Towards

Socialism

Capitalist polarisation in Indian politics must end : Wider left unity needed for People's Alternative leading to Socialist IndiaDebabrata Biswas, M.P., General Secretary, AIFB

Indian politics is now on the crossroads throwing a challenge to left parties to end capitalist polarisation in the country. This cannot be achieved unless we can forge wider left unity to form the People's Alternative. Neither the Congress, nor the BJP, both being the two sides of the same coin representing the capitalist class interest aided by the world imperialist powers could not offer any solace to the millions of hungry poor people of the country. Socialism can only be the alternative to this capitalist domination. Hence, ours is the fight against capitalism and imperialist globalisation. All India Forward Bloc, founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, is committed to socialism. AIFB, therefore, calls for socialistic reconstruction of the country as advocated by Netaji and asks the people to unite to Rebuild India in Netaji's way. Unfortunately, some of the left parties, particularly the CPI(M), the major partner of Left Front in West Bengal, appears to be hesitant to fight against capitalism. This would lead to left-deviation harming the greater left unity in the country so urgently needed at the moment. It is high time to forge a wider unity of all left democratic secular and progressive forces of the country to end the pro-capitalist and pro-US policy of the UPA government, as well as the communal agenda of the BJP.

Not only the communalism, but other divisive forces are also very active in India. Casteism and regionalism are also being fomented by vested interest groups for electoral gains. During freedom movement, Subhas Chandra all along fought against the Britishers' 'divide & rule' policy. Neo-imperialism led by US is still now trying the same trick. Divisions are instigated among the people in the name of religion, caste and even language. Maharastra, Assam, UP are worst sufferers in this respect. America used the same policy in Afganistan, Iraq & Israel. India, Pakistan are also not spared. In several parts of Maharastra, including Mumbai ----- the economic capital of India ----- divisive forces led by MNS of Raj Thackeray, very offen aided by Shiv Sena, BJP and others are of late engaged in worst type of parochial activities. AIFB strongly condemns this parochiatism and asks the government to curb it firmly. It is only Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who showed and proved through his INA how an exemplary national harmony and unity can be achieved for a common cause of the country.

In 1947 Congress compromised with British imperialism, causing division of the country, to capture power and enjoy the creams of ruling power. Nehru family betrayed the cause of millions of hungry exploited people of India for which Netaji stood and fought. Forward Bloc once more commits to work and fight for the cause of 'have-nots' as advocated by Netaji. The UPA government still now influenced by the Nehru family is bent on capitalist-imperialist agenda. Rich people, MNCs are enjoying the fruits of so-called GDP growth, while the 'aam admi' continue to suffer. This is the curse of imperialist globalisation. Only the united struggle of workers and peasants, along with the youths-students-middle class intellectuals, can resist the aggression of imperialist globalisation.

AIFB National Council calls for this united struggle, which can be achieved through a wider left unity ----- not in a few states only, but throughout the whole country. AIFB believes this united left fight should aim for establishment of Socialism in India. In the backdrop of fully developed Indian capitalism aided by the government at the Centre, we are indeed in the phase of socialist revolution, as was advocated by Netaji Subhas. People are now eagerly looking for an Alternative to capitalism, as well as communalism and other divisive forces. People will not forgive the Left if they can not rise to the occasion. Congress is now a family-centred decaying force. BJP and others can enjoy only about 22% support of the people. It is high time for all the left forces to unite together and fill up the vacuum to establish a real People's Alternative.

AIFB National Council resolves to initiate a new era in Indian politics. At Tripuri ---- the venue of the 1939 National Congress session where Subhas defeated the right reactionary forces with the support of all the then left progressive forces --- AIFB will convene on 10th & 11th March 2008 a convention of anti-imperialist forces ---- both national and international ----- and form the anti-imperialist platform to create a new era of anti-imperialist struggle with Netaji's ideology.

[Extract from the speech delivered at the open session of the AIFB National Council held at Nagpur on 15th February 2008].

Deployment of police on democratic movement is deviation of LF policy.

Another tragic incident has happened at Dinhata in West Bengal when on 5 February 2008 five Forward Bloc workers participating in civil disobedience movement were brutally killed by wanton police firing. About fifteen days before the incident Forward Bloc publicly declared, with due intimation to the Chief Minister and the Left Front Chairman, their mass movement programme on 7-point demand, including 100 days' work, BPL cards and others, from 28th January to 5th February 2008. A few lakhs of party workers and supporters participated in demonstrations and mass deputation programmes in all the districts of the state, from Panchayat to Mahakuma levels. Who can deny the genuinty and democratic character of the aforesaid movement? Still the police and CRPF men were deployed at Dinhata, who indiscriminately fired about 50 rounds on the demonstrators, killing five heads and seriously injuring about 50 people. By accusing F.B. demonstrators as resorting to violence, the police, administration and the CPI(M) party are now trying to find an escape route to justify the wanton police firing and killing so many people. On many occasions in the past, as in the present case, police and administration always tried to find shelter under the plea of self-defence in support of their unprovoked firing. Unfortunately, CPI(M) is now echoing the police version to hide their unpardonable act of firing on political workers participating in peaceful democratic movements. Most tragically, the trigger-happy police at Dinhata shot them at their heads and chests in violation of all concerned police code.

Within 11 months of Nandigram massacre, recurrence of Dinhata firing badly tarnishes the left image not only in the state, but throughout the country and abroad. Instead of setting a role model of a left government, the LF government followed the same anti-people bourgeoisie way of governance. We expect the state government to review their policy and to regret for this police violence, as well as to give its firm assurance not to repeat the same. We demanded judicial enquiry, punishment of the guilty police and administrative officers and immediate withdrawal of all charges imposed on F.B. workers and leaders. We firmly affirm that this is not the end of left movement in the country. We have a long way to go ahead to fulfill our commitments for the welfare and up-liftment of downtrodden people. It is high time to review our policy and performance unitedly to uphold the left image in the whole country.

NETAJI SUBHAS JAN - KRANTI YATRA

HARIPURA (GUJRAT) TO TRIPURI (JABALPUR)

Start on Starting Point Covering Places

19th Feb.2008 Haripura (Gurjat) Covering Gujrat and Maharashtra will reach Tripuri on 10th March,08

25th Feb, 2008 Bhopal (Netaji Statue) Covering Hosangabad and Baitul will reach Tripuri on 10th March,08

25th Feb,2008 Bhopal (Netaji Statue) Covering Vidisha, Sagar, Damoh, Jabalpur, Katani.

01 March 2008 Gwalior (Domb of Rani Jhansi) Coveing Datia, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Shahdol, Dindori, Jabalpur.

02 March 2008 Jhabua (Birth place of Ratiam, Ujjain, Indore, Dewas Shajapur, Raigharh,

Chandra Sekhar Azad) Narshinggarh, Raisen, Jabalpur.

03 March 2008 Sheoni (Netaji was jailed) Sheoni, Chhindwara

04 March 2008 Anuppur (Netaji Statue) Anuppur, Umaria, Dindori.

AIFB CAMPAIGN FROM HARIPURA TO TRIPURI

The All India Forward Bloc launches a campaign on Netaji from Haripura(Gujarat) to Tripuri(Madhya Pradesh) from 19th February to 11th March 2008. On 11th March the party will Organise an anti-imperialist international convention at Jabalpur. Foreign delegates and national left parties and anti-imperialist people's movement will attend the convention. A 'propaganda rath' will start from Haripura and will reach at Tripuri, where a commemorative meeting of the 52nd anniversary of the conference of the Indian National Congress was held in which Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was elected as the President by defeating Pattabi Sitaramaiya, the candidate of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Caravan Marches

-Subhas Chandra Bose

The political stalemate is now broken. The call of Ramgarh has borne fruit. The bugle that was sounded there was echoed and reechoed all over the land and from the living hearts of the people has come the response. During the last week, one has been thrilled to read the papers from day-today. No longer are we merely criticising and cogitating. No longer are we engaged in endless controversy and in hair-splitting arguments on Local Struggle vs. National struggle. We are on the march. Annapurnaiah in Andhra, Senapati Bapat and ex-Civilian Kamath in Bombay, Kisan leader Bhuskute in Maharashtra, Professor Ranga in Madras, Ashrafuddin Chowdhury and Satya Ranjan Bakshi, Secretary of the Bengal Congress and of the Bengal Forward Bloc respectively and a host of comrades ------ belonging mostly to the Forward Bloc and the Kisan Sabha ----- are now in prison. They have gone forth first and theirs is the glory. All honour to them.

The problem now is ----- what are we to do? In 1930, when India was in the throes of a revolution, a body of croakers, then regarded as ultra-leftists, stood aloof from the movement and refused to join it, on the ground that Congressmen were counter-revolutionaries. To call those men and women counter revolutionaries who were defying alien 'Law and order', braving the rigours of prison-life and facing the baton-charges of the police was a bit too much for even the gullible Indian. The movement grew from strength to strength and inspired the teeming millions of this country and the ultra-leftists were left high and dry and completely isolated from the revolutionary masses.

Today, the same ultra-leftists are in a similar situation. Like truly doctrinaire politicians and bookish revolutionaries, they are standing aloof from the struggle that has begun. By this policy, they will hurt nobody but themselves. The caravan will march on, despite their indifference and possible obstruction. This is the time for action ---- not for wordy warfare or hair-splitting over the meaning of words.

Reports that have reached us from different parts of the country go to show that everywhere our functions have been an unqualified success. In some places, Gandhiites joined hands with Congress Socialists and 'National Fronters' in order to frustrate our work, but they met with miserable failure. There can be no doubt today that the masses are with us.

Is it not an irony of fate that the National Front Group are not coming forward to join the National Struggle? They could at least have come forward to intensify the local struggles and extend their scope, leaving it to others --- to the Kisan Sabha and the Forward Bloc, to wit---- to work as they liked. But their present policy appears to be almost like a 'dog in the manger' policy. They will neither join the struggle themselves, nor permit others to do so. In 1930, those who had gone in for a national struggle were condemned as counter revolutionaries: today they are being condemned as disruptors of unity. The ultra-leftists have yet to learn that that unity is real and is worth having which leads to action and struggle. Unity which paralyses action is meaningless and ineffective and can be described as the unity of the graveyard.

As the hours roll by, excitement and inspiration are on the increase. As if to help us in our mission, the Government struck on the first day and again on the last. The more they strike and the harder they strike, the stronger will be the reaction and the greater the response. The day has gone by when people would be cowed down by repression.

As we march on, many others have to follow, though rather tardily. The Rightists are setting up Satyagraha Committees, War Councils and the like and the leaders are parading in shirts and shorts. This is all to the good. But how long will this prelude last? When will the real drama begin? If only it had begun at Ramgarh, we would have been behind the Rightists and not ahead of them. But destiny has forced us to act as the spearhead of the struggle and as the vanguard of the national army. This is a role which will do honour to anybody and no sacrifice is too great that may be necessary in order to fulfil it.

Let the drums beat and the bugles be blown. Let youthful hearts pulsate with life and the blood dance with joy. The hour of deliverance is at hand ---- we have only to do our duty and to pay the price. India has arisen from her age-long slumber, reborn and rejuvenated. Her sons and daughters are going forth to fight the battle Royal. Let all join in sympathy and help.

The supreme test is taking place now. The chaff is separating from the grain, the Rightists from the Leftists. Out of this ordeal, Leftism will emerge triumphant. The overthrow of Rightism will mean the defeat of Moderatism, Reaction and Compromise. And when Leftism emerges triumphant, no power on earth can deny India any longer her birthright of liberty.

[Extracted from the signed Editorial of Subhas Chandra Bose published in the weekly "Forward Bloc", dt. April 13, 1940]

Main Theme of AIFB National Council Meeting Adopted at Nagpur

AIFB for Netaji’s India, A Socialist India

The National Council Meeting of All India Forward Bloc was successfully held at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan, Nagpur on 15th, 16th and 17th February 2008. 237 delegates from 17 states participated in the meeting.

On 15th February morning at 9.30 a.m. Com. N. Velappan Nair, Chairman of All India Forward Bloc hoisted the party flag and Com. Debabrata Biswas, M.P., General Secretary of All India Forward Bloc paid floral tributes to the martyrs. Central leaders and delegates garlanded the photograph of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and paid revolutionary homages to the martyrs amid the slogans of All India Forward Bloc Zindabad, Netaji Zindabad, Long live martyrs etc. An exhibition of Netaji's photographs and writings of and about Netaji was inaugurated after the flag hoisting ceremony by Com. Subrata Bose, M.P., Secretary, All India Forward Bloc. It was an exhibition of rare photographs of Netaji, which throws light on untold stories of Indian independent movement.

At 11.00 a.m., Com. Debabrata Biswas, M.P. placed the draft document, resolutions of current national and international issues before the delegate session. The National Council Meeting condoled deeply on the death of five All India Forward Bloc cadres due to barbaric police firing on 5th February 2008 in Dinhata, West Bengal. The Meeting also expressed condolence on the demise of national leaders, activists of social movements and the death of hundreds of people due to natural calamities during this council period.

A rally was organized on the occasion of the council meeting. The rally started from Netaji Subhas statue at Manas Chowk and concluded at Patwardhan Ground. A photo exhibition on Netaji was also organized at Manas Chowk. Before commencing the rally, the leaders of All India Forward Bloc garlanded the statue of Netaji. The public meeting was presided over by Com. N. Velappan Nair. Com. Debabrata Biswas was the main speaker. He explained about the historical importance of the National Council Meeting and the current national political situation. Com. Devidas Bhore, General Secretary of the Reception Committee, Com. Arun Wankar, All India Forward Bloc Maharashtra State General Secretary, Com. Subrata Bose, M.P. also addressed the gathering. Com. G. Devarajan, secretary All India Forward Bloc conducted the proceedings of the meeting.

The second day session of the meeting started at 9.30 a.m. 48 delegates participated in the discussion. Com. G. Devarajan and Com. (Dr.) Barun Mukherjee, M.P. secretaries of All India Forward Bloc replied on the deliberations on international and national issues respectively. The meeting has adopted the main theme document 'AIFB for Netaji's India, A Socialist India'. The resolutions on national and international issues were adopted by the council meeting with minor amendments.

The last day session discussed about organizational report. Com. Debabrata Biswas placed the guide lines of organizational activities and state General Secretaries and their representatives submitted reports about organizational activities in their respective states. The leaders of the mass organizations also placed their report. Com. Debabrata Biswas replied on the organizational discussion and announced the future course of action. He declared about the adoption of council documents and assured the delegates that the views and suggestions made by them will duly reflect in the final document. Com. N. Velappan Nair declared the end of the National Council Meeting and Com. Gunwant Nagpure, Chairman of Reception Committee made vote of thanks.

The National Council Meeting has adopted the following future programme unanimously.

1. AIFB Campaign from Haripura to Tripuri (Netaji Subhas Jan Kranti Yatra)

The National Council Meeting of All India Forward Bloc has decided to launch a campaign on Netaji from Haripura (Gujarat) to Tripuri (Madhya Pradesh) from 19th February 2008. On 11th March the party will Organise an anti-imperialist convention at Jabalpur. Foreign delegates and leaders of national left parties and anti-imperialist people's movement will attend the convention. A propaganda rath will start from Haripura and will reach at Tripuri, where a commemorative meeting of the 52nd anniversary of the conference of the Indian National Congress held in which Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was elected as the President by defeating Pattabi Sitaramaiya, the candidate of Mahatma Gandhi in 1939.

The Reception Committee of Madhya Pradesh will organise six Netaji Jan-Kranti Yatras from different places and will culminate at Tripuri on 10th March. These yatras will go around the whole Madhya Pradesh and will propagate the relevance of Netaji's ideology. Details of the yatras are as follows:

1. From Arora Colony, Bhopal (Netaji Statue) 25th February 2008 on wards (14 days)

2. From Habibganj, Bhopal (Netaji Statue) 25th February 2008 on wards (14 days)

3. From Gwalior (Samadhi of Rani Jhansi) 1st March 2008 onwards (9 days)

4. From Babra, Jhabua (Birth place of Chandra Shekhar Azad) 2nd March 2008 onwards (7 days)

5. From Seoni (Old jail, where Netaji was prisoned) 3rd Marc 2008 on wards (7 days)

6. From Anupur 4th March 2008 onwards (7 days)

All the state units are requested to organise vehicular jatha in the state and send representatives to the Tripuri meeting and the anti-imperialist convention at Jabalpur.

2. State-wise Anti-imperialist campaign

The National Council Meeting of All India Forward Bloc has decided to organise state wise Political Jatha against imperialist machinations in our domestic political matters and to propagate the political philosophy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as only alternative to save our nation from the clutches of neo-imperialist forces. These state wise Jathas should popularise the slogan of the party as 'AIFB for Netaji's India, A Socialist India', the main theme of the National Council Meeting.

The state committees are requested to convene their meetings at the earliest and chalk out the detailed programme of state wise campaign.

3. AIFB parliament march on Kashmir issues.

The National Council Meeting of All India Forward Bloc has decided to organize a people's march to the Parliament on the issue of Kashmir on 3rd April 2008. The people of Kashmir are suffering due to not only militancy but also maladministration, corruption and military and police atrocities. The issues of Kashmir people such as unemployment, social security, rural development, illiteracy etc. have been ignored by all successive governments both at Central and State. The All India Forward Bloc will raise all these basic issue through this Parliament March.

All the state leaders of the party and the mass fronts are requested to attend the Parliament March to express the solidarity with the struggling people of Jammu and Kashmir.

4. AIFB campaign on Farmers

(Kisan ki Khushhali Bina, Yeh Azadi Adhoori Hai)

The National Council meeting of All India Forward Bloc has decided to launch a nation wide movement on the issues of farmers. The All India Forward Bloc is of the opinion that if the farmers of the country, who feeds the whole nation, is not happy, the freedom has no meaning. Due to anti-farmer policies of the government the farmers are committing suicide and all agriculture packages are become paper tigers. The All India Forward Bloc will mobilize the farmers of the country for a nation-wide movement for their rights.

All the state units of the party are requested to organise farmer's march along with the All India Agragami Kisan Sabha for the rights of the farmers with the slogan of 'Wipe out the tears of Farmers, otherwise the freedom has no meaning'. All are requested to publish documents on the sorry plight of the farmers of the country in general and the farmers of the respective states in particular as a campaign material. The party will organise a Farmer's March to Parliament after the completion of state campaign.

5. Membership

The membership renewal and enrolment of new membership for the year 2008-09 will start from 22nd June-2008. As per the earlier decision, all the state committees are requested to print the membership forms in their respective languages and keep inform all the party units about the renewal and enrolment process. The next party congress will take place on the basis of this membership list.

The verification and scrutiny of the membership at various level will take place as per the following schedule:-

Local/District - By end of September, 2008

State - By end of November, 2008

Central approval - By end of December, 2008

State and district leaders will present in the scruitiny camps at district and local level.

6. 16th Party Congress

The 16th Party Congress of All India Forward Bloc will be held in 2009. All the state units of the party are requested to make all necessary ground level preparations for the forth coming party congress.

The date, venue etc. will finalyse later on. If any state committee is interested to host the next party congress, inform the central office immediately with proper justification and plans.

7. Party School

The National Council Meeting of All India Forward Bloc univocally opined that making a revolutionary political party for the new times and to face the challenges is not possible without proper political training to the party cadres. The Council meeting has decided to streamline the process of party school with time-bound programme with an aim to train the rank and file of the party. All the state units are requested to finalize the date and venue for the next state party school immediately to the Central Office.

8. All India Student Bloc (AISB) National Conference.

The National Council Meeting of All India Forward Bloc endorsed the suggestion of the Central Committee of All India Student's Bloc that the next National conference of All India Student Bloc would be organized at New Delhi on 14, 15, 16 November 2008. All the lower units of the party are requested to organize All India Student Bloc units in their respective areas and to hold the state conference. All the state committees of the party are requested to take special initiative to organize All India Student Bloc state units. State leaders are requested to identify the issues of the student community and to organize student movement for academic rights by giving special attention to inculate patriotism among the young generation.

9. All India Agragami Mahila Samity (AIAMS) National Conference

The National Council Meeting of All India Forward Bloc has further endorsed the suggestion made by the national leaders of All India Agragami Mahila Samity that the next National Conference of AIAMS could be organized at Bangalore on 28, 29, 30 November, 2008. All the state units of the party are requested to identify the issue of women such as atrocities against woman, women reservation, equal wages for equal work etc. and to organize women's movements in local and state levels. All the lower units of the party are requested to form All India Agragami Mahila Samity committees in respective levels through movement before the proposed National Conference. The Anganwadi worker's federation as suggested by TUCC will also be formed at Bangalore during the conference.

10. All India Forward Bloc will contest independently in Tripura Assembly Election.

The National Council meeting of All India Forward Bloc unanimously endorsed the decision of the Tripura State Council Meeting the party to contest independently in the current Assembly election in protest against the big brotherly attitude of the CPI(M), the leading party of Tripura Left Front. The party will contest in 12 seats. The All India Forward Bloc is a founder member of the state left front and always demanded three seats from the front. The chairman of the Left Front promised several times to the All India Forward Bloc leaders that the demand of the party will be considered next time. But these promises have never materialized. The All India Forward Bloc demanded that at least 10% of total seats (60) should be given to the allied parties. But the CPI(M) leadership outrightly rejected our demand. Therefore, the State Council Meeting, which is the highest policy making body of the party in the state in between two state conferences has decided to contest in the Assembly election independently. The National Council Meeting of the party extended all sorts of supports to the state committee in their struggle for the matter of political prestige.

11. Save Democracy Movement : Highlight the Dinhata Killings :

The National Council Meeting of the All India Forward Bloc has decided to organise a nation-wide 'Save Democracy Movement' against the increasing onslaught on democractic people's movement. Police atrocities are increasing day by day and naked violation of human rights are taking place throughout the country. There is no exception in this regard that which party is in power.

On 5th February, 2008, the All India Forward Bloc, Bengal committee organised a state wide civil dis-obedience movement for democratic righs of the people. The main demands of the movement were : implement properly the NREGA scheme and ensure 100 days work for unemployed rural youth, Issue BPL Ration Cards to the genuine people, do not acquire the fertile agriculture land for SEZs, resist the entry of FDI in Retail Trade etc. more than three lakh comrades of All India Forward Bloc participated in the movement across the state. But when more than thirty thousand comrades marched towards SDO office, Dinhata, Cooch Behar, the West Bengal police indiscriminately fired against the mob and killed 5 comrades brutally. Hundreds of comrades were wounded. The police fired against the crowd without making any announcement or precautions. This barbaric incident shows that how the police is nakedly violating all the rules and rights. The Bengal AIFB called 'Bengal Bandh' on 6th February, 2008 against the police firing. The people of Bengal spontaneously participated the Bandh. The All India Forward Bloc, the party founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose always fought for humanity and human rights cannot keep silence on butchering democracy by police and administration.

All the state units of the party are requested to organise save democracy movement in all the states and highlight the barbaric incident of Dinhatta.

Resolutions adopted at the National Council Meeting, Nagpur, Maharahtra

On National Issues

Barbaric Police firing at Dinhata (West Bengal) killing five F.B. workers :

State-wide 'Bandh' observed in protest

As per declared programme of mass agitation with 7-point demand, including 100 days' work, proper BPL list and others, the All India Forward Bloc, Bengal Committee observed Civil Disobedience in all the districts of the state on 5th February 2008. About 3 lakh people participated in civil disobedience braving police atrocities and mass arrests throughout the state. But the peaceful civil disobedience programme at Dinhata of Coochbehar district, West Bengal, turned to a violent massacre when the police, along with CRPF, opened unprovoked and indiscriminate lathi-charge, tear gas and about 50 rounds firing on peaceful demonstrators there, and thereby killing five Forward Bloc workers, along with another NVF man, and injuring more than 100 people. This barbaric police action, without any provocation, on peaceful democratic movement organised by a constituent party of the Left Front itself has no parallel in the history of 30 years of Left Front government. Forward Bloc strongly condemned this barbaric action of the police and immediately called 24-hours "Bangla Bandh" on the next day -- the 6th February 2008.

The F.B. sponsored bandh received spontaneous support from the people of all walks of life throughout the state ------- both the urban and rural Bengal and public life came to a halt giving vent to the people's anger, resent, hatred and protest against the barbaric police action. The day witnessed many processions in support of the 'Bandh' and also large-scale arrests by the police. Road communications including train services were almost paralyzed, schools-colleges-offices-factories were closed.

The All India Forward Bloc congratulates the people for making the "Bandh" a success and the party is of the opinion further said, Dinhata incident was a shame and unbecoming of a left front government. It reminded us of Nandigram where 14 villagers were also killed by wanton police firing on 14 March 2007. The question obviously arose in people's mind, whether the major LF-partner CPI(M), which off late was trying to unilaterally run the government, will rule the state with people's support or with police bullets. Forward Bloc was not prepared to accept such position and so it wanted to prevent creation of a third Nandigram.

Swaminathan Commission's recommendation for Contract Farming goes against farmers:

The growth rate of agriculture and allied sectors during the last three years has been Zero percent in 2004-05, six percent in 2005-06 and 2.7 percent in 2006-07. Moreover, the whole plan period performance was more alarming, as the agricultural growth rate was about 2% during the IX plan, which declined to 1.8% per annum during X plan. In view of this declining trend the government is now planning to achieve 4 per cent annual growth in the agricultural sector during the Eleventh Plan (2007-12) and has announced some measures for the purpose, including bringing out the National Policy for Farmers, 2007, based on M.S. Swaminathan Commission's recommendations.

While critically examining the recommendations, some of them appear to be very encouraging, e.g. Cooperative Farming, but a few, like Contract Farming can not be accepted as beneficial for the farmers, particularly the small and marginal farmers.

Contract farming generally becomes exploitive in character. Big interest groups or the corporate houses tend to enter the farming business, the basis of which is exploitation of poor farmers. In most of the cases, they force the farmers to produce those crops which will be more profitable for them, without caring for the interests of the farmers. Farmers do not have their own choice for crop selection, which ultimately becomes detrimental to their interest. Even in most of the cases, farmers lose initiatives, as they are bound by fixed pattern of work, and this ultimately leads to lower yield. Generally, farmers are also not compensated for adverse natural conditions like draught or floods. And above all, poor farmers stand to lose in respect of remunerative prices, when the post-harvest market prices show upward trend. Poor farmers are always the weaker side in case of price-bargaining prior to contract and hence, the corporate houses always stand to gain. Although the Swaminathan Commission has recommended a code of conduct for contract farming and government intervention as a third party to protect farmers' interest, in practice all these precautions never work properly. Hence, their proposed 'non-exploitative pattern of contract cultivation' is never feasible. On the other hand, poor farmers will be benefited if the government sincerely tries to organise cooperative farming.

UPA Govt's worst record in farm suicides

The increasing trend of farmers' suicide in some major states like Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh - Chghatisgarh continues unabated inspite of much publicised relief package of the Prime Minister. Significantly, when the relief packages of both the Prime Minister and the state Chief Minister, totalling Rs. 4825 crore, were being implemented in Vidharba region, the highest number of suicides occurred in Maharastra state. Due to misuse of relief money and basic issues relating to suicides not being properly addressed, the problem remains unresolved. According to recently published report ----- 'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India, 2006' of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), all-India total of 17,060 farm suicides occurred in one year (2006). Incidentally, Maharastra as a single state recorded the worst figure (4453) in the same year and the mostly suicide - prone 4 states have shown an increase of 6.2 percent in such deaths.

NCRB data record 1,66,304 farmers' suicides in a decade since 1997. Of these, the last five years ---- from 2002 to 2006 ----- proved worse with 87,567 farmers taking their own lives. A media report commented that these figures meant that there had been on average one farmer's suicide every 30 minutes since 2002. Inspite of Centres' beating of dreams on a high GDP growth rate, this increasing trend of farmers' suicides is indeed a very shameful record for the UPA government.

India Far Behind Literacy Target

The 2001 Census puts India's literacy rate at 65 per cent, while on the other hand the much publicised 'Incredible India' has over 35 per cent of the world's total illiterate population, which is estimated about 774 million. All these figures are revealed in the Education for All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report 2008, recently released by the UNESCO in New Delhi. This literacy position of India is indeed in sharp contrast to NCMP commitment to universalize access to quality basic education.

Although the UPA government pledged in NCMP to raise public spending in education to at least 6% of GDP with at least half this amount being spent on primary and secondary sectors, but in practice, India presently spends barely 4.1 per cent of its GDP on education.

What is of greater concern to India is that its ranking (in respect of literacy) has dipped by five since last year. The EFA 2008 report places India at 105 out of 127 countries, while the corresponding figures at the EFA 2007 report were 100 out of 129 countries.

The EFA 2008 report also comes heavily on India's quality of primary education, having high percentage of drop-outs, regional and gender disparity and alarmingly low literacy among the girls. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has become an eye-wash for spread of basic education. Adult literacy programme is also now pushed out of governments' priority list. The government's growing dependence on NGO and private players has become a matter of great concern. The National Knowledge Commission has rightly concluded that "illiteracy remains a major problem and therefore literacy programmes cannot be ignored or given less importance". There is also terrible disparity between the education facilities available to the children of rich families and those of millions of poor families. If the government claims to be serious about enacting Right to Education Bill, their entire approach to education, particularly the basic and primary education must be radically changed. Incidentally it may be mentioned that in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha (dt. 19.11.2007) the HRD minister has said that various socio-economic factors such as poverty and lack of awareness contributed to the persistence of the illiteracy in the country.

Development vis-a-vis Employment Generation

Employment generation is reported to be one of the major reasons in favour of Development and Industrialisation. And of late the issue has also generated a lot of public debates in various states, particularly in West Bengal. In view of these public debates, one basic issue must be discussed, i.e. the nature of industry that is being developed. Unfortunately, the issue is avoided in most of the cases.

A recent Question - hour discussion in Rajya Sabha may be referred to highlight some facts in this respect. The government admitted that despite increase in annual growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the number of employment opportunities in the organised sector is decreasing.

The Minister further said that employment in the organised sector declined by 15.02 lakh in March 2005, as compared to March 2000. The decline in employment opportunities in the organised sector is partly due to more investment in capital intensive rather than labour intensive technology in the organised sector, outsourcing and right sizing of the public sector.

The Minister informed the House that based on Employment Market Information, the total number of employees in the organised sector was 279.60 lakh as on 31.3.2000 and 264.58 lakh as on 31.3.2005.

It is therefore admitted that the nature and type of industry is more important than the number of industry set up, at least so far the employment generation is concerned. We need more labour intensive industry than capital intensive industry. It is true in case of both public and private sectors. But when this choice of industry is entirely left to the individual industrialists, no appreciable benefits can be derived so far employment generation is concerned. Development of small scale and cottage industries, agro-based industries, food processing industries and others would also be more helpful for employment generation and growth of public economy.

UPA Govt. miserably fails to contain Price rise

In spite of series of Parliament debates and the govt.s' repeated assurances to take urgent measures to check continuous rise in prices of essential commodities, nothing tangible has so far been achieved and the price-rise continues unabated. Once Jawaharlal Nehru vowed to hang the blackmarketeers in public places to check price-rise. But there was no such public hanging at that time, nor even the present Congress regime takes any punitive measures against the dishonest traders and hoarders who are mostly responsible for artificial price rise. Futures trading in agri-products and other essential commodities are responsible for unusual upward market trends. After repeated demands for ban on futures trading by the left and other opposition parties, Union government has of late banned only four commodities, viz. wheat, rice, urad and arhar. But that has proved insufficient. Other essential commodities, including all food grains are needed to be banned for futures trading so that market prices are stabilised. Speculative marketing and hoarding must be ruthlessly stopped. But nothing is done due to pro-rich and pro-traders policy of the UPA government. Once the price of any commodity goes up, that never comes down even in favourable condition. Another spell of rise in petroleum prices will definitely aggravate the whole market price situation. Hence, we oppose any such price-rise of petroleum products, as there are various ways to avoid it. Constant publicising GDP growth rate will not help the poor, so long price-rise can not be contained.

National Commission's reports on unorganised sector need immediate government action

The importance of unorganised sector workers which comprise about 93 per cent of the country's total workforce has been repeatedly emphasised. But still they are mostly deprived and exploited group of workers without having minimum livelihood security and facilities. The Common Minimum Programme includes establishment of a National Commission to examine the problems facing enterprises in the unorganised informal sector. Accordingly, a National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) was duly formed under the chairmanship of Dr. Arjun Sengupta. Since May 2006, the Commission has so far submitted about 4 very important reports and documents, with many valid recommendations. But till now, no tangible steps have been taken by the government to address the problems of unorganised sector workers. We demand that necessary actions be taken immediately, with provisions in the forthcoming Union Budget and comprehensive legislation too.

The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector presented two reports to the Prime Minister on 5th November, 2007. The two reports are on the i) 'Financing of Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector' and on ii) 'Creation of a National Fund for the Unorganised Sector (NAFUS)'. The recommendation on the creation of a National Fund follows from the first report.

The submission of the above two reports follows the earlier two comprehensive reports submitted by the Commission to the Prime Minister on Social Security for Unorganised Workers in May 2006 and a comprehensive report along with two Draft Bills on Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in the Unorganised Sector in September, 2007.

Of the last two reports submitted to the Prime Minister, the first deals with financing of the enterprises in the non-farm unorganised sector. The second Report submitted to the Prime Minister deals in detail with the recommendation of creation of a National fund for the Unorganised Sector (NAFUS). This Report on NAFUS gives the rationale, organizational model, functions and sources of financing of the Fund. The mandate for the creation of this Fund derives from the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA Government.

The National Fund proposed by the Commission is envisaged as a statutory body funded by the Central Government and Financial Institutions that will primarily focus on non-farm micro enterprises with investment of less than Rs. five lakhs. The Commission's report reveals that this segment gets a mere 2 per cent of Gross Bank Credit from Scheduled commercial Banks, and virtually no support for marketing, technology, enterprise development although it constitutes 94 per cent of all small enterprises estimated at 58 million in 2007 with a total employment of 104 million. The Fund, as designed by the Commission, is expected to meet these gaps. This Fund will be created on the pattern of NABARD and is exclusively meant for meeting the financing and promotional assistance gaps in the development of the Non Farm Unorganised Sector. Being a statutory body it will leverage funds from the market and national and international institutions to meet its objectives.

The primary focus of the fund shall be primarily on enterprises with investment not exceeding Rs. five lakhs and overall target group will be limited to micro enterprises (with up to Rs. 25 lakh investment) in the non-farm sector. It may be mentioned that 98 per cent of all non-farm unorganised enterprises employ less than 10 workers.

The Commission feels that an exclusive Developmental Financial Institution is needed to take care of the integrated needs of the entire non-farm sector covering both financial and promotional requirements of the sector. The Commission's Report on Financing of the Unorganised Sector reveals some startling facts namely -----

• only about 4 percent of non-farm unorganised enterprises have access to institutional credit.

• Micro enterprises with investment less than Rs. 25 lakh receive only 4 per cent and with investment of less than Rs. five lakhs receive only about 2 per cent of gross bank credit from scheduled commercial banks (SCBs).

• The lowest segment of the unorganised sector viz. artisan and cottage industries received only 0.6 per cent of gross bank credit from SCBs.

The Report reveals that financing of unorganised enterprises is one of the lowest priorities.

The Commission has made comprehensive suggestions for aligning the functioning of the banks to the needs of the vulnerable sections of the country.

The other measures suggested are as follows :

• Interest rates be on parity with agriculture which pays 7 per cent on loans up to Rs. 3 lakhs. Currently micro units pay an interest rate 16 per cent for loans above Rs. 2 lakh while large enterprises in the organized sector pay only 6-7 per cent interest. The cost of credit makes the unorganised sector uncompetitive.

• The Commission has also recommended that viable State Finance Corporations and Cooperative Banks be also included as Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) under the Credit guarantee Scheme.

• Single Multi-purpose Swarojgar Credit Card be issued for unorganised sector enterprises, etc.

Sensex crash hits the government's growth projections

The recent Sensex crash exposes the vulnerability and risks involved in the Indian Stock Market. Both the recent boom and the sudden slump of Sensex must have serious lessons for the future investors, particularly the small and middleclass investors of our country who stand to be the worst sufferers in the whole rise and fall game. It can not be denied that these small investors, along with other domestic corporates and high-net-worth investors, were attracted towards the share market with the hope to share the benefits of the Sensex boom. But the government and our public financial heads must have the responsibility to caution the middleclass investors about the risks and vulnerability of the share market boom, as they are supposed to be aware of the reasons and nature of such boom. But they didn't care to take necessary steps in the matter, rather they have continuously encouraged people to invest in shares and even they have had long-term plans to divert the common people's hard-earned pension funds to share markets. And hence, the inevitable results follow.

We may recall how the whole country watched with unbelievable interests and shocking surprise the steadily rising Sensex and the sudden crash during the recent past. There was much-celebrated rise of the Sensex from 10,000 - level early in 2006 to more than 20,000-level in recent times. It is now accepted in all quarters that this boom was driven by foreign Institutional investment (FII) inflows. As such, it should have been known that if the boom was caused by a supply-side push of foreign capital into a developing country like ours, 'any development that cuts off or reduces supply is likely to stall and reverse the boom. And if the cut-off occurs all of a sudden, the reversal is bound to be sharp. This is what happened in the middle of January