There is a need to change the name “neo-liberal policy”, which is usually used to indicate the government policy being implemented for the last 26-27 years in India and out side. This is neither new nor liberal policy. It is a policy of the government to implement the imperialist, capitalist
designs intended to favour the multi national companies and corporations to increase their profit.

Hence it is fully justified to rename the policy as ” Capitalist Corporate Policy” or some similar word, which will expose the real meaning of the present policy.

Many comrades had contacted and intimated about the observance of the 49th anniversary of the historic strike of 19th September 1968. Thanks to all of them.

I also attended two such programmes today. In the morning hoisted the red flag of BSNLEU in the Telephone Exchange, Mananchira, Kozhikode and addressed the workers assembled there. In brief, I spoke about the martyrs of 1968 strike, the heroic action of the workers and the need to fight the anti-worker policies of the government.

In the evening attended the Convention held at Vatakara organised by BSNLEU, NFPE, AIBDPA, AIPRPA and CCLU. There were a good number of comrades assembled. I inaugurated the Convention and spoke about the details of the Strike, the suffering of the victimised workers, the martyrs and their sacrifices and the responsibility upon us in the present circumstances. Many other leaders also addressed.

We will always remember the great historic strike.

All India convention of Mass, Class and Social Movements was held today, 18th September at Mavalankar Hall, New Delhi which launched Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan to intensify the issue- based united struggle against the anti People neo liberal and communal policies of the BJP led NDA Government. Leaders of more than a hundred all India and regional based movements attended the convention which has been organized in the context of the intensified onslaught people’s rights and the democratic fabric of the country by the NDA Government and the growing struggles of different sections of the people.
The Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan will work towards common cause and will try to bring all possible Left and Democratic movements, organizations and individuals willing to fight against the neoliberal policies and RSS-BJP combine and other forces of authoritarianism and communalism. It will strive for People’s Unity, People’s Rights, People’s Resistance- Jan Ekta, Jan Adhikar, and Jan Pratirodh.
The convention expressed support and solidarity to the ongoing struggles by the joint platform of central trade unions- the three day’s continuous mass dharna on 9,10,11 November 2017 before Parliament and the struggles by the joint platform of peasant organizations- the march to parliament on 20 November 2017.
Activists of mass, class and social organizations representing workers, peasants, agricultural workers, students, youth, women, employees, tribals, dalits, minorities, other socially oppressed sections, writers, cultural groups, intellectuals, secular progressive individuals etc. from all the states attended in the convention.
A presidium comprising of Hannan Mollah(AIKS 36 Canning Lane), Amarjeet Kaur(AITUC), K Hemalata (CITU) Atul Kumar Anjan(AIKS Ajoy Bhawan) Rajeev Dimri (AICCTU) , R K Sharma (UTUC), Manoj Bhattacharya (RSP), Anil Choudhury(INSAF), Shankar(MSM) , Marium Dhawale(AIDWA) Annie Raja( NFIW) , Kavita Krishnan (AIPWA), Vikram Singh(SFI), Gautam Modi (NTUI), K Madhuresh Kumar (NAPM) , Roma Malik(AIFWPU) and P Krishnaprasad (AIKS 36 Canning Lane) conducted the proceedings.
Vikarm Singh welcomed the delegates. Amarjeet Kaur made introduction. The resolution was placed by Hannan Mollah and charter of demands by Atul Kumar Anjan. Many delegates participated in the discussion.
The demand charter and resolution with future plan is as below :

Charter of demands
1. Urgent measures for containing price-rise through compulsory universalisation of public distribution system and banning speculative trade in commodity market. Distribute all essential commodities under PDS.
2. Reverse growing unemployment by immediately fill up all existing vacancies in Government Departments and PSU’s, arrest job loss and concrete measures for employment generation.
3.Minimum wages of not less than Rs 18,000/- per month with provisions of indexation. Stop contractorisation in permanent posts and perennial work. Provide same wage and benefits for contract workers as regular workers for same and similar work. Ensure equal wage for equal work. Ensure worker status to all scheme, home based workers with all entitlement; Law for protecting the rights of Domestic workers.
4.Central Government must enact a law to ensure remunerative price of 50% above cost of production to all crops, guarantee purchase centers as recommended by National Farmers’ Commission chaired by MS Swaminathan
5. Stop contract farming and corporatization of agriculture. Promote development of modern agro-processing and marketing networks under social cooperatives of the peasants and agricultural workers. Stop corporatization of economy through FDI in from Agriculture, Railways, Insurance to Defense.
6.Comprehensive loan waiver to the peasantry covering all Public Sector Banks, Cooperatives, Private Banks as well as moneylenders. Ensure interest free, institutional credit for agriculture to cover all peasant households and measures on a war-footing to stop peasant suicides.
7.Formally withdraw the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill 2015 from the Parliament, stop all unlawful displacement and eviction and implement comprehensive land reform.
8. Stop raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in the Narmada Valley without providing rehabilitation for the 40000 households that are being drowned out as a result
9.Immediate steps to prevent violence and atrocities against women, including fast track courts for speedy trials and punishment. Stop the ongoing attempts to dilute pro-women laws including 498A and the PCPNDT Act. Enact law against honour crimes. Take stringent action against outfits indulging in moral policing and organized violence against women’s autonomy and inter-caste and inter-faith marriages.
10.Pass the ‘Women’s Reservation Bill’ for 33% reservation for women in Assemblies and Parliament without further delay.
11.Rise spending on education to 6% of GDP. Stop commercialization, centralization and communalization of Education. Stop falsification of history. Stringent implementation of the RTE Act. Implement ‘common school system’ and ‘neighborhood school system’. Ensure equal and quality education to all children. Include 3-6 age group children in the REA and make Anganwadi centers as nodal agency.
12. Stop cuts in funds, fellowships and seats in higher education, and the resulting erosion of social justice provisions including SC/ST/OBC reservations. Stop pushing Universities, IITs and research institutes like CSIR to a self-financing mode. Stop eroding the autonomy of higher education institutions to push through BJP-RSS appointees and their agenda. Stop the witch-hunt and attacks on dissenting voices on University campuses. Enact Rohith Act. Ensure autonomous anti-sexual-harassment committees on all campuses. End discriminatory rules for women’s hostels.
13. Stop privatization of Health Sector and ensure minimum 6% GDP to Health. End child labour, bonded labour and withdraw ‘amendments which dilute the Child Labour (Prohibition and Abolition) Act.
14.Proper implementation of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities (Amendment) Act and end atrocities and violence against Minorities. Release Bhim Army leader Chandrashekhar ‘Ravan’ Azad and other Bhim Army activists; punish the perpetrators of anti-Dalit violence at Saharanpur.
15.Government of India must stop plans to deport Rohingya refugees who are fleeing genocide in Myanmar, and stick to the policy of peace and shelter to all refugees beyond their identity and cooperate with the UN to ensure State of Burma resolve the problem by ending internal violence.
16.Bring Prevention of Communal Violence Bill; ensure rapid system of investigation, trial and stringent punishment to those indulging in communal violence, mob lynching, hate campaigns, and attacks on freedom of expression and the fundamental right to privacy.
17. Time bound investigation to identify and punish the killers of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh. Take action against communal terrorist organizations providing training for violence and ban arms training camps.
18. Scrap draconian laws including Sedition; AFSPA; and UAPA.
19. Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws. Stop anti- worker Labour Law Amendments.
20. Immediately withdraw the anti-farmer notification of the Central Government banning cattle trade in the cattle market. Ensure strict legal action against the communal elements unleashing violence and mob lynching especially against Muslims and Dalits in the name of ‘cow protection’.
21.Strict implementation of Forest Rights Act within a stipulated time frame of one year. Stop privatization of natural resources and protect the right of the adivasis over these natural resources.
22.Ensure homes for all homeless people and safe drinking water to all.
23.Comprehensive implementation of MNREGA linking with agriculture for a minimum 250 days of employment per year. Ensure minimum wage Rs.500/day to agriculture workers and all rural workers. Extend the implementation of the Employment Guarantee Act to urban areas.
24.Enact a comprehensive central legislation for agriculture workers and rural workers. De-link Aadaar from all the social security benefits like -mid-day-meal, pension etc and Acts like MGNREGA.
25.Universal social security cover for all workers, Assured enhanced pension not less than Rs.3, 000/- p.m. for the entire working population. Ensure monthly pension of Rs 5000 at the age of 60 to all medium- poor peasants, agriculture workers, and rural artisans who are under ceiling limits.
26. Stoppage of disinvestment and strategic sale in Central/State PSUs.

(Courtesy: Ganashakti)