THE CPIML State Standing Committee meeting took place on 19 March at Lucknow after which Janata Curfew was declared by the Prime Minister on 22 March and then a 21-day curfew was declared from 24 March. Meanwhile on 23 March Bhagat Singh Martyrdom Day was observed along with RYA District Committee meeting in the presence of State Secretary Sudhakar Yadav, with a reading of Bhagat Singh’s “Why I am an Atheist”.
After the announcement of the 21-day Lockdown an atmosphere of fear was created through ill-treatment and beating up of people by the police in the name of strict implementation of the Lockdown. State Secretary Sudhakar Yadav, returning from the District Committee meeting at Ghazipur, was stuck in Chandauli due to the Lockdown which proved to be a blessing for us. We discussed and planned how to keep in contact with our mass base while observing physical distancing and social solidarity in the time of Lockdown. We contacted Block level Party leaders and discussed initiatives that could be taken.
Meanwhile, we got reports from Odauli village in Sakaldiha Block about some families on the brink of starvation. Odauli Party Branch then decided to collect contributions from farmers for distribution among the poor. This work was done and the amounts collected were distributed among the poor families under the leadership of RYA leader and former AISA leader Comrade Mangal Singh Rajbhar. Also in Sakaldiha Block, some women who did not have ration cards were helped by AIPWA District Vice President Comrade Shyamdei who along with 10 women went to the BDO office and got the ration cards made. The women who went to the BDO office were also given 10 kg ration and a kit of essentials. Similar help was also given in Mughalserai to families who needed to have ration cards made. Lists of such families without ration cards are being prepared and efforts are on to contact the officials and prepare the ration cards for them. Meanwhile, news has come of workers from Barhani, Sahebganj and other places in the District stranded at Pune, Tamil Nadu and other places. Messages were sent to the Party’s Covid-19 Lockdown Helpline Group and action was taken to give help to the stranded workers.
A plan was drawn up to hold Block level Party classes to discuss “corona Virus Prevention and our Responsibilities’ and hold classes on the Communist Party Manifesto. Classes were organized at Sakaldiha (5 April), Sahabganj (8 April), Chakiya (10 April), Niyamatabad (11 April), and Chandauli-Barhani (12 April). On 12 April between 2 and 2.30 PM the Party campaign of ‘Khali Thali Bajao’ (Bang Plates against Hunger for Food) was implemented and empty plates were banged under the leadership of leaders and activists at Chandauli, Sahabganj, Chakiya, Parasiyan Kala, Baraujhi, Niyamatabad, Dhapri, Jeevadhipur, Sakaldiha, Chahaniya, Mughalserai and other places.
Ambedkar Jayanti was observed with programs at 15 places in the District including Chandauli, Sakaldiha, Chahaniya andother places. It is noteworthy that Ambedkar Jayanti was also celebrated in the remote Adivasi area of Naugarh.
It has been decided to observe May Day on 1 May but the manner would be decided as per Party directives. The idea of holding a District Cadre Convention to discuss the post-Lockdown situation was put forward. The District Committee stated that whatever future programs are organized would strictly adhere to physical distancing, social solidarity and all other preventive measures against Coronavirus.
- Anil Paswan
