SIT-IN PROTEST FOR LIVELIHOOD

SIT-IN PROTEST FOR LIVELIHOOD

24-JUNE-ENG 31

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------A sit-in protest was held today at the Ara Block headquarters under the banner of CPI(ML), the Urban Poor Front (Shahri Garib Morcha), and KHEGRAMAS. The protest focused on pressing public issues, including demands for: immediate employment arrangements under the 'Gram Ji Ram Ji' law for urban and rural poor (especially women); a halt to the use of bulldozers on the homes of the poor across Bihar, including Ara city; a ban on evicting the poor without alternative housing arrangements; raising the minimum wage for unskilled laborers in Bihar to ₹700; curbing corruption in the Public Distribution System (PDS); and increasing old-age and social security pensions to ₹3,000 per month while clearing pension arrears.

The protest, organized under the banners of the Urban Poor Front, KHEGRAMAS, and CPI(ML), was conducted by Raushan Kushwaha, an AISA leader and party district committee member. Addressing the gathering, CPI(ML) State Standing Committee member and Insaf Manch State Secretary Qyamuddin Ansari stated that the BJP government has become anti-poor; this is why bulldozers are constantly being used against the homes and shanties of the underprivileged under their rule. Ansari pointed out the contradiction between the Chief Minister's claim that the poor settled for 20 years would not be evicted and the reality in Ara, where bulldozers demolished the homes of the poor who had been settled there for centuries.

CPI(ML) leader Qyamuddin Ansari further alleged rampant corruption in the Public Distribution System. He cited the example of a tout named Niraj Singh, who continues to frequent the SDO office all day long even after being removed from it, while remaining absent from his school duties—a clear instance of corruption. CPI(ML) State Committee member and Ara Secretary Vijay Ojha stated that the poor are starving amidst rising inflation; in such a dire situation, the Bihar government must make arrangements for livelihoods and immediately provide employment—under the 'Gram Ji Ram Ji' scheme—to the laborers and women seeking work.

Speakers addressing today's sit-in protest included Khet-Gramin Mazdoor Sabha (Khegramas) leader Kamta Prasad Bind and Harishankar Sah; Panchayat Samiti member Janardan Gond; farmer leader Hareram Singh; AICCTU leaders Balmukund Chaudhary, Ashok Kumar Singh, and Sant Vilas Ram; youth leaders Dhanoj Yadav and Randhir Rana; student leader Vikas Kumar; and Avrodhan Devi, Babita Devi, Meena Devi, Rajkumari Devi, Manti Devi, and Soni Devi.