CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury addressed a joint meeting of the Association of Indian Communists (AIC) and Indian Workers’ Association (IWA) in Leicester, the UK, on December 18. In his opening remarks, Yechury covered a whole range of international political developments, with emphasis on the prevailing situation in India and Britain.

Makineni Basavapunnaiah Vignana Kendram, a centre created to build unity among people and to serve as a venue to promote art and culture, was inaugurated in Vijayawada on December 13. MBVK has facilities to serve as a cultural centre. It has a 650-seat capacity auditorium, which would be in reach of everyone. It will serve as a centre where discussions, seminars, debates on issues concerning public would be held. It also has a huge library.CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury inaugurated the Makineni Basavapunnaiah Vignana Kendram.

THEY are away from their families and support systems and live in a state whose language they cannot speak. Thousands of migrant workers from Bihar, UP, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Orissa and Bengal are today stranded in Hyderabad without money in the wake of prime minister's demonetisation drive. There are about 30,000 migrant workers in and around Hyderabad in the construction sector, working under contractor and supervisors for big and small construction companies. Their wages are usually paid fortnightly or monthly.

ADIVASI Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, All India Kisan Sabha and All India Agricultural Workers’ Union along with different organisations across India representing forest dwelling communities and people’s movements converged at Jantar Mantar on December 15 to mark 10 years of the enactment of the Scheduled Tribe and other Forest Dwellers, Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006.Jitendra Chowdhary, MP and leader of AARM, Hannan Mollah, general secretary of AIKS, NK Shukla, joint secretary of AIKS, Suneet Chopra, joint secretary of AIAWU and Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M) addressed the

In a statement issued on December 21, 2016, the Republican Party of India, Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union, All India Agricultural Workers Union, National Coordination Committee on Dalit Rights, Rashtriya Dalit Manav Adhikar Andolan and the All India Dalit Rights Federation have jointly appealed for observing Rohith Vemula’s first anniversary on January 17, 2017. One year ago, on January 17, Rohith Vemula who faced caste discrimination and harassment in the University of Hyderabad, killed himself.