By Irudhaya Jothi
Siliguri: A convention was organised with starving people of North Bengal on March 10 under the aegis of Right To Food and Work Campaign of West Bengal.
The representatives from people’s associations, grassroots movements, rural NGOs and welfare societies registered their participation under the banner of the ‘Bhukha Manusher Adhikar Abhiyan’ (campaign for the rights of the starving population).
The convention attended by 108 representatives from seven districts of North Bengal at Siliguri unanimously passed a common charter of demands.
The Right To Food and Work Campaign is active in the region and its members are involved in distribution of food baskets to the starving people.
The delegates discussed strategies for addressing the rising food insecurity in the state and the nation at large.
References to the recently concluded ‘Hunger Watch’ survey report of about 3,000 families in Bengal were reiterated.
The precarious condition of the household food basket, especially for vulnerable families in the aftermath of the unplanned nationwide lockdown amidst the global pandemic and different ways the poor managed to survive where shared.
A wobbling rural economy and the extremely limited bargaining power of the migrant labour participation pushed scores of families into extreme distress.
Besides, they also discussed with anger about the recent proposal of NITI Ayog to reduce the ration distribution in the rural areas from 75 percent to 60 percent and urban areas from 50 percent to 40 percent. They observed that such an act will lead millions of already starving to death.
Lately, the beginning of the campaigning for upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal reminds of the indifference of the mainstream political parties towards issues concerning the working class and food security.
Hence, the network decided to hold a convention to bring out a demand charter and a statement in solidarity with the nationwide campaign to communicate the importance of food and work rights for all sections of the society.
They plan to heighten their advocacy efforts in the run up to the polls with the objective of finding their demands in the manifestos of the mainstream political parties.
The network is also in the process of placing their demands before the incumbent legislators and parliamentarians.
The following demands will be included in our charter after receiving approval from our delegates in the convention:
• Universalization of Public Distribution System
• 14 kg food grains, 1.5 kg pulses, 800 ml vegetable oil per month for each and every individual
• ‘No Aadhar, Full Ration’: We reject the decision of the central government to operationalize PDS through verification of Aadhar cards which is fraught with limitations
• Guarantee of minimum wages for tea plantation workers which should ensure a daily wage payment of at least ₹360 (cash) plus kind (₹240)
• Immediate clearance of pending dues (Provident Fund, Gratuity and FAWLOI – Financial Assistance to the Workers of Locked Out Industries ) of all affected tea plantation workers
• Protection of rights of migrant workers and a national policy to prevent distress migration
• Rationalization of retail prices of vehicular fuels to mitigate the impact on food inflation
• Immediate rollback of the recently ratified 3 central farm acts
• Emphasis on localized procurement and planning to bring in inclusive development of rural communities
• Consensus candidates to be decided by village panchayats in elections to local and state bodies for representing concerns of the local population
• Minimum 200 days of guaranteed employment under the provisions of MGNREGA, 2005 and increase of daily wages (600) according to the seventh pay commission’s recommendations
• Reducing administrative complexities in disbursal of maternity benefits and unconditional coverage for all pregnant women
• Compulsory adherence to the provision of paid leaves for mothers in the plantation sector in specific and the unorganized sector in general
• Improving access to social security pensions for vulnerable section of the population
• Paid maternity leaves for all plantation workers and ensuring adherence to related guidelines in the unorganized sector of the economy.
• Midday meals in all government operated and aided schools and hot cooked meals in anganwadi centres to be started immediately for children.