Kerala Flood Relief Campaign
EXPRESSING solidarity with the people of Kerala struck by devastating floods, CPI (ML) activists across states have been involved in the fund relief campaign for Kerala.
In Tamil Nadu CPI(ML), AICCTU, RYA, AIARLA and DAA have organised a fund collection campaign in many parts of the state. On 16th August 2018, Kanyakumari district unit of CPI(ML) started with the fund-raising campaign. A team of Hyundai trainees campaigned among people and vendors in and around Poonamalle Bus stand and another team of RYA cadres assembled at the Sriperumpudur toll gate collected funds for flood relief. Coimbatore Pricol workers planned for a demonstration against partial lock out of 144 workers on 18 August 2018 before collectorate, but police denied permission. Workers already assembled there took this as an opportunity to campaign among people and collected about Rs 35000 as flood relief. Democratic Advocates’ Association appealed among advocates of Madras High court and raised funds. A team of workers, youth and students campaigned in residential areas of Ambattur. In Tirunelveli a RYA team campaigned at Central bus stand among passengers and collected funds. Campaign for fund raising was done at Karambakudi union of Pudukottai district. Workers affiliated with AICCTU took up a campaign in Thoothukudi.
Co-Optex employees offered their day’s salary to flood relief which comes around Rs.5 lakhs. Cadres of CPI(ML), AICCTU, RYA and AISA went on a fund drive in prominent market and residential areas in and around Chennai, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts. Kanyakumari district unit of CPI(ML) had already despatched a contingent with 2 lakh worth of material. Districts of Pudukottai and Vilupuram are collecting relief materials in both cash and kind. Workers of Soundarya Decorators who were on 13th day of strike were involved simultaneously in flood relief campaign almost on a daily basis. There is an enthusiastic response from people of all walks of life.
In Bihar, a 5-day relief fund campaign was carried on from 18 to 22 August 2018. Collection drives were organized in cities and towns of Bihar during the campaign. Activists under the banner of the Party and its mass organizations carrying placards, posters and banners and requested wayfarers, citizens and shopkeepers to come forward to help the flood-affected people of Kerala and collected thousands of rupees for the relief fund.
The CPI(ML) organized a relief fund collection drive at Patna Junction Railway Station in the capital. Collection drives were also organized at other places in Patna District including Fatuha, Naubatpur, Dhanrua, Naduan, Khusrupur, Vikram, Paliganj, Punpun and Masaurhi.
In Bhojpur District funds were collected at Ara, Jagdishpur, Piro, Koilvar, Sahar, Tarari, Narayanpur and Bihiya. Fund raising campaigns were organized at Sasaram, Dihri-on-Son, Vikramganj, and Nasiriganj in Rohtas District. On 21-22 August fund raising campaigns were organized at Jehanabad city, Ghoshi, Ratni, Kako and Makhdumpur in Jehanabad; Arwal, Kaler, Balidad, Kurtha, Karpi in Arwal District; Biharsharif and Islampur in Nalanda District; Gaya city, Dobhi, Barachatti, Manpur, Tekari and Belaganj in Gaya District. Relief fund collection was also done at Laheriyaserai Tower, Darbhanga Station Tower, LN Mithila University, Darbhanga Railway Station, Bazaar Samiti Parisar, Chhabri and Mabbi Chowk in Darbhanga District. A 3-day flood relief campaign was organized at Muzaffarpur city. Campaigns were also organized at Siwan, Gopalganj, Bhagalpur, Navgachhiya and many other places.
All CPI(ML) MLAs, former MLAs and former MP Comrade Rameshwar Prasad from Bihar contributed their one month's salary and pension for Kerala Flood Relief.
Relief fund campaigns were also organized in other states including Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. In Delhi, Kolkata and UP, AISA activists organized initiatives for collecting funds for Kerala Flood relief.
The cunning and neglectful attitude of the BJP government at the Centre and the BJP ruled States towards flood-hit Kerala is extremely shameful and deserves to be strongly condemned. The resolve shown by common citizens, small shopkeepers, footpath vendors, salaried people, workers and farmers to extend every possible help to the people of Kerala is highly praiseworthy.
