Khadya Suraksha Diwas

People Demand reforms in Public Distribution System and implementation of the NFSA, 2013 in its true spirit on our 74^th Independence Day

Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity commemorated our cherished 15^th August as the ‘Food Security Day or Khadya Suraksha Diwas’ to highlight the exclusion of a substantial number of vulnerable households from the Public Distribution System. Today, around 300 villages from more than 12 districts across West Bengal came together to register their protest against the rising discontent amongst the masses on the inadequacies of the Public Distribution System. Door to door surveys of households were undertaken by our village units and banners and posters were put up in public places for mobilization exercises and also to inform the general public about our initiative. Some of the chief demands raised have been as follows:

• Universal PDS and adequate rations
• Removal of 5 different types of ration cards in West Bengal and one ration card for all
• 14 kg of food grains, 1.5 kg of pulses, and 800 gram of edible oil per month per person for free.

Members began their day by hoisting the National Flag and various planned social action initiatives were undertaken. Demonstrations, sloganeering, small gatherings and rallies saw participation from the masses over the day.

Members in the august presence of the National Flag in Biramdi village, Purulia

Some of the highlights of our ‘Food Security Day or Khadya Suraksha Diwas’:

• Parbhabanipur (Makalgacha GP, Hasnabad) is a village in which Khetmajoor Samity has started working recently. About 150 people registered to become members there. A few days after during a preparatory meeting for Independence Day, local party goons along with the local Panchayat member, threatened villagers and beat up a 55 year old man. The Panchayat member even went on to threaten people with dire consequences and said they would not get any of their benefits and entitlements from the government if they continued supporting PBKMS. Despite these threats, today about 40 people participated in the Food Security Day and carried out a flag hoisting in their village. They have all resolved to continue to be PBKMS members.
• In Shyamnagar village of Balarampur block in Purulia, while 6-8 of our women members were hoisting the flag and putting up our posters, their village civic police volunteer ordered them to tear down the posters. He threatened them with arrest if they did not do so. The women finished their program quickly and went back to their homes

 

                  Women in Shyamnagar, Purulia saluting the National flag

Half an hour later, at 12.30 pm, the police came and picked up Bhim Gope, the husband of Sanakha Gope, who leads our work in that village. Bhim is known as a simple minded, silent and good manual worker. He was not at all involved in the program and was in fact, busy building someone‘s mud wall. Several of our senior members called the district police (starting from the SP down to the OC), the Zilla Sabhadipati and ruling party leaders. Friends in the press and in other unions also made repeated calls. We were told that they were enquiring about our involvement in extremist activities, as we had put up posters on Independence Day.

A similar incident has taken place just about 2 months back in Hura police station and more recently in this very same police station (Balarampur). Each time, our activists have been detained in the police station for hours for no rhyme or reason. Bhim Gope was released at 8 PM finally. His crime – he is the husband of a village woman who hoisted the national flag on Independence Day and drew public attention to the problem of hunger during the COVID 19 pandemic.

• In 3 Gram Panchayats in Manbazar block in Purulia, the local elected officials were very supportive. The panchayat pradhans, upa-pradhans, and members participated in the events enthusiastically. They told PBKMS members that your demands are the same as ours. They took posters and handbills and distributed it themselves.

Elected Gram Panchayat members enthusiastically participated in our event at Bhurasole, Purulia

In Pifa GP in Basirhat-1 in North 24 Paraganas, the Panchayat Pradhan and Upa-pradhan also met with about 250 assembled PBKMS members. They assured people that they were in full support of PBKMS demands.

• Danton 1 block of Paschim Midnapore, local youth clubs participated in the survey. Community members and political leaders across party lines took part in the flag hoisting event and postering campaigns. In Bamanberiya, where PBKMS distributed masks to the community; the Vice President of the Panchayat Samity participated along with PBKMS.
• Cultural activities were organized at a number of villages in Purulia and South 24-Parganas.

The survey forms from all the field areas will be collected in the coming days by the respective district units and the data hence generated will be collated for specific advocacy initiatives. Member of Parliament(s) of the respective constituencies will also be engaged with and the organization plans to sustain the initiative of taking up the inadequacies in the Public Distribution System with its national networks and state partners.