The State Committee of the Communist Party of India
(Marxist) has called for a sustained month-long campaign across West
Bengal in August to highlight its demand for the incorporation in the
Centre’s proposed Food Security Bill provision for a universalised
public distribution system that ensures a monthly allocation of at least
35 kg of foodgrains per family at the rate of Rs. 2 per kg.
Demands
like remunerative prices to farmers for their produce, reducing the
prices of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs, and financial
assistance for farmers who have committed suicide in the State are also
being raised by the Left-backed peasant organisations during their
on-going campaigns, the State Committee noted at its two-day meeting
which concluded here on Sunday.
More than 60 farmers
committed suicide because of agrarian distress ever since the Trinamool
Congress-led government assumed power in the State in My 2011.
While
the campaign on such matters would continue, more attention has to be
paid on issues like the social security to those in the unorganised
sector, the State Secretary of the CPI(M) Biman Bose pointed out at the
meeting. The party would have to play a more active role in organising
farmers as well as workers in other sectors, he said. The CPI(M) will
organise law-violation programmes in the different districts on Monday
and in Kolkata and Siliguri the next day to protest against the rise in
prices of essential commodities and to highlight the need for protecting
the democratic rights of the people, a statement issued by the party’s
State Committee said.
