Report

The Eco Garden of Lucknow again became witness to a strong protest by Rasoiya (part time honorarium cooks at government schools) workers of Uttar Pradesh who are struggling against paltry wages, which are also not paid on time. Earlier in September, similar protest of ASHA workers was organized at same venue against the government apathy towards the workers who are backbone India's welfare scheme system. 

The incidents of police atrocities in the name of enforcing prohibition continue to go unabated in Bihar. In a recent incident in Hulasganj block in Jehanabad district, a two-year-old girl Fulmanti Kumari died due to injuries sustained in police violence against her mother on October 22, 2023. 

Condemning the incident, CPIML Bihar State Secretary Com. Kunal said that it a matter of great concern that police force is using the prohibition law to attack the lives and livelihood of poor. 

Comrade Prakash, 54, popularly known as Prakash Sathi, died of kidney failure in Nainital on 19 October. A member since the 80s, he joined the movement in his mid-teens during a peasant struggle held in Dhauladevi block of Almora district. Then onwards he remained committed to the party and the people. He came to Nainital during his youth for a livelihood and ran a small dhaba and tea stall which soon turned into a joint for intellectual and political discussions for many shades of activists, workers and university students.

Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) organized Bihar-wide demonstrations against harassing consumers through electricity bills. and with the demand of free electricity up to 200 units, banning prepaid meters, settling inflated electricity bills through special camps at the Panchayat level and other demands.  Demonstrations were organized at the electricity offices of various districts in the state.

Large number of Allahabad University students came out in streets on 20 October demanding the arrest of Chief Proctor Rakesh Kumar Singh who wielded lathis on Vivek Kumar, Campus President of All India Students Association, for peacefully protesting the revengeful suspension of students from the university. Students held a mass meeting at Ishwar Sharan Gate after a demonstration. 

Left parties organised an anti-communal convention in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand as part of the joint people’s Campaign against Communalism and For Defending Constitution and Democracy. CPI, CPIM and CPIML activists and common masses attended this event. 

All India Kisan Mahasabha wrote to the Chief Minister Uttarakhand opposing displacement threats to Van Gurjars (forest dwelling Gurjar community) by the forest department around Haldwani. And the denial of the right to education of their children. Their right to worship is also being hit with demolition of places to render Namaj.

Workers’ Unions Issue Strike Call on 3 November

Bhagwant Singh Mann government has issued a notification allowing 12-hour working day for industrial workers. While this decision is against the basic spirit of electoral promises made by the current government, it is widely being opposed by all workers and democratic organisations across the state. In Batala and Barnala districts AICCTU and Mazadoor Mukti Morcha members demonstrated at many places demanding immediate withdrawal of this draconian order which attacks fundamental rights of the working class.

Garwah District Committee in Jharkhand held a memorial meeting on 14 October to pay tribute to Comrade Kishore Kumar who died on 30 September. The meeting was chaired by his daughter Comrade Sushma Mehta, former chairperson of Garwah District Council and a member of the Jharkhand State Committee of the Party. Colleagues and comrades of Comrade Kishore Kumar shared their inspiring memories.

On October 1, 2023, lakhs of government employees and teachers gathered at Delhi’s Rameleela Maidan to mark a historic day in the movement against New Pension Scheme and demanding for reinstating of Old Pension Scheme. Protesters from across the country joined the Delhi Chalo call. The entire ground along with the surrounding roads was packed with people carrying placards and banners. Despite the extremely hot and sunny weather, the whole area was reverberating with slogans against the NPS and Modi’ government’s anti-worker policies.