People's Democracy

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Party To Launch Mass Campaign Against SEZs

The Himachal Pradesh state committee of the CPI(M) met in Shimla on October 4. It issued the following statement.

THE CPI(M) has strongly condemned the state government for its abject failure in taking back the workers in Chamera III hydel project. The management of the HCC is on a spree of retrenchment without following the basic law of the land. The work has just begun and no retrenchment can take place at this stage without the consent of the labour department. Hence the entire process of retrenchment is un-constitutional. The Party has stated that the workers were not on strike, it was the management that ran away on June 11, 2006 after the murder of 3 CITU leaders. The CPI(M) fully supports the ongoing agitation of the workers’ union and demands immediate reinstatement of the workers.

The CPI(M) has decided to launch a mass campaign in the state against the dangers of the special economic zones (SEZs). The state government is eager to sell the prime land in the name of SEZs to big houses. This prime land comprises of agricultural fertile area in and around Una, Kangra. In Manali also the government is selling the land at throwaway prices. The CPI(M) has serious objections on this. The state is witnessing a deep crisis in the agriculture sector. Land is becoming non remunerative and the peasantry is becoming landless. In the recent years the landlessness has increased considerably. Over this the government proposes to hand over 2000 acres for the SEZs. There will be large-scale displacement of farmers, virtually no or very meager compensation is being awarded to the displaced farmers. It has become clear that only 25 per cent of the land in multi product SEZs are to be set aside for industry/processing. This means 75 per cent of the land is for the promoter to make huge profits. Moreover, profits of the promoter are tax-free and tax exemptions are there for a whole range of business activities. This will lead to acute loss of revenue. The SEZs would be sovereign areas where there would be no government control. The CPI(M) has asked for urgent changes in the SEZ act and rules. There has to be a cap on the amount of land to be allotted. Secondly, the stipulation of the land to be used in a SEZ for industry must be increased to at least 50 per cent and 25 per cent for related infrastructure. Thirdly, tax exemption must be drastically pruned. Adequate steps to compensate and rehabilitate the displaced people must be taken.

EVICTION OF DALITS

The CPI(M) condemned the government move to evict farmers mainly dalits from their lands. The dalit families were given land under the ‘Nau Taur’. After the nationalisation of forests under the 1980 Act, some of the traditionally forest dwelling revenue villages have been converted into DPF. Now the government is issuing notices for eviction. The Party has moved amendments to the recognition of Forest Rights Bill and demanded the inclusion on non- tribal communities as forest dwellers and finally the power of the gram sabha to decide the rights in the forests. 

The CPI(M) state committee has taken a serious note of the dillydallying tactics of the government in the CPMT case. It is alleged that the government is influencing the investigation agency to keep the kingpin of the scam out of the police network. The CPI(M) has information that senior Congress ministers and office bearers of the party too are involved in the scam. It is in this background that the Party has asked the chief minister to immediately ask the revenue minster of the state Rangila Ram Rao to resign, failing which he must be sacked.

The CPI(M) has asked the government to immediately stop recruitment on PTA basis. It has termed the appointment on the basis of PTA as un-constitutional. The entire process of selection smacks of deep-rooted political ambition of the party in power to appoint their kith and kin instead of following merit. The constitution categorically points out that while selecting there must be reservation for candidates from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. In addition, reservation to the wards of ex servicemen and handicapped is also being violated. The BJP was also adopting similar kind of policies under the guise of ‘vidya upasks’. 

IMPLEMENTATION OF REGA

The CPI(M) has stated the REGA is not being implemented properly in the state. The amount of over Rs 13,000 crore is misused and is spent through contractors. The government has no proper policy and is using the money to do the maintenance work instead of using it to create permanent assets. There must be integration of block and panchayats so that overall development could take place. Above all in many blocks of Sirmour and Chamba where the scheme is running the office of BDOs is lying vacant. The CPI(M) has demanded the immediate filling up of all these posts.

The CPI(M) has asked the government to immediately come out with exact figures of loss caused due to rains. The total loss assessed is about Rs 400 crore. Whereas the actual loss is far more than that. The Party has asked the government to immediately take up the matter with the central government so that relief could reach the common man.

The CPI(M) has strongly condemned the department of Food and Supply in reducing the total availability of wheat flour under PDS to the common man. Astonishingly nearly 93 per cent reduction has taken place. Now, per head 700 gms is being given which is not only insufficient but deplores the state government’s policy on food security. The Party has decided to campaign on the incessant price rise in the state. It has asked the government to immediately stop forward and future trading system in the food items. The party has demanded the strengthening of PDS for checking the price rise.

The CPI(M) has decided to support the all India strike call given by the working class on December 14. It would also work for the success of the all India jathas of kisans and the students.