of all affected villages, together representing around 10,000 Dongaria Kondh tribals who call tribal leaders had the Niyamgiri Hill approached their home, to decide on the fuOdisha Governor ture of the minS C Jamir on 12th ing project. LeadJune, requesting ers of the Kutiya Kondh and Nihim to intervene yamgiri Dongaria and prevent this tribes reportedly blatant approached Governor S C Jamir suppression of on 12th June, retribal voices by questing him to the state intervene and government prevent this blatant suppression of tribal voices by the state government. They emphasised upon the Governor the sanctity of the proposed mining site and the dependency of the tribes on the hills, stating that the damage caused to the hills, forests and water bodies by bauxite mining would effectively spell “the end of our tribe as a community.”
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The biggest weapon in the hands of the tribals is the Forest Rights Act, which guarantees PTG (Primitive Tribal Group) Habitat and cultural and religious rights to the two tribes in question. This fact has been acknowledged and pointed out by the MoTA in some among the series of letters it has written to the Odisha government. A number of tribal rights groups is also pressurising the government on the same grounds. With the lives and livelihood of 10,000 tribals on the one hand and bauxite requirements of Vedanta on the other depending on the same 660.749 hectares of land, a just solution is yet to be reached. But can there ever be a just solution to this?
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Minimum wages for MGNREGA workers across states – Struggle Continues
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n May 15, the Patna High Court ruled against the Bihar government's decision to reduce wages of workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to Rs. 138 from Rs. 144 per day. The petitioner in the case - Jan Jagaran Shakti Sangathan (JJSS), an union of NREGA workers - hailed the High Court’s decision, and is now working to ensure for workers at least Rs. 168 daily wage - the minimum wage guaranteed to labourers by Bihar under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The Supreme Court of India had sent out the same message in January 2012, when it had refused to stay an order by the Karnataka High court that directed the Central government to pay MNREGA workers in Karnataka according to the minimum wages decided by the state government. Senior Advocate Anil Divan, arguing against the Union of India at the Supreme Court hearing, had pointed out that nonpayment of minimum wages to workers for the past 27 years is akin to forced labour. This statement has since been cited by numerous activists and people’s rights organisations in different states in their arguments for minimum wages to MNREGA workers by the Central government. The main contention of activists and organisatons like Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), National Alliance for People’s Movements (NAPM) and People’s Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG) is Section 6(1) of MGNREGA. The section empowers the Central government to decide and revise wages in MNREGA projects, “Notwithstanding anything contained in the MWA, 1948”. Thus, a labourer working under the MGNREGA is paid wages determined by the Centre, regardless of the safety net of minimum wage for unskilled agricultural workers that has been decided by the state where he/she resides and works. At present,
there are six states in the country where MNREGA wages are less than the minimum wages for unskilled agricultural workers prescribed by state. The Karnataka High Court ruling- now upheld by the Supreme Court- has obligated the Central Government to pay arrears to all its workers in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Mizoram. The arrears alone are estimated to cost the Centre Rs. 1,800 crore for 2009-10 and 2010- 11, according to a statement made by Rural Affairs Minister Jairam Ramesh to The Hindu. However, the minister also stated that he was in favour of paying minimum wages to MNREGA labourers. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the National Advisory Council (NAC) had also pres- Labourers working surised Prime under the MGNREGA is M i n i s t e r M a n m o h a n paid wages determined Singh to ad- by the Centre, here t o regardless of the safety m i n i m u m wages under net of minimum wage t h e for unskilled agricultural M G N R E G A . workers decided by the Sonia Gandhi, state. in her position as chairperson of NAC, had written to the Prime Minister as early as in 2010, urging him to treat the matter as “urgent”, and to bring MGNREGA wages at par with minimum wages guaranteed by State governments. However, that remains on paper till date. The battle recently won by daily wage labourers in Bihar, had begun years ago in 2009 when the wage rate of MGNREGA was frozen at Rs. 100 by the Central government. Numerous states have increased their minimum wage rates above Rs. 100 since then. The first
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matter as “urgent”, and to bring MGNREGA wages at par with minimum wages guaranteed by State governments. However, that remains on paper till date. The battle recently won by daily wage labourers in Bihar, had begun years ago in 2009 when the wage rate of MGNREGA was frozen at Rs. 100 by the Central government. Numerous states have increased their minimum wage rates above Rs. 100 since then. The first voices of protests against frozen wage rates were raised in Andhra Pradesh that very year, and the Andhra Pradesh High Court had ruled pay-
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ment of wages below minimum wage as “unconstitutional” in July 2009. Though labourers in the State of Bihar are yet to be granted this right, the recent government decision to benchmark wage rates against inflation is expected to provide some boost. In the meantime, it is hoped that the Centre and States among themselves may soon reach a compromise and take responsibility for the anticipated rise in wages.
Atrocities against Dalits in Marakkanam
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n April 25 afternoon, a mob of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) workers, all of them caste Hindu Vanniyars, burnt down houses, hit, and terrorized people of the Dalit colony in Marakkanam and Koonimedu areas in the East Coast Road Tribal leaders had (ECR), Tamil Nadu, on their way to the approached Chithirai Thiruvizha Odisha Governor (a festival) at S C Jamir on 12th Mamallapuram June, requesting beach. him to intervene and prevent this
The PMK cadres were reported setblatant ting fire to homes of suppression of the dalits, governtribal voices by ment and private the state buses, cars, ration shops and liquor government. outlets, damaging culverts, cutting down trees, looting valuables worth lakhs of rupees and so on. They also targeted the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) legislators’ homes and offices.
vehicles, ransacking the toll plaza at Anumanthai, and setting fire to tenements. On April 29, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa declared in the Assembly that “action will be taken, as per law, against anyone who, for selfish ends, instigates the innocent public on the basis of caste and religion and those who take part in violence and endanger law and order”. She ordered an arrest of Ramadoss, PMK chief. The police also arrested PMK president G.K. Mani,former Union Health Minister and Ramadoss’ son Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, party legislator Kaduvetti J. Guru, former legislator Tirukachchur K. Arumugam and former Union Minister A.K. Moorthy.
The arrests led to further violence by PMK cadre. They burned down 17 private vehicles including lories and damaged about 800 public transport buses by hurling petrol bombs. PMK called for a bandh on May 3rd in Puducherry, which has a sizable population of Vanniyars, and threatened to block trains in order to highlight its demand for the release of the party’s leaders. The police have booked cases of rioting, Other districts where dalits form a large among other charges, under the IPC, be- part of the population also got affected. sides Section 3 of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against 1,512 unidentified Representatives of National Alliance of Peopersons for torching the buses, police ple’s Movements visited the affected areas
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on May 23rd and spoke with the members of the community who were affected by the violence. Mr. Natarajan and Mr. Muthan were two of the victims. They reported that about 400 men, few of them who were drunk, attacked their settlement with pertrol bombs, bringing down about 11 homes. They molested their women, insulting and abusing them. The people didn’t feel secure even after the incident was over as there was no immediate response from the police and there was no police station nearby. The PMK and Dalit conflict has been lingering for quite some time now. The PMK claims that Dalits marry Vanniyar women for money, and they misuse the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989. In November 2012, the party was accused of large-scale violence in Dharmapuri, western Tamil Nadu, where three Dalit villages were devastated over an inter-caste marriage. PMK leaders have been noted instigating hate speeches against inter-caste marriages and supporting honour killings.
NAPM writes to NHRC asking for intervention in the matter
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he unimaginable hatred and actions of the Vanniyar community and PMK party is violating the value and principle of equity, enshrined in the Indian Constitution. It causes infringement upon the fundamentals of rights and dignity of dalit communities, including Right to Life, under Article 21 of the constitution. It is absolutely necessary that the strictest possible legal action be taken against the casteist force of PMK , their leaders and identified local leaders who led the vandalism, arson and loot. Since PMK is a party that is also encouraging strong political al-
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liance and open campaigning during elections, it is further infesting on politics, against the framework of the Representation of People’s Act. All this has caused, is causing and will lead to brutal and inhuman atrocities against dalits, shattering the social fabric of Tamil and Indian society, and therefore can’t be tolerated, without the strictest possible action. It, being an act of criminal offence against the dalit communities, we demand the following actions to be taken with utmost priority and promptness. 1. A team of senior most members of the Commission should visit Marakkanam and other places where atrocities have been committed against dalits during last two years (at least). Also, undertake an in depth inquiry into all casteist actions of PMK/VS as a so- About 400 men, few cial political organi- of them who were zation. Its result drunk, attacked their may be submitted to settlement with the citizens of this pertrol bombs, country, the Presibringing down about dent of India, the 11 homes. They Governor of Tamil molested their Nadu, the Ministry women, insulting and of Social Justice and abusing them. empowerment, and the Chief Minister, the Opposition leader and the legislature (both houses) of the Tamil Nadu Assembly and the Parliament, within next three months. 2. The state government of Tamil Nadu may be directed to file cases under the Prevention of atrocities against SC/ST Act, 1989 and Rule 1995. 3. The state government of Tamil Nadu may be directed to provide full security and compensation including medical
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treatment, replacement of lost and burnt belongings and rebuilding of all houses that were set on fire, within next one month, beyond whatever compensation is already paid to them. 4. The dalit families in Marakkanam are salt pan workers and other manual labourers without any protective measures granted under the Social Security Act, without any benefits under various social economic schemes. The state government and local authorities should be directed to extend all possible benefits to them, altogether about 10000 families in Marakkanam, we are told and report be submitted to your honourable commission. 5. The dalit community we visited (under attack) don’t have even proper drinking supply which the state government should be directed to immediately provide to them. 5. The state government should be directed to take appropriate action consulting the Election Commission of India, against the casteism in politics promoted by the PMK, at the earliest, to have repercussions as their role in 2014 elections. Hon. Governor of Tamil Nadu may be recommended to intervene as per his power under Schedule II of the Constitution and take action to protect SCs in Tamil Nadu. On May 23rd when our team along with Medha Patkar tried to reach the dalit community affected, we were stopped by the state police, referring to orders against our entry under section 144 CrPC. On being asked to show us a copy of the order, the authorities present were unable to produce one. Our team managed to reach the violence affected area but there too the policemen present made attempts to stop us from talking and interviewing the people and photographing the place We, therefore, demand that orders under section 144 should be withdrawn as the enclosed order, (Annexe 3) as seen from only page 3 furnished to us by the po-
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lice at the end of our visit, is absolutely discriminatory against social activists. The order equates us with the political leaders spreading casteist venom, insulting and impinging upon our Right to Information, Right to Expression of solidarity with the dalits facing atrocities and isolating the dalits who continue to live in fear. The state of Tamil Nadu should be recommended to distinguish between the casteist, violent politicians and non violent social and human rights activists and allow latter to visit any dalit community. We are hoping a prompt response and action towards fulfilment of our demands mentioned above at the earliest possible, with a promise to be of help and support in the investigative work by the Commission.
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Protest Updates GBGB: Struggle of Urban Poor in Mumbai in full swing Since the 10 – day fast involving thousands of slum dwellers in April 2013, the Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan has received committed support from many citizens, organizations & movements across the country. Many positive developments have taken place since then.
too were present for their respective sessions. Post this hearing, each organization from the affected localities prepared a final written submission in response to the documents & arguments made by the builders. The report of the Principal Secretary, Mr. D. Chakravarty, is under preparation & we hear that an extensive process of seeking replies from the officials implicated in the statement by the complainants is also underway.
The process of enquiry by the Principal Secretary - Housing into 6 large SRA projects, that was approved by the Chief Minister in January 2013 has progressed further. Hearing sessions, which began in February, resumed in full force on April 29th and were attended by all Ghar Meanwhile a parallel process of the JanBachao Ghar Banao activists with Medha Ayog (People’s Commission of enquiry apPatkar, Madhuri Shivkar, Sandeep Yeole, pointed by NAPM) was on. Public hearings Sumit Wajale and also leaders and people from the six SRA projects. All the builders
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were held at the six projects sites under the chairmanship of Justice Suresh with Prof. Amita Bhide (TISS), Shri Chandrasekhar D., Simpreet Singh and other members. This Commission will release its report on June 24th. Our work in the undeclared slums was successful in taking ahead the process of assessing amenities and getting the BMC to provide those. There is a huge gap in the norms-based proportion of amenities and actual ground level situation. For thousands of people, there are not even tens of toilet seats available. No water taps, no tanks have lead to a water mafia that reaps huge benefits, causing severe deprivation to people. Malnourishment is another serious problem in 52% of the slums of Mumbai. MCGM’s data on each is far from perfect. We realize that contracts for toilet construction granted to certain NGOs are not duly executed and there are many problems. We have to take this further in the case of about 10 - 15 slums we work with, following this monsoon as we now have
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committees for each slum formed, who will monitor & manage toilet, water supply and such amenities. Demolitions preceded the monsoon and hence we had to be prepared. This year due to continuous protest the demolitions were limited, especially in the slums associated with Ghar Banao Ghar Bachao Andolan. There was a threat posed to hundreds of houses in Adarsh Nagar and Indira Nagar, Mankhurd. However after many long dialogues with Mr. Kishore Gandhi, Assistant Municipal Commissioner and a thorough inspection conducted jointly by GBGB activists and BMC engineers the demolition got limited to 150 houses and others were saved. Those evicted stay and will be resettled, keeping in mind the drainage requirement. Rajiv Awas Yojana is a ‘RAY’ of hope for slum dwellers in Mumbai, up against builder lobby, exploitation of land grab. The Mandala pilot project is being taken forward.
Civil Society Members rubbish Modi’s accusations against activist Harsh Mandar 12th June, New Delhi Civil society members rallied together to declare their support for activist and former civil servant Harsh Mandar, yet another target of Narender Modi’s divisive games. A jointly issued statement stated ,“It is shocking that ‘PM aspirant’ Narendra Modi is calling him(Mandar) a Maoist thus trying to belittle his work and vilifying his name in public.” Modi labelled Mandar a ‘Maoist’ since the latter hired Padma, a poor single woman estranged from her husband, as a care giver in a children’s institution. The NDA’s Election Chief also accused Mandar of being involved in the abduction of former District Collector of Malkangiri, Vineel Krishna. This tactic isn’t new with Syeda
Hammed, Teesta Setalvad, Shabnam Hashni and Dr. Binayak Sen, all having been made targets of Modi’s continuous hate campaign. Harsh Mandar resigned from the Civil Services in 2002 and plunged himself in Gujarat and other parts of India in order to quell communal fire from spreading and working towards justice and rehabilitation of the survivors. “This absolutely absurd claim only exposes his (Modi) brand of politics. It is steeped in the practices of the RSS, from where Mr. Modi has learnt to distort facts and spread hate. It is vital for all to understand that the perils of allowing such politics to take centre stage where democratic rights of
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people are attacked and impacting their ties and the media so that people can conright to work as they choose, amounts to tinue to work freely for public good.� an attack on the very basis of our country's plural existence. We hope that such politics will not be promoted by political par-
Two workers die, Two injured in illegal sand mine in the Narmada Valley NBA demands comprehensive inquiry: Complete halt to the illegal activity 2nd June, Badwani In another shocking incident, two young wage labourers Bhanu S/o Fathu and Jeevan S/o Vishram were crushed under huge sand boulders and succumbed on the spot in the illegal sand mines in village Pendra, Badwani. Two other labourers Mendubai, widow of Rajendra, and Girdhari were seriously injured in a landslide caused by the erosion sinking them for
more than half an hour. As per the brave and candid statement of Mendubai, not less than 300 to 400 workers were working at the bottom of the 40 feet deep mining pit at the time of the incident. The rains had made the sand walls brittle on all four sides and suddenly there was a massive slide.
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The police inquiry into these deaths is obviously has not been thorough; the illegal mining mafia is trying hook and crook to silence the matter. Reportedly, the main contractor, Mr. Suresh Patel and his two sons from village Kundia, had paid lakhs of rupees to Raju Jalal for excavation of the land for sand. Earlier in the day, Medha Patkar and a few activists visited the labourers admitted at the hospital and also the spot at Village Pendra where the incident had occurred. The adjacent land of Champalal Awasya and his brothers (Raju’s cousins), other lands belonging to Mohan, Bherusing and his father Rukhadiya have also been sold, while they are either yet to get land or have been entangled in the fake registry scam. However, some of such land owner outstees, along with the politician-bureaucrat-contractors nexus have earned lakhs of ruppes in this illegal mine game, that is going on in villages in the Narmada valley, in the very
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lands that have been acquired for or are adjacent to the lands acquired for the Sardar Sarovar Project by the Narmada Valley Development Authority. The Rehabilitation Officer, SSP, Badwani, has clearly stated in his letter dated 14-052013 that the NVDA has never given a NoObjection Certificate to the sand mining on the lands acquired for the SSP. The entire mining activity is illegal since it violates the provisions of the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award that stipulate that the lands acquired can be used only for the purposes of submergence and not otherwise. In spite of the fact that the Supreme Court has categorically directed that no sand mining leases or renewal of leases can be given without approval of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Badwani Collector has given an illegal three – month extension from the sand mines, from April, 2013.
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Events NAPM YUVA SHIVIR—HYDERABAD Jana Vigyana Vedika Office, Khairtabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 28th - 29th June Contact: Sashank Rajwadi - 07842439062 Seela - 09818411417
very active in the campaign for enactment or our attempts at organising common national action on NREGA Diwas ). At the end we would like to set up an agenda, a programme and a structure for working together in the future.
A mail detailing agenda for the two days meeting and other logistical details would When we are young, we are full of idealism, be sent to you in due course. In the meanvisions and dreams of changing the world time, if you have suggestions for the but we also have the pressures of career, agenda do let us know. fulfilling parental and societal aspirations and with changing times dealing with new We hope that you will be able to make your challenges. Yuva Shivir provides an oppor- own travel arrangements. In case accomth tunity to the yuva saathis to discuss con- modation is needed for the 29 night, temporary issues and know the dynamics please do let us know in advance. and challenges of organising at the grassroots. Shivir will also be joined by Sandeep Please do carry a contribution for the food Pandey, Rajendra Singh, Suniti S R, and expenses on the days of the meeting. others. Please pass on the message to yuva saathis in the andolan and even those in universities and young professionals who want to be with the andolan and are interested in processes of change. Please call and confirm your participation so that necessary arrangements are made. MGNREGA MEET - NEW DELHI Venue yet to be finalised 29th—30th June Contact: Kamayani - 9771950248, Anuradha - 9433002064, The need has arisen for a national level platform to voice demands and strengthen our local level struggles on NREGA related issues. Hence we invite you to join us for a 2-day meeting in New Delhi. The purpose would be to exchange experiences and review our previous experiences of working together (for example, the PAEG or People's Action on Employment Guarantee that was
In solidarity Abhay Kumar, Annie Raja, Anuradha Talwar, Aruna Roy, Arundhati Dhuru, Dhirendra Jha, Jayati Ghosh, Jean Dreze, kamayani Swami, Madhuri Krishnaswamy, Nikhil Dey, Richa Singh, Sanjay Sahni GBGB CONFERENCE - MUMBAI
Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh Hall CST, Mumbai 24th June, Report release: 10:30 am Conference: 1pm - 5pm Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan will be releasing the Jan Aayog Report on 24th June at Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh Hall, CST. This will be followed by a conference to realize an alternative slum policy framework for housing in Mumbai.
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NEWSLETTER TITLE
POLICY WATCH: Food Security Bill Ordinance not the right route
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onsensus on details of the National ments for children, mothers, aged, disFood Security Bill has been eluding abled, widows, migrants and destitute inbut UPA government is pushing for an or- cluding universalised ICDS; monthly pendinance. An issue like food security which sions, community kitchens and destitute affects millions in our country requires feeding programmes; effective measures deep and informed debate in Parliament. for grievance redress, transparency and When the Monsoon session is just a few accountability and safeguards against weeks away, such a discussion is possi- commercial interference including GMs in ble, Why then the hurry to pass an ordi- any of the food/nutrition related schemes nance? Several important parties, includ- and against the introduction of cash ing the CPI, CPI (M), BJD, TMC, AIDMK transfers in place of PDS. The National had moved amendments and they need to Food Security Bill is a crucial opportunity be heard. Through the media it is clear to end hunger and malnutrition in India that the senior leaders of the BJP have and we hope that this will not be missed. also consented to the passage of the bill if brought in for discussion. Most of these EDITORIAL parties have placed amendments asking Political Resolution on Telangana Now! for universal coverage and opposing the reduction of entitlements from 7 kgs to 5 Andhra Pradesh is in turmoil once again kgs per month. The BJP would like to preover the demand of a separate Telansent provisions of the Chhattisgarh Food gana. The formation of smaller states in Security Bill which is more progressive the Indian Union is, in general, a sigthan the National Food Security Bill. Parnificant step towards bringing the locus ties with large farmer constituencies like of political power closer to the people. the Shiromani Akali Dal are perturbed at Small states in India, given the populathe lack of attention to farmers’ issues. All tion size of the country, will still be big these voices need to be heard and all the by international standards. With a popuissues raised need to be debated. The curlation of about 3 crores, Telangana, if rent version of the NFSB is extremely inand when created, will be viable as a adequate and makes a mockery of food state of the Indian Union. Demands for security. It provides extremely limited food making governments responsive and acentitlements, is piece meal and nowhere countable, need for redressing adminisclose to providing food security. It makes trative inefficiency, and popular aspirano provisions for production of food or for tion for a better life have set the stage for support of small and marginal farmers a new phase of states’ reorganization. who are food producers. It even undermines some of the entitlements ensured by the Supreme Court of India in the People’s struggles and sacrifices have Right to Food case. It has no provisions made it clear that the demand for a for community kitchens and feeding of the separate state of Telangana now most hunger-prone or to deal with starva- represents the aspirations of an tion deaths. The need of the hour is a overwhelming majority of the people in comprehensive food security law that in- this region. centivises agriculture production, provides for local procurement and local storThe Andhra Pradesh Assembly convened age along with a decentralised and deprion 10th of June has remained paralysed vatised universal PDS; special entitleon the issue of Telangana.
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VOLUME
It’s unfortunate to see the extraordinary measures that have been taken up by the government to suppress the ‘Chalo Assembly' call, given by the Telangana Joint Action Committee, an umbrella organisation of several pro-Telangana groups.
vour of the toiling masses. A separate Telangana will benefit not only the agitating people from the Region but also those in the present State of Andhra Pradesh whose lives and livelihood are continuously affected due to keeping the issue burning with struggle as well as oppression becoming an unending politics to be faced by National Alliance of People's Movements common people. believes that while it is necessary to maintain the law and order situation, suppression of democratic people’s protest Hence, NAPM calls for an immediate politiby mass illegal arrests of activists, cal resolution on the issue of Telangana. In threatening the people of Telangana, and spite of widespread support in Andhra cancellation of monthly pensions and es- Pradesh for the Telangana cause, there sential commodities through fair price seems to be an impasse over statehood for shops to people participating in Telangana the region. The Telangana movement offers credible hope of changing the iniquiagitation, is totally unacceptable. tous structures of power and control in the state and its failure might see the forces of While NAPM stands for smaller states, we lawlessness acquiring new strength, with believe that without change in the paradisastrous consequences for the common digm of development and system of governpeople. ance, there can be no fundamental change in the politics or relations of power in fa-
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