By Sujata Jena
Bhubaneswar, May 31, 2020: The Right to Food (RTF) Campaign India plans to observe June 1 as “the National Day of Mourning” in memory of those who lost their lives because of reasons linked to the lockdown.
Representatives of the campaign from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal announced the mourning at an online press conference on May 30.
The campaign pointed that the national lockdown over the past two months has caused unprecedented distress across the country, especially for the poor, homeless, marginalized and migrants.
“There were 205 road accident deaths during transportation of laborer, and another 114 people have died owing to hunger or other issues linked to the lockdown,” the campaign statement noted.
On top of that, Cyclone Amphan has caused huge loss of lives and livelihoods in West Bengal. The impact of the cyclone was devastating, but the response of the Central government was “very callous,” it added.
Jesuit Father Irudaya Jothi, one of the conveners of the Right to Food and Work West Bengal, slammed government ‘apathy’ and ‘cold-hearted’ response to sufferings of the unfortunate people.
“To mourn the repercussions of the lockdowns, is a means not only to affirm dignity to the lives and livelihoods lost, but also to hold a mirror to the government, demand accountability, ask questions and seek answers to a cold-hearted response to sufferings of the people,” the Jesuit priest told Matters India.
The National ‘Right to Food’ activists criticized the government’s “misplaced celebrations in the form of ‘Thali Bajao’, ‘Diya Jalao’ ‘Phool Barsao’, ‘Gaana Gao’ and so on. On the other hand, the government has been slow to provide any relief, with the measures announced so far being very inadequate.”
“After such a long period of denial and delay, the government finally announced the start of Shramik Trains and bus services to carry the migrant workers and those stranded back to their states. “
“Unfortunately, what transpired next was no less disheartening: from reports of several road and train accidents to even scarcity of food and water provisions in the trains, the travesty just has not ended,” the campaign lamented.
For this, the campaign suggests the following activities to be undertaken on June 1.
They would gather in small groups, with adequate precautions of distancing being taken, wear black bands and maintain a two-minute silence in memory of all those who have lost their lives.
The food activists plan to protest and register demands in blocks, districts, panchayats, in ration shops, MGNREGA worksites and in Food Corporation of India(FCI) godowns – whichever is accessible ensuring norms of physical distancing are maintained.
The campaign will use social media like Facebook, twitter and Instagram to highlight the plight of workers and show solidarity by posting pictures holding up slogans, posters and so on.
The RTF organization requests supporters and citizens to put up pictures, videos of actions protest on social media platforms and tag rozi roti.
RTF representatives Gaurav and Sameet from Chattisgarh and Odisha said the campaign will launch as “a tweeter storm” around 5:00 pm on June 1.
The activists also decided to observe a weeklong morning, after the fourth phase lockdown is lifted on May 31.
The right to food campaign is an informal network of individuals and organizations committed to the realization of the right to food and human life in India.
The campaign began in 2001, as an offshoot of public interest litigation in the Supreme Court, and quickly grew into a countrywide movement. It has its secretariat in New Delhi.
Earlier the organization had demanded the government to ensure humane transportation for the migrants.