IN the second half of November, 113 mass organisations will conduct a statewide intensive campaign on peoples’ issues. These organisations, representing all sections of people including peasants, workers, employees, teachers, students, youth, and women have formed Bengal Platform of Mass Organisations (BPMO) from a public convention in Rani Rasmoni Avenue in Kolkata on September 28. This is the widest ever mobilisation of mass organisations on a united platform in the state.

After the festivals, these organisations have organised joint conventions at every level where the charter of demands was explained and preparatory work for the massive campaign was finalised. There will be statewide booth-level marches or jathas from November 14-22. These marches will cover 77,000 booths in state, making it the biggest ever campaign programme. The marchers will comprise representatives of all mass organisations active in the respective areas. The marchers will explain the demands and the political situation in the state. There will be at least 50 steady volunteers in the block, ward level jathas who will walk all along the way. One of the features will be participation of cultural workers who will raise the demands through performances. There will be public meetings at the conclusion of jathas. In the rural areas, the volunteers and leaders will stay at villagers’ homes at night.

But this will not be a campaign by political workers alone. Intensive door-to-door to campaign will be conducted to mobilise as many people as possible. There will be interaction with people at every level.

In the prevailing situation of the state, these jathas will raise the voice for restoration of democracy in the state. The voice will be raised against divisive activities of the communal forces, who are trying to spread their network in the state.

15 point charter of demands includes the burning problems of the peasants and agricultural workers. They are suffering from loss of produces, distress sale, lack of work culminating in extreme misery unheard for three decades. Demand to open closed factories, administrative intervention to save tea garden workers, safeguarding casual workers will be raised. The entire state is witnessing growing unemployment and no industrial investment has come through in the last four years. The demand for employment and corruption-free recruitment in teachers’ posts will be raised. The jathas will also demand security for women, defending public distribution system, reduction of exorbitant power charges etc.