IN early November, Jantar Mantar, a place which silently witnessed several historic struggles, was swarmed with women from the most oppressed sections. These women, who feed millions of school children through the government’s Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme, live in utter poverty. Their appearance gave away their social and economic distress. Majority of them are single women, deserted, divorcees and widows.

IN recent times, the prime minister of India has repeatedly termed the critics of demonetisation as backers of black money who work against the nation. The argument implies that all those who have cash income, even though legally acquired, are offenders who would have escaped had the government given more time to them to ‘prepare’. This aggressive campaign of the government has one fundamental flaw: it assumes that the only losers from the demonetization are the money hoarders not the mass of the labouring poor whose entire survival depends on wages paid in cash.

ON December 1, the main thoroughfares and bazars at Dumka reverberated with slogans against the amendments to  Chhotanagpur and Santhal Pargana Tenancy acts introduced by the BJP government in the state. A strong rally of 2000 people comprising  tribals and other poor farmers at the call of Adivasi Adhikar Manch and Kisan Sabha, Jharkhand committees. This colourful protest rally started from Gandhi Maidan and culminated into a mass meeting at Commissioners Office. It was addressed by Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member.

THE Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar has brought out a report card on its performance after the completion of one year in office in November. It boasts of implementation of 35 per cent reservation for women in all state government jobs, enforcement of total prohibition, beginning of work on the Kachi Dargah-Bidupur six-lane bridge on the Ganges and conducting free and fair matriculation examinations.