Rural Workers Rally in Patna for Social Security Pension and NREGA Wage Hike
Thousands of rural labour activists demonstrated in Patna under the banner of All India Agricultural and Rural Labour Association (AIARLA) demanding immediate implementation of Nitish Kumar's promise of ₹2,00,000 assistance for each of Bihar's 94 lakh families earning less than ₹6,000 per month, Social Security Pensions, NREGA wage hike and other demands on 25 July.
They also condemned Bihar government’s policy of Bulldozer raj of demolishing homes of the poor in the name of development schemes.
Thousands of rural poor from various corners of Bihar, including dalits, women, workers and youth, assembled at Gait Public Library to march towards the Vidhan Sabha with their banners and demands. They have come to express their resentment against the policies of Bulldozer raj, and to demand 5 decimal land for every poor household, 200 units free electricity, social security pension at the rate of Rs. 5000 per month on the lines of the similar scheme in Andhra Pradesh, to stop loot by microfinance companies, etc.
Bihar's poor reminded Nitish Kumar of his own promise of providing Rs. 2 lakhs to 95 extremely poor families in the state and asked him to immediately start the process of disbursement of this promised amount. They warned the CM of the state that this promise will not be allowed to let go just like Modi’s jumla of rupees 15 lakhs.
CPIML is conducting an intense village level ‘Haq Do, Vaada Nibhao’ campaign in the state. Activists are holding meetings in every dalit and poor hamlet raising awareness of the above demands. These village meetings will culminate into block level protests on 21-23 August. The demand for issuing income certificates below 72000 rupees per annum is being raised forcefully.
This Vidhan Sabha march was led by CPIML Politburo member Swadesh Bhattacharya, Ex-MP and AIARLA patron Rameshwar Prasad, General Secretary Dhirendra Jha, state secretary Shatrughna Sahni, Jeevachh Paswan, Madan Singh, Pradip Kumar, Ramdhari Das, Devendra Sah and others.
Dhirendra Jha criticised the central government for not declaring a special package for Bihar in the current budget and said that the so-called special package is nothing but the repackaged old schemes and announcements because Nitish has completely surrendered before the BJP.
AIARLA national president Satyadev Ram demanded homestead land and pukka house for every dalit and poor family. He said the movement for homestead land will intensify against this bulldozer government. The honorary state president of AIARLA and MLA Virendra Gupta raised increasing incidents of crime against dalits and poor and said BJP and Nitish government is protecting the criminals.
Shatrughn Sahni raised continued attacks and repression by microfinance companies which has led even to suicides of dozens of poor women. MLA Gopal Ravidas, MLC Shashi Yadav, AICCTU leader RN Thakur, Ranvijay Kumar, Rambali Prasad, Madhuri Gupta and many others also addressed the protesters. A 12-point charter was given to the government with the above demands.
