POLICE ARRESTED , RELEASED.
A long pending initiative was taken up by the Delhi youth today as they marched in solidarity with farmers over the issue of the ever-growing phenomenon of farmer suicides. The event was marked by symbolic representation of dissent and camaraderie at the same time as the youth donned masks of the cultivators of the nation and both the groups strode to the tune of ‘Jai jawan jai kisan’.
The detachment which has long existed between the urban and the rural…between the cultivators and the consumers saw a new light as the youth got together and promised to build a new movement wherein the common masses will truly live to its literal meaning. With a country that is ostensibly celebrating its newfound identity in the globalised world, it is also trying its best to shove its glaring problems and people’s sufferings under the lacy and diabetic garb of a liberal India. It is therefore very important that we make our Frankenstein accountable to us.
Taking this initiative a step further, the youth also came out in support of a Zero Hunger Bill to provide subsidy to the economically marginalized sections of the society and the other weaker sections. With the question of social security being a major concern for the Indian society, food being the most basic one, it is only imperative that some proactive action be taken to strengthen the cause of a secure and healthy India.
The march assumed a multi dimensional hue with participation from many farmer organisations and samitis under the banner of Kisan Log Abhiyaan. Their enthusiasm and optimism towards the youth initiative was very encouraging and set ground for triggering off a concrete movement headed by the youth and the cultivators.
Without being too ambitious and presumptuous about the issue…the youth seeks answers based on two very simple premises:
What kind of relief is being sent to the ‘suicide-prone’ areas?
If at all any relief is being sent, then why do we see the phenomenon of farmer suicides gathering momentum? (more than 25000 since 1997 and around 150 in the year 2007)
What is the Indian government doing to make the annual budget more farmer friendly? If anything towards the same has been done (as is evident from the past numerous five year plans), then why are the farmer suicides on the rise?
What is being done centrally to deal with the problem of farmer suicides in the country?
With these basic questions in mind we now pledge to kill the culture of silence, which has enjoyed a parasitical breeding among us and make our system more accountable to us.
Police arrested all the people participating in the march and prevented them to proceeed to Parliament, however, two representatives of youth and farmers then went two President's House and handed over a memorandum.All participants were then released.
Our initiatives have always proved: We are the change we want to see’ and we plan to maintain this stance.
THE HINDU 26-02-2007
New Delhi Protest march against suicides by farmers, SEZs
Madhur Tankha
Activists demand creation of a Zero Hunger Act
NEW DELHI: Members of Youth for Justice, Kisan Log Abhiyan and MCKS Food for Hungry Foundation jointly staged a march at Jantar Mantar here on Sunday protesting against the continuing farmers' suicides.
Wearing masks, the protesters holding banners like "The Constitution Guarantees Me Right to Life Yet Death Haunts Me All The Time" shouted slogans against the United Progressive Alliance Government's policies that were leading to lack of livelihood for farmers across the country. They called for a Zero Hunger Act.
Claiming that the Haryana Government had sent notices to farmers of Rewari to hand over their agricultural land for Special Economic Zones, Kisan Lok Abhiyan State president Dinesh Joshi said: "We don't mind giving barren land, but parting with fertile agricultural land for big multi-national companies is quite unreasonable."
Stating that he had received a notice from the State Government to vacate his agricultural land, Lal Singh Yadav of Haryana said he grows "bajra" and mustard in his 10 acre agricultural land but will now be left with no option but to hand over his ancestral land to the administration. "At least farmers should have the right to decide whether they want to sell their land nor not. And the price paid to us by the administration is pittance."
Sharing their concerns, a number of Delhi University students under the Youth for Justice banner marched with the farmers. Stating that they interacted with farmers of Vidarbha, Youth for Justice representative Kapil Mishra said the youth and the farmers had come on a common platform to awaken the Government so that it comes out with a farmer-friendly budget.
Demanding separate packages and waving off loans for farmers in all the affected districts, Mr. Mishra said organic farming should be encouraged.
"Since 1997, over 25,000 farmers across the country have taken their own lives. The worst affected places are Warangal, Amravati, Vidarbha, Karimnagar and Nizamabad. Even though we are boasting of 8 per cent economic growth, the grim fact is that our farmers are committing suicide. This means our policy-makers need to change their approach towards running the economy," said Mr. Mishra.
Besides travelling to Vidarbha next week in March for a first hand experience with the situation prevailing in the rural areas, Youth for Justice members will visit Capital's Connaught Place and Ansal Plaza every Sunday to distribute pamphlets to make Generation X aware of the farmers' plight.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/26/stories/2007022620640300.htm
some glimpses of joint march
1.setting the tune for march
2. y4j action heroes singing
"HO GAYI HAI PEER PARVAT SI"
3. memo to PRESIDENT OF INDIA
