𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝟭𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗞𝗠 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦’ 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗟𝗘
On December 24, 2021, a massive 15,000-strong statewide SKM rally was held at the state capital Agartala in Tripura. It celebrated the victory of the nationwide farmers’ struggle over the BJP central government, and also targeted the BJP state government on burning peasant demands. The three major organisations which mobilised in thousands for the rally were the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP) and All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU).
The huge rally with thousands of red flags and resounding slogans coursed through the streets of Agartala and culminated in a huge public meeting which began with beautifully sung songs in Hindi, Bengali and Kok Barak languages.
The enthusiastic public meeting was addressed by former chief minister of Tripura Manik Sarkar, AIKS president Dr Ashok Dhawale, GMP president Jitendra Choudhary and AIKS state general secretary Pabitra Kar. The presidium comprised AIKS state president Aghore Deb Barma and AIAWU state president Bhanulal Saha.
The speakers warmly congratulated the SKM constituents for this massive rally and strongly attacked the anti-people, pro-corporate, authoritarian and communal policies of the BJP governments at the centre and also in the state. They called for wider sustained struggles on people’s issues, and also for intensifying the resistance of the people to the repression and terror of the BJP-RSS state government and its hoodlums. They particularly attacked the BJP state government which has destroyed agriculture and has brought all development in Tripura to a standstill.
The 10-point Charter of Demands of this SKM rally was as follows:
1. Arrange adequate fertiliser and pesticides by the Tripura Government for the farmers at cheap rates immediately.
2. Intensify the SRI (System of Rice Intensification) method producing systems in Tripura and introduce the subsidy in this system.
3. Start the irrigation sources immediately. These have totally collapsed.
4. Start the cow breeding system immediately and use doorstep workers in this connection.
5. Restore the Nagichara Agriculture Research to life. The Scientific Agriculture Centres in 8 districts in Tripura must be actively formed with the help of ICAR.
6. MNREGA must be expanded and introduced for the purpose of agricultural cultivation in various areas from planting to harvesting paddy.
7. Recruit officers and essential employees in the Agriculture and Horticultural Department immediately.
8. 125 Constitutional Amendment Bill of Tripura Autonomous District Council must be passed in Parliament immediately. The Kok Barak language must be introduced in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
9. To save the jhum cultivation from wild animals disturbance, the Forest Department must take positive steps immediately and adequate compensation must be provided to Jhum Cultivators.
10. Adequate compensation must be provided to the farmers who suffered losses in the last untimely rains.
