Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Constitution, Structure and Mode of Operation of Jan Sangharsh Morcha
Constitution
1. This is a mass-political platform of the people struggling for democracy in its broadest possible sense. Members of this platform are drawn from different layers of society and diverse political trends
barring communal, anti- people and status-quoist parties. Any Party, organization or individual joining this platform shall be free to preserve one's identity and shall enjoy full autonomy whereas the
decisions of the platform shall be based upon consensus keeping in view the general principles of the platform.
2. Name of the platform will be Jan Sangharsh Morcha. This name shall be suitably translated into all other Indian languages.
3. Jan Sangharsh Morcha shall have its own rectangular flag of the ratio of 3:2 in length and width. The colour of flag shall be three vertical red, white and green strips.
4. The main policy making and organizational body of Jan Sangharsh Morcha shall be All India Front Committee which should reflect the entire extent and possibilities of the platform. Front Committee may not meet frequently, however at least one meeting shall be mandatory.
5. While the central tasks of the front shall be governed by the All India Front Committee, the day-to-day functioning will be looked after by an apex, relatively small, dynamic leading team invested with necessary powers. This will be named as 'Working Committee'. Office bearers will be appointed according to the need of organization.
6. Membership of the constituent groups shall be deemed as membership of the front while the front may also issue individual memberships.
7. The National Conference of Jan Sangharsh Morcha should be periodically held and prior to every conference, vigorous membership campaign should be undertaken.
8. Regional fronts and organizations may function as the regional units of Jan Sangharsh Morcha and may use the name of Jan Sangharsh Morcha along with their own name. At such places the Jan Sangharsh Morcha may opt not to work under its independent banner.
9. The structure of the front shall work as co-coordinating bodies at central, state and district levels too.
10. Area of work and Purpose- Jan Sangharsh Morcha shall raise its organizational structure at national, state and district levels which will function according to the democratic principles
and shall work in accordance with the goals and objectives defined in the 'manifesto' and other 'political documents 'adopted from time to time.
11. Structure
(a)The activist ranks of Jan Sangharsh Morcha shall be recruited from amongst the peasants, workers, employees, artisans, rural and urban middle classes, intellectuals, small and medium entrepreneurs, traders and patriots.
(b) Jan Sangharsh Morcha shall work to unify all such left; democratic organizations, forces and
individuals who are involved in liberation struggles for the country, nation and people/or struggles for the unity, democratization and prosperity of the Indian people/or struggles for democratic and civil rights, struggle against communalism, sectarianism, social oppression and religious fundamentalism. Jan Sangharsh Morcha shall join hands with all such forces, organizations and individuals for common goals or for some issue based programme or even form a temporary joint-front.
12. Mode of Operation-
In view of its philosophy, structure and formation, the Jan Sangharsh Morcha shall function in accordance with the consensus, taking decisions on the basis of discussions and deliberations. The constituents and members of Morcha shall have the right to independently interpret the line of the front and may even be allowed to experiment their own ideas provided it does not go against the political orientation of the platform and does not violate the established democratic norms and procedures.
Issued by,
Akhilendra Pratap Singh, National Convener
Jan Sangharsh Morcha
Office : A-20A,Shivangi Kunj,
E Block, Paschim Puri
New Delhi-63
Contact : ED-17, Diamond Dairy,Udaiganj
Lucknow
Phone: 09450153307
Resolutions and Decisions ofJan Sangharsh Morcha
Resolutions and Decisions adopted by National Campaign Committee(NCC) of Jan Sangharsh Morcha, other democratic organizations and individuals on August 23, 2010 at Gandhi peace Foundation, New Delhi)
1. Land Acquisition/Transfer and Displacement:
The Meeting noted that the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 and similar other laws in the States were fundamentally flawed in that they were founded in the doctrine of “eminent domain”; they defined “public purpose” loosely, thereby giving legitimacy to the questionable role of the government as facilitator and agent of private companies and businesses; they violated the constitutional and legal protection available to Adivasis and forest dwellers in respect of their land and habitat; they failed to make the consent of the Gram Sabha a necessary condition for any acquisition/transfer; they failed to recognize that the provision of a decent, alternative livelihood to all those whose livelihood is threatened by any acquisition/transfer of land must be a pre-condition for such transfer or acquisition.
The Meeting further noted that the proposed amendments to the Laws failed to remedy the basic flaws.
The Meeting resolved
• that the said laws, including the notorious SEZ Act, be repealed;
• that there be an immediate freeze on transfer of all agricultural, forest and mining land to the corporate sector;
• that any transfer of agricultural land to non-agriculturists, in general and to foreigners and NRIs, in particular be prohibited immediately;
• that any transfer of Adivasi land to non-Adivasis be prohibited forthwith; • that pending the formulation of a radical new policy in this regard with the ultimate objective of decommodifying land , only consensual acquisition/transfer of land for specifically stated social purpose be allowed with the consent of the concerned Gram Sabha and with prior provision of alternative and decent livelihood for all those being displaced and/or whose livelihood is threatened as a result of such acquisition /transfer.
The Meeting further resolved •
that a National Land Use Commission be set up to formulate a comprehensive, people-centric, ecology-friendly, region- specific and scientific land use policy which will promote food security, biological diversity and the well being and solidarity of all those whose livelihood depends on land.
2. Mining and Minerals:
The Meeting noted: That while all mining is hazardous, disturbs ecology, destroys biodiversity, devastates land and water resources and leaves them unusable in perpetuity besides causing large scale displacement and loss of livelihood, some mining is inescapable in an urban-industrial economy;
That the mineral wealth belongs to the people, the future generations included, and therefore, the ownership of the mineral resources must remain with the people and the exploitation of these resources must be under full social control;
That there is need to make mining activity environmentally and socially acceptable and contribute to social and economic development of the area;
That the rapid liberalization of the mining and mineral policy since 1993; the opening up of the mining sector to foreign and indigenous big capital; colossal profiteering and rampant corruption leading to the unbridled loot of the national mineral wealth , on the one hand, and ruthless devastation of habitat and loss of livelihood of poor people , particularly Adivasis subsisting on the mineral bearing lands and forests; -- all have resulted in unprecedented anger and alienation among the forest dwellers and Adivasis;
That the situation calls for an immediate and radical overhaul of policies, laws, regulatory institutions and enforcement mechanism relating to this sector, based on the recognition that the community consent and welfare must be embedded in the relevant policies and laws.
The Meeting further noted:
That the proposed mining and mineral development legislation namely, the Draft Mines and Minerals(Development and Regulation) Bill 2010, falls short of the requirement , particularly as it still adheres to the philosophy of providing level playing field to all actors and making policy environment attractive for big capital, indigenous as well as foreign.
The Meeting resolved
• that, pending formulation of a policy which is comprehensive, far-sighted, people -centric, environment- conserving , socially acceptable, in general, and Adivasi- friendly, in particular;
• an immediate moratorium be imposed on issuing of LOIs , licenses, permissions, or entering into contracts for mining and exploitation of the resources in the Adivasi areas and a review be conducted of all such permissions issued /contracts entered into during the last sixteen years since the announcement of the National Mineral Policy in 1993 which opened up 13 major minerals ( iron ore, manganese ore, chrome ore, sulphur, gold, diamond, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel and platinum);
• all export of minerals be prohibited immediately;
• mineral wealth and mining be restored to public ownership and social control, with full involvement and consent of those sections of society that are directly affected in the course of exploitation of the mineral resources.
3. Prices, Employment, PDS
The Meeting noted that the Indian economy is plagued with inflation that is assuming serious proportions in recent years. The cost of living index (industrial workers) increased by 8% during 2008-09 and by 15% in 2009-10 and the food prices mounted by 15% in October 2009, 18% in November 2009 and 20% in December 2009. And despite this alarming situation, the Government effected increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LP Gas and deregulated petrol prices. This has resulted in all-round increase in transport and fuel costs and added fuel to price escalation.
The Meeting further noted with deep concern the steep escalation of prices of food items. From July 2008 to July 2010 the prices of rice and wheat increased by 19%, tur dal – 58%, moong dal – 113%, sugar 73%, potato, onion – 32%; prices of vegetables, fish, meat and milk prices are also mounting. In the case of rice and wheat even though there are large stocks with the Government that are held incurring huge expenditure and wastage, the stocks are not made available to the needy, they being misclassified as APL. Introduction of targeted PDS (1997) in place of universal PDS has defeated the very aims of PDS viz. maintaining price stability and ensuring supply of cereals and sugar to all at affordable prices. Deepening agrarian crisis which is the cumulative result of a number of factors has contributed significantly to the rise in food prices.
The meeting further noted that while the food prices are escalating, the farmers are not getting adequately remunerative prices for their produce. The Agricultural Cost and Prices Commission has failed to ensure this. The Commission has no statutory status, its functioning is not transparent and scientific, its recommendations are not mandatory and the government announcement of support prices is made much after the sowing season.
The Meeting resolved
• that the coverage of the Essential Commodities Act be expanded, its penal provisions be strengthened and its strict enforcement be ensured.
• that the administrative price regime for all petroleum products be restored; Oil Pool Account be reopened and the prices of petroleum products be set keeping in view the paying capacity of different classes of consumers through the use of appropriate tax structure and cross -subsidization.
• that the application of NREGA be universalized ; the period of guaranteed employment be enhanced to 300 days in a year; and, a decent wage be assured to those who report for work under the scheme.; and
• that PDS be universalized; its coverage be expanded to include locally available cereals such as Jowar and Bajra and other essentials such as edible oil, pulses and kerosene;
• that the The Agricultural Cost And Prices Commission be given statutory status; its functioning be made transparent and scientific; its recommendations be made mandatory ;and, the support prices must be announced well before sowing.
4. Kashmir
The Meeting noted with deep concern that the lack of timely and sympathetic response by the Prime Minister has led to aggravation of the tragic situation in the Kashmir valley. The GOI chose not to recognize the ground reality of alienation and continued to pass on all blame to external forces.
The Meeting strongly condemned the killing of unarmed protesters in the Kashmir Valley by security forces. This has added to the alienation of the people and exposed the apathy and indifference of the National Conference-Congress government to the peoples’ plight.
This Meeting called upon the State and UPA governments to stop the violence and start immediate dialogue within a specific timeframe. The government to restore confidence and trust by:-* withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act;
• replacing CRPF with the State Police
• releasing the arrested youth;
• releasing the political prisoners;
• starting immediate talks with all sections in Jammu and Kashmir for a political solution; • punishment to those guilty of fake encounters;
• removal of bunkers from bastis which cause continuing annoyance and humiliation; • restoring democratic rights and freedom to the people of the valley.
• public mobilization by civil society against communalism;
5. Democratic Rights
The Meeting noted with deep concern unprecedented erosion of democratic rights and freedoms. The last few years have witnessed increasing resort to legislation circumscribing the basic democratic freedoms. Cases of abuse of such laws are increasing in every state. On top of that, we are witnessing larger numbers of “encounter killings” in the name of countering “terrorist threats” or “threats to internal security”. We have also seen the launching of warlike “operations” under different names by the State and Central Security Forces , the latest being “the operation green hunt ”.
•The Meeting further noted that pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies has its compelling logic. It creates increasing disparities and polarization. It leads to predatory capital accumulation. It brings about alienation and marginalization of the vast masses in economic and political spheres. It pushes the ruling elites more and more to resort to use of force in containing the unrest engendered by its policies. The increasing sections of the various institutions of the state and the polity intended to safeguard the democratic freedoms and facilitate the implementation of people- centric policies tend to come under the sway of the compelling logic of neo-liberalism. Worse still, through its omissions and commissions, the neo-liberal logic encourages chauvinistic, internecine conflicts in the polity, to divert the attention from the main issues and to provide legitimacy to its attack on democratic freedoms.
In this background, the Meeting demanded abrogation of all black laws passed by the State and Central governments in the recent years ostensibly in the name of preserving security and maintaining public order but in reality to crush the mass upsurge and peoples’ struggles against the injustice and exploitation unleashed by the neo-liberal policies that serve the interest of the big capital.
• The Meeting demanded that the “operation green hunt” be called off immediately.
• The Meeting also demanded the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
6. Social justice to Minorities, Adivasis-Vanvasis, and MBCs (moved by Jan Sangharsh Morcha)
The Meeting noted that the journey to social justice remains incomplete. As long as the minorities, Adivasis, MBCs and women do not get social justice , it can not be regarded as complete.
The meeting called upon the government to promptly implement the recommendations of the Rangnath Mishra Commission and provide separate reservation quota to the backward Muslims and include the dalit Muslims in the Scheduled Caste category.
The Meeting noted that the MBCs are deprived of social justice although two decades have elapsed since the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations. Even today the share of MBCs in government and administration is extremely low. One member of the Mandal Commission, Shri L R Naik was apprehensive that the MBCs would not get social justice if they were not allocated a separate quota. It is worth mentioning that precisely on this issue he resigned from the Commission. His worst apprehensions have come true. Supreme Court also opined in its verdict that the government may provide separate quota for the MBCs. to ensure social justice for them.
The Meeting called upon the government to constitute a National Commission for ensuring social justice to the MBCs within a stipulated time-frame and separating their quota from the OBC quota.
The meeting noted that in states like UP, the Adivasis have suffered a great injustice. Adivasi communities like Kol, Musahar(Vanvasi), Dhangar( Uraon), Dharikar, Koranva, etc. have not even been accorded the status of Scheduled Tribes. As a result, these communities dependent on the forests, are not able to get the benefit of Forest Rights Act which was enacted after a long struggle to ensure the ancient and traditional right of Adivasis on forest land. The democratic rights of the sixteen tribal communities like Gond, Kharvar, Chero, Panika, Bainga, Bhuiyan,Agaria who were accorded ST status in 2003, have been negated. They will no longer be able to contest elections on the seats reserved for SCs. Actually these seats were reserved for SCs because these communities were included in SC category till 2003. The Meeting, therefore, demanded that communities like Kol, Musahar(Vanvasi), Dhangar(Uraon),Dharikar, Koranva, etc. be included in ST category, and seats from the Panchayat upto the Parliament level be reserved for communities like Gond, Kharvar, Chero, Panika,Bainga, Bhuiyan, Agaria on the basis of a rapid survey. The meeting strongly disapproves of the government’s putting the women reservation bill again on the back burner. It demanded that the women reservation bill ensuring 33% seats for women in Parliament and State Assemblies be passed without any further delay and reservation for women in services also be guaranteed.
7.Widespread illegal mining in Bellary and other districts of Karnataka including in the Bellary reserve forest on both sides of the interstate border of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka by Mining Mafia led by Reddy Brothers (moved by Shri S.R.Hiremath, Rajakeeya Janandolan Karanataka)
The Meeting expressed deep concern about unprecedented loot of mineral wealth((iron ore, manganese) by the mining mafia led by Reddy Brothers of Bellary and demanded :
1. Immediate moratorium on new mining leases in Karnataka and adjoining area of Andhra Pradesh including ban on forest and environmental clearances on the pending applications by Ministry of External Affairs (MoEF), GOI.
2. Nationalisation of iron ore, manganese and other major minerals, that is to say, declaring null and void the notifications(CI 33 AND CI 16) DATED 15.03.2003 and subsequent such notifications which threw open mining by private parties on forest and other lands( 1300+ Sq Km)
3. Effective measures against illegal mining by strict enforcement of laws especially on the forest land and other common lands and restoration and protection of water sources already adversely affected and immediate halting of raising contract( which is illegal).
4. Taking strongest actions against those involved in illegal mining starting with Reddy Brothers and all other political party persons.
5. Stopping export of major minerals e.g. iron ore and protection thereof by careful domestic use through value addition and for future generations.
6. Taking strict measures to recover the ill gotten wealth by Reddy Brothers and all others and taking criminal actions where warranted.
8. Privatisation of PSUs, retrenchment of workers and social security for organized and unorganized workers ( moved by Khadan Mazdoor Union Allahabad)
The Meeting resolved to fight against privatization of public sector undertakings, disinvestment, downsizing and retrenchment of workers and decided to fight for a central legislation for social security of unorganized labour including agricultural labour.
The meeting demanded the regularization of Shikshamitra, Kisanmitra, panchaytmitra, ASHA heath workers and Anganwadi workers and helpers. Lakhs of workers of stone quarries and mines are currently excluded from the benefits of the policies and schemes of the Labour and Employment Ministry. The Meeting demanded that they should be given the benefit of the welfare schemes. Further, in order to protect weavers’ lives, special package of financial and other assistance should be granted and their outstanding loans be written off.
1. Land Acquisition/Transfer and Displacement:
The Meeting noted that the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 and similar other laws in the States were fundamentally flawed in that they were founded in the doctrine of “eminent domain”; they defined “public purpose” loosely, thereby giving legitimacy to the questionable role of the government as facilitator and agent of private companies and businesses; they violated the constitutional and legal protection available to Adivasis and forest dwellers in respect of their land and habitat; they failed to make the consent of the Gram Sabha a necessary condition for any acquisition/transfer; they failed to recognize that the provision of a decent, alternative livelihood to all those whose livelihood is threatened by any acquisition/transfer of land must be a pre-condition for such transfer or acquisition.
The Meeting further noted that the proposed amendments to the Laws failed to remedy the basic flaws.
The Meeting resolved
• that the said laws, including the notorious SEZ Act, be repealed;
• that there be an immediate freeze on transfer of all agricultural, forest and mining land to the corporate sector;
• that any transfer of agricultural land to non-agriculturists, in general and to foreigners and NRIs, in particular be prohibited immediately;
• that any transfer of Adivasi land to non-Adivasis be prohibited forthwith; • that pending the formulation of a radical new policy in this regard with the ultimate objective of decommodifying land , only consensual acquisition/transfer of land for specifically stated social purpose be allowed with the consent of the concerned Gram Sabha and with prior provision of alternative and decent livelihood for all those being displaced and/or whose livelihood is threatened as a result of such acquisition /transfer.
The Meeting further resolved •
that a National Land Use Commission be set up to formulate a comprehensive, people-centric, ecology-friendly, region- specific and scientific land use policy which will promote food security, biological diversity and the well being and solidarity of all those whose livelihood depends on land.
2. Mining and Minerals:
The Meeting noted: That while all mining is hazardous, disturbs ecology, destroys biodiversity, devastates land and water resources and leaves them unusable in perpetuity besides causing large scale displacement and loss of livelihood, some mining is inescapable in an urban-industrial economy;
That the mineral wealth belongs to the people, the future generations included, and therefore, the ownership of the mineral resources must remain with the people and the exploitation of these resources must be under full social control;
That there is need to make mining activity environmentally and socially acceptable and contribute to social and economic development of the area;
That the rapid liberalization of the mining and mineral policy since 1993; the opening up of the mining sector to foreign and indigenous big capital; colossal profiteering and rampant corruption leading to the unbridled loot of the national mineral wealth , on the one hand, and ruthless devastation of habitat and loss of livelihood of poor people , particularly Adivasis subsisting on the mineral bearing lands and forests; -- all have resulted in unprecedented anger and alienation among the forest dwellers and Adivasis;
That the situation calls for an immediate and radical overhaul of policies, laws, regulatory institutions and enforcement mechanism relating to this sector, based on the recognition that the community consent and welfare must be embedded in the relevant policies and laws.
The Meeting further noted:
That the proposed mining and mineral development legislation namely, the Draft Mines and Minerals(Development and Regulation) Bill 2010, falls short of the requirement , particularly as it still adheres to the philosophy of providing level playing field to all actors and making policy environment attractive for big capital, indigenous as well as foreign.
The Meeting resolved
• that, pending formulation of a policy which is comprehensive, far-sighted, people -centric, environment- conserving , socially acceptable, in general, and Adivasi- friendly, in particular;
• an immediate moratorium be imposed on issuing of LOIs , licenses, permissions, or entering into contracts for mining and exploitation of the resources in the Adivasi areas and a review be conducted of all such permissions issued /contracts entered into during the last sixteen years since the announcement of the National Mineral Policy in 1993 which opened up 13 major minerals ( iron ore, manganese ore, chrome ore, sulphur, gold, diamond, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel and platinum);
• all export of minerals be prohibited immediately;
• mineral wealth and mining be restored to public ownership and social control, with full involvement and consent of those sections of society that are directly affected in the course of exploitation of the mineral resources.
3. Prices, Employment, PDS
The Meeting noted that the Indian economy is plagued with inflation that is assuming serious proportions in recent years. The cost of living index (industrial workers) increased by 8% during 2008-09 and by 15% in 2009-10 and the food prices mounted by 15% in October 2009, 18% in November 2009 and 20% in December 2009. And despite this alarming situation, the Government effected increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LP Gas and deregulated petrol prices. This has resulted in all-round increase in transport and fuel costs and added fuel to price escalation.
The Meeting further noted with deep concern the steep escalation of prices of food items. From July 2008 to July 2010 the prices of rice and wheat increased by 19%, tur dal – 58%, moong dal – 113%, sugar 73%, potato, onion – 32%; prices of vegetables, fish, meat and milk prices are also mounting. In the case of rice and wheat even though there are large stocks with the Government that are held incurring huge expenditure and wastage, the stocks are not made available to the needy, they being misclassified as APL. Introduction of targeted PDS (1997) in place of universal PDS has defeated the very aims of PDS viz. maintaining price stability and ensuring supply of cereals and sugar to all at affordable prices. Deepening agrarian crisis which is the cumulative result of a number of factors has contributed significantly to the rise in food prices.
The meeting further noted that while the food prices are escalating, the farmers are not getting adequately remunerative prices for their produce. The Agricultural Cost and Prices Commission has failed to ensure this. The Commission has no statutory status, its functioning is not transparent and scientific, its recommendations are not mandatory and the government announcement of support prices is made much after the sowing season.
The Meeting resolved
• that the coverage of the Essential Commodities Act be expanded, its penal provisions be strengthened and its strict enforcement be ensured.
• that the administrative price regime for all petroleum products be restored; Oil Pool Account be reopened and the prices of petroleum products be set keeping in view the paying capacity of different classes of consumers through the use of appropriate tax structure and cross -subsidization.
• that the application of NREGA be universalized ; the period of guaranteed employment be enhanced to 300 days in a year; and, a decent wage be assured to those who report for work under the scheme.; and
• that PDS be universalized; its coverage be expanded to include locally available cereals such as Jowar and Bajra and other essentials such as edible oil, pulses and kerosene;
• that the The Agricultural Cost And Prices Commission be given statutory status; its functioning be made transparent and scientific; its recommendations be made mandatory ;and, the support prices must be announced well before sowing.
4. Kashmir
The Meeting noted with deep concern that the lack of timely and sympathetic response by the Prime Minister has led to aggravation of the tragic situation in the Kashmir valley. The GOI chose not to recognize the ground reality of alienation and continued to pass on all blame to external forces.
The Meeting strongly condemned the killing of unarmed protesters in the Kashmir Valley by security forces. This has added to the alienation of the people and exposed the apathy and indifference of the National Conference-Congress government to the peoples’ plight.
This Meeting called upon the State and UPA governments to stop the violence and start immediate dialogue within a specific timeframe. The government to restore confidence and trust by:-* withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act;
• replacing CRPF with the State Police
• releasing the arrested youth;
• releasing the political prisoners;
• starting immediate talks with all sections in Jammu and Kashmir for a political solution; • punishment to those guilty of fake encounters;
• removal of bunkers from bastis which cause continuing annoyance and humiliation; • restoring democratic rights and freedom to the people of the valley.
• public mobilization by civil society against communalism;
5. Democratic Rights
The Meeting noted with deep concern unprecedented erosion of democratic rights and freedoms. The last few years have witnessed increasing resort to legislation circumscribing the basic democratic freedoms. Cases of abuse of such laws are increasing in every state. On top of that, we are witnessing larger numbers of “encounter killings” in the name of countering “terrorist threats” or “threats to internal security”. We have also seen the launching of warlike “operations” under different names by the State and Central Security Forces , the latest being “the operation green hunt ”.
•The Meeting further noted that pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies has its compelling logic. It creates increasing disparities and polarization. It leads to predatory capital accumulation. It brings about alienation and marginalization of the vast masses in economic and political spheres. It pushes the ruling elites more and more to resort to use of force in containing the unrest engendered by its policies. The increasing sections of the various institutions of the state and the polity intended to safeguard the democratic freedoms and facilitate the implementation of people- centric policies tend to come under the sway of the compelling logic of neo-liberalism. Worse still, through its omissions and commissions, the neo-liberal logic encourages chauvinistic, internecine conflicts in the polity, to divert the attention from the main issues and to provide legitimacy to its attack on democratic freedoms.
In this background, the Meeting demanded abrogation of all black laws passed by the State and Central governments in the recent years ostensibly in the name of preserving security and maintaining public order but in reality to crush the mass upsurge and peoples’ struggles against the injustice and exploitation unleashed by the neo-liberal policies that serve the interest of the big capital.
• The Meeting demanded that the “operation green hunt” be called off immediately.
• The Meeting also demanded the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
6. Social justice to Minorities, Adivasis-Vanvasis, and MBCs (moved by Jan Sangharsh Morcha)
The Meeting noted that the journey to social justice remains incomplete. As long as the minorities, Adivasis, MBCs and women do not get social justice , it can not be regarded as complete.
The meeting called upon the government to promptly implement the recommendations of the Rangnath Mishra Commission and provide separate reservation quota to the backward Muslims and include the dalit Muslims in the Scheduled Caste category.
The Meeting noted that the MBCs are deprived of social justice although two decades have elapsed since the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations. Even today the share of MBCs in government and administration is extremely low. One member of the Mandal Commission, Shri L R Naik was apprehensive that the MBCs would not get social justice if they were not allocated a separate quota. It is worth mentioning that precisely on this issue he resigned from the Commission. His worst apprehensions have come true. Supreme Court also opined in its verdict that the government may provide separate quota for the MBCs. to ensure social justice for them.
The Meeting called upon the government to constitute a National Commission for ensuring social justice to the MBCs within a stipulated time-frame and separating their quota from the OBC quota.
The meeting noted that in states like UP, the Adivasis have suffered a great injustice. Adivasi communities like Kol, Musahar(Vanvasi), Dhangar( Uraon), Dharikar, Koranva, etc. have not even been accorded the status of Scheduled Tribes. As a result, these communities dependent on the forests, are not able to get the benefit of Forest Rights Act which was enacted after a long struggle to ensure the ancient and traditional right of Adivasis on forest land. The democratic rights of the sixteen tribal communities like Gond, Kharvar, Chero, Panika, Bainga, Bhuiyan,Agaria who were accorded ST status in 2003, have been negated. They will no longer be able to contest elections on the seats reserved for SCs. Actually these seats were reserved for SCs because these communities were included in SC category till 2003. The Meeting, therefore, demanded that communities like Kol, Musahar(Vanvasi), Dhangar(Uraon),Dharikar, Koranva, etc. be included in ST category, and seats from the Panchayat upto the Parliament level be reserved for communities like Gond, Kharvar, Chero, Panika,Bainga, Bhuiyan, Agaria on the basis of a rapid survey. The meeting strongly disapproves of the government’s putting the women reservation bill again on the back burner. It demanded that the women reservation bill ensuring 33% seats for women in Parliament and State Assemblies be passed without any further delay and reservation for women in services also be guaranteed.
7.Widespread illegal mining in Bellary and other districts of Karnataka including in the Bellary reserve forest on both sides of the interstate border of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka by Mining Mafia led by Reddy Brothers (moved by Shri S.R.Hiremath, Rajakeeya Janandolan Karanataka)
The Meeting expressed deep concern about unprecedented loot of mineral wealth((iron ore, manganese) by the mining mafia led by Reddy Brothers of Bellary and demanded :
1. Immediate moratorium on new mining leases in Karnataka and adjoining area of Andhra Pradesh including ban on forest and environmental clearances on the pending applications by Ministry of External Affairs (MoEF), GOI.
2. Nationalisation of iron ore, manganese and other major minerals, that is to say, declaring null and void the notifications(CI 33 AND CI 16) DATED 15.03.2003 and subsequent such notifications which threw open mining by private parties on forest and other lands( 1300+ Sq Km)
3. Effective measures against illegal mining by strict enforcement of laws especially on the forest land and other common lands and restoration and protection of water sources already adversely affected and immediate halting of raising contract( which is illegal).
4. Taking strongest actions against those involved in illegal mining starting with Reddy Brothers and all other political party persons.
5. Stopping export of major minerals e.g. iron ore and protection thereof by careful domestic use through value addition and for future generations.
6. Taking strict measures to recover the ill gotten wealth by Reddy Brothers and all others and taking criminal actions where warranted.
8. Privatisation of PSUs, retrenchment of workers and social security for organized and unorganized workers ( moved by Khadan Mazdoor Union Allahabad)
The Meeting resolved to fight against privatization of public sector undertakings, disinvestment, downsizing and retrenchment of workers and decided to fight for a central legislation for social security of unorganized labour including agricultural labour.
The meeting demanded the regularization of Shikshamitra, Kisanmitra, panchaytmitra, ASHA heath workers and Anganwadi workers and helpers. Lakhs of workers of stone quarries and mines are currently excluded from the benefits of the policies and schemes of the Labour and Employment Ministry. The Meeting demanded that they should be given the benefit of the welfare schemes. Further, in order to protect weavers’ lives, special package of financial and other assistance should be granted and their outstanding loans be written off.
Programme and Constitution of Jan Sangharsh Morcha
Jan Sangharsh Morcha
Programme and Constitution (For a political alternative based on the independent mobilization of the people, progressive, democratic and left forces formed Jan Sangharsh Morcha on July 20, 2008 in Lucknow.
It’s proposed Programme and Constitution is given here for deliberation.
Jan Sangharsh Morcha Programme and Constitution
Political platform of peoples politics, Jan Sangharsh Morcha, the need of political life of Indian people is dedicated to revolutionary democracy in India and committed for building secular, democratic, pluralist and modern India. It’s flag bearer of national sovereignty, unity, cultural and ethnic diversity, social justice and fundamental human rights. Its immediate task is to bring together on one platform all political tendencies, movements, organizations, groups and individuals who are opposed to corporate politics for a broader democratic movement to give impetus to the politics of change.
Need of Political Alternative
All sections of the people are unhappy with the present circumstances and want a radical change. From time to time, this urge for change is witnessed in mass movements Most of the mainstream parties are engaged in competition amongst themselves to form governments through manipulations and to implement the policies formulated by WB-IMF-WTO. Unbridled corruption, unprecedented price-rise and recession are product of the same neo-liberal policies. The neo-liberal agenda to combat the cycle of congenital crises of world capitalism in 80's was peddled as the only alternative by the Reagan-Thatcher regime for the rest of the world, reversing all welfarism, social security and hard earned sovereignty and independence of the erstwhile colonized world through a process of sustained decolonization. The rapacity and brutality of this ''New world Order" is unparalleled in history. It has militarized the world as never before. The military-industrial complex of the developed nations led by U.S. has demonstrated insatiable appetite for wars. The speculative-finance capital in search of natural and human resources has devastated most ancient of civilizations viz. Iraq. The fragility of the global system of finance capital has ominous repercussions on the national economies of poorer countries as never before. The continuing economic crisis and recession in US has wider adverse impact on the economies of these countries. Ignoring the basic needs of the people, land, water, seed, forest and minerals, are being commoditized rapidly and a barbaric path of capital accumulation is being pursued, with enormous adverse implications both for the people and the ecology. The neo-liberal policy-regime has posed a threat of even survival for the toiling masses whereas it has resulted in the relentless generation of huge profits for the corporate houses. The peasantry as a whole is suffering from rapidly rising cost of inputs ( thanks to the entry of the corporate sector in agricultural research and extension, greater role being played by privately owned sources of irrigation and withdrawal of subsidies on inputs); volatility of prices for the produce (on account of the withdrawal/ scaling down of public procurement and also because of growing integration of the domestic market with the international market) ; and the resultant increase in indebtedness( made worse by the lower priority assigned by profit- seeking banking industry to agricultural credit and consequent resort to usurious moneylenders). The small and marginal farmers and landless labour are the worst victims, having to cope with reduced food availability and chronic undernourishment. They are being forced to join the under- class in the slums around big and small cities in search of some means of survival. The land is passing out of the hands of rural households to others on a large scale. While the SEZ Act is an unvarnished onslaught under government auspices, the market forces have unleashed more devastating, if less transparent, assault, leading to speculative market in land in and around growing cities and around the sites of big infrastructure projects. The policies on land acquisition and liberal conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural uses have further strengthened the trend. The legions of petty producers and the so-called self –employed and the large mass of those engaged in the service sector have no employment, wage or social security. They are over-exploiting themselves in order to simply survive in the face of galloping inflation of the prices of basic necessities, vanishing public health and education infrastructure and growing pressure of competition from large, organized capital which is being encouraged to enter sectors such as retail trade, cottage, village and small industries and processing of agro-products and fishing. The liberal import regime in the name of promoting “free trade” has only worsened the unfair competition. The government machinery in collusion with the big corporate capital, foreign as well as indigenous, have systematically acquired, appropriated and grabbed land and forests for mining and other commercial uses. In the name of attracting investment and accelerating “growth”, the government policies have encouraged indiscriminate exploitation of mineral resources for exports. The laws intended to remedy the situation to some extent such as Panchayat Extension to Schedule Areas (PESA) and Forest Rights Act remains largely unimplemented. The neo-liberal reforms are resulting in all round attack on the democratic rights and freedoms of the common people. We have witnessed in the last few years increasing resort to legislation circumscribing the basic democratic freedoms. Cases of abuse of such laws are increasing in every state. On top of that, we are witnessing larger numbers of “encounter killings” in the name of countering “terrorist threats” or “threats to internal security. Even the ‘dissent’ by intellectuals on state policies is being dubbed as sedition, let alone the common people. The process of liberalisation has lead to encouragement of fascist tendencies in our body politic. Campaign against the minorities, relentless communalization of all aspects of life and all organs of state, national- chauvinism, aggressive regionalism, and tendencies like promoting retrogressive caste sentiments and even endorsing the fascist politics in the name of sharing in state power in place of annihilation of caste and establishing the democratic identity of individual, Khaap and Gotra autocracy and arrogance of the caste superiority furnish congenial environment for such fascistic tendency to take root and flourish. All this is further strengthened when, highlighting the corporate development of India, US is patting India as an economic power and a Great Power. The last two decades of the neoliberal reforms in economic sphere have also witnessed a concomitant rise of communalism. The ruling classes have abandoned the legacy of the four decades of an independent, non-aligned, South- friendly foreign policy and have openly come out in favour of a strategic alliance with the US-Israel combine. They have internalized the self- serving US-Israeli neoconservative logic and propaganda about the “clash of civilizations” and the “global war against terrorism”.. this also makes the Indian State witting or unwitting endorser of the ‘Islamophobia’ rooted in the neo-conservative vision of the US ruling classes and/or the ‘ political Islam’ of the US sponsored protégé regimes in West Asia. As we have noted earlier, this has dangerous implications for the secular politics of our polity. Apart from the avoidable grist it provides to the mill of militant fundamentalist and communal elements, it exacerbates the sense of alienation and insecurity in the minority community, on the one hand, and gives a fillip to the majoritarian communal fascist politics, on the other. A manifestation of this approach is to be seen in the suspicious and ham-handed way in which the youths of the minority community are treated in the wake of any terrorist attack. Even worse is its manifestation in the continued miss-handling of the legitimate political aspirations of the people of J&K, particularly the youth in the Kashmir valley, the repeated and large scale resort to the armed force and consequently, a severe erosion of democratic rights and fast diminution of political space in J&K. By far the worst manifestation is the tendency among some sections of the ruling classes to treat Kashmir as a mere strategic requirement of geo-politics or worse still, as a piece of real estate. The ruling classes have appropriated the ruling as well as opposition space in politics and they have launched offensive against the vision of modern democratic India nurtured during national liberation movement. In combating this, the efforts by the left movement are inadequate and the initiatives by ‘Civil Society’ lack clarity in political orientation and are victim of many inherent weaknesses. So, regenerating transformative politics and recreating, nourishing and expanding the political space is need of the hour. Jan Sangharsh Morcha is product of this political necessity. Jan Sangharsh Morcha uniting with other left-democratic movement is committed to carry forward the battle for democratization of Indian state and society. Defeating the corporate takeover of agriculture, resisting corporatization of land, water, seed, forest and minerals and moving towards socialization of these basic resources will constitute one of the two core elements of its radical agenda. The other core element will consist of uncompromising resistance to neo-imperialism in all its manifestations: strategic, economic, political and cultural.
Ideology, Objectives and Programme of Jan Sangharsh Morcha –
The Programme itself is the guiding ideology of Jan Sangharsh Morcha. Jan Sangharsh Morcha raises its voice against the neo-liberal offensive, for self-reliant, national economy, stands against anti- people laws for pro- people legislation ,fights for an accountable, transparent and clean polity and administration; fights against communal fascism in favour of democracy and secularism, for environmentally compatible pro-people development against development on colonial lines and environmental degradation, for liberation of women against male domination and patriarchy, for the protection of civil liberties against violation of human rights. Jan Sangharsh Morcha commits itself to the democratic sister/brotherhood and peaceful existence of the people against war-mongering and national chauvinism. Jan Sangharsh Morcha commits itself to inspiring patriotic and national feeling against colonial values and imperialist infiltration. Jan Sangharsh Morcha raises its voice against political, social, cultural oppression and commits itself to struggle for fulfillment of the aspirations of ethnic groups and linguistic, national, religious, cultural, sexual minorities and dalit rights.. The priority list of the Programme:
*Defeating the attack on democratic rights and freedoms and working for repeal of all special laws including the Armed Forces( Special Powers) Act which restrict the democratic space guaranteed under the Constitution and enable the State to abuse its monopoly of use of force.
*Defeating corporate takeover of agriculture; resisting corporatization of land, water and seed, forest and minerals; moving towards socialization of these basic resources.
*Defeating the corporate encroachment and appropriation of commons, particularly the forest and adivasi habitations and lands; protecting adivasi community rights and livelihoods; promoting community ownership and management of forest resources. * Defeating the policy regime that facilitates the Corporate loot of mineral resources and spells devastation of Adivasi’ life, livelihood and habitat. *Defeating the WTO/AoA paradigm on agriculture; striving for a peasant- centric alternative for South-South cooperation in agricultural production and trade. *Alternative development, policies which will not only repudiate the mainstream strategy of “globalizing growth” but also promote self-reliance; inter-personal, inter-class( in the sense of educationally and socially backward and advanced classes), and inter-regional equity; and conservation of environment. It will imply reorientation of direction and pattern of industrialization. It will mean a break from the present obsession with “globally competitive” industries and a shift in favour of employment –intensive and mass consumption oriented industries.
* Ending the process of rapid commodification of health, education and access to food and other articles of necessity; replacing the prevailing mercenary, discriminatory , unaffordable and limited- reach regimes and establishing comprehensive , egalitarian , affordable public system for provision of health ,education and food and other necessities.
* Providing legally guaranteed preferential opportunity in education and employment, in private as well as state sectors, for the socially disadvantaged classes and communities
*A national wages and incomes policy severely limiting the disparity across the sectors and classes.
*Strengthening the autonomy of the Indian financial system and protecting it from the fragility and rapacity of the global finance capital. Working for regional financial cooperation e.g. Regional Monetary Union/s.
* Decisive breaking away from the US strategic design and opposing US militarism, in particular, US-Israeli militarism in West Asia, and exposing and defeating US sponsored Islamophobia.
*A new energy policy consistent with the reorientation of the strategic, agrarian and industrial policies; selective strategic cooperation with the West Asian and Central Asian oil and gas rich countries ; closer cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
*Stuggle for thoroughgoing electoral reforms. For peoples control and supervision over the administrative machinery. Demand for a provision of representation on the basis of the proportion of votes polled by each party in the parliamentary system, apart from constituency-wise direct election of representatives to the legislature, in order to broaden the scope of democracy.
*Jan Sangharsh Morcha considers religion as a matter of private domain of an individual. It stands for complete separation of politics from religion. No to discrimination among citizens on grounds of religion.
*Jan Sangharsh Morcha firmly supports oppressed nationalities in their struggle for safeguarding their identity and for fullest autonomy within Indian Union.
Programme and Constitution (For a political alternative based on the independent mobilization of the people, progressive, democratic and left forces formed Jan Sangharsh Morcha on July 20, 2008 in Lucknow.
It’s proposed Programme and Constitution is given here for deliberation.
Jan Sangharsh Morcha Programme and Constitution
Political platform of peoples politics, Jan Sangharsh Morcha, the need of political life of Indian people is dedicated to revolutionary democracy in India and committed for building secular, democratic, pluralist and modern India. It’s flag bearer of national sovereignty, unity, cultural and ethnic diversity, social justice and fundamental human rights. Its immediate task is to bring together on one platform all political tendencies, movements, organizations, groups and individuals who are opposed to corporate politics for a broader democratic movement to give impetus to the politics of change.
Need of Political Alternative
All sections of the people are unhappy with the present circumstances and want a radical change. From time to time, this urge for change is witnessed in mass movements Most of the mainstream parties are engaged in competition amongst themselves to form governments through manipulations and to implement the policies formulated by WB-IMF-WTO. Unbridled corruption, unprecedented price-rise and recession are product of the same neo-liberal policies. The neo-liberal agenda to combat the cycle of congenital crises of world capitalism in 80's was peddled as the only alternative by the Reagan-Thatcher regime for the rest of the world, reversing all welfarism, social security and hard earned sovereignty and independence of the erstwhile colonized world through a process of sustained decolonization. The rapacity and brutality of this ''New world Order" is unparalleled in history. It has militarized the world as never before. The military-industrial complex of the developed nations led by U.S. has demonstrated insatiable appetite for wars. The speculative-finance capital in search of natural and human resources has devastated most ancient of civilizations viz. Iraq. The fragility of the global system of finance capital has ominous repercussions on the national economies of poorer countries as never before. The continuing economic crisis and recession in US has wider adverse impact on the economies of these countries. Ignoring the basic needs of the people, land, water, seed, forest and minerals, are being commoditized rapidly and a barbaric path of capital accumulation is being pursued, with enormous adverse implications both for the people and the ecology. The neo-liberal policy-regime has posed a threat of even survival for the toiling masses whereas it has resulted in the relentless generation of huge profits for the corporate houses. The peasantry as a whole is suffering from rapidly rising cost of inputs ( thanks to the entry of the corporate sector in agricultural research and extension, greater role being played by privately owned sources of irrigation and withdrawal of subsidies on inputs); volatility of prices for the produce (on account of the withdrawal/ scaling down of public procurement and also because of growing integration of the domestic market with the international market) ; and the resultant increase in indebtedness( made worse by the lower priority assigned by profit- seeking banking industry to agricultural credit and consequent resort to usurious moneylenders). The small and marginal farmers and landless labour are the worst victims, having to cope with reduced food availability and chronic undernourishment. They are being forced to join the under- class in the slums around big and small cities in search of some means of survival. The land is passing out of the hands of rural households to others on a large scale. While the SEZ Act is an unvarnished onslaught under government auspices, the market forces have unleashed more devastating, if less transparent, assault, leading to speculative market in land in and around growing cities and around the sites of big infrastructure projects. The policies on land acquisition and liberal conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural uses have further strengthened the trend. The legions of petty producers and the so-called self –employed and the large mass of those engaged in the service sector have no employment, wage or social security. They are over-exploiting themselves in order to simply survive in the face of galloping inflation of the prices of basic necessities, vanishing public health and education infrastructure and growing pressure of competition from large, organized capital which is being encouraged to enter sectors such as retail trade, cottage, village and small industries and processing of agro-products and fishing. The liberal import regime in the name of promoting “free trade” has only worsened the unfair competition. The government machinery in collusion with the big corporate capital, foreign as well as indigenous, have systematically acquired, appropriated and grabbed land and forests for mining and other commercial uses. In the name of attracting investment and accelerating “growth”, the government policies have encouraged indiscriminate exploitation of mineral resources for exports. The laws intended to remedy the situation to some extent such as Panchayat Extension to Schedule Areas (PESA) and Forest Rights Act remains largely unimplemented. The neo-liberal reforms are resulting in all round attack on the democratic rights and freedoms of the common people. We have witnessed in the last few years increasing resort to legislation circumscribing the basic democratic freedoms. Cases of abuse of such laws are increasing in every state. On top of that, we are witnessing larger numbers of “encounter killings” in the name of countering “terrorist threats” or “threats to internal security. Even the ‘dissent’ by intellectuals on state policies is being dubbed as sedition, let alone the common people. The process of liberalisation has lead to encouragement of fascist tendencies in our body politic. Campaign against the minorities, relentless communalization of all aspects of life and all organs of state, national- chauvinism, aggressive regionalism, and tendencies like promoting retrogressive caste sentiments and even endorsing the fascist politics in the name of sharing in state power in place of annihilation of caste and establishing the democratic identity of individual, Khaap and Gotra autocracy and arrogance of the caste superiority furnish congenial environment for such fascistic tendency to take root and flourish. All this is further strengthened when, highlighting the corporate development of India, US is patting India as an economic power and a Great Power. The last two decades of the neoliberal reforms in economic sphere have also witnessed a concomitant rise of communalism. The ruling classes have abandoned the legacy of the four decades of an independent, non-aligned, South- friendly foreign policy and have openly come out in favour of a strategic alliance with the US-Israel combine. They have internalized the self- serving US-Israeli neoconservative logic and propaganda about the “clash of civilizations” and the “global war against terrorism”.. this also makes the Indian State witting or unwitting endorser of the ‘Islamophobia’ rooted in the neo-conservative vision of the US ruling classes and/or the ‘ political Islam’ of the US sponsored protégé regimes in West Asia. As we have noted earlier, this has dangerous implications for the secular politics of our polity. Apart from the avoidable grist it provides to the mill of militant fundamentalist and communal elements, it exacerbates the sense of alienation and insecurity in the minority community, on the one hand, and gives a fillip to the majoritarian communal fascist politics, on the other. A manifestation of this approach is to be seen in the suspicious and ham-handed way in which the youths of the minority community are treated in the wake of any terrorist attack. Even worse is its manifestation in the continued miss-handling of the legitimate political aspirations of the people of J&K, particularly the youth in the Kashmir valley, the repeated and large scale resort to the armed force and consequently, a severe erosion of democratic rights and fast diminution of political space in J&K. By far the worst manifestation is the tendency among some sections of the ruling classes to treat Kashmir as a mere strategic requirement of geo-politics or worse still, as a piece of real estate. The ruling classes have appropriated the ruling as well as opposition space in politics and they have launched offensive against the vision of modern democratic India nurtured during national liberation movement. In combating this, the efforts by the left movement are inadequate and the initiatives by ‘Civil Society’ lack clarity in political orientation and are victim of many inherent weaknesses. So, regenerating transformative politics and recreating, nourishing and expanding the political space is need of the hour. Jan Sangharsh Morcha is product of this political necessity. Jan Sangharsh Morcha uniting with other left-democratic movement is committed to carry forward the battle for democratization of Indian state and society. Defeating the corporate takeover of agriculture, resisting corporatization of land, water, seed, forest and minerals and moving towards socialization of these basic resources will constitute one of the two core elements of its radical agenda. The other core element will consist of uncompromising resistance to neo-imperialism in all its manifestations: strategic, economic, political and cultural.
Ideology, Objectives and Programme of Jan Sangharsh Morcha –
The Programme itself is the guiding ideology of Jan Sangharsh Morcha. Jan Sangharsh Morcha raises its voice against the neo-liberal offensive, for self-reliant, national economy, stands against anti- people laws for pro- people legislation ,fights for an accountable, transparent and clean polity and administration; fights against communal fascism in favour of democracy and secularism, for environmentally compatible pro-people development against development on colonial lines and environmental degradation, for liberation of women against male domination and patriarchy, for the protection of civil liberties against violation of human rights. Jan Sangharsh Morcha commits itself to the democratic sister/brotherhood and peaceful existence of the people against war-mongering and national chauvinism. Jan Sangharsh Morcha commits itself to inspiring patriotic and national feeling against colonial values and imperialist infiltration. Jan Sangharsh Morcha raises its voice against political, social, cultural oppression and commits itself to struggle for fulfillment of the aspirations of ethnic groups and linguistic, national, religious, cultural, sexual minorities and dalit rights.. The priority list of the Programme:
*Defeating the attack on democratic rights and freedoms and working for repeal of all special laws including the Armed Forces( Special Powers) Act which restrict the democratic space guaranteed under the Constitution and enable the State to abuse its monopoly of use of force.
*Defeating corporate takeover of agriculture; resisting corporatization of land, water and seed, forest and minerals; moving towards socialization of these basic resources.
*Defeating the corporate encroachment and appropriation of commons, particularly the forest and adivasi habitations and lands; protecting adivasi community rights and livelihoods; promoting community ownership and management of forest resources. * Defeating the policy regime that facilitates the Corporate loot of mineral resources and spells devastation of Adivasi’ life, livelihood and habitat. *Defeating the WTO/AoA paradigm on agriculture; striving for a peasant- centric alternative for South-South cooperation in agricultural production and trade. *Alternative development, policies which will not only repudiate the mainstream strategy of “globalizing growth” but also promote self-reliance; inter-personal, inter-class( in the sense of educationally and socially backward and advanced classes), and inter-regional equity; and conservation of environment. It will imply reorientation of direction and pattern of industrialization. It will mean a break from the present obsession with “globally competitive” industries and a shift in favour of employment –intensive and mass consumption oriented industries.
* Ending the process of rapid commodification of health, education and access to food and other articles of necessity; replacing the prevailing mercenary, discriminatory , unaffordable and limited- reach regimes and establishing comprehensive , egalitarian , affordable public system for provision of health ,education and food and other necessities.
* Providing legally guaranteed preferential opportunity in education and employment, in private as well as state sectors, for the socially disadvantaged classes and communities
*A national wages and incomes policy severely limiting the disparity across the sectors and classes.
*Strengthening the autonomy of the Indian financial system and protecting it from the fragility and rapacity of the global finance capital. Working for regional financial cooperation e.g. Regional Monetary Union/s.
* Decisive breaking away from the US strategic design and opposing US militarism, in particular, US-Israeli militarism in West Asia, and exposing and defeating US sponsored Islamophobia.
*A new energy policy consistent with the reorientation of the strategic, agrarian and industrial policies; selective strategic cooperation with the West Asian and Central Asian oil and gas rich countries ; closer cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
*Stuggle for thoroughgoing electoral reforms. For peoples control and supervision over the administrative machinery. Demand for a provision of representation on the basis of the proportion of votes polled by each party in the parliamentary system, apart from constituency-wise direct election of representatives to the legislature, in order to broaden the scope of democracy.
*Jan Sangharsh Morcha considers religion as a matter of private domain of an individual. It stands for complete separation of politics from religion. No to discrimination among citizens on grounds of religion.
*Jan Sangharsh Morcha firmly supports oppressed nationalities in their struggle for safeguarding their identity and for fullest autonomy within Indian Union.
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