LAKHS of workers in states of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Pondicherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal held demonstrations on September 5 at district and block level and gave memorandum to the minister for WCD, government of India. In Haryana and Jharkhand, the anganwadi workers and helpers were on strike against the state governments.
IT was way back in February of 2019, when the Central Statistical Office (CSO) declared the GDP figures for the third quarter (October-December) of 2018-19 that the talk first began in the media about the Indian economy heading towards a slowdown. It didn’t, however, become the centre of attention on account of the Lok Sabha elections.
WITH Dr Manmohan Singh resurfacing on the political landscape and articulating once more the orthodox neoliberal position, one can now clearly discern three distinct perspectives on the current economic slowdown.
Five tribal organizations – Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, Campaign for Survival and Dignity, Bharat Ekta Andolan, Jindagi Bachao Abhiyan and the All India Forum of Forest Movements have jointly submitted the following memorandum to Arjun Munda, minister for tribal affairs on September 11, regarding the new attempt to attack the Forest Rights Act in the Supreme Court.
ON September 12, the Supreme Court is scheduled to once again hear the ongoing case against the Forest Rights Act.
THE Tripura Tapasili Jati Samanway Samiti organised a state-level convention in Agartala on September 1. It has been decided to organise a mass deputation to the governor on a nine-point demands on September 21.
THE two-day extended meeting of All India Kisan Sabha, Tripura state council and Tripura Gana Mukti Parishad held at Agartala on September 1-2, 2019 gave a clarion call to strengthen resistance and intensify struggles on the burning problems of the peasantry and the oppressed sections. Broad solidarity will be built uniting the peasantry, agricultural workers, workers, women, youth and all oppressed to make timely interventions as well as result-oriented struggles.
ON AUGUST 31, a strong rally of the agricultural workers was held in Kolkata to infuse fighting spirit within agriculturalists of the country. Over 50,000 farmers and agricultural workers, at the call of AIKS and AIAWU, mobilised at the heart of Kolkata, at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, demanding an end to the anti- peasantry mindset of the Modi led union government, which they told is being supplemented by the Mamata led TMC run state government in West Bengal.
THE Delhi Union of Journalists, in a statement issued on September 3, has expressed shock and dismay at the filing of criminal cases against journalist Pawan Jaiswal of Mirzapur for shooting a video on corruption in the midday meal scheme at a government school in Seur.
“THE Tamil Nadu Platform for People’s Unity”, an anti-communal platform formed in the state organised a religious harmony conference on September 1, at Kamaraj Arangam, Chennai.
The idea behind the conference was to create and environment of communal harmony in the state by engaging with eminent persons of high secular credentials.