On February 20th the Zameen Prapt Sangarsh committee staged a day long dharna outside the Sangrur district magistrate office, pleading for genuine demands promised to the dalit agricultural labourers. It was a culmination of meticulous preparations in past weeks. Villagers were mobilised from Bhawnigarg, Sherpur, Lehra,Dibba, In previous days meetings were organized in a cluster of villages, in preparation.
Sukhwinder Khullar, Kalvir Bhamamdi, and Vari Manguwal adressed the rally. They summarized how the government displayed absolute apathy over implementing demands of any scheme to patronize the welfare of the propertied. Denying housing rights to agricultural workers seem to be it’s motto.. They described how 5 marlas was never actually distributed to dalit familes.Inspite of continuously giving memorandums, legitimate people are not getting membership of cooperatives. The Narega scheme provisions have been totally flouted. Sukhdeep Hathan and Kamaldeep were also present.
No panchyat land was still distributed, nor 5 marlas distributed.
The previous day in Jaitu a rally was staged outside the office of the Senior district magistrate. Protestors demanded release of leader Kashmir Singh Gugshore eradicate exploitation and harassment of women activists ,remove charges placed on women of village Ran Singh Walla and stop casteist abuse on women of the sarpanch of village Ran Singh Walla.Around 200 persons, mainly women, assembled.
Impressive rallies also took place in village Nabha, pressing for demands, on February 19th.
Inspite of displaying relentless spirit the condition of the dalit agricultural labourers looks grim with the resistance making no headway in being awarded 1/3rd panchayat land allotted or in undertaking land distribution at fair rates, with dummy auctioning a regular feature.
Only with fusion with the movement of the landed peasantry can real movement for land be built.
Harsh Thakor is a freelance journalist who has covered mass movements and frequently visited Punjab.
