Vol.6, Issue 2-3 July-October -2011 The Forgotten Fast of Irom Sharmila

Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958

We should be there: The Left and Cancell Koodankulam Project the Anna moment

Lip-Service to Inclusive Growth Odisha's Little Gandhians

Planning Commission's Poverty Definition: A Historic Victory of Domestic Workers Struggle An Insult to the Poor July - October 2011

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The Movement of India (MoI) National Alliance of Peoples' Movements (NAPM) C/O 6/6 (Basement), Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi – 110 014, India. Phone: 011 2437 4535; Mobile: +91 9818 905316 Email: [email protected] July - October 2011

1. Editorial 4 2. The Forgotten Fast of Irom Shrmila 5 3. Why Did NAPM Decide to Support Anna Hazare's Anti-Corruption Movement 10 4. We should be there: The Left and the Anna moment 12 5. Lip-Service to Inclusive Growth 17 6. How little can a person live on? 20 7. “Planning Commission's Poverty Definition: An Insult to the Poor” 23 8. Koodankulam: A Nuclear Chain Reaction 25 9. Cancell Koodankulam Project 27 10. Odisha's Little Gandhians 29 11. A Historic Victory of Domestic Workers Struggle 32 12. News & Notes 34

The Why Did NAPM Decide Forgotten M.Ravishankar Fast to Support Anna Hazare's of Irom Sharmila Anti-Corruption Movement

Lip-Service “Planning Commission's Poverty Definition: to An Insult to the Poor” Inclusive Growth July - October 2011

his issue of the MOI covers a significant period in the democratic history of the Tcountry. The anti-corruption campaign headed by Anna Hazare and supported by a range of civil society activists and leaders has sparked an intense national debate and seen one of the most widely watched discussion in the Indian Parliament. This issue attempts to capture the nuances of this debate with a shade of opinions and an article that looks specifically at NAPM's position on the campaign. The other big controversy in this period has been about another crucial issue – one that links the right to food, economic subsidies, the government's welfare agenda and the basic right to live a life of dignity. The affidavit that the Planning Commission recently submitted before the Supreme Court stating that a person is to be considered 'poor' only if his or her monthly spending is below Rs. 781 (Rs. 26 a day) in the rural areas and Rs. 965 (Rs. 32 a day) in the urban areas, has exposed how unrealistic 'poverty lines' are. These figures have also exposed the moral bankruptcy of the Indian administrative class, and the extent to which 'official' calculations have been distorted to a point to which they bear no resemblance to the living conditions of millions of Indians. After Jaitapur, Koodankulam has become the site of resistance for the Indian anti-nuclear movement. The debate around nuclear power plants in the country continued with a massive show of strength in Tamil Nadu by those protesting against the Koodankulam plant. This mass resistance to an issue that has remained dormant for years in India is a direct outcome of the disaster in Japan and a heightened awareness of the dangers of nuclear power. This issue has a feature on Irom Sharmila, by a committed artist who has been performing shows related to civil rights violations in the Northeastern part of the country over the last few years. This article is a timely reminder about a fast that symbolizes the spirit of those suffering for years at the hands of the Indian state without recourse to basic legal remedies that the rest of the country has. There are two interesting pieces in this issue that round off the contents. One examines the case of a domestic worker in Bangalore who has used the law to ask for a share of the wages that she has been denied over her years of service that fell far short of the prescribed minimum wage. The second article scrutinizes the ethical and moral validity of the criticisms leveled against the protestors in the POSCO agitation for involving children to defy the might of the state. The intensity of the articles in this issue and the spectrum of opinions covered make this an issue that we are sure you will enjoy reading. We hope that readers write in to express their feedback, views and comments. Editorial Team July - October 2011 The Forgotten Fast of Irom Sharmila Ojas S V

ike the last 65 years, "gore hakim gayo re commissioned officers (of the this August on 15th bhaiyya ; aa gaye hakim kaale rank of captain and above) to Lmorning, we got up badal gayi hai chaabi lekin issue, in written, shoot to kill early, wore white cloths, nahi badle hae taale" 'Indians' order to their soldiers, if in saluted the tricolor flag, sang are still prisoned in the same their opinion the situation national anthem, watched lock ups, have the same kind requires so. How brutal, isn't some patriotic film on TV in of resource ownerships, the it? The Britishers left and then the afternoon (if not gone for same unchanged colonial the ordinance obviously was extended weekend trip!) and laws! - be it forest laws, land dissolved. But the story did not in short felt proud about being acquisition laws, or the most end there. in 1955, in the an Indian! Independence day infamous black law AFSPA! independent India the state of is a wonderful day to celebrate so today while this year we Assam passed even more our history; a history where celebrated 65th anniversary of brutal law with the name India won a part of the battle Independence Day, let me tell 'Assam Disturbed Area Act' against imperialism; a history you the story of AFSPA – the under which shoot-to-kill where India stood and won "Armed Forces Special powers were granted to against colonial structure and Power's Act, 1958." This ordinary soldiers just above the colonial laws through majorly came as an ordinance in 1942. rank of sepoy and the 'in n o n - v i o l e n t p e o p l e ' s I t w a s f r a m e d a n d written' condition is not movements. But unfortunately promulgated on 15th august required. that element of imperialism 1942 by the British to quell the 18th august 1958, after 11 and colonisation could not non-violent quit India years of the independence, the leave India! Like, as we sing in movement. The ordinance Indian parliament passed a law our movement songs.. granted special powers to the named Armed Forces Special July - October 2011 Powers Act to 'deal with' the maintenance of public order" D. Under section 4(d), Naga struggle of indepen- and only give "such due the army can enter and search dence. Mr. G B Pant, Home warning as he may consider without a warrant to make an Minister then, promised it to necessary." arrest or to recover any be a temporary measure, for B. The army can destroy property, arms, ammunition or short and swift application. In property under section 4(b) if explosives which are believed subsequent years, AFSPA was it is an arms dump, a fortified to be unlawfully kept on the promulgated across large part position or shelter from where premises. This section also of North East of India, in seven armed attacks are made or are allows the use of force states which include Assam, suspected of being made, if necessary for the search. Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, E. Section 5 states that M e g h a l a y a , A r u n a c h a l after the military has arrested Pradesh and Tripura. The law someone under the AFSPA, which took on emergency According to many human they must hand that person status was enacted without rights organisations, the over to the nearest police f o r m a l d e c l a r a t i o n o f AFSPA has become a symbol station with the "least possible of oppression and only serves emergency. It was portrayed as delay." The act has no "counter insurgency" law. to radicalize the ethnic groups. Very clearly it is an definition of what constitutes So, what does the law anti-constitutional law! It the least possible delay. exactly say? suspends people's funda F. Section 6 establishes T h e A F S PA g i v e s mental rights, contravening that no legal proceeding can be th military and paramilitary the 44 amendment to the brought against any member forces nearly unrestricted Indian constitution. The Act of the armed forces acting power to "maintain public permits firing and causing under the AFSPA, without the order" in areas identified by death based on the slightest permission of the Central suspicion, which amounts to the GOI as "disturbed.” extrajudicial execution, Government. This section Some of the more which as a principle is against leaves the victims of the questionable sections of the Article 21 of the constitution abuses of the armed forces Act include the following that promises 'No person without a remedy. provisions. shall be deprived of life or According to many A. The army can shoot to personal liberty except human rights organisations, according to a procedure the AFSPA has become a kill, under the powers of established by law'. s e c t i o n 4 ( a ) , f o r t h e symbol of oppression and only commission or suspicion of serves to radicalize the ethnic the commission of the groups. Very clearly it is an following offenses: acting in anti-constitutional law! It the structure is used as a suspends people's funda contravention of any law or training camp or as a hide-out order for the time being in mental rights, contravening b y a r m e d g a n g s o r th the 44 amendment to the force in the disturbed area absconders. prohibiting the assembly of Indian constitution. The Act five or more persons, carrying C. The army can arrest permits firing and causing weapons, or carrying anything anyone without a warrant death based on the slightest which is capable of being used under section 4(c) who has suspicion, which amounts to as a fire-arm or ammunition. committed, is suspected of extrajudicial execution, which To justify the invocation of having committed or of being as a principle is against Article this provision, the officer need about to commit, a cognizable 21 of the constitution that only be "of the opinion that it is offense and use any amount of promises 'No person shall be necessary to do so for the force "necessary to effect the deprived of life or personal arrest." July - October 2011 liberty except according to a human rights violations by That this adds 250-300 women procedure established by law'. law enforcement authorities widows in Manipur every So after much violation and the paramilitary Assam year? A number of women are of people's fundamental Rifles. raped by members of military or paramilitary forces? Or also human rights, did the law This law was further mass raped by ethnic majority s u c c e e d a s ' c o u n t e r enforced in Jammu and supported by military or insurgency' law? The answer Kashmir in 1991. Human politicians? While India is negative. Taking the right violations, sexual abuses celebrated world cup victory, a example of Manipur, there on women done by armed 70 year old woman lost her life were two major insurgent forces in North East and J&K in Tomching hillock in groups (here I am not even are numerous. Most victims Manipur because of a stray touching the causes of of such violations have not got bullet by the Personnel of the insurgency!) in early 1960s. any injustice. Then the law came to Manipur 15 Assam Rifles who were Geographically North celebrating the victory that as a 'temporary measure' and East is far away from main today, after almost three night and who fired several land India but unfortunately rounds of ammuni tions? decades, the number of our mainland centric mindset Do we know that an insurgent groups in Manipur has made it much more distant activist called Manorama Devi has crossed 35! So clearly it and disconnected. failed as a counter-insurgency was gang raped in custody by law. Do we know that each Assam Riffles members and 5 year there are about 300 extra bullets were found in her Rather the efforts at judicial convictions in the tackling the insurgents are also vagina in the post mortem? Do single state of Manipur? (if we know that subsequently the complicated by the use of the you ask this to Mr. Ibobi Armed Forces Special Powers angry "maira paibis" (torch Singh, CM of Manipur, he bearer mother's movement) Act of 1958 (AFSPA) and will correct you as "no there has been a surge in did naked protest in front of madam, only 276 in 2010!") Assam Riffle head quarters? The nation which is so impressed by small hunger strikes of 4-5 days and p o l i t i c i a n s w h o g e t p r e s s u r i z e d t o c h a n g e policies.. Do we know that a lady called Irom Sharmila is on hunger strike for the past eleven years against this black law sitting in a corner of Imphal, the capital of Manipur?! I r o m S h a r m i l a , a Manipuri poet and journalist, brought up in the same violent environment herself, was 28 and working as a volunteer with Human Rights Alert in Manipur when she witnessed the Malom massacre on 2nd July - October 2011 November 2000 in which 10 "309 attempt to suicide" civilians were murdered by charge which renews every 15 Assam Riffles soldiers in days. She is released after blank fire near a bus stop every 6 months like some away from Malom market. ritual, when she comes out and The victims include a 62 year joins the Ema protest which is old lady and a 18 year old boy half km away from the who was rewarded by hospital, continues her hunger National child bravery award strike and gets rearrested in 1988, and eight others who within a couple of days with did not have any kind of the same charge. She is not warrant or proof against them. even recognised as a political No action was taken against prisoner by authorities. She is any of the responsible kept in isolation and not officers. allowed to meet anyone That incident provoked (where even a convicted Sharmila to express her anger prisoner is allowed to meet and frustration by some or the Sharmila declared her his/her family members ones other way and she decided to hunger strike on 4 t h or twice in a week). In order to start indefinite hunger strike November 2000 and just meet her one has to go through against AFSPA which she on the next day it was a lengthy process of getting realized is the cause of flashed in all local permission to meet from the numerous such incidents. Her newspapers bringing Home ministry and the Chief hunger strike was widely about great support to her Minister of Manipur. Even appreciated by common cause by Manipuris. On after that procedure one may people of different age groups 6th November 2000, she be denied to meet her. in Manipur. Hunger strike is was arrested and sent to Journalists (even from where you don't take any I m p h a l j a i l . T h e international news channels weapon in your hands, do not government arrested her like BBC), eminent writers provoke anyone, do not hurt with "attempted suicide" like Mahashweta Devi, many or kill anyone, but very charge. After 15 days her human right activists, strongly express your protest. health collapsed and the feminists and lawyers have And that is what was needed government understood been denied permission to for Manipuris – an expression that if she dies, there meet her. of their anger but by the would be fire in Manipur. Sharmila is kept in means where one will not be isolation but her spirit cannot tagged as "insurgent" or be locked up. She is an "suspect" by the state. After 15 days her health i n s p i r a t i o n t o y o u n g Sharmila declared her collapsed and the government generation of Manipur, rather hunger strike on 4th November understood that if she dies, of youth in India who are 2000 and just on the next day there would be fire in against such state brutality. In it was flashed in all local Manipur. So since then till s o m a n y t h e a t r i c a l newspapers bringing about date they are forcefully e x p r e s s i o n s , a r t i s t i c great support to her cause by feeding her through nasal impressions, songs and films, th tube. So much so that it has Manipuris. On 6 November Sharmila has been portrayed become her identity now! 2000, she was arrested and by the artists from Manipur. sent to Imphal jail. The Until today she is kept in Ema protest or mother's government arrested her with Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital protest is a chain hunger strike "attempted suicide" charge. security ward with the same near JN hospital in Imphal July - October 2011 th which is going on for more 4 November: a day populations living along than the past three years. Maira when Sharmila's historical international borders. That is Paibi, a traditional women's hunger strike started in 2000. not a small population – the movement, is still playing the AFSPA is not only number of people under lead role in those protests. violation of human rights but AFSPA is 4 billion! At least At the national level too is also a major reason of ethnic after so many years of there is support shown by divisions, constitution-alised independence are we going to youngsters and women's stop looking at them like a movements in various places. A F S PA i s n o t o n l y different race? Like a buffer In cities like Delhi, Jaipur, violation of human rights zone? Like our slaves? Or we Bangalore, Patna, Pune, but is also a major reason are going to prove what Mumbai and others, day long o f e t h n i c d i v i s i o n s , Wikileaks say "Manipur is protests were organised in c o n s t i t u t i o n - a l i s e d more of colony and less of support of Sharmila with the corruption, and major state for India"? Are we going demand of repeal of AFSPA. youth migrations out of to give people a chance to Some of the in these protest Manipur. We cannot develop? Chance to work on many youngsters individually ignore it thinking it as an ethnic wars? Chance to ask for participated voluntarily. Some inevitable reality of the t r a n s p a r e n c y t o t h e of the important dates in the populations living along government and institutions? nationwide campaign against international borders. It is just a simple request AFSPA are: That is not a small from the people of AFSPA nd 22 May: a day when population – the number affected population to India – AFSPA was introduced in of people under AFSPA is 4 "If you think us as Indians, Parliament in 1958. billion! treat us as Indians." we have to 18th August: a day when address their call and AFSPA was passed in pressurize our government to parliament in 1958. corruption, and major youth repeal this ugly law. Let us do migrations out of Manipur. 11th September: a day some action as per our strength We cannot ignore it thinking it in our places and support when AFSPA was forwarded as an inevitable reality of the by the then President of India. Sharmila! You can write to Sharmila on the following address: I r o m S h a r m i l a Chanu, Security Ward, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science, Porompat, Imphal (East), Manipur- 795001.

Ojas S V is a theatre artist and activist from Pune who has taken Irom Sharmila's story to more than 15 states with her moving solo production. [email protected]

9 July - October 2011 Why Did NAPM Decide to Support Anna Hazare's Anti-Corruption Movement Sandeep Pandey

ational Alliance of classes all over country and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and People's Movements even abroad and in that 'Vande Matram', which of Nwas divided in its sense had taken the shape of late have been captured by opinion about supporting the a national movement. The right wing Hindutva anti-corruption movement led marginalized sections of organizations, were being by Anna Hazare. One of our society were conspicuous raised during the movement conveners Aruna Roy had quite frequently and there already distanced herself from by their absence. Whereas it this movement right in the is true that right wing was a backdrop of Bharat beginning saying that it was in organizations associated Mata with a tricolor during the hands of right wing with RSS were involved but Anna's fast in April at Jantar elements. This made it more t h e n s o w e r e t h e Mantar, but participating in difficult for us. organizations of Sri Sri the movement I felt that H o w e v e r, u n l i k e Ravishankar and Baba these symbols were used to Aruna Roy or Arundhati Ramdev and numerous recreate the atmosphere of Roy, we did not take a smaller ones not so well the freedom struggle since decision to totally delink known. As an example, an Anna had already declared o u r s e l v e s f r o m t h e organization of youth, 'Jai this as India's second movement. We decided to Hind', from Rohtak was freedom struggle. Most engage with it. Even though managing the security at the people in the crowd were t h e m o v e m e n t w a s fast site. There were also raising these slogans dominated by middle class present individuals and innocuously, i.e., without and the front floated to families who came there consciously being part of carry out the movement, self-motivated just by any right wing agenda. By Indian Against Corruption, reading newspapers and the second time in August received large corporate watching TV. They were 'Inqilab-Zindabad' was donations, we felt that it had n o t a s k e d b y a n y added as the third most succeeded in capturing the organisation to come there. prominently raised slogan imagination of middle It is true that slogans like and Bharat Mata picture

10 July - October 2011 was replaced by a Mahatma society which were absent forces. This is a role that Gandhi portrait. Since from the anti-corruption we've to play and a some dalit groups had come debate. Anna Hazare responsibility that we have out openly against Anna's himself publicly decried the bear in spite of our criticism movement, there was a attempts by government to by some dalit and secular suggestion from NAPM to forcibly acquire land groups. It is easier to p u t B a b a S a h e b belonging to farmers by distance oneself from the Ambedkar's picture too using police. He criticized anti-corruption movement alongside that of Gandhi. than to try to ensure that it But IAC organizers argued stays on right track. that then they'll be required Since then Anna Hazare The issue of corruption is to put pictures of Bhagat has been careful to important for all of us. In all Singh, Vivekanand, etc., mention the inspiration he has drawn from our movements we are t o o i n o r d e r t o Mahatma Phule and Dr. e s s e n t i a l l y f i g h t i n g accommodate requests Ambedkar. NAPM had corruption in one form or from other participating also raised objection to the other. A strong Lokpal groups. However, on the the anti-reservation will help our movements last day of fast both Arvind comments made from the and more importantly the Kejriwal and Anna Hazare stage during the fast in common people of India made it clear that they had April and made sure that who have been at the no intention of seeking any in August this was not receiving end because of change in the Constitution repeated. t h e p o l i c i e s a n d and they respected Baba undemocratic nature of our Saheb Ambedkar for his the policy of privatization, state. Anna Hazare's important role in framing of especially in the field of movement has in an the Constitution. Since then education. Medha Patkar important way challenged Anna Hazare has been was involved in the process the supremacy of the state careful to mention the of negotiations with the and asserted the importance inspiration he has drawn government in the last of people's power. Some from Mahatma Phule and stages of fast along with the politicians with arrogance Dr. Ambedkar. NAPM had IAC team in August and of power and autocratic also raised objection to the played a crucial role in ways had to bite dust, anti-reservation comments reaching an agreement. whether it included some made from the stage during Hence as I see our role is who were prevented by the fast in April and made supportive, i.e., not being people from going on to the sure that in August this was part of IAC but at the same stage or others who made not repeated. The IAC time important enough so irresponsible statements. organizers agreed to this that we can influence the They experienced the taste proposition. direction and character of of people's power probably During the second fast the movement. We want to for the first time in their NAPM leaders like Medha be able to retain this role of lives. Patkar, Akhil Gogoi, being able to intervene Swami Agnivesh and simply because we don't Sandeep Pandey is a peace Sunilam raised the issues of want this movement to be activist and a National Convener, marginalized sections of NAPM taken over by right wing [email protected]

11 July - October 2011 We should be there: The Left and the Anna moment

Nivedita Menon

y head has been in a nuclear energy, in support of tendency in the country's w h i r l t h e politics, where I Mp a s t f e w f e e l m o s t a t days with a single home. question – how do we Increasingly on 'the Left' manage so though, in the unerringly to be exactly course of the where 'the people' are c u r r e n t m a s s not, time after time? upsurge that has At this moment I coalesced around d o n ' t m e a n t h e the figure of Anna organized Left, for the Hazare, I have Left parties have been been feeling more c a u t i o u s a b o u t a n d m o r e criticizing the current alienated in my upsurge; they strongly community, by defended the right to i t s s t r i d e n t democratic protest d e m a n d s f o r when Anna Hazare and absolute purity his colleagues were of the radical arrested, and now have p o s i t i o n ; i t s launched a Third Front aggressive self- initiative on the issue of margina-lization corruption and the and self-exile to a L o k p a l B i l l ; t h e h i g h g r o u n d students' front of CPI where credentials (ML), AISA, has been a r e c l o s e l y organizing militantly scrutinized; its on the issue for a very a b s o l u t e long time now, and is incomprehension very much part of the of and contempt campaign. for 'the people' I mean the few when actually hundreds who form my reservations and against the confronted by own community, the people moves in our universities to them. with whom I have organized hold up appointments to W h a t I s e e i s a protests and run campaigns reserved posts. Many of these carnivalesque celebration of and sat on dharna and drafted people I know personally, the pure ideals of democracy – petitions; struggled against some are among my closest of the idea that 'we the people' communal violence and sexual friends, and many more I are sovereign, that politicians harassment, for queer know as part of the broad are the servants of the people, freedom and workers' rights, Left/secular non-party that laws must originate in the against the nuclear bomb and needs and demands of the

12 July - October 2011 people. forces? (Of course the Left – succeeded. Nandigram saw a ( A y o u n g w o m a n the CPI – even during the similar formation. Many non- travelled alone from Nasik, independence struggle was party non-funded citizens' courted arrest, and was held painfully tortured by such forums have too. The Narmada with thousands of strangers in questions, and often did exile Bachao Andolan is another Chhatrasal Stadium. “What a itself to its high ground, broad alliance coalescing on a safe place Delhi is”, she told a m i s s i n g t h e m o m e n t single issue. reporter. “People are so nice completely). Our problem is that our and helpful”. Saddi Dilli, safe If absolute purity and a search for purity is all too often and full of nice people. Yeh point-to-point matching of our an expression of deep carnival nahin hai toh kya full political agenda is insecurity. A friend said to me hai?) recently, “But don't you see, What my community Our problem is that our the RSS can piggyback on sees though, is a mindless mob search for purity is all too Anna Hazare's movement?” of communal and casteist often an expression of deep S o w h y a r e n ' t w e m i d d l e c l a s s e s . T h e insecurity. A friend said to piggybacking on it? What's compendium term of multi- me recently, “But don't stopping us? The Hindu Right purpose abuse – “fascist” – you see, the RSS can enters the movement against flies around fairly liberally. p i g g y b a c k o n A n n a the Tehri dam, and promptly It's as stark as that, the Hazare's movement?” So the Left forces move away, gulf in perception. w h y a r e n ' t w e fearing pollution, leaving So what was it they saw piggybacking on it? them a clear field. Another in Tahrir Square? That What's stopping us? The f r i e n d c a l l s t h i s t h e g l o r i o u s a n d m o v i n g Hindu Right enters the saffronizing of the green – groundswell of protest that we movement against the could it not, if 'we' continued all celebrated – did we think of Tehri dam, and promptly to be present there, become the the composition of those the Left forces move away, greening of saffron? crowds? That there were fearing pollution, leaving Initially, in the first phase Islamists (Muslim Brother them a clear field. of the campaign, Muslims in hood), and people and groups general are believed to have who stand for full-scale required for us to support a stayed away, but not for the capitalism, men who beat their movement, then feminists reasons adduced by my wives and racists and would be permanently stuck community. That is, not reactionaries of every restively in the waiting room because the movement itself description? of history, for I can assure you seemed communal, but Too, that is. Apart from that every mass demonstration because of the fear of the secularists and feminists and you see anywhere ever, is secular UPA being overthrown workers and trade unions and packed with patriarchal men by a communal government. all the good guys. and patriarchalized women! This time the Hazare team had Any mass movement The huge movement in attempted to reach out to brings together disparate and Goa that succeeded in Muslim representatives before s o m e t i m e s s t a r k l y scrapping the SEZ Bill was he embarked on his fast. And contradictory tendencies. composed of precisely such a when Hazare was picked up by Don't we know that from the broad formation – from the police, the Jamaat-e-Islami- I n d i a n s t r u g g l e f o r Church to the Hindu Right, to Hind of Delhi did issue a independence? Was the Indian all of the others of my statement condemning his bourgeoisie absent from it? Or community as described arrest and advising the the religious right of all sorts? above. They came together, government to elicit his Or casteist and Brahminical they went their separate ways group's opinion while framing o n c e t h e i r c a m p a i g n

13 July - October 2011 the Lokpal bill. protest where we want and peaceful and non-violent, that I find the term 'middle- when we want. But any it simply takes back the city. class' being used as a term of protest has to follow rules, he Shouldn't we be celebrating? abuse not just by my folk urges, and all protests are shut Medha Patkar said to the ( l a r g e l y m i d d l e - c l a s s down by the police after all. crowds thronging Tihar – themselves), but suddenly by a Why should this elite lot “Hum koi maovaadi nahin journalist who is generally an expect rules to be bent for hain ki sashastra bal bhej ke unabashed votary of neo- them? hum se jaldi nipta jaaye” (We liberal economic policy, with a I really don't get this. All are no maoists who can be memorable paean to KFC in p r o t e s t s a r e t r e a t e d easily dealt with by sending in his resume. And suddenly too, undemocratically, so we armed forces). What an I find that the quest for purity should just get used to it? Inch amazing tribute to the power of notwithstanding, my friends by inch, space for protest has massive and sustained civil (opposed to both of the been steadily eroded in the disobedience from someone above!) are eagerly posting his capital of this world's who has pledged her life to piece all over the place. Mihir whateverest democracy, and transformation through these Sharma's tirade against the we have retreated and means. middle classes that begins retreated, our backs almost There were casteist and with a “we” and moves rapidly literally to the wall now. communal elements in Ramlila into “they” was published in Along comes a crashing tide Maidany, and patriarchal and the relentlessly anti-Hazare of humanity so huge, so sexist elements; some sections Indian Express (the Times of India for some time now has presented a more variegated profile of opinions on most issues, for whatever market- driven reason, but it's fine by me). He collapses all support to Hazare as emanating from the elite middle classes of the gated colonies with an exaggerated sense of their own entitlements. But what I see both on TV and around me in Delhi, is the outnumbering of those middle-classes by a sort of aspirational lower-middle- c l a s s - t o - w o r k i n g c l a s s population, some of whom may sometimes go to KFC as a treat, but certainly not those with whom we would have a drink or engage with socially. Is that the problem for Mihir then? His piece widely circulating in our circles, is an attack on the entitled middle class expectation that all rules can be bent for us, we will

14 July - October 2011 of India Inc seemed to support two questions: Does the On the contrary, this it, others, not so much movement express a goal that movement is centrally about (Nilekani had some sage we agree with? Yes, I think it corruption, and corruption words of caution against does. I mean here the larger touches every single life in expecting a law to solve an goal of making governments India. It touches the labourers issue as large as corruption. accountable to the people. whose muster rolls are faked, No, that's right, the UID will And two: is there any it touches the agricultural do that). The Indian flag is expression in the movement worker whose NREGA everywhere, that symbol of of all those things that we payment is swallowed up, it repression in so many parts of oppose? No, there isn't. I find touches every poor undertrial the country reeling under the the movement remarkable for and prisoner in jail on trumped jackboot of the Indian state. its self-reflexivity and up charges (was it surprising But there are also c o n s t a n t r e s p o n s e t o then, that the undertrials in workers (auto drivers, criticism. The first time Tihar fasted in solidarity with dabbawalas, railway workers round, there was that Anna?), it touches the farmer of MP) – all BJP walas, said Hinduized picture of Bharat whose land is seized to be another friend dismissively. Mata, this time the backdrop passed on to corporates, an How do you know, how the hell is Gandhi; the highly issue mentioned by Anna do you know? As it happens, criticized provision for Hazare in his speech at the railway workers were Magsasay awardees and such Ramlila Maidan (kisanon ki members of an AITUC union. eminences to oversee the zameen zabardasti chheeni ja The only time BJP tried to join Janlokpal has been dropped; r a h i h a i ) . H o l d i n g in a demonstration with its Baba Ramdev marginalized, party flag, in Mumbai, it was and I see no necessary reason On the contrary, this driven away. And even if BJP- why this kind of constant self- movement is centrally aligned workers are there, correction should not keep about corruption, and what do you want? Not just happening. corruption touches every 'workers' but only left-aligned I n m y o p i n i o n , single life in India. It workers? And whose fault is it 'corruption' has the emotive touches the labourers if there are none there? I don't charge of 'salt' of the Dandi whose muster rolls are even think that's the case March. It touches every single faked, it touches the though. Chandrabhan Prasad person, and it highlights the agricultural worker whose derisively said on a TV panel – oppressiveness of the state. A NREGA payment is where are the Dalits in that political analyst who has swallowed up, it touches movement? And one girl in the recently come round to taking every poor undertrial and studio audience stood up and the movement seriously, p r i s o n e r i n j a i l o n said, 'I'm Dalit, and there are Yogendra Yadav, explained trumped up charges (was many of us out there. How do on TV that this movement is it surprising then, that the you know there aren't?' And if not about Anna, it is not about undertrials in Tihar fasted YFE is out there, so is AISA, the Lokpal Bill, it is not even in solidarity with Anna?), w h i c h s t a n d s about corruption, it is about it touches the farmer u n c o m p r o m i s i n g l y f o r ' t h e p e o p l e f i n d i n g whose land is seized to be reservations. If Vande themselves'. (“Very well put, passed on to corporates, Mataram is a popular slogan, as always”, fawned Rajeep an issue mentioned by so is Inquilab Zindabad. Sardesai). I find this conde- Anna Hazare in his speech Can we really be so blind scending in the extreme. The a t R a m l i l a M a i d a n to the nature of what's people think they are on the ( k i s a n o n k i z a m e e n happening? roads about corruption but zabardasti chheeni ja rahi The point is to ask those really they are… hai).

15 July - October 2011 g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e We get a lot of stuff that's The Lokpal Bill of the bureaucracy accountable for complex – we have a right to government was the most c o r r u p t i o n w i l l c h e c k the information that will insulting piece of rubbish a corporate corruption, because enable us to arrive at a government could place guess whom the corporations conclusion. That's what the before the people. It has been have to bribe to circumvent people on the roads are saying. 40 years in the making, and 6 every law and every rule? Before Fali Nariman said times it has been tabled Corruption is tied it, I heard a young law student without being passed. If Anna fundamentally to the RTI Act Hazare now declares that he that effectively exposes it, so will not lift his fast until the effectively that 8 RTI activists Janlokpal Bill is passed in this have been killed in the past session, he has been given seven months. Shehla Masud, good reason for it. What does the latest in this roll of honour, the government, what does the was on her way to a Indian state, fear from a demonstration in solidarity Lokpal Bill? This is a moment with Anna Hazare when she pregnant with possibilities. was shot dead in her car by an Just as the attainment of assailant who escaped. Shehla national independence marked was relentless in using the RTI the beginning of new lines of to expose illegal mining in conflict and the resurfacing of Chhatarpur district of MP by old ones, the success in any Rio Tinto, a UK-based form of this campaign will multinational corporation. o n l y i n a u g u r a t e m o r e “Illegal” mining precisely differences. Just as the coming m e a n s c o r r u p t i o n – stumblingly explain before a into being of “India” opened government officials were TV camera in English, which up possibilities and dangers, being bribed by Rio Tinto to was clearly not his first so will this. This is true of any look the other way or to language: ”They say the project of transformation. facilitate an activity that was Parliament is sovereign. No. And just as “they” have destroying the environment They should read the set aside their casteism and and habitat of the region. Constitution. The people are communalism within the As for the “blackmail” of sovereign.” space of the movement, “we” insisting on being involved in And I love the way will have to set aside our drafting legislation – all of us people say to the camera – radical critiques of what 'they' know very well that small Main Kapil Sibal se kehna stand for. The movement lobbies and groups from c h a h t a h o o n , m a i n doesn't really need us, let's be within my community have Manmohanji ko batana chahti clear. But do we need it? long influenced, or tried to hoon – directly, they address Shouldn't we be there? influence, the drafting of law – these guys, the politicians, as Courtesy: laws on sexual violence and if they have a right to. This is http://kafila.org/ rape, against communal neither anti political nor anti Nivedita Menon is a feminist v i o l e n c e , o n w o m e n ' s political classes – it is the scholar and political theorist reservations. And that is as it exact opposite. It is the who has published widely in should be. insistence precisely that we Indian and international Law-making needs to be the people are political, we academic journals. She is demystified – “it's a very demand accountability from currently Reader in the complex process”, they keep those whom we send to Department of Political saying. So it is. We get that. Parliament. Science, University of Delhi.

16 July - October 2011 extrapolated from the Rs 20 fixed by the P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n i n 2004. They also decried the proposed cash transfers in lieu o f t h e p u b l i c distribution system (PDS). By the time t h i s a r t i c l e i s p u b l i s h e d , t h e P l a n n i n g Commission will Lip-Service h a v e c o m p l e t e d similar regional consultations across the country. In the Approach Paper itself, one to would have expected to see the analysis from the Mid-Term R e v i e w o f t h e Eleventh Plan: why India's 8-9% GDP Inclusive growth rate has failed to bring about satisfactory levels of 'inclusive growth', and what lessons have been drawn Growth from this to make the necessary correction in the Twelfth Plan's ajamma of Chamaraj the deputy chairman of the trajectory to reach nagar, Siddamma of P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n , the desired goal. But there is no RBidar, and Daulat Bi of Montek Singh Ahluwalia, such analysis. There is only the Bijapur had travelled the h o w t h e P l a n n i n g unqualified statement, “We whole night to Bangalore and, Commission could understand have also seen progress on without eating a morsel the the problems of the poor inclusiveness; but this is less next morning, participated in a whilst confabulating on than expected,” giving one the Right to Food Campaign- 'inclusive growth' in the air- impression that the Mid-Term Karnataka protest against the conditioned comfort of a five- Review of the Eleventh Plan is Planning Commission which star hotel. They asked how he an exercise conducted as an was in town for the Southern would live on Rs 35 a day in a end in itself, and has no Regional Consultation on the city like Bangalore -- the relevance for the Twelfth Five- Approach Paper to the Twelfth supposed poverty line for Year Plan. Five-Year Plan. They asked urban areas, at current prices, The emphasis in the

17 July - October 2011 Approach Paper continues to to which India has committed security, housing, water, be on achieving a GDP growth itself, are to be reached doesn't sanitation, education, health, rate of 9-9.5%. 'Twelve seem to find mention and social security as a state Strategy Challenges' have anywhere. responsibility. been identified, which seem to While reams have been Montek Singh Ahluwalia have no direct bearing on written on science and betrayed his bias for physical 'inclusive growth'. The technology, energy, transport infrastructure over human approach seems to be 'more of and infrastructure, only three development by noting that, the same' and 'business as lines each have been devoted “there is a tendency to break usual' with emphasis on the Plans down into schemes “enhancing the capacity for that most directly benefit growth through more efficient individuals. While this is an capital markets”, “higher While reams have been important part of the social investment in infrastructure written on science and inclusiveness infrastructure, through both public and PPP technology, energy, t h e f a c t i s t h a t t h e (public private partnerships) t r a n s p o r t a n d overwhelming bulk of the r o u t e s ” , “ m a r k e t s f o r infrastructure, only benefit that will go to the broad efficiency and inclusion”, three lines each have mass of the population is really “accelerated development of been devoted to the going to come from whether transport infrastructure”, and crisis-ridden agriculture the growth is (a) rapid and (b) so on. Since GDP growth rates sector and the key inclusive enough, and that have been comfortable now sectors of health and really relates to the structural for several years, is it not time education. There is no growth, that is to improvement a paradigm shift were made to discussion on how in the quality of infrastructure. ensure that GDP growth agriculture can be made The PMGSY does seem to happens through human remunerative, the chief demonstrate that if (road) development? If inclusive cause of farmer suicides. connectivity is spread, the growth is really the intention, extent of actual benefit is very shouldn't the overall target of large”. the Plan be expressed in terms to the crisis-ridden agriculture While participants at the of rates of poverty reduction sector and the key sectors of consultation were exhorted to and human development health and education. There is make “specific suggestions” outcomes? no discussion on how on how things were to be In a Plan supposed to agriculture can be made achieved, the Approach Paper ensure “more inclusive remunerative, the chief cause itself is full of bland 'vision growth”, there is no discussion of farmer suicides. In a statements' not backed by on who the poor are, what the c o u n t r y p l a g u e d b y concrete statistics, strategies, basis for a poverty line should malnourishment there is no targets or resources. For be, and what current poverty discussion on food security, instance, on the vital issue of levels are. If the very baseline let alone nutritional security. land and the various raging data on which the Plan is to be While paying lip-service to conflicts around its use, it founded is not there, how will 'inclusive growth', the m e r e l y s t a t e s : “ L a n d the targets be achieved? approach throughout is on development/diversion for Should the goals not be more investment and market-led various uses (should) be based detailed in terms of targets to growth, physical rather than on a national policy.” On be achieved in literacy, life social infrastructure, and on c o n t r o v e r s i a l m i n i n g expectancy and purchasing PPPs rather than a rights- activities, it says there is a need power? How the Millennium based approach to fulfil the to formulate “a sustainable Development Goals (MDGs), basic needs of nutritional development framework

18 July - October 2011 which addresses issues consultation ended up not as a demand of 6% GDP for related to economic viability, discussion about the Approach education and 3% for health, environmental impact and Paper itself, but as a set of which is not yet foreseen in social concerns”. On forest discrete workshops on PRIs, the Approach Paper? rights and the ongoing on civil society, and on There is, of course, the struggle with adivasis, it says promoting business. disclaimer that the Approach blandly: “Current schemes of One must also ask Paper should not be viewed as compensation needs (sic) to whether a Plan can be final; that citizens are free to be reviewed.” complete without a discussion suggest any additions and that Another strange process on how resources will be “if a challenge is not adopted at the consultation raised. Should there not be a highlighted separately, it may was that separate sessions discussion on the more than Rs be because it is wide enough were held with panchayati raj, 5 lakh crore exemptions in to be covered by several other civil society, business, trade income tax, excise and challenges”. No doubt there unions and academic groups. customs duty being given to will be much serious thought But instead of each of these the affluent almost every year, given by the various working groups being asked to give and on whether these are groups set up by the Planning their comments on the deserved when corporate Commission to all the issues Twelfth Plan Approach Paper, profits are soaring every year? left out in the Approach Paper. they were asked to discuss and And whether these resources But the paper, as presented, answer a set of questions each should not be earmarked to and the consultation process on the workings of panchayati mandatorily provide for the followed, makes one doubt raj institutions, on how civil basic needs of all to food, the seriousness of the society could be involved in shelter and livelihood, and s u p p o s e d p u b l i c the Plans, how business could also fulfil the longstanding consultations that were be promoted, etc. And so the conducted, at great cost, in f i v e - s t a r hotels, and that mocked the intelli- g e n c e o f participating citizens.

Kathyayini Chamaraj is E x e c u t i v e T r u s t e e , C I V I C , Bangalore. kchamaraj@ gmail.com

19 July - October 2011 How little can a person live on? tsa Patnaik The cooking fuel, lighting, any more; they measure P l a n n i n g transport, education, medical destitution. UC o m m i s s i o n ' s costs and house rent. The total The outcry against laughable estimates of the is divided into Rs.18 and calling these destitution lines 'poverty line' follow from a Rs.14 for food and non-food 'poverty lines,' is justified; for mistake in method that it made items in towns, and into Rs.16 true poverty lines are much 30 years ago and has clung to and Rs.10 in the rural areas, higher than these, and show 75 ever since. and includes the value of food per cent of all persons in India The affidavit that the that farmers produce and to be poor. Per head energy and P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n consume themselves. protein intake has been falling recently submitted before the Even a child knows that for the last two decades as the Supreme Court stating that a working health cannot be majority of the population is person is to be considered maintained, nor necessities unable to afford enough food. 'poor' only if his or her obtained, by spending so With 60 million tonnes of monthly spending is below little. Amazingly, however, public food stocks, far in Rs.781 (Rs.26 a day) in the 450 million Indians subsist excess of the buffer norms, rural areas and Rs.965 (Rs.32 a below these levels. One remaining piled up by mid- day) in the urban areas, has cannot say that they 'live' in 2011, the sensible policy is to exposed how unrealistic any true sense: their energy do away with targeting and 'poverty lines' are. Some and protein intake is far below r e v e r t t o a u n i v e r s a l television channels assumed n o r m a l , t h e y a r e d i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m , that the figures covered food underweight, stunted, subject combining it with an urban costs alone and showed how to a high sickness load but e m p l o y m e n t g u a r a n t e e they could not meet minimal without the means to obtain scheme. Unfortunately, the nutrition needs at today's adequate food or medical neo-liberal policymakers prices. These paltry sums, treatment. The majority today ask the wrong question: however, are supposed to belong to the Scheduled “How can we reduce the food cover not only food but all Castes and the Scheduled subsidy?” and not the right non-food essentials, including Tribes. The official poverty question: “How can we lift the clothing and footwear, lines do not measure poverty masses of India from the current level of the lowest food consumption in the world, even lower than the least developed countries?” Members of the Planning C o m m i s s i o n a n d t h e Tendulkar Committee are experts, so how have such laughable figures of minimum cost of living emerged from their statistical labours? The fact is that over 30 years ago the Planning Commission made a mistake of method, and the present Commission

20 July - October 2011 stubbornly clings to that years the required information used for dearness allowance mistake despite the fact having on this for every spending calculation, but they do not been repeatedly pointed out by level was available- the capture the actual rise in the many people including this physical quantities of food cost of living over longer author (The Republic of intake, and the corresponding periods of time. In 1973, the Hunger, 2004). The mistake daily average energy, protein starting gross monthly salary was to change the definition of and fat. The definition that the of an Associate Professor in a the poverty line and delink it Commission actually adopted Central University was about from nutrition standards. was that the 1973-74 poverty Rs.1,000. It was adequate, The original definition of lines were to be adjusted for since ration cards could be 'poverty line' was a sensible used; on this income one could one, based on an expert even use a car. Applying the committee recommendation in The original definition of Consumer Price Index for 1979: using National Sample 'poverty line' was a U r b a n N o n - M a n u a l Survey (NSS) data on sensible one, based on an Employees, which has risen consumption spending, that in e x p e r t c o m m i t t e e 1 7 - f o l d b y 2 0 11 , t h e particular observed that the recommendation in 1979: equivalent monthly salary for level of total monthly spending using National Sample an Associate Professor joining per person is to be called the Survey (NSS) data on now should be Rs.17,000, by 'poverty line.' The food consumption spending, the Planning Commission's spending part of the figure that in particular observed logic. But this would not allowed a person to obtain that the level of total support the most modest 2,400 kilocalories of energy a monthly spending per middle-class lifestyle of four day in the rural areas and 2,100 person is to be called the decades earlier. A newly kilocalories a day in the urban 'poverty line.' The food a p p o i n t e d A s s o c i a t e areas. Later the rural figure spending part of the figure Professor's actual salary today was scaled down to 2,200 allowed a person to obtain is three times that figure, calories. The Commission 2,400 kilocalories of energy thanks to successive Pay a c c e p t e d t h e e x p e r t a day in the rural areas and C o m m i s s i o n committee's nutrition-based 2,100 kilocalories a day in recommendations. definition but applied it only the urban areas. Ye t , d e n y i n g a l l once, to the 1973-74 data, to experience and evidence, obtain the correct monthly inflation using a price-index, these economists assert that rural and urban poverty lines regardless of whether the lines mere price-index adjustment of Rs.49 or Rs.56 at which so obtained still allowed is enough to obtain current 2,200 or 2,100 calories were nutritional standards to be poverty lines from those of 40 accessible, and found that 56 met. Price index adjustment is years ago. No wonder they per cent of the rural population being followed for the last 30 have created a mess with their and 49 per cent of the urban years, producing the present unrealistic estimates. An population spent less than this, absurdity of Rs.26 or Rs.32 as expressive, bucolic Bengali and so were poor. the rural or urban daily phrase is lyaje-gobare, or a Then the Commission, poverty lines. 'cow's tail smeared with dung' for reasons unknown, changed Why these economists — this is a good description the definition in practice, and should have such faith in the for official estimates. As time never again directly looked at ability of price indices to passed, the actual spending at the total monthly spending capture the rise in the cost of which minimal nutrition could which permitted nutrition living is not clear. Price be accessed, the original 'norms' to be maintained. This indices are needed for short definition accepted by the despite the fact that every five period adjustment and are Commission, cumulatively

21 July - October 2011 d i v e r g e d f r o m t h e all living costs but would not lines allowing nutrition norms Commission's calculations have bought even a kilogram of 2,200 or 2,100 calories in b a s e d o n i t s c h a n g e d of the cheapest variety of rice, the rural or urban areas to be definition. By 2005, a rural selling then at four yuan, met, are at least Rs.1,085 a person needed Rs.19 a day to according to information month (Rs.36 a day) and access 2,200 calories, while at provided by China's residents. Rs.1,800 a month (Rs.60 a the official figure of Rs.12, she The actual extent of poverty in day) respectively. Since each could obtain only 1,800 China is far higher than is full-time worker needs to calories. (The Tendulkar claimed. s u p p o r t n e a r l y t w o Committee merely tinkered One wonders if we will dependants, these correspond with the problem, raising the ever see honest estimates from to a minimum daily wage of figure of Rs.12 to Rs.13.) An official sources anywhere, R s . 1 0 8 a n d R s . 1 8 0 urban consumer needed Rs.33 since, by now, hundreds of respectively. But this is a day in 2005 to meet 2,100 economists are closely inadequate: no margin exists calories, whereas the for medical emergencies, official figure of Rs.18 life cycle ceremonies, or permitted less than 1,800 old age. From the 2009- calories. Today at the 10 NSS data at least 75 current official poverty per cent of the total lines of Rs.26 and Rs.32 population is in poverty for the rural and urban on this basis. This high areas respectively, the level of deprivation is the minimal cost of living is rationale for going back even more seriously to a non-targeted, understated: the consumer u n i v e r s a l f o o d can access even less food. distribution system, but State poverty lines vary, that will not be enough. and in a number of States imprecated within a vast The purchasing the energy intake the official global poverty-estimating power of the poor has to be poverty line can command is structure with the World Bank raised at the same time through below 1,500 calories a day. at its apex, producing employment generation The claim that poverty increasingly misleading schemes. Ironically, there has has declined is not true estimates every year in glossy been a rise in unemployment because the method of reports. The World Bank's rates according to the latest indexation that is actually used global poverty line is an surveys. has not kept constant the equally large underestimate, nutritional standard against for it is derived using Courtesy: The Hindu, which poverty is measured, “purchasing power parity S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 11 . b u t h a s l o w e r e d i t conversion” from local http://www.thehindu.com/opin continuously. China's official currencies to the U.S. dollar, ion/lead/article2497773.ece poverty lines are equally of these very same absurdly Utsa Patnaik has been a absurd, for the same reason. A low local-currency official Professor at the Centre for nutrition norm was applied in rural poverty lines of Economic Studies and 1984 to obtain a 200-yuan developing countries. Planning, Jawaharlal Nehru annual rural poverty line, What are the realistic University, New Delhi. which thereafter was merely poverty lines today based on indexed, giving 1,067 yuan by officially accepted nutritional 2007, or below three yuan a norms? The current poverty day. This is supposed to cover

22 July - October 2011 “Planning Commission's Poverty Definition: An Insult to the Poor”

ear Mr. Ahluwalia, largest number of hungry While you were repeat the stand taken by the people, people without the Dabroad deliberating Planning Commission in its advantage of education, and on global matters, the Planning last affidavit in May 2011 is, the highest maternal and infant Commission filed an affidavit we believe, an affront to the mortality deaths in the world. in the Supreme Court claiming poor of this country and also It is also "factually correct" that the "poverty line of Rs 25 the Supreme Court. that India is ranked 67th out of and Rs 32 (rural and urban Subsequently, you have 88 countries by IFPRI in the areas respectively) ensures the gone on defensively to say Global Hunger Index, and that a d e q u a c y o f p r i v a t e that the poverty line has no nearly half of India's children expenditure on food, health relationship to food subsidy. remain under-nourished, and education". The affidavit Yet, all central government twice as many as in sub- could not have come at a worse allocations for programmes Saharan Africa. It also needs to time when food inflation was such as PDS and pensions are be checked against the fact pushing poor households to the made based on these poverty that the Planning Commission wall even as 60 million tonnes ratios. Further, after drawing a itself has admitted that of grain are piling in FCI ridiculously low poverty line households at this poverty line godowns implying that the you suggested caps on the are getting 20 per cent less government itself is hoarding BPL category as well as a 41 food than they require as per grain to increase food prices. per cent cap on food subsidy the government's own norms. The affidavit filed by the which is a contradiction in After years of terming the IMF Planning Commission in the terms. Perhaps you may and the World Bank as the Supreme Court skirted the two explain to the lay public that is sources of all knowledge for major issues that were raised spending astronomical how this country's economy is by the highest court in the amounts on food and health to be run, you have, we country: why there should be a care, what this poverty line is believe, misinterpreted the poverty line that determines then relevant for, if not FAO to suggest that the poor the BPL "caps" and, a request subsidies for basic needs. need less food than what the by the Bench to the Planning Your public defense of Indian government norms Commission to re-consider the the affidavit being "factually state. poverty line. That the affidavit correct" needs to be examined Mr Ahluwalia, perhaps chose to skirt these two major against some other facts such you need to reflect more on the issues, and chose instead to as India being home to the f a c t t h a t d u r i n g y o u r

23 July - October 2011 stewardship of the Planning intellectual resources at its Liberties), Lali Dhakar, Commission, India has fallen command the Planning Sarawasti Singh, Shilpa Dey further behind neighboring Commission seems to require and Radha Raghwal (National and poorer (in terms of per a reality check; perhaps Forum for Single Women's capita income) Bangladesh, in spending more time in the Rights), Mira Shiva and terms of most of the human villages and slums of this Vandana Prasad (Jan Swasthya development indicators. country would have achieved Abhiyan), Paul Divakar and If Rs 25 for rural areas that. Asha Kowtal (National and Rs 32 for urban areas per The right to food Campaign for Dalit Human capita expenditure was campaign challenges you and Rights), Prahlad Ray and "adequate" then it is not clear all the members of the Anand Malakar (Rashtriya to us why the Planning Planning Commission to live Viklang Manch), Subhash Commission members are on Rs 25 / Rs 32 a day till such B h a t n a g a r ( N a t i o n a l paid up to one hundred and time that you are able to Campaign Committee for fifteen times the amount (not explain to the public in simple Unorganized Sector workers), counting the perks of free words the basis of the Jean Drèze and VB Rawat housing and health care and statement that this amount is (Former Support group to the numerous other benefits that is normatively "adequate". If it Campaign), Harsh Mander. enjoyed by you and members cannot be explained then the of the Planning Commission). affidavit should be withdrawn Representatives of Right We believe that this or else you should resign. to Food (State campaigns) affidavit is a document, no less The Steering group of Veena Shatrugna, M historically significant than the Right to Food Campaign K o d a n d r a m a n d R a m a the "India Shining" campaign Anjali Bhardwaj, Aruna Melkote(Andhra Pradesh), that brought the downfall of a Roy and Nikhil Dey (National Saito Basumaatary and Sunil previous regime, because it Campaign for People's Right Kaul (Assam), Rupesh (Bihar), reflects arrogance and to Information), Annie Raja Gangabhai and Sameer Garg contempt for the poor (National Federation for (Chhattisgarh), Sejal Dand comparable to the views held Indian Women), Anuradha a n d S u m i t r a T h a k k a r by the Planning Commission. Talwar, Gautam Modi and (Gujarat), Abhay Kumar and Even as we write to you, Madhuri Krishnaswamy Clifton (Karnataka), Balram, over the next twenty four (New Trade Union Initiative), Gurjeet Singh and James hours, close to 3,000 Indian Arun Gupta and Radha Holla Herenj (Jharkhand), Sachin c h i l d r e n w i l l d i e o f (Breast Feeding Promotion Jain (Madhya Pradesh), malnutrition related illness. Network of India), Arundhati Mukta Srivastava and Suresh The current 'revolution' in Dhuru and Ulka Mahajan Sawant (Maharashtra), Tarun agriculture has led to nation- (National Alliance of People's Bharatiya (Meghalaya), wide agrarian distress, and Movements), Asha Mishra Chingmak Chang (Nagaland) w i l l s e e 4 7 f a r m e r s and Vinod Raina (Bharat Bidyut Mohanty and Raj committing suicide in India in Gyan Vigyan Samiti), Ashok Kishore Mishra, Vidhya Das the next 24 hours. Further, Bharti (National Conference (Orissa), Ashok Khandelwal, d e s p i t e y o u r r e p e a t e d of Dalit Organizations), Colin Bhanwar Singh and Vijay prediction over the last two Gonsalves (Human Rights Lakshmi (Rajasthan), V years on inflation (particularly L a w N e t w o r k ) , G V S u re s h ( Ta m i l N a d u ) , food inflation) going down, Ramanjaneyulu (Alliance for Arundhati Dhuru and Bindu the expertise of the Planning Sustainable and Holistic Singh (Uttar Pradesh). Commission even on that front A g r i c u l t u r e ) , K a v i t a has been proved wrong. Srivastava and Binayak Sen Despite the indisputable (People's Union for Civil

24 July - October 2011 to defeat two separate their lives and livelihoods proposals to site reactors in became imminent, over a Kerala. hundred individuals went on One obvious reason for an indefinite hunger strike a such opposition has been the couple of weeks ago. With dependence of these projects scores of protesters having to on natural resources like land be hospitalised, and support and water. In the case of flowing in from across the reactors, this is because their political spectrum, the Tamil requirements for water and Nadu Cabinet passed a land compete with the needs of resolution to halt work. farmers, and discharges of Regardless of whether the heated water and radioactive r e a c t o r i s e v e n t u a l l y effluents into the sea affect fish workers. Similar factors also drive opposition to large hydroelectric dams, thermal Koodankulam: power plants, and automobile factories. This will only intensify in the future. But there is another A Nuclear Chain Reaction persistent reason that is unique commissioned or not, the to nuclear technology: the risk AN VS NATURE: success of these protests will of catastrophic accidents. The E n v i r o n m e n t have significant implications greatest risk from a major activists in Mumbai M for the future of nuclear power accident at a reactor or an demonstrate against the in India. associated facility, such as the Jaitapur nuclear power plant Koodankulam is not pool where the highly POWER TRIP: Work at exceptional; there are ongoing radioactive spent fuel is the Koodankulam plant has protests at all new sites stored, is to the population in been stopped in the wake of selected for nuclear plants, the vicinity of the plant. It is protests from surrounding from Jaitapur in Maharashtra therefore natural that many villages. and Mithi Virdi in Gujarat to people who find a reactor The Fukushima nuclear Fatehabad in Haryana. Protests being built close to their disaster may lead to a thousand over the choice of Haripur in villages and homes oppose its deaths in the long term West Bengal to construct a c o n s t r u c t i o n . I n There seems to be finally Russian reactor were so Koodankulam's case, for some relief for the people p o w e r f u l t h a t M a m a t a example, the opposing living near the Koodankulam Banerjee made cancelling the p o p u l a t i o n a p p e a r s t o nuclear power plant under project a part of her election comprise the majority of the construction in southern Tamil platform - and made good after Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Nadu. For over two decades, assuming power. Nor is this and Thoothukudi districts. It the inhabitants of the area have kind of opposition a recent was widespread awareness of engaged in a series of protests phenomenon. There has been the disastrous consequences of against the plant, only to find significant opposition to every the accidents at the Fukushima themselves being ignored by new nuclear reactor and Daiichi nuclear plant that successive governments. In uranium project proposed catalysed the latest and most desperation, as the project since the 1980s. Such intense round of protests over apparently neared completion opposition was strong enough Koodankulam. and the long-feared risk to

25 July - October 2011 Also important was Bhakra canal. These grave away the rights of Indian awareness of the 1986 dangers may have prompted citizens to sue its Russian Chernobyl accident and its the Secretary of the Ministry suppliers in the event of an long-term impacts on human o f H e a l t h t o t e l l a a c c i d e n t . T h i s w a s a health and the environment. parliamentary standing predecessor of the notorious An area of over 3, 000 square committee in 2010 that India liability bill that similarly kilometres (almost the size of is "nowhere prepared to meet protects all other multinational Goa) is still officially an eventuality that may arise suppliers and caps the total evacuated because it is o u t o f n u c l e a r a n d compensation available to c o n t a m i n a t e d w i t h a radiological emergencies." victims at Rs 2, 500 crore. In radioactive element called The government claims comparison, the Japan Center Cesium-137. A surrounding that nuclear power is the only for Economic Research region that is thrice as large is way to meet India's energy estimates that the Fukushima designated as an area of strict needs. However, these claims disaster might have cost radiation control, requiring have been made repeatedly between five to ten lakh crore decontamination and control over the past fifty years, and rupees. Evidently, the of intake of locally grown belied each time. Moreover, government is willing to leave food. It takes 30 years for the in the absence of subsidies, i t s c i t i z e n s w i t h o u t radioactivity from Cesium- n u c l e a r e n e r g y h a s compensation rather than 137 to halve, which means consistently proven to be touch the profit margins of the that this situation is unlikely to m o r e e x p e n s i v e t h a n nuclear industry. i m p r o v e s o o n . T h e comparable sources of power. In this era of brazen Fukushima accident also In fact, the government's push corporate connivance with the contaminated thousands of for nuclear energy in the last government, the Kudankulam square kilometers of land and decade has more to do with its protests are a sign that an article in the September foreign-policy vision. As Anil democracy can still triumph. 2011 issue of the Bulletin of Kakodkar, the previous head Given the overwhelming t h e A t o m i c S c i e n t i s t s of the Atomic Energy opposition to its plans all over estimates that it might lead to Establishment, candidly the country, the Manmohan one thousand deaths in the explained in a Marathi Singh government should take long term. newspaper article: "We also a cue and simply abandon its have to keep in mind the misguided nuclear expansion. Despite local opposition at commercial interests of C o u r t e s y : every nuclear site, the foreign countries and of the http://www.timescrest.com/so government has embarked on companies there. . . America, c i e t y / a - n u c l e a r - c h a i n - a reckless nuclear expansion. Russia and France were the reaction-6315 An accident in an ecologically countries that we made fragile area like Jaitapur mediators in these efforts to M V Ramana and Suvrat would ruin the surrounding lift sanctions, and hence, for Raju are physicists with the agricultural lands, mangroves the nurturing of their business Coalition for Nuclear and fisheries. In interior sites interests, we made deals with Disarmament and Peace. like Fatehabad in Haryana, them for nuclear projects." Ramana is the author of The large tracts of agricultural The government's desire power of promise: Examining lands would get contaminated to please various business nuclear power in India and the only water body to interests has led it to override (forthcoming, Viking Penguin) release radioactive effluents the rights of its own citizens. [email protected] f r o m r e a c t o r c o n t r o l The Inter-Governmental operations in an accident agreement signed for the would be a branch of the Koodankulam plants takes

26 July - October 2011

NAPM calls for cancellation of Koodankulam Projects

ctober, 2011, y o u d e m a n d i n g t h e Government. The agitators c a n c e l l a t i o n o f t h e s e also met the PM later and O destructive power plants. expressed their concerns to Smt. Pratibha Patil, Thousands of people are him and demanded that the President of Union of India sitting on indefinite hunger constructions be immediately strike in Koodankulam, Tamil stopped. However, the Central CC : Shri Manmohan Singh Nadu demanding cancellation government continues to treat Prime Minister of Union of of these projects over the this only as a matter of India s a f e t y a n d l i v e l i h o o d concerns around safety which c o n c e r n s . E a r l i e r, o n has been expressed by the CC : Smt. J Jayalalithaa September 11 when the world people. Chief Minister of State of over people were mourning The fact is that villagers Tamil Nadu, the death of victims of wanton and fisher folks are concerned acts of terrorism ten years ago about their livelihood and the Honourable President , in New York, people around long term impact on their life Koodankulam launched their a n d t h o s e o f f u t u r e People from different massive indefinite hunger generations. We have been walks of life including farmers, strike. They withdrew their witness to accidents like Three fisher folks living around fast on September 22, after Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl Koodankulam Nuclear Power Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (1986), Kaiga, Mahasrhtra Plant and others across the promised to recommend halt (2009), Mayapuri, Delhi country have been writing to w o r k t o t h e C e n t r a l (2010) and Fukushima

27 July - October 2011 (March 2011). Victims of the happened in April 1986. The natural event. The challenge Bhopal Gas Tragedy till date Hindu in its editorial on to Kudankulam can be have not received justice and October 13 has noted that: converted into an opportunity continue to struggle. We can “ T h e g o v e r n m e n t to set a new course on nuclear avoid creating such a situation continues to be oblivious of safety in India.” even now. the need for a credible process When many countries H o n o u r a b l e P r i m e o f p o s t - F u k u s h i m a around the world are Minister recently wrote to CM certification for the VVER- reconsidering their energy Tamil Nadu that for a large and 1 0 0 0 i n s t a l l a t i o n s a t policy and adopting New fast growing economy like Kudankulam as well as other Energy and renewable energy ours, and given the volatility sources, it is unfortunate that a n d u n c e r t a i n t y o f The following is a draft of the Indian government is international energy markets, the letter that NAPM urged resorting to unsafe and it is in our national interest that citizens to write to President e x p e n s i v e n u c l e a r we tap all sources of energy, Smt. Pratibha Patil, Prime technology. Instead of being a and diversify our energy mix. Minister Shri Manmohan world leader with alternative He has further added that Singh and Chief Minister Smt. energy sources, Indian "Nuclear energy is one option J Jayalalithaa asking them to government is putting the to enhance our energy security. respect the wishes of the people corporate interests ahead of The central government will of Tamil Nadu and also the its own citizens' interests. ensure that this is pursued with decisions taken by the Tamil We demand that the full regard to the safety, N a d u G o v e r n m e n t b y Government of India, livelihood and security of the immediately halting the work respecting the wishes of the people." at the Koodankulam nuclear people of Tamil Nadu and also The Koodankulam power plants, and safeguard the decisions taken by the plants have untested and the rights to life and livelihood Tamil Nadu Government, unreliable VVER (Vodo- of our fisher people, farmers immediately halt the work at Vodyanoi Energetichesky and dalit workers. the Koodankulam nuclear R e a c t o r ; Wa t e r - Wa t e r p o w e r p l a n t s , a n d Energetic Reactor) 1000 safeguard the rights to life technology imported from operational nuclear reactors. and livelihood of our fisher Russia. It is pertinent to note F re s h v e r i f i c a t i o n b y people, farmers and dalit that Russia has not built a new independent experts is workers. We affirm people's nuclear power plant ever since required to assure us that the right to resist and call on the the Chernobyl accident that passive safety systems of the Central Government to take a VVER-1000 reactors are clue from decision making in adequate or European countries who work can be suitably towards comprehensive augmented to renewable energy options. In prevent the a democratic country like ours d a n g e r s o f development should not be meltdown from forced upon people; people's residual heat consent is a must. a s a consequence of Warm Regards, c o o l a n t National Alliance of c i r c u l a t i o n People's Movements failure in the [email protected] background of [email protected] a catastrophic

28 July - October 2011

Odisha's Little Gandhians S G Vombatkere

h e N a t i o n a l children were forced or (POSCO) of South Korea. C o m m i s s i o n f o r coerced to demonstrate on the G O O i s i n c r e a s i n g l y TProtection of Child frontlines by lying down on embarrassed since acquisition Rights (NCPCR) had sent a 3- the ground to block entry of of land for POSCO is being member team on July 4, 2011, police and government opposed by PPSS which has for an on-the-spot inspection officials into forest lands of also peacefully resisted entry of the area of the POSCO their villages. into the area over the past six project in Jagatsinghpur The people of eight y e a r s d e s p i t e h e a v y District of Odisha to examine affected villages (Dhinkia, administrative and police whether children were being G o v i n d p u r, N u a g a o n , pressure. The peacefully used, misused or abused by the N o l i a s a h i , P o l a n g , agitating PPSS volunteers elders of those villages by Bhuyanpal, Bayanakandha have several times suffered involving them in the on- and Jatadhar) have been intimidation, beatings and going protest against the o p p o s i n g t h e P O S C O violence at the hands of the POSCO project in the area. composite mega-project by police, which has registered The inspection, including organizing themselves for criminal cases against over interviewing children, was in non-violent resistance, 1,000 people. A rather unusual response to a complaint to agitation and protest as feature of PPSS is that women NCPCR that children were POSCO Pratirodh Sangram predominate in participation being used as “human shields” Samiti (PPSS). The peaceful and are also targets of criminal to protect adult protestors resistance began in 2005 soon cases. Notwithstanding, the from police action to enforce after Government of Odisha peaceful resistance of PPSS acquisition of forest land for (GOO) signed a MoU with volunteers continues to be in the POSCO project, and that Pohang Steel Company the best Gandhian tradition

29 July - October 2011 earth under Odisha State Jagatsinghpur the blazing District Children Welfare s u m m e r Committee (CWC) team of sun, block five persons including one i n g t h e woman and Chairperson path of the R.N.Das. The CWC team police and which was investigating governme r e a s o n s f o r c h i l d r e n nt officials. participating in the frontlines T h e of the struggle, spoke to PPSS resistance l e a d e r A b h a y S a h o o , i n c l u d e d Manorama Khatua and other the inno- village people sitting on v a t i v e dharna. Though they found no l o g i s t i c children at the dharna, they arrangeme tried to explain that it was nts of the wrong to force children to miss and a thorn in the flesh of the PPSS, among which was a school and face violence by GOO-POSCO nexus. man carrying an agricultural sitting on dharna. The CWC GOO's land acquisition spraying pump walking about team withdrew silently when efforts intensified early in spraying water on protestors they faced response from the 2011, and police have made to cool them down. In the people on the following lines: more frequent appearances in absence of high police When their parents are greater strength, attempting to strength, children go to being attacked by police i n t i m i d a t e t h e P P S S school, even though most forces, do you expect children volunteers. PPSS has arranged schools are almost wholly to pack their books and go off that people from every home (and illegally) occupied by the to school? This peaceful take turns to sit in dharna every police as living quarters. resistance is six years old; single day on the land to be The children and women children who were age 12 acquired, and on any given day lying down on the ground when it began are 18 years old there are always at least 150 succeeded in stopping the now, of voting age and people squatting on the land. fully armed riot-gear-clad children who were six when it This has been going on for six police forces. The police then started are 12 years old now. years. But when police appear started a campaign of Do you imagine that they are in force, the entire village psychological warfare using not aware of the causes for numbering nearly two loudspeakers, warning and their parents' resisting land thousand turns out in full t h r e a t e n i n g t h e P P S S acquisition? Do you not think strength. volunteers every 15 minutes that if parents are displaced by Starting a few months that police would attack if they the POSCO project, the ago, children led by young did not vacate the land. But the children's own future is Rakesh Bardhan (Class 4), protestors held fast, were ruined? So is not the children's Chinmay Pani (Class 7) and successful in stopping the future being threatened by others have voluntarily joined police advance, and have thus government? And in any case their parents and elders in the far saved the lands from how can children study when resistance demonstrations. acquisition. their school is occupied by This was done in a novel While participating in police forces? Why do you not manner, said to be the first of the PPSS dharna on July 15, object to children being its kind in the world; children 2011, this writer was witness employed in hotels in cities or lay down in lines on the hot to a surprise visit by the in dangerous occupations like

30 July - October 2011 mining? The children in the anti-POSCO movement are receiving education in non- violent, peaceful resistance to government aggression favouring corporate interests, and should actually be praised. The CWC and other children's rights bodies and activists who have criticized PPSS for “forcing” children to participate in the PPSS movement would do well to reconsider their approach. It is noteworthy that the CWC visited PPSS on 15 July and these children”, and “there is he alive. Gandhiji non- were not aware of the NCPCR no mobilisation through the v i o l e n t l y o p p o s e d Report, excerpts of which District Child Protection unaccountable and cruel appeared in the media on 24 Committee under the ICPS (British) power used against J u l y. C o m m e n t i n g o n and the Child Welfare ordinary people. Many children's participation in Committee”. decades later in independent PPSS activities, NCPCR The word “pratirodh” India, the people of PPSS and states, "The children think that appears in the name of PPSS elsewhere in the country are they are protecting the interest because the reason for following his example but of their families which is forming it was to oppose the a g a i n s t t h e i r o w n contrary to the allegations that POSCO project to protect governments' economically children are being coerced into p e o p l e ' s l a n d s a n d and physically violent anti- participating in the agitation. livelihoods. \ people actions. But now there The anxiety / apprehension on But the name conceals is a new dimension; children account of the prospect of the fact that it is actually a are in it. The valiant children displacement and loss of the movement that protects and of Govindpur, Dhinkia and source of livelihood for their s t r e n g t h e n s p e o p l e ' s other villages of PPSS families, has been apparently constitutionally assured right deserve national recognition. affecting the minds of the to life and livelihood. Their 6- children. It appears to be a years long on-going S G Vombatkere retired factor behind such conduct by p e a c e f u l s t r u g g l e as major general after 35 the children”. But NCPCR has a g a i n s t t h e n e x u s o f years in the Indian military. gone further and condemned government with corporate He is engaged in voluntary Government of Orissa for financial forces is a source of social work, and is member of police occupation of schools inspiration to movements the National Alliance of and failing to provide midday across the country especially People's Movements (NAPM) meals in schools, and also because children are actively and People's Union for Civil noted that “the district level participating in it. These Liberties (PUCL). officers of the women and children are demonstrating [email protected] child development department the power of peaceful and school & mass education resistance to the state and department appear to be central governments in a way o b l i v i o u s o f t h e i r that the Father of the Nation responsibilities in respect of would have applauded were

31 July - October 2011 A Historic Victory of Domestic Workers Struggle

providing her children school the minimum wage for uniforms justifies non- domestic workers was notified payment of a higher (adequate) for the first time in 2004 – Rs ven before the ILO wage. 2,279 a month for an eight- Convention on 'Decent These were the circum hour day.) In 2007, before she EWork for Domestic stances that led Papamma to was uncere moniously Workers' was passed in June seek legal recourse. The dismissed during the last six 2011, history was made closer favourable conclusion of months of her employment, home in Bangalore's Karmika Papamma's case is a rare and following repeated Bhavan. Indian laws benefitt- example of a domestic worker demands,Papamma's wages ing the unorganised sector getting justice from the courts. were grud gingly raised to Rs workers are few and sadly, too An instance, perhaps, of 1,500 a month. Even this fell often remain on paper. It is institutions coming together to short of the legal minimum heartening therefore when the work the way they are meant to wage for that year (2008). law is actually applied, giving – the trade union that provided Papamma's case illustrates the these workers their due, as Papamma a forum, a dedicated predicament of the domestic happened recently in a team of advocates (from the worker. Verbal agreements Bangalore domestic worker's Alternative Law Forum), and a govern working conditions; case. labour officer who adjudicated there is no formal record of Papamma was paid a objectively. employment, only oral pittance during her long years According to one of the undertakings given by the of service-1978 to 2007. litigators for Papamma, employer that are often Worse, she was discharged Maitreyi Krishnan, a major retracted later; demands for abruptly with no provision for reason for the case's success better wages are met with retirement. In her words: "I was Papamma's persistence; in promises of future settlement came with empty hands and I her experience, due to the which never materialises. In left (after 31 years of working) vulnerabilities of their her employers we see a not- with empty hands." A situation, many domestic uncommon feudal attitude trajectory of her employment workers don't see their battle which manifests in the belief shows Papamma received a through. that the domestic worker does wage of Rs 60 a month for 22 Papamma went to the not require a weekly day off or years, for eight hours of work a court or to the lawyer's office extra payment should her day spanning the entire gamut whenever required in the workload increase because of of household chores from course of the litigation which guests. And the notion that the washing clothes to cooking and carried on for one-and-a-half occasional help extended shopping for vegetables. In years. Secondly, and perhaps when she falls sick, or 2003, her wages were raised to equally important, was the Rs 500 a month. (Incidentally,

32 July - October 2011 support of the Karnataka the sub-inspector suggested he From a larger pers- Domestic Workers Union. pay Papamma a minimal pective, however, the judg- The union was registered amount of money so that she ment is unprecedented in in 2003 by Sr. Celia who had would not create any further Karnataka: that someone from been working with domestic trouble for them. Papamma the most disadvantaged even workers for a number of years. turned down the employer's within the unorganised sector During that time she became offer as it was far less than managed to access the formal convinced that true empower- what she had been promised. legal system and receive a ment of domestic workers The police told her not to favourable judgment. The fact would only come about through confront the employer and that that Papamma ultimately got a their unionisation. She the appropriate forum for her compromise amount, not what believes that any organisation, was the courts. Members of the the judge ordered, is today's no matter how well-meaning, union went with Papamma to reality. The judgment is an will only 'work for' and 'speak court to attend the hearings. important step towards on behalf of' the workers. In the Krishnan believes it also recognising that domestic case of a non-worker-headed helped to have a good labour workers too are workers with organisation, the workers officer hearing the case. In the enforceable rights. become the beneficiaries and order that followed a well- When the minimum are therefore dependent on researched case, not only were wages notification for what is provided to them. A back wages granted but hefty domestic workers in Karna- worker asking for her own compensation equalling the taka was first passed in 2004 rights is different from a human amount of back wages as well there was a lot of deliberation rights activist asking for her as overtime for all the Sundays between the government, rights. There is a sense of Papamma had worked. Stating labour advocates and civil empowerment and dignity that his reasons, the judge observed society about implementing does not come through social in his ruling that the employer the law. This was because the service, however well intended. was an educated senior citizen notification did not provide for As a union, they can represent and that his lack of awareness implementation mechanisms their own case. about the law showed he had such as regular inspections and In Papamma's case, there failed in his duty. r e g u l a t i o n s f o r t h e was a body she could take her Papamma herself does maintenance of wage registers grievances to and avail of not appreciate the verdict by the employer. The labour support of union members. much. She points to her home: commissioner of the time Initially, this took the form of an unlit small two-room house suggested that in a scenario of going with her to the employer's in a Lingarajpuram slum. An non-payment, if just one claim house. There the employer did asbestos sheet forms the roof. w a s f i l e d b e f o r e t h e not even speak with them, The only furniture is an department the successful instead he complained to the assembled double bed with a outcome of the case would police about the visit. thin sheet covering its hard have "a multiplier effect". He Papamma, in turn, filed a surface, and a plastic chair. suggested that news of the case complaint at the local police Papamma says they wanted to would spread and serve as a station about her wage use the money that was strong deterrent to employers grievances. They took no promised by her employer to who failed to pay adequate action. She then went to the carry out basic structural wages. Perhaps Papamma's police station, accompanied by improvements to the house. case will serve as just such an some union activists. When the The compromise amount she example. police sub- inspector did not finally got would not serve this Anuja Mirchandaney grant them an audience they sat purpose. Further, at the age of works with Alternative Law outside the station until he gave 65, she would have to continue Forum, Bangalore. in. The police then called the working. [email protected] employer to the station where

33 July - October 2011 supporters, including Medha Patkar. June 22, Guwahati: A protest, led by Kishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) takes place against Assam government's eviction drive, which would displace people settled in hills and wetlands around Guwahati and cause environmental problems. Protests turn violent after police prevent the protesters from marching towards the state secretariat and three people une 3, Araria: Residents of Rampur and Bhajanpur villages protest against the die in the clash that ensues, including a nine- Jblockade of the connecting road between year-old boy. the two villages for a factory. Bihar police open June 24, Guwahati: Ankhil Gogoi, an fire on the protesters and several are chased to RTI activist and secretary general of KMSS, their homes. Six people are killed at point-blank is arrested for stimulating violence on June range, including two women and a six-month-old 22 in the state capital of Assam. infant. June 24, Guwahati: Supporters of June 5, New Delhi: Civil society members Akhil Gogoi block the National Highway of the joint drafting committee on the Lokpal Bill (NH)-37 in protest against his arrest. announce a boycott of committee meeting in protest against the forceful eviction of Baba June 25, Rajkot: Four persons are Ramdev and his supporters from Ramilia arrested for attacks on RTI activist grounds. Bhagubhai Devani, who is an advocate June 8, Rajghat, New Delhi: India against illegal mining and construction in Against Corruption calls for a one day fast Porbander. and protest protest against the brutal June 25, Assam: A 12 hour bandh is crackdown on anti-corruption protesters and called by KMSS in protest against the arrest curfews, bans and restrictions on protests in of Akhil Gogoi. Jantar Mantar, as well as the imposition of June 25, Rajghat, New Delhi: A Section 144 in several parts of Delhi. candlelight vigil is held for Irom Sharmila June 13, Uttarakhand : Swami Chanu, a non-violent protestor whose Nigamananda Saraswati, a protester against ongoing fast demanding for the repeal of the the illegal mining activity of the Ganga Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958 Mining Mafia that is polluting the Ganges (AFSPA) has spanned an entire decade. River, dies at the age of 34. High levels of Sharmila is a high-security prisoner on the toxins are found in his blood, which suggest charges of attempting to commit suicide – a that Swami may have been poisoned. It is criminal act according to the constitution. rumoured that the Mining Mafia may be Human Rights agencies and the United responsible. Nations find the AFSPA law to be June 20, Paradip, Orissa: Land responsible for continuous human rights acquisition for a mega steel plant proposed by violations. POSCO, a South Korean company, is June 26, Assam: Members of KMSS suspended by the district administration block railways across the state demanding following a protest by anti-POSCO the immediate release of their general

34 July - October 2011 secretary Akhil Gogoi. government to take over land without June 27, Assam: Hundreds of KMSS seeking the consent of slum dwellers. activists and supporters engage in acts of June 30, New Delhi: Section 13(b) of non-violent protest across the state of Assam the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural to demand the immediate and unconditional Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), release of Akhil Gogoi. Several hundred which prohibited outsiders from being part protesters are arrested and soon released. of the social audits of projects carried out by June 27, New Delhi: A public the gram Sabhas, is repealed. convention on Save Democracy is held and a July 5, Guwahati: A protest rally is resolve is adopted, which seeks to deepen held in northern Assam's Sonitpur district as democracy, ensure right to life and part of the anti-big dam's movement. livelihood with dignity and to ensure Reports of ships carrying turbines for the democratic control over natural resources. Lower Subansiri hydel power project spark The Convention is addressed by Medha the protests. The agitation results in the ships Patkar, Kuldip Nayar, Justice (Retd) being pushed back from Biswanth port and Rajinder Sachar, Swami Agnivesh, Mastram then Pandu port. Members of (KMSS) are Kapoor, Yogendra Yadav, Arvind Kejariwal, arrested by police on charges of defying the Raja Bundela, Dr. Sunilam, Ravi Kiran Jain, prohibition of demonstrations in the district. Smt Manju Mohan, Kavita Krishnan, Ajit July 6-7, New Delhi: A two day Jha, Rakesh Rafiq and many other activists. meeting of activists is held at the Gandhi June 28, Delhi: A public statement Peace Foundation in support of Anna Hazare against the Planning Commission's in the Lokpal Bill movement. The activists engagement of the World Bank to review decide to generate public support from all pro-poor programs and incorporating the areas of the country for Hazare's indefinite th Bank's recommendations in the 12th Plan fast on August 16 . Activists like PV Paper is released. The statement is signed by Rajagopal , Madhu Kishwar, Medha Patkar, social activists Medha Patkar (NAPM), R Geetha, Rajendra Singh, Yogendra Yadav, Aruna Roy (MKSS), Shankar Singh and Mayank Gandhi and others attend the (MKSS), Sabriele Dietrich (NAPM), meeting. Shaktiman Ghosh (National Hawkers July 7, Guwahati: Medha Patkar Federation), Dunu Roy (Hazards Center), announces that the anti-mega dam Himanshu Thakkar (South Asian Network movement will be launched centrally under on Dams, Rivers and People), Shripad the banner of NAPM. Dharmadhikari (Manthan Adhyayan July 8, Guwahati: Akhil Gogoi, leader Kendra), and Soumya Dutta (Bharat Jan of the June 22nd protest against the eviction of Vigyan Jatha). hill settlers in Guwahati, is released on bail June 28, Mumbai: Medha Patkar leads from judicial custody. Gogoi calls for “a a rally of thousands of slum dwellers against series of agitational programmes” to the transfer of inquiry of Ganesh Krupa pressure government into crafting eco- Society and 15 other societies. Patkar warns friendly and pro-indigenous land policy in that these transfers will adversely affect the state of Assam. thousands of slum dwellers and demands the July 8, Hubli: A state level convention removal of the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act, of slum-dwellers is held at the R.N. Shetty 1971, clause-3K, which allows the Kalyana Mantapa. Medha Patkar condemns

35 July - October 2011 the “land-grabbing” activities of politicians and terms the slum rehabilitation schemes as the KMSS stage a dharna in front of the “fraud”. headquarters of the Assam State Electricity Board over the power tariff hike. Gogoi says July 12, Guwahati: Members of the the government should rollback the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad announced hike of 56 paise per unit of (AJYCP) stage demonstrations at district and electricity, which will have adverse effects sub-divisional headquarters across the state on Assam's economy. of Assam against the proposed mega dam July 28, Guwahati: The demonstration projects of the Northeast region and in front of the Assam State Electricity Board neighbouring Bhutan. They, along with turns into a relay hunger strike. KMSS, demand that the barges carrying the turbines for the project be sent back and the August 3, New Delhi: In the wake of the Government of India properly assess the n e w d r a f t o f L a n d A c q u i s i t i o n , environmental and social impacts of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement slated for hydel projects in the Northeast region of the debate in the ongoing session of the state. Parliament, thousands of people from at least July 16, Vasai, Mumbai: Right to 15 states, affected due to the archaic Land Information activist Kamlakar Shenoy is Acquisition Act 1894 (LAA) reach Delhi , arrested on charges of atrocity under the demanding immediate repeal of LAA and Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. The replacement of it with a comprehensive arrest is pushed by the director of Shivalik National Development Planning Act. Ventures, a construction company against August 16, New Delhi: Anna Hazare Ji which Shenoy tried to petition for its and many others across India start their fast violation in the 150-building project at in Delhi and elsewhere in the country Nallasopara. demanding an effective Lokpal. NAPM July 18, Guwahati: Akhil Gogoi, supports the people's movement for a general secretary of KMSS, releases a corruption-free India and urges the citizens statement that highlights several of the country to plunge into this struggle. environmental consequences that the 168 NAPM, along with other organisations to mega dam projects in Arunachal Pradesh hold relay fast, human chains, public will have on the Assamese population. Gogoi meetings and other programmes, in Chennai, warns that the sediment flushing process of Pune, Mumbai, Narmada Valley, Hyderabad, the dam authorities will destroy the entire Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Bangalore, ecosystems of these rivers and result in the Mysore, Mou, Balia, Allahabad, extinction of the wetlands. Muzzafarnagar and other places. July 23-25, Doda, Jammu & Kashmir: September 1, Tirunelveli : The people A three-day meeting is held between social of Koodankulam, Idinthakarai and other activists to discuss their challenges and for neighbouring villages decide to withdraw the voices of J&K to be heard. The from the ongoing “peace” process and discussion is organized by the RTI resume their peaceful, nonviolent Gandhian organization of Jammu & Kashmir, Chinab satyagraha by holding a massive hunger Valley Educational Trust and civil society strike on September 11, 2011 at Idinthakarai group like Asha Parivar and NAPM. in Tirunelveli district protesting against July 25, Guwahati: Akhil Gogoi and kudankulam nuclear plant.

36 July - October 2011 September 3, Imphal : NAPM decides solidarity with the fasting agitators. Around to launch a nationwide signature campaign 7,000 residents from coastal areas of from October 2 to December 10 in all major Idinthakarai and other villages observe a state capitals and cities of India with an massive hunger strike at Idinthakarai. objective to spread awareness on Irom September 17- 18, Nellore: NAPM and Sharmila's struggle and to generate public Jana Vigyan Vedika host two days of Jan support for “Save Sharmila” campaign. The Sansad / Praja Parliament at the premises of signature campaign to be held at Ambedkar Nehru Yuva Kendra, Nellore. Delegates Statue near Tank Bund in Hyderabad, discuss issues of livelihood, land Guwahati in Assam, Kargil Chowk in Patna, acquisitions, displacement, environmental Bihar, Gujarat Vidyapeeth in Gujarat, Sector and human rights violations and corruption 17 in Chandigarh, Panchayat Bhawan amongst other issues of concern. A resolution Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Hazratbal / Lal on these topics is passed by the house. Very Chowk in Srinagar, Albert Ekka Chowk in specifically talking on the new Land Ranchi, Bangalore in Karnataka, Thrissur A c q u i s i t i o n , R e h a b i l i t a t i o n a n d Corporation office in Kerela, Madhya Resettlement Bill delegates demand that a Pradesh, Grand road Paschim, Mumbai, Development Planning and Resettlement Gandhi Peeth Puri Ghat, Cuttak, Orrisa, and Rehabilitation Bill be passed which will Jaipur, Rajasthan, Gandhi Statue, Marina not allow 32,000 MW thermal power plants Beach, Chennai, Gandhi Bhawan Hazatganj in one district. Medha Patkar, Sandeep Lucknow, Dehradun Uttar Pradesh, Shyam Pandey, Banwari Lal Sharma, Gabriele bazaar in front of Maharaja Mahindra Dietrich, Sister Celia, Manoj Tyagi, college and Shyambazar metro station Viveknanad Mathane, P Chennaiah, Kolkata, India Gate and Jantar Mantar New Ramakrishnam Raju and others question the Delhi and Puducherry. decision of Andhra Pradesh to allocate so September 9, Tamilnadu: The much of power plants in Nellore district. villagers of Idinthakarai village, face illegal September 17 New Delhi / arrests and beating by the Tamilnadu police Azamgarh: To mark the third anniversary of while planning for a massive hunger strike Batla House 'encounter', various civil rights on September 11, a non-violent action groups, social organisations and political against the violence unleashed on them by parties march to Prime Minister's office nuclear power plants. Police arrests three from Batla House demanding justice. The people and beat some of them in a clear organisers of the march include, Aasha attempt to not allow the protests. Pravivar, NAPM, Act Now for Harmony and September 10, Pune: NAPM conducts Democracy (ANHAD), Yuva Koshish, an inquiry on the police firing during the Lohiya Vichar Manch, Sadbhawana Mission agitation of Maval farmers against the and many others. Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's September 19, Rajghat, New Delhi: A Pavana dam-Nigdi water pipeline project. group of activists organises a counter fast to September 11, Tirunelveli: The protest the alleged "misuse" of Gandhiji's struggle against the Koodankulam Nuclear concept of satyagraha by the BJP leader, Power Project (KKNPP) gets a major boost Narendra Modi. as leading activists, including Medha Patkar September 19,Tirunelveli: NAPM among others from NAPM express their National Convener Medha Patkar visits the

37 July - October 2011 protest site near Kudankulam nuclear power projects already cleared is more than the project and addresses more than 10,000 required capacity, the CSE hints at a villagers, who have been on hunger strike for possibility of scam to take over land and nine days demanding closure of the plant. water resources. It demanded a white paper September 20, Koodankulam: from the government on the issue. Minister of State in the PMO V. October 2, New Delhi: NAPM along Narayanasamy faces huge protest near the with several organisations come together on new Koodankulam nuclear plant in Tamil the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi to launch a Nadu during his speech. According to the nation-wide “Save Sharmila Solidarity minister, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Campaign.” The campaign begins at Jantar is to decide whether to stop work on the Mantar with several people coming out in nuclear plant or not. support of the cause. The campaign to September 20, Chennai: Social culminate on the International Human activist Medha Patkar demands the adoption Rights Day on December 10 with leading of a resolution by the State Cabinet social activists to sit on a day-long fast and recommending the closure of Kudankulam then march from India Gate to the nuclear power plant. People to continue their Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit the signatures protest until the Cabinet passes the collected during the campaign. Signatures to resolution. be collected on banners and the “signature September 22, Nagpur: Social activist sheets” to be distributed at different places Medha Patkar, NAPM demand a detailed by volunteer groups and supporters during discussion on the Land Acquisition and the campaign. Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2011. October 2, Hyderabad: The NAPM to oppose the bill tooth and nail by Hyderabad Manipuri Society in association launching a massive movement across the with the National Alliance of People's country. Rallies to be organized in Movement, Andhra Pradesh Chapter November. launches a campaign today at 3pm at the September 22, Kudankulam: 103 Ambedkar Statue, Tank Bund, Hyderabad as crusaders at Kudankulam, who staked their part of the nationwide “Save Sharmila lives during the indefinite fast withdrawn the Solidarity Campaign” involving many same after 12 days, while the struggle organizations and people's movements that continues to march ahead after the Chief is being launched across India at same time Minister of Tamil Nadu who held a dialogue and date. with the people in agitation and took a October 3, Jaipur: Chhatisgarh position against continuation of the nuclear Special Tasks Police Force raids Kavita power plant as indicated through her letter Srivastava's house . Kavita is General asking the centre to stop the work. Secretary of People's union for Civil September 23, New Delhi: The Centre Liberties and prominent human rights for Science and Environment (CSE) activist. demands a moratorium on forest and October 3 , Hyderabad: During the environment clearances (EC) for power and environmental public hearing regarding the mining projects till the government takes 350 MW Coal fired Thermal Plant of M/s stock of the projects that have been already VSF Energy Projects Pvt. Ltd, (SPV of VSF cleared. Claiming that the number of Projects, Hyderabad) at Ankulapaturu

38 July - October 2011 village, in Chillakuru mandal, in Nellore Jawahar Lal Nehru hospital Imphal where district, Dr. Vijay Kumar, a practicing doctor Irom Sharmilla is being nasally fed. and activist of Jana Vigyana Vedika, is October 18, New Delhi : Thousands of mercilessly beaten by the Police. men and women displaced by Damodar October 4, Ralegan Siddhi, Valley Corporation start their indefinite Maharashtra: Social crusader Anna Hazare dharna at Jantar mantar, to demand their to resume his movement for a strong anti- proper rehabilitation under the banner of graft Jan Lokpal bill after Dussehra by Ghatwar Adivasi Mahasaha, a NAPM campaigning against congress in October13 constituent from Jharkhand. The dharna Lok Sabha by-election in Hisar, Haryana. starts in the presence of Medha Patkar, October 4, New Delhi: Leaders of Swami Agnivesh, Dipankar Bhattacharya, various organisations condemn the Ashok Chaudhary and Guman Singh. “arbitrary” and “illegitimate” raid on Right October 19, New Delhi: A large to Food Campaign steering committee number of students from north east join the convener and PUCL general secretary Kavita Save Sharmila Solidarity Group, supporting Srivastava, who has challenged in the Irom Sharmila at the north campus of Delhi Supreme Court the Union government's University as a part of the Srinagar-to- poverty line on Right to Food. Activists Jean Imphal Yatra demanding withdrawal of the Dreze, Binayak Sen, Aruna Roy, Medha Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Patkar, Nikhil Dey and Annie Raja charge ABVP miscreants create nuisance at the rally that the raid was an act of harassment and when it reaches the north campus of Delhi witch-hunting of human rights workers. The University, pelting stones and even ulterior motive is to send a message to all tomatoes. Several students sustain injuries in activists not to take up issues against the incidents of stone pelting. In spite of state. information provided, the Delhi police October 8, Chennai : People's arrives late in the scene and did not make any Coalition Against Nuclear Power Plants, a arrest of the culprits but instead denies pressure group, expresses solidarity with the permission to hold the peaceful democratic stir against the Koodankulam plant and rally any further. demand a systematic phasing out or closure October 20, New Delhi : Two women of Kalpakkam atomic power plant. and nine men from Jharkhand and Bengal October 16, Srinagar: Noted civil who had lost their lands to Damodar Valley rights activists Medha Patekar and Dr Corporation (DVC) in 1953 begin a hunger Sandeep Pandey launch the caravan for strike for their resettlement and mobilizing support for revocation of the rehabilitation. Failing to get any written Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) acceptance of their demands, despite in Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern lobbying at various ministries here from states. About 24 civil society activists from Monday, the protesters hope their fast in the different parts of India start their 4500-km heart of Delhi will mount pressure on DVC. journey as part of “Save (Irom) Sharmila October 24, New Delhi : DVC Solidarity Campaign” from Pratap Park amid Displaced End their Dharna after Talks with anti-AFSPA, anti-forces and pro-freedom Minister of Power. slogans. The caravan to end its journey on [Compilation by Michael Johnson and October 27 after passing through 10 states, at Kumar Prabhat]

39 FDI in Retail: A Disaster for Farmers, Consumers and Communities

New Delhi, November 29 : NAPM strongly opposes the Government of India's decision to increase the FDI limit to 51% in multi brand retail trade, and upto 100% in single brand retail trade with government approval. Even though the policy is conditional to the fact that it is applicable only in towns and cities with more than 10 lakh population as per 2011 census. 53 towns and cities fall under this category out of a total of 8000 towns and cities all over India. According to 2011 census, these 53 towns and cities cover 42% of the total urban population of India. Even though limited to 53 cities the effects of it will be felt all across since the sourcing of the commodities and provisions will be from all over the country. Our experience in past twenty years of Liberalisation, Globalisation and Privatisation policies in all aspects has shown increase in inequality and deprivations, where the adivasis, dalits, farmers and workers, have suffered the most. The present Cabinet Decision will only enhance the problems due to privatisation, which is nothing but selling of country's resources to private corporations. This controversial decision has led to the current logjam in the Parliament and outrage among the people. While we welcome the protests by political parties we urge them to address the wider question of economic reforms, which is pushing the aam admi to the brink of disaster, with high rates of inflation and increased prices all around. FDI, PPP and other such joint ventures and liberalisation policies have damaged lives and livelihood of millions of people of this country. Entry of private corporations in energy sector has resulted in increased displacement, loot of natural resources; privatisation in agriculture has meant corporate and contract farming and farmer's suicides on mass scale and growth of real estate all across the country has fuelled destruction and conflicts among the farmers in particular and caused misery to urban poor. FDI in retail will further push farmers and workers to impoverishment and unemployment. These sectors need more governmental support. Already 93% of workforce is in unorganised and unprotected sectors of work and this will add to further joblessness and violations of the rights of workers and urban poor. The Centre's decision is questionable. It must understand that retail in India comprises hawkers, family- run, street-corner stores which account for 97 per cent of business. Global retailers will destroy these domestic chains. It will also further intensify corruption, inequality and exploitation of the labourers and farmers. NAPM strongly opposes any further push for these policies and demands an immediate roll back of these pronouncements and foreign trade agreements done under the pressure from WTO. It will be a mistake if the government forgets the broken Reliance Fresh stores in Indore, Kolkata and Ranchi in early 2007 and massive protests against KFC stores in 1996 in Banaglore. If the Government does not withdraw these decisions, People's Movements and Trade Unions will be forced to start a massive protest throughout the country.

Medha Patkar, Sandeep Pandey, Adv. Sanjay Parikh, Ulka Mahajan, Prafulla Samantara, D. Gabriele, P. Chennaiah, Geetha Ramakrishnan, Anand Mazgaonkar, Sr. Celia, Suniti S. R., Rajendra Ravi, Kamayani Swami, Ashish Ranjan, Vimal Bhai, Bhupinder Singh Rawat, Madhuresh Kumar

Administrative address: c/o Clifton D'Rozario, 122/4, Infantry Road, Opp. Infantry Wedding Hall, Bangalore – 560 001 Correspondence address: The Movement of India (MoI) National Alliance of Peoples' Movements (NAPM) C/O 6/6 (Basement), Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi – 110 014, India. Phone: 011 2437 4535; Mobile: +91 9818 905316