All India Kisan Sabha 33rd National Conference

The 33rd national conference of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was held in Cuddalore, Tamilnadu, from 24th to 27th July. with a stirring call to the peasantry of the country to unitedly fight back the process of corporatisation of agriculture deliberately unleashed by the UPA government. It also pledged to strive to build a powerful united kisan movement against the anti-farmer neo-liberal policies of the government.

The 33rd conference proceedings began at Comrade Harksihan Singh Surjeet Nagar with the ceremony of handing over of Red flag and memorial torches brought from different parts of Tamilnadu. The AIKS Red flag, brought from Thenpari in Thanjavur district where the first unit of Kisan Sabha was formed in the state, was handed over to AIKS general secretary K Varadharajan by AIKS state leader G Veeraiayan. The Venmani martyrs memorial torch commemorating the martyrdom of 44 dalit agricultural labourers torched to death by landlords in Kilvenmani village in 1968, was handed over to leader of opposition in Bengal assembly Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra by Kisan leader and CPI(M) MLA R Ramamurthy. Similarly, other torches were handed over to AIKS leaders Bajuban Reyang, E P Jayarajan and Noorul Huda.

Later, veteran Marxist leader and freedom fighter N Sankaraiah, who worked as president and general secretary of the AIKS in the past, hoisted the AIKS flag amidst shouts of 'Veera Vanakkam! Veera Vanakkam!' (Red Salute, Red Salute!) by delegates and volunteers. With Safdar Hashmi troupe rendering revolutionary songs, the delegates marched past the martyrs column paying homage to the countless martyr comrades from the past and the present. The backdrop of the stage in the conference hall – rechristened  as Venmani Martyrs Hall – was a tribute to the glorious struggles of peasants and agricultural workers in 1940 in East Thanjavur. The hut in which the martyrs were burnt by the landlords was recreated with paintings depicting the flames.

Delivering his presidential address, AIKS president S Ramachandran Pillai said the free market policies being implemented for nearly three decades have increased the pace of disappearance of the peasant agriculture while establishing the domination of large-scale agri-business corporations. Landlessness is growing at a faster pace as can be seen from the following figure. The percentage of landless households in the rural areas in 1992 was 22 per cent while today it has reached 41 per cent. He charged that the central government policies are deliberately aimed at making agriculture unviable so that the small peasants sell their lands and thus facilitate corporatisation of agriculture.

In this context he cited how the costs of all agricultural inputs have spiralled out of control, especially seeds which are now under the total control of profit-hungry private companies. The government's bad intention is made further clear by its  stout refusal to increase the minimum support price as suggested by Dr M S Swaminathan Commission. Coupled with this is the free entry of highly subsidised agri imports due to various free trade agreements the Indian government is entering into.

Due to such policies, the peasants, agricultural workers and the commonpeople of the country are experiencing the adverse impacts. Over 3 lakh farmes have committed suicide and they are still continuing with two peasants resorting to this step in every one hour. There is growing unemployment and MNREGA has failed to address this problem. The number of hungry is increasing and as per Global Hunger Index prepared by the World Bank, India stands at a dismal 67th rank out of 79 countries. Our position in terms of underweight children is much worse – 128th rank out of 129 with Timor Leste alone behind us! Pillai traced such a dire situation to the deliberate choice of policies by the UPA-II government.

Allowing FDI into retail sector would adversely affect the interests of small and medium producers, consumers and traders. It will, he said, also affect our food security due to changes in cropping pattern, which will be dictated by the MNCs. Manmohan Singh government's talk of second green revolution is nothing but unbridled promotion of corporatisation of agriculture by such measures. In such a scenario, the AIKS calls for greater unity among the Left peasant and agricultural workers organisations to fight for alternative policies for agricultural development. Such policies would be centred around the interests of agricultural workers and poor and middle peasants who constitute the overwhelming majority among the peasantry. Pillai said AIKS will also rally other democratic peasant organisations in this struggle even as it continues to build united struggles with the working class and other toiling masses.

AIKS general secretary Atul Kumar Anjan in his fraternal speech said that unless agriculture sector is put in order the entire economy of the country will not recover from the crisis it is experiencing. Despite such a cruciality of the sector, the UPA-II government is bent on pushing it into greater crisis. He condemned the government's refusal to discuss the recommendations of Dr M S Swaminathan Commission although they were submitted in 2006. He reciprocated the need for joint, united struggles of kisans like the ones being waged by the working class. Only through such united movements can the scenario in rual India be changed, he felt.

N Sankaraiah in his brief speech gave a call to reject both Congress and BJP which pursue similar policies and project an alternative based on struggles around people's issues. Praising the comrades of Bengal for the heroic battle they are waging against the monstruous attacks by Trinamool Congress goons, Sankaraiah said one way of supporting Bengal comrades is by expanding the Party in other parts of the country.

AIKS joint secretary N K Shukla placed the condolence resolution in which tributes were paid to Jyoti Basu, Samar Mukherjee, M K Pandhe, Ramnarayan Goswami, N Varadarajan as also to scores of comrades martyred in Bengal.

Reception Committee president K Balakrishna delivered welcome address. A Resolution moved by AIKS joint secretary Vijoo Krishnan opposing government's decision to allow FDI into agriculture was unanimously adopted by the conference.

  Com. Amra Ram          Com. Hannan Molla      Com. Krishna Prasad

Kisan Sabha through resolutiondemanded at least 200 days of work per year to rural people under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and a wage of Rs 300 per day.

".. AIKS demands the provision of at least 200 days of work per adult worker for every rural household at a wage of not less than Rs 300 per day through the MNREGS," one of the six resolutions passed at its four-day all India conference .

It also demanded that the scheme be extended to urban areas suitably. "This conference also calls upon all its units to take up problems related to MNREGA implementation and organise workers against efforts to dilute its provisions."

The conference also pressed for a "meaningful debate" in the Parliament on the proposed Food Security Bill and necessary amendments to address various concerns.

It urged that the system of universal PDS be put in place and entitlements restored to seven kg per capita per month, with a minimum of 35 kg per household per month.

Another resolution expressed concerns at the non implementation of the Forest Rights Act in most states in the country and sought remedial action.

"All the land that is in the possession of and being actually cultivated by Adivasis and other traditional forest dwellers be vested in their names."

Other resolutions resisted corporatisation of agriculture and to protect peasantry, demanded substantial increase in public investment in agriculture, expansion and strengthening of extension and research services and prompt procurement at remunerative prices. 

 

The 33rd all India conference of AIKS came to a successful conclusion with the unanimous election of new leadership. Kisan leader from Rajasthan and veteran of many successful farmer struggles, Amra Ram, has been elected as the new President of All India Kisan Sabha by the 33rd conference. Senior leader Hannan Mollah has been elected as new General Secretary by the newly elected 146 members of All India Kisan Coucil (AIKC) at their first meeting.  The conference elected the following new vice-presidents – S.Ramachandran Pillai, K.Varadha Rajan, Madan Ghosh, Malla Reddy, Abdul Rezzack Mollah and K. Balakrishnan; seven joint secretaries and one finance secretary Com. P Krishna Prasad. The meeting also elected 62 Central Kisan Committee (CKC) members and 14 office bearers.

As part of concluding ceremony, a huge farmers rally of around 2 lakh people as carried out. The public meeting was held at Manjakuppam grounds and was inaugurated by Com. Manik Sarkar, Tripura CM.  

Jharkhand: Unprovoked Firing on Protesters

Hundreds of people participated in a demonstration in front of the Hazaribagh Commissioner’s office on July 26 demanding a probe by a sitting judge of the High Court to enquire into the firing on peaceful protesters in Chatti-Bariyatu in Hazaribagh on July 23, which had led to the death of a protester and injuries to a few others.

The unarmed villagers were protesting against forcible construction of a shed on their land without their consent. Negotiations were going on between the peasants and the management of the NTPC which was interested in acquiring the land. As the NTPC management had not agreed to provide adequate compensation for the multi-crop land to the peasants and guarantee rehabilitation and resettlement including employment, no settlement was arrived at.

The multi-crop land is the economic base of the whole area producing paddy, wheat, pulses and different cash crops including vegetables which are sent to different markets of the industrial district of Hazaribagh.

Two Coal-Blocks were allocated to the NTPC on January 25, 2006. But as no work started within the stipulated period, the allocation was cancelled on June 14, 2011.

Further, environment and forest clearance for the Chatti-Bariyatu and Keredari Coal block which had been allocated to NTPC in January 2013, were issued only recently. The area covered by the said two Coal-Blocks of Keredari and Chatti-Bariyatu areas are about 1400 Acres including multi-crop land of six villages.

The land, in question, where the construction was taking place leading to protests is part of the de-allocated coal block.

A joint team of the CPI(M) & CPI visited Chatti-Bariyatu in Hazaribagh on July 25. The team consisting of CPI (M) State Secretary Gopikant Bakshi, Member of State Secretariat Prakash Viplav, Secretary Hazaribagh district committee Ganesh Kumar Verma, Shahikant, Sanjay Prasad, Rambilash Singh {all of CPI (M)} and Mahendra Pathak from the CPI met the wife and members of the deceased Keshar Mahto  and the families of those injured. They also met the injured villagers admitted to the Sadar Hospital.

Speaking to the delegation, villagers revealed how the management of the central public sector undertaking, NTPC, connived with contractors and the police. The police action against peaceful protesters was unwarranted. The firing took place in broad daylight without any provocation from the side of the villagers. There was no warning whatsoever. The police chased the villagers nearly half a kilometer away from the construction site and opened fire indiscriminately.

The intent of the police becomes clear when one looks at the injuries. The deceased Keshar Mahto had gun short injuries on his head and belly. Ramesh Mahto was shot at on the right jaw while Makhan Mahato suffered a bullet injury on the knee. Two critically injured villagers, Nanu Mahto and  Rahul Mahto have been admitted to the Government hospital in Ranchi, the state capital.

The CPI(M) has demanded an enquiry by a sitting judge of the High Court, proper punishment for those responsible for the firing, Rs. 20 Lakh as compensation to the family of the deceased and adequate compensation and proper treatment for those who have suffered injuries. It has also demanded a restriction on acquirement of the land of villagers until proper policies for acquisition   of land is finalized by the Central government. Protests were organized in different parts of the state on July 24.