More than 10,000 agricultural workers, tribal and Dalit farmers, anganwadi workers, daily-wage workers arrived here to hold a people’s assembly. They said they have gathered in the Capital to draw Parliament’s attention to the National Democratic Alliance Government’s proposed changes to legal entitlements and social security, labour rights and access to natural resources.
The workers and farmers gave testimonies on their access to public information, land, water, food security and social security entitlements as well as freedom of speech with the slogan ‘Abki Baar Humara Adhikar’.
“If we hold a protest rally, only then the government will open MNREGA work as per demand in the village. Our children are allowed to reach Class VIII and after that they are unable to progress further, they are unable to get good education,” said Mayaram Jamre, a tribal farmer from Barwani district in Madhya Pradesh.
The participating organisations included the All India Agricultural Labourers’ Association, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, All India Democratic Women’s Association, All India Progressive Women Association, Chhattisgarh Kisan Majdoor Andolan, Ekta Parishad, Green Peace, Pension Parishad, Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Campaign, Jan Swasth Abhiyan, Pension Parishad and Right To Food Campaign.
