PBKMS participating in the 'Action Week'

District Units begin social action campaigns from 8th September, 2020  

Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS) has responded to the call of Right to Food and Work Network, West Bengal and is participating enthusiastically in highlighting the lax implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. The action week beginning from 8th September, 2020 will witness the participation of civil society organizations, people's associations and grassroots movements across the state of West Bengal. We all will raise the demand for the implementation of the NFSA, 2013 in its true spirit. The elected government cannot avoid its constitutional obligation to the people of the nation and have to stand by them in these trying times. Vulnerable communities reeling under the impact of a shrinking economy compounded by the unplanned nationwide lock down amidst a global pandemic are seeking answers.   

  

The field areas of PBKMS across West Bengal has seen massive mobilization by the local leadership in the first phase of the action week. Handbills are being widely distributed and meetings in NREGA job sites are also being organized. The local leadership and the state committee members are organizing district level meetings to sustain the week long campaign in the field areas. Walls in the villages will be utilized for communicating the systemic denial of entitlements and the demands of the organization. Banners will also be put up in selected locations. Some of the initiatives of our union members have been shared below:

 

Women blocking the main road in Hasnabad block, North 24 Parganas and protesting with our trade union's flag

An interactive session on working class movement in progress in Namkhana, South 24 Parganas

Engaging with NREGA workers at a work site in Dantan-1 block, West Midnapore 

Preparatory session on the action week programme with women community leaders in Kulpi, South 24 Parganas

Distribution of handbills and engaging with community members in Dantan-1 block, West Midnapore

Handbill distribution in a community centre in Minakha block, North 24 Parganas

Women displaying their demands in a community centre in  Joynagar- 2 block, South 24 Parganas

Women assembling with posters and raising their demands in the 'Amphan' affected block of Kultuli, South 24 Parganas

A street corner meeting held in Datan 1 block, West Midnapore

Women members of Mathurapur -2 block, South 24 Parganas protesting with banners and pamphlets 

A video clip of a 'Thali Bajao' campaign organized by the union leaders of Kultuli block, South 24 Parganas:

https://youtu.be/TKXC-z0ubag

Wall writing in Kultuli, South 24 Parganas conveying the demand to disburse maternity benefit entitlements immediately

Graffiti in the district of West Midnapore listing out our demands to secure food and work for the people under existing pieces of legislation

Outreach programme in Kultuli, South 24 Parganas

A street corner meeting in South 24 Parganas

One of our union members painting a wall with demands in Kultuli, South 24 Parganas

Union members with posters against the backdrop of a wall bearing testimony to the 'Action Week' campaign

Wall paintings bearing our demands in Rajendrapur Gram Panchayat, North 24 Parganas

Our field areas in North Bengal have also began their community led programmes and we will be sharing the media files from the scenic but oppressive tea gardens of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts.