THE Second State Conference of the Asom Krishi Shramik Union (AKSU), the Assam State unit of the All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU), was held on September 25–26, in Bijni, Chirang district.

On September 25, a public meeting was held near Ballamguri Bus Stand. It was presided over by state president Ajit Das. The speakers included All India Agricultural Workers Union vice-president Amiya Patra, prominent left leader of the state Suprakash Talukdar, and the AKSU state secretary Nayan Bhuyan. Also present were Shyamal Kumar De, state secretary of the Tripura Khet Majdoor Union (TKMU); Gajen Barman, Secretary of the Asom Rajyik Krishak Sabha; Parimal Chakraborty and Dhruva Kumar Medhi, respectively, the president and secretary of the Reception Committee; DYFI state leader Shubhankar Ghosh; AKSU state vice-president Bhupen Sharma; and AKSU state leaders Basudev Kalita, Dhiren Barua, Umesh Dutta and Pearul Islam.

In his welcome address, Reception Committee president Parimal Chakraborty thanked the people of Bijni for their help and cooperation in making the conference a success.

AKSU state secretary Nayan Bhuyan, referring to the growing agricultural crisis, said that large numbers of people were being forced into wage labour but were being denied access to any form of social security. He said that, as an organisation of agricultural and rural workers, and poor peasants in Assam, the AKSU is organizing the rural poor under the banner of the Union as a class organisation of the rural proletariat.

Addressing the gathering, AIAWU Vice-president Amiya Patra explained the overall situation in the country. The condition of the poor had deteriorated further under the Modi government, he stated. He also stated that the poorer sections are being subjected to ruthless evictions in the name of so-called developmental initiatives. By withdrawing MGNREGA, the Modi government had deprived the rural poor of their right to work and pushed them into an even deeper crisis. He emphasised that there was no alternative to united movements and struggles by the rural poor to force a change in the government’s anti-people policies.

Prominent left leader Suprakash Talukdar spoke about the situation in Assam and said that the Himanta Biswa Sarma led BJP government in the state has been increasingly resorting to authoritarian measures to suppress public discontent. Referring to the arrest of Pranab Doley, the farmer leader, under the National Security Act (NSA), Suprakash Talukdar stated that the BJP government had exposed its authoritarian character by using the NSA to suppress mass movements. He called for strengthening democratic movements to resist the government’s authoritarian measures.

The open session concluded with an address by president Ajit Das. Participation of the public, particularly of the rural workers, was encouraging. The participation of women among the rural workers was also noteworthy. Despite the intense heat, the enthusiasm of the participants remained undiminished. The open session of the second state conference pointed to new possibilities for expanding the organisation of rural workers.

DELEGATES’ SESSION

The delegates’ session began at 4 p.m. with the hoisting of the flags of AIAWU and AKSU at Boro Kalibari in Bijni by All India vice-president Amiya Patra and state president Ajit Das respectively. The programme of laying wreaths at the martyrs’ memorial was inaugurated by Shyamal Kumar De, secretary of the Tripura Khet Majdoor Union.

The inaugural session was presided over by state president Ajit Das. Dhruva Kumar Medhi, Secretary of the Reception Committee, welcomed the delegates. The inaugural address was delivered by All India vice-president Amiya Patra. He explained the organisational and political importance of agricultural and rural labour unions, saying that agricultural and rural workers are the backbone of the democratic movement in rural areas. It is not possible to champion the interests of these sections without their own organisation.

Though late, the beginning of the activities of the AKSU, the class organisation of the rural proletariat in Assam was encouraging for the democratic movement across the country, he added. He also called upon everyone to devote themselves to expanding the organisational activities of the Union in Assam. 

The delegates’ session was conducted by a presidium comprising Ajit Das, Bhupen Sharma, Ratan Gayari, Damayanti Das and Eshaq Ali. On behalf of the presidium, Ajit Das moved the condolence resolution.

The Draft Report of the State Committee was placed by State Secretary Nayan Bhuyan. He also placed the Draft Constitution before the Conference. Six resolutions were subsequently moved by Pabitra Das, Bakul Barua, Homeshwar Kalita, Lankeshwar Ray, Subodh Kalita and Damayanti Das respectively.

Twenty-five delegates from different districts participated in the discussion. The draft report, along with additions and amendments, was unanimously adopted. Five delegates participated in the discussion on the draft constitution, proposing amendments. The Asom Krishi Shramik Union unanimously adopted the Constitution with some amendments.

NEW NAME, NEW LEADERSHIP

With the adoption of the Constitution, the organisation was renamed as the Asom Krishi Aru Gramin Shramik Union (AKGSU), an organisation of agricultural and rural workers.

A total of 115 delegates from 13 districts participated in the conference. 80 among them were rural workers. The participation of 13 women delegates was another notable feature of the conference.

The conference elected a 45-member State Council, a 22-member Working Committee and a seven-member office-bearers’ team. Nayan Bhuyan, Ajit Das and Dharma Deka were elected as the General Secretary, President and Treasurer of the State Council respectively.

The state conference also elected five delegates to the All India Conference of the AIAWU scheduled to be held in Bangalore in February next year.

In addition to the six resolutions moved by the organising committee, a resolution against inhuman evictions was moved by a delegate, bringing the total number of resolutions to seven. On behalf of the steering Committee, Basudev Kalita replied to the discussions on the resolutions. All seven resolutions were unanimously adopted.

The conference was greeted by Shyamal Kumar De, secretary of the Tripura Khet Majdoor Union. In his message of solidarity, he explained the current situation in Tripura and shared experience and learnings while organising agricultural workers.

CITU state secretary Tapan Sharma, Asom Rajyik Krishak Sabha Secretary Gajen Barman, and state leader of the DYFI Shubhankar Ghosh addressed the conference and extended their greetings. On behalf of the Credentials Committee, Prabin Das presented the report.

National Vice President Amiya Patra delivered the concluding speech. On behalf of the presidium Bhupen Sarma addressed the delegates and extended heartfelt thanks to the Reception Committee for excellent arrangements.

The conference noted the immense possibilities of expansion of Asom Krishi Aru Gramin Shramik Union (AKGSU)  as a class organisation of the rural proletariat and resolved to build the Union’s organisation in every district of the state.