CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, urged union minister Ram Vilas Paswan to release the 54.3 million tonnes of food grain stock lying with the Food Corporation of India free to the poor through the Public Distribution System (PDS). In a letter written to the food and public distribution minister on April 19, she condemned the government’s move to sell the food grain stock to NGOs for relief work, at high prices during this crisis period.

IN Kotarang, Hind Motors area in Hooghly, peoples’ kitchens are a saviour for hundreds of families in this difficult period of lock down. One such kitchen, run by DYFI activists serve lunch to around 500 people. Initially DYFI activists were distributing rice, pulses, salt to houses. They felt that some families would literally face starvation after some days. Most of them are house maids, cobblers and van drivers. The strategy was changed and a list of 122 families was prepared and coupons were distributed. DYFI activists distributed coupons to these families in the evening.

KHAGARIA is one of the districts of Bihar, which is known for intense land struggles. Dozens of leading comrades such as Comrade Anandi Singh, Comrade Uttam Singh, Comrade Jay Jay Ram Singh, Comrade Murli Manohar Mandal have been martyred during the ongoing class battle in the district. Comrade Jagdish Chandra Basu, district secretariat member of the CPI(M) and  district secretary of Kisan Sabha is the latest victim of the class struggle. He was gunned down on April 11, in Alauli, Meghauna panchayat in Khagaria district of Bihar.

AS the government enforced lockdown to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, migrant workers, daily wage labourers and unorganised workers in Telangana are facing the brunt – without any work, money and food. As the suffering intensifies with the lockdown being extended, the Party and mass organisations have been in the forefront to help the poor and the needy.

THE prime minister has now extended the 21-day countrywide lockdown to 40 days, that is, till  May 3.. While doing this, no explanation has been given on what basis the lockdown has been extended, and why for a 21-day period. Instead, in a briefing, the ministry of foreign affairs claimed a significant fall in infections based on certain modelling studies done by the ICMR. The ministry of health and family welfare first denied knowledge of any such ICMR modelling studies, later claimed that this was done by certain other groups.