EIGHT organisations of kisans, agricultural workers and rural artisans, at a joint meeting on 21ST July, decided to organise a “Campaign Fortnight” from 16TH to 31ST August throughout the country on the issues being faced by them. Joint meetings of cadres, mass meetings, seminars, torchlight processions and other programmes will be organised at block, taluk and district levels to draw the attention of public in general against the anti-people policies of the governments. The meeting also decided to observe kisans, agricultural workers and rural artisans’ Demands Day on 1st September, besides extending active support to the trade union strike of 2ND September. It was attended by leaders of AIKS (36, Canning Lane), AIKS (Ajoy Bhavan), AIAWU, BKMU, AIKKMS, AIKMS, Samyukt Kisan Sabha, and Agragami Kisan Sabha. Lives of peasants, agricultural workers and other rural poor are worsening day by day due to serious economic crisis. The policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation being pursued in name of development have mostly affected the rural people. The government policies, along with natural calamities, have made agriculture a loss-making venture, consequently putting the lives of peasants, agricultural workers and artisans in serious distress. The latest economic-social survey conducted by the central government has exposed the so-called development of rural sector. Lives of rural people are going down day by day in terms of education, health and food. Since the beginning of 2015, the BJP-led NDA government has three times brought Ordinance replacing the 2013 Land Acquisition Act in order to snatch lands of farmers without their consent or a social impact assessment. Due to pressure of countrywide movements by organisations of farmers and social organisations and protest by opposition political parties inside and outside Parliament, the BJP-led government had to agree to refer this Bill to a Joint Committee of Parliament, which is expected to submit its report by August first week. Kisan organisations, in cooperation with agricultural workers’ organisations and social movements, have created effective mass pressure by organising massive demonstrations before Parliament on 24TH February and 5TH May, 2015, and by organising various joint programmes throughout the country demanding withdrawal of this land acquisition Ordinance. Kisan and agricultural workers organisations and social movements have met several times in last six months and decided to launch countrywide joint campaign on the problems being faced by farmers, agricultural workers and rural artisans. In this background, the joint meeting was held. Active Support to 2nd September, Trade Union General Strike The BJP-led government is trying to insult and attack the working class of the country by changing the labour laws and resorting to closure, retrenchment and privatising various public sectors. The central trade unions have jointly decided to call a countrywide strike on September 2ND 2015. We the organisations of kisans, agricultural workers and rural artisans and social movements will actively support this trade union strike by organising various forms of actions like ‘Road Roko’, ‘Rail Roko’, etc. Kisan, Agricultural Worker and Rural Artisans’ Demands Day on 1st September Demonstrations and mass protest meetings will be organised at block, tehsil, taluk and district levels. The charter of demands addressed to the prime minister and respective chief ministers will be handed over to the authorities on that day. The Charter of Demands 1) Scrap the Land Acquisition Ordinance, 2015 2) Implement Progressive Land Reforms and a National Land Use Policy 3) Government should ensure Rs 3,000 as minimum monthly pension to all the toiling farmers, agricultural workers and rural artisans 4) Protect agricultural land from loot by corporates, land-mafia and real estate 5) Ensure social security of agricultural workers, Central Legislation and minimum of 12 decimal land for house sites with minimum Rs 5 lakh assistance for construction of houses for rural poor 6) Ensure Cost+50% (C2+50%) as MSP for all crops as recommended by Swaminathan Commission and guarantee purchasing centres in all areas 7) Strengthen PDS and ensure food security and supply all consumer goods at cheaper rates. Stop dismantling of the FCI. 8) Scrap anti-working class labour reforms and stop attacks on the working class. Protect children and stop child labour 9) Ensure more public investment in agriculture to develop infrastructure and for supplying inputs to farmers at cheaper rates. Stop FDI in agriculture 10) Return of such unused lands taken for SEZ or any other projects to the farmers 11) Ensure 200 days work for MNREGA with minimum Rs 300 as daily wage 12) Ensure interest free credit to poor and middle peasantry, share-croppers and agricultural workers and not more than 4 per cent interest for other farmers 13) Ensure proper crop insurance and protection of crops and lives from wild animals 14) Minimum Rs 10 lakh as relief to the suicide affected farmers' families 15) Ensure universal right to education, health and employment 16) Stop attacks and social atrocities on women, dalits, tribal population and minorities