Movement on Civic Problems in Patna

Patna, 23 June:

There has been an old relation between Patna Municipal Corporation and uncleanness. Garbage and dusts on streets and lanes, heap of garbage here and there and filthy smells corroborate it. The recent report of WHO emphasizes it stating that Patna is the 6^th most polluted city in the word. It is has been the experience of suffering from water logging in every year in spite of tall claims of cleanness of garbage from the drains. Many streets and lanes immerse in water even light showers. Mosquitoes are spreading widely due to not using of mosquito killing sprays. This may led to diseases like malaria and dengue. As far the question of drinking water is concerned, the pipes used for supplying water are very old, broken and passes through the drains, carries dirty water. People are compelled to drink this unhygienic water. No one can negate the possibilities of diarrhea, dysentery and amoebiasis. Barring some VIP Roads, most of the streets and lanes lighted through the lights coming from open shops and windows of the houses. But after closing these private sources of lights most of the streets and lanes immersed in darkness.

In order to find out the solution of this hell-like situation SUCI (C) Patna district Committee decided to build up movement making the citizens conscious about their citizens’ right. A month long campaign was undertaken visiting went door to door in different localities. Party activists collected signatures of the citizens in favour of the charter of demands addressed to the Mayor, Patna Municipal Corporation. Signature campaign was also conducted at different public places.

On 23 June, 2016 a citizen demonstration was held before the office of the Mayor at Mauryalok demanding regular cleanness of streets and lanes, solving the problem of water logging, cleanness the garbage of the drains in proper way, spraying of bleaching powder in drains and dustbins, using of mosquito killing sprays through fogging machines, regular supply of pure drinking water, changing of old and broken pipes used for supplying water, arrangement of street lights in roads and lanes, covering of open manholes, arrangement of urinals at important crossings. Demonstrators were shouting thunderous slogans holding festoons in their hands.

A meeting was held there. Addressing the meeting Sadhana Mishra, Secretary, SUCI (C) Patna District Committee, said that it was the right of every citizen to live in a healthy and hygienic environment. Citizens are discharging their duties by paying taxes imposed on them by Municipal Corporation. But contrarily Municipal Corporation is shaking its responsibilities of proving its citizens the healthy, hygienic and cleanness environment. She criticized the PMC for working in PPP mode. The meeting was also addressed by M K Pathak, Suryakar Jitendra, Rajkumar Chaudhary, Awadhesh Kumar, Baidyanath Sharma and Anamika. Astonishingly, when demonstrators got no response from the office of the Mayor after demonstrating and holding meetings for a long time, they entered into the chamber of the Mayor. But Mayor was absent and no one was entrusted to meet and hear the delegation, though he was informed earlier. It evoked anguish among the demonstrating citizens and they decided to intensify the movement on civic problems.                     

                    

Meeting on 70th Anniversary of the Victory of Soviet Red Army over Fascism

Patna, May 11:

Under the auspices of SUCI (Communist) Patna District Committee a meeting was organized on Monday at IMA Hall on the occasion of 70^th anniversary of the victory of Soviet Red Army over fascist forces. Addressing the meeting Com. Arun Kumar Singh, Senior Member, SUCI (Communist) Bihar State Committee said when Adolf Hitler started the preparation of war by the help of German monopoly capital, the western imperialist countries – the USA, Great Britain and France- wanted to let Hitler attack on Soviet Union and destroy the first Socialist Country and working class state in the world by increasing his war strength. “On the question of opening 2^nd front on western border the US-British rulers showed the attitude of avoidance since beginning.  When fascist forces were unleashing reign of killing and destructing in large scale in USSR, Stalin requested times and again the rulers of US, France and Britain to attack Germany through France side. If they were executed the same, Hitler were compelled to transfer his army at western front dispatching it from eastern front and there would have decrease in the intensity of the attacks against USSR. But western imperialist rulers ignored it and therefore Soviet Union had to fight alone against Germany,” he added.

Arun Kumar Singh addressing

Dealing with the emergence of fascism in Germany Com. Swapan Chatterjee, Senior Member, SUCI (Communist) Uttar Pradesh State Organizing Committee said that World War II was imperialist war. “Emerging imperialist country Germany needed outside market. It needed colonies for exploitation. But the world market had already been divided among US-British-French and other European imperialists. Without waging war no changes had to be brought in it. Therefore Germany declared war to fulfill its aspirations,” he added. He said further that blindness, unscientific mentality and a mentality devoid of logic were being propagated in fascism which destroyed even all the human relations.

Swapan Chatterjee speaking

 Addressing the meeting Prof. Santosh Kumar, retired professor of NIT, Patna said that 80 per cent people of the world had been convinced that the defeat of fascist forces caused by US, British and France. But in reality it was the socialist Soviet Union who defeated the fascist forces. Stressing on the need to unite all the anti fascist forces, he said any stone thrown against fascism should be welcome.

Prof. Santosh Kumar addressing

Emphasizing on the need to inculcate the character of Great Stalin who freed the human civilization from the clutches of Fascism, Vikas Rahi, renowned mathematician said to unite all the left parties against fascist forces raising their ugly heads in our country too. Petty ideological difference should not be the hurdle in it.

Presiding over the meeting Com. Shiv Shankar, Secretary, SUCI (Communist) Bihar State Committee said that darkness prevailed not only in Russia and the countries of East Europe, but the whole world had been transferred into region of plunder. Today imperialist had imposed the war on the whole world. Hundreds of innocents were killing in war in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Africa- everywhere. “ Like the problems of bread, clothing and residence, the road to human emancipation from war also lies in socialism,” he added. The meeting was conducted by Com. Sadhana Mishra, Secretary, SUCI (Communist) Patna District Committee. It was ended with international. 

A portion of the view of gathering

Barack Obama Go Back

Patna, January 24:

The BJP led Central Government invited Mr. Barack Obama, the US President, to India as a chief guest on 26^th January Republic Day function. Keeping in mind the activities of USA as a chieftain of world imperialism, the peace loving and democratic minded people are considering this move of Mr. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of the country as disrespect and dishonor of the glorious anti imperialist tradition of our nation. The left parties like SUCI (Communist), CPI, CPI(M), CPI(M-L) Liberation, RSP and Forward Bloc raised the voice of protest against this heinous act being committed by BJP led Central Government and demanded to withdraw the invitation. All the six left parties decided nationwide protest on 24^th January in national capital along with state headquarters.

Massive demonstration in Patna

 In Bihar, state leaders of these parties decided to hold a joint protest demonstration and effigy burning of Mr. Barack Obama and Mr. Narendra Modi in state capital Patna as well as district headquarters. A massive joint procession was taken out in Patna from Shahid Bhagat Singh Chowk, which reached Dak Bungalow Roundabout traversing through JP Roundabout and Frazer Road. The procession was led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, CPI(M-L) Liberation and Kunal, State Secretary, CPI(M-L) Liberation; Shiv Shankar, State Secretary, SUCI (Communist) and Arun Kumar Singh, Senior Member, Bihar State Committee, SUCI (Communist); Rajendra Pd. Singh, State Secretary, CPI and Ram Naresh Pandey, Ex MLA; Sarvoday Sharma, Senior leader, CPI(M) and Wakil Thakur, State Secretary, All India Forward Bloc. 

Massive demonstration in Patna

The well prepared effigies of Mr. Barack Obama and Mr. Narendra Modi were burnt at Dak Bungalow Crossing halting the traffic for half an hour. A short meeting was organized which was addressed by leaders of left parties. Addressing the meeting the leaders said that inviting US President as a chief guest in the Republic Day Function, the BJP run Central Government showed its closeness to the US imperialism. The tie between USA and India is not between the common masses of USA and India, rather it is between the big capitalists and carporates of both the countries,” they said. “Actually, Indian monopolists and carporates after assuming imperialist character want to tie with US counterparts as a junior partner to loot and plunder the week countries of South Africa, Asia, Europe and elsewhere,“ said Arun Kumar Singh of SUCI(Communist). 

Effigy burning of Barack Obama and Narendra Modi in Patna

All the speakers criticized severely the Central Government for inviting Mr. Barack Obama as a chief guest in Republic Day Function in the interest of Indian carporate and monopolists. They termed US imperialism as war monger, the enemy of humanity and the killer of democracy. Similar protest demonstrations were taken out in district headquarters and effigies of Narendra Modi and Barack Obama were burnt.

Effigy burning of Barack Obama and Narendra Modi at Muzaffarpur

Actively participating in joint programs- whether of state level or of district level- the SUCI (Communist) organized weeklong protest programmes like street corner meeting, taking out processions, effigy burnings from 19^th to 26^th January. Effigy of Barack Obama was burnt again on 25^th and 26^th January in Patna and other places of the state.

Effigy burning of Barack Obama in Patna on 26th January morning

Left Parties Combine to fight against anti people policies

Patna, December15:

Soaring up of the prices of essential commodities, reaching out education and health services of the common men, retrenchment of the workers in mills and factories, deprivation of the farmers even of the cost of production of their crops- all these including many more problems are being faced by us. Moreover cultural and moral degradation is alarming. The incidents of rape, gang-rape and sexual assaults with women are growing rapidly. The attacks on minorities, especially religious minorities are on increase. Conspiracy is being hatched in order to indulge the toiling people into the fratricidal squabbles and riots destroying the common culture, common tradition and the essence of secularism.

Arun Kumar Singh addressing

Shiv Shankar addressing

In such a situation SUCI (Communist), CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, RSP and AIFB- the six major left parties came together and decided to launch a countrywide mass movement from 8-14^th December against the anti people policies of Mr. Narendra Modi led Central Government, sky rocketing price hike of essential commodities and the move of the central government to infiltrated the thoughts of ‘Hindutva’ in education. Responding the call the six left parties organized demonstrations, dharnas (sit-in demonstration) in different districts of the state. A massive dharna was organized in the state capital Patna on 15^th December, 2014 at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk, near Gandhi Maidan. 

A portion of the huge gathering

Arun Kumar Singh, Senior State Committee Member, SUCI (Communist) and Sadhana Mishra, State Committee Member cum Secretary of Patna District Committee, SUCI (Communist) addressed the huge gathering. The dharna was conducted by a presidium comprising of the leaders of six left parties. On behalf of presidium Shiv Shankar, State Secretary, SUCI (Communist) in his concluding speech urged the people and party comrades to intensify the mass movement against all sorts of oppression and exploitation.

Dharna at Muzaffarpur Collectariat

       

Mid Day Meal Workers come out on Streets

Patna, September 19:

The governments –whether Central or provincial- are paying less attention to education, especially primary education. It is manifesting through the attitude of governments towards mid-day-meal workers who are engaged in cooking food for students in primary and middle schools. In Bihar they are paid very law wages. They are not provided even minimum wage fixed by the government for an unskilled labour. This is such a province where a government is running in the name of good governance and now the Chief Minister Jitan Ram Majhi himself comes from dalit community. It may be mentioned that most of the mid-day-meal workers are from dalit and poor families. The mid-day-meal workers in Bihar get only Rs. 1000 per month, according to which per day wage is about 33 rupees. While per day minimum wage fixed by the government is Rs.188 for an unskilled labour. It is evident that the government itself trampling its own rules and in this respect the government may be termed as criminal. The tragedy is that they are paid only for 10 months, while they render their services for the whole year.  Not only this, they have to do many other works like sweeping, cleaning of drains, urinals and toilets with cooking. 

Along with the dark side of the story a ray of silver lining is also there. The wave of consciousness has grown among them and they formed their own organization, the instrument of struggle. They started organizing under they banner of Bihar Rajya Madhyanha Bhojan Karmi Sangh which is affiliated to central trade union the AIl India United Trade Union Centre. They resolved to lunch movement to press their various demands and planned to demonstrate before CM of Bihar. 

 On 19th September 2014 a huge procession decorated with flags and festoons was taken out from Gandhi Maidan. Thousands of mid day meal workers from different districts of the state participated in the procession. They were shouting thunderous slogs like provide mid day meal workers the status of government employees, provide minimum wage fixed by the government, make necessary the attendance register in schools for them, provide leave with wage, make free them from all the works except cooking food, stop disciplinary actions without asking show cause, stop cooking food by NGOs in urban areas. 

After reaching R- Block the huge procession was converted into a massive rally. Addressing  the huge gathering of mid day meal workers Pramod Kumar, President, Bihar Rajya Madhyanha Bhojan Karmi Sangh and Secretary, AIl India United Trade Union Centre, Bihar State Committee, “ In spite of all tall talks about growth and process both the governments- central and state- are implementing anti people and pro rich policies. The mid day meal workers have to intensify their struggle to achieve their demands. ” Among others Punit Ray, General Secretary, Bihar Rajya Madhyanha Bhojan Karmi Sangh, Dharmendra Kumar, Rampukar Vidyarthi, Umashankar Verma, Rupesh Kumar also addressed while Ashok Kumar Singh presided over the meeting. A seven member delegation submitted a memorandum to CM. In spite of heavy showers the participants were full of confidence of their unity and getting  resolved for higher form of struggle.