WEST Bengal Provincial Krishak Sabha (AIKS) started Krishak Jathas throughout the state on October 15. The jathas will crisscross entire rural Bengal for five days. The jathas, mainly at block level, will travel across all villages in the state, mobilising thousands of peasants and agricultural workers, rural poor in an unprecedented manner in recent memory. The main objectives of the jathas are twofold. The first is to raise the burning issues of rural Bengal. Peasants are not receiving remunerative prices for their produces; the procurement of paddy by the state government has fallen miserably with even the half of the target unachieved. The rural poor have not been paid their dues for working under MNREGA for months. The panchayats, under TMC regime, have become non-functional and dens of loot. There is a serious crisis of jobs in rural areas. Social security schemes, including old age pensions have been virtually stopped or benefits are being distributed by allegiance to ruling party. The jathas will also protest against the attack on democracy in the state. The second objective is to learn from the masses. The AIKS leaders and activists have been advised to talk to the people extensively and learn more on the details of the situation in the villages. For this purpose, the participants will take shelter in the homes of the villagers, will spend nights in the villages. In some places, community kitchens are being organised. Leaders of the AIKS have participated in these jathas. On the first day, Suryakanta Misra, AIKS leader and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member walked in Bolpur in Birbhum district, addressed public meetings in Sian Muluk and Sainthia. Madan Ghosh, state president of the AIKS joined in another jatha in Birbhum. Nripen Chowdhury, state secretary of AIKS marched with others in Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas. Addressing public meetings in Birbhum, Misra cautioned about the divisive politics of both the BJP and the TMC , which has accentuated after Burdwan blast. “The rising prices do not differentiate between religions, so too the bombs”, he said. Misra said, “Anti-people policies of both the centre and the state government have increased the burden on the people. These policies can only be fought with greater unity among the people. To divide the people, attempts of communal polarisation have started in Bengal. It is only the Left forces who can fight with all kinds of communal forces”. He also demanded that all culprits involved in chit fund scam should be brought to book and compensation paid by selling their properties. The jathas, carrying red flags and posters and banners of peasants’ demands immediately created waves in rural areas. In many areas, the AIKS could organise such a mobilisation after three and half years. Jathas also went through terrorised areas. The villagers enthusiastically gathered to welcome the jathas and joined in the walk. In many areas, tribal people came out in large numbers in their traditional, colourful attires.