Third All India Conference of All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) concluded on April 4, 2016 with call to launch struggle on the immediate issues of peasants including sharecroppers/tenanct peasants and agricultural labourers. The Conference was attended by 625 delegates representing over 3 lakh members spread over 11 states. Conference elected a new Central Executive members of 25 members with Com. Vemulapalli Venkataramaiah, renowned peasant leader from Telengana as President and Dr. Ashish Mital from UP as General Secretary. Conference passed a number of resolutions.
The Conference expressed grave concern at the deteriorating conditions of peasants, share-croppers and agricultural labourers and held Govt. policies responsible for the same. Share of agriculture in the Gross Domestic Product is falling while majority of people remain dependent on it. The terms of trade are adverse to the agriculture and the condition is further deteriorating. The cost of inputs is rising while agricultural produce is not being given remunerative price. Crop damage due to inadequate measures taken by the Govt. to address the natural causes like insufficient rains and floods and due to spurious seeds, fertilizers and pesticides supplied by the greedy companies which are being protected by the ruling politicians are leading to increase in suicides of peasants. Even suicides by agricultural labourers have been reported. Conference demanded that crop damage should be fully compensated by the Govt. Conference condemned the artificial limits set on compensation or eligibility and demanded that every crop damage due to any of the above causes should be compensated in totality.
Conference demanded that Govt. should give Rs. 10 lakhs to the family of every peasant who has been led to commit suicide. Further the Govt. should waive all loans to peasants including tenant peasants and agricultural workers. Conference demanded that institutional credit should be made available to all the peasants including sharecroppers and agricultural labourers so that they are not forced into the grip of private moneylenders which is one of the main causes of suicides.
Third All India Conference also demanded that share-croppers/tenant peasants should be immediately and fully recorded all over India so that they can get access to institutional credit, compensation due to crop damage and sale of produce to Govt. agencies. The Conference also noted with concern that Govt. has abandoned land reforms and called for intensification of the agitation for distribution of land to landless and poor peasants.
The conference noted the abysmal conditions of agricultural labour, their not getting enough employment, even not getting employment guaranteed under MGNREGS, not getting minimum wages and even payment under the Govt. scheme is delayed. The Conference demanded that full employment be provided to agricultural labourers. Conference also demanded immediate enactment of a comprehensive legislation guaranteeing the rights of agricultural labourers.
Condemning the repression launched by the Govt. on the struggles of peasants and agricultural labourers, the Conference noted that Govt. is adopting policies which are against the interest of peasants and are in the interest of corporate. The Conference also condemned the suppression of peasants to dispossess them from their land and means of livelihood. Conference hailed and supported the struggle of peasants against forcible displacement. The Conference condemned Operation Greenhunt launched in Central India and demanded that it be stopped. The Conference also condemned the repression on movements against power plant in Karchana and against Kanhar dam in Sonebhadra district and expressed solidarity with struggling people in these places and elsewhere.
All India Conference condemned that fascist drive by the communal forces led by RSS, who are ruling in the country for their attacks against the minorities, oppressed castes and other toiling sections. Conference condemned repression on the students in Hyderabad Central University, JNU and other premier educational institutions and expressed solidarity with forces struggling against them. The Conference resolved to intensify struggle against the fascist drive of Modi led Govt. and decided to cooperate with other forces in this struggle.
All India Conference called for a propaganda compaign over three months on the demands listed in the Call approved by the Conference and in the resolutions approved. Conference also decided to launch a countrywide struggle on these issues after that period.
Third All India conference concluded with great enthusiasm among the delegates. Conference ended with singing of Internaionale.
(Press release issued by V. Venkataramiah, President and Ashish Mital, General Secretary on April 5, 2016)
