1. Changes in Agrarian Relations:

Convenor: V.K.Ramachandran Members: Madan Ghosh, E.P.Jayarajan and Ashok Dhawale

1. Agricultural Cooperatives and Viability of Production

Convenor: Krishna Prasad Members: Pabitra Kar, Subba Rao, Kisan Gujar, Amiya Patra and Ramakumar

1. Issues of Globalisation and Corporatisation Relating to Agriculture

Convenor: Venkatesh Athreya Members: Aribandi Prasada Rao and Guruchetan Singh Bassi

1. Climate Change and Related Issues in Agriculture

Convenor: T.Jayaraman Members: Awadesh Kumar, Kuldip Tanwar, Khemraj Chhetri, R.Chandra and Saidul Haque

Com. K. Varadharajan presented the General Secretary’s Report. 41 delegates from all States took part in the discussion of the Report. After the General Secretary’s reply it was unanimously adopted.

This Conference of AIKS expresses condolences at the passing away of Com. Jyoti Basu, senior leader of CPI(M) and one of the tallest leaders of trade union and the Communist Movement in India who also served as the Chief Minister of the Left Front Government of West Bengal from 1977 to 2000. He was a member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau for nearly 45 years. It was under his Government that far-reaching Land Reforms were implemented and he championed many radical measures for transforming the lives of millions of toiling masses. The protection of share-croppers and the advancement of agriculture under the impact of the unleashing of productive forces after Land Reforms is something for which he shall be revered by the peasantry. The Left Front Government under his leadership provided a new direction by following up Land Reforms with decentralisation through Panchayats, guaranteeing trade union rights of workers, spread of education, thereby bringing about a radical departure in governance in our country. His life has been an inspiration for people across the country and in his passing away we have lost one of the greatest leaders who was loved and respected by all sections of society. AIKS dips its red banner in tribute to his memory and sends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The All India Kisan Sabha decides to actively participate in his birth centenary celebrations, which began on 8th of July 2013.

The All India Kisan Sabha expresses its deep sorrow at the death of a most exceptional, outstanding and dedicated leader of the Communist Movement in India and lifelong fighter for worker-peasant unity. A valiant freedom fighter, able parliamentarian and leader of the trade union movement, Samarda passed away at the age of 100 in Kolkata on 18th July 2013. He dedicated his entire life as a communist to the cause of the working class and to the exploited people of India. He was a member of the Central Committee of the CPI(M) from 1966 and was elected to the Polit Bureau in 1978 and continued in that capacity till he was elected as the Chairman of the Party’s Contral Commission at the 14th Congress of the Party in 1992. At the time of his death he was a Special Invitee to its Central Committee. Samar Mukherjee began his political activities as a young student and joined the freedom struggle. He was deeply inspired by Marxist ideology. He became a fulltime worker of the undivided CPI. It was under his leadership that the movement for the rights of refugees from the erstwhile East Bengal was built up in Bengal which played a significant role in expanding the influence of the Leftist Ideology. Com. Samar Mukherjee played an outstanding role as a leading Leftist parliamentarian. In 1957 he was elected as a MLA from the North Howrah constituency. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Howrah constituency for three consecutive terms from 1971 onwards. He was also elected to the Rajya Sabha for two terms. As the leader of the CPI(M) group in Parliament he most effectively raised the voice of the working people and their struggles. He won the admiration of leaders cutting across party lines because of his unambiguous commitment to the cause of the exploited masses. Com. Samar Mukherjee led the CITU as its General Secretary from 1983 to 1991. He had played a leading role in the historic railway workers’ strike in 1974. Following the emergency he fought against the attacks on workers. He made a multi-dimensional contribution as organiser, as writer, as trade unionist and as a Parliamentarian. He always worked for worker-peasant unity. He was affable, easily accessible and loved by the people. The AIKS dips its red banner in memory of Com. Samar Mukherjee and sends its heartfelt condolences to his relatives.

The All India Kisan Sabha expresses profound sorrow at the death of Comrade M.K. Pandhe, Member of Polit Bureau of CPI(M) and well known, widely respected Trade Union leader of the country. He was 86.

Immediately after his student life, Com. Pandhe started working very hard in the trade union movement, first in the AITUC and later in the CITU, with great dedication and became very popular among all sections of the working class and rose to become its trusted leader. He was the General Secretary of the CITU from 1990 to 1999 and was its President till 2010. He was instrumental in uniting the major Central Trade Unions on issues facing the working class and other toiling masses during the last more than three decades.

The All India Kisan Sabha fondly cherishes the memory of his constant efforts for worker-peasant unity among the working class, particularly in fight against neo-liberal policies in our country. The All India Kisan Sabha will always remember the simplicity of his life style, his accessibility, his close contact with rank and file. The All India Kisan Sabha dips its red banner and conveys deep condolences to Com. Pramila Pandhe and other family members.

This Conference of AIKS expresses deep sorrow at the passing away of Com. Ram Narayan Goswami, our former General Secretary. He came into contact with Kisan leaders like Hare Krishna Konar and Benoy Chowdhury and built up the Kisan Sabha among the agricultural workers and peasants in Bardhaman District and later in West Bengal. He rose to become the General Secretary of AIKS to which position he was elected twice. He was also President of West Bengal Kisan Sabha for two terms. He led many struggles of the agricultural workers and peasantry and suffered imprisonment during the Congress regime in West Bengal. He was also elected to the West Bengal State Assembly in 1977 and 1982. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha for three terms from West Bengal. He was also a former member of the Central Committee of the CPI(M). All India Kisan Sabha pays tribute to his memory.

The All India Kisan Sabha deeply mourns the passing away of Com. N.Varadharajan, the veteran leader of toiling masses of Tamilnadu, former Central Committee Member of CPI(M), who life-long worked for the strengthening of worker-peasant unity and fought against the exploitation of working class and other toiling masses.

The AIKS dips its red banner in memory of Com. N.Varadharajan and sends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members

The Conference of AIKS expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Com. Hugo Chavez Frias, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on 5th March 2013.

Chavez was elected four terms as President by the people of Venezuela. The Bolivarian revolutionary process which he initiated enabled Venezuela to take control of its destiny by asserting national sovereignty and control over all the vital resources of the country including oil and gas. Chavez played an important role in advancing struggles against U.S. led world imperialism. His death is a big blow to Venezuela and for the left and progressive forces in Latin America and the world. But his revolutionary heritage will be cherished by the human civilization forever. The All India Kisan Sabha pays its respectful homage and dips its red banner in honour of Com. Hugo Chavez.

The All India Kisan Sabha expresses heartfelt condolences at the sad demise of Com. Pappa Umanath, a founder of All India Democratic Women’s Association in Tamilnadu, well-known Communist veteran and a Central Committee member of CPI(M). She was involved in many struggles from early childhood, faced imprisonment and had to suffer underground life for considerable period. She was also engaged in trade union activities and was an organiser of the Southern Railway Employees Union in Tamil Nadu.

Pappa Umanath was a prominent leader of women’s movement and took leading part in organising people against killing of girl child, dowry system and casteist oppression. She was also elected to the Tamilnadu Vidhan Sabha. The AIKS dip its red banner in memory of Pappa Umanath.

The All India Kisan Sabha condoles the demise of Com.Baidyanath Mazumdar, veteran leader of toiling masses of Tripura, who passed away on June 07, 2011, after prolonged illness. A Former Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura, Former Secretary of Tripura State Committee of CPI(M) and former Central Committee member of the Party, he had a great role in organising working class, peasantry and other toiling masses and in forging unity between tribals and non-tribals for more than 60 years. The AIKS dips its red banner in memory of Com. Baidyanath Majumdar and sends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

The AIKS dips its red banner in memory of Com. Capt.Lakshmi Sehgal, who passed away on 23rd July 2012 at the age of 97. She was the first commander of the Rani Jhansi Regiment of the Indian National Army led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. She was a courageous freedom fighter, who also dedicated herself selflessly to the service to the poor as doctor till the day she suffered a heart attack. She was the only woman member of the Provisional Cabinet of Azad Hind Government. She was a founder member of All India Democratic Women’s Association of which she was the vice president and one of the patrons. Despite her advanced age she traveled widely to mobilise people against the communal forces and against all forms of exploitation. The All India Kisan Sabha expresses heartfelt condolences at the sad demise of Com. Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal and sends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Com.Pitabasan Das, veteran leader of the peasant movement and the Communist movement in West Bengal passed away on 14th July, 2012 at the age of 77. He was elected to the Central Kisan Committee in 2000 and again in 2006. He continued in the CKC till he retired on health grounds in 2010. Com. Pitabasan Das recognised the need and importance of crop-specific or section-specific organisations and he played a seminal role in organising the fish-workers, betel leaf growers, flower growers and peasants engaged in horticulture. He was the Secretary of West Bengal Fishermen’s Organisation from 1985 to 2007. He became the first Convenor of All India Fish and Fishery Workers’ Federation in 2001 and was elected its President at its first All India Conference in 2007. In his passing away the peasant movement and the broader democratic movement has lost an inspirational leader who endeared himself to all who came in touch with him during his long political career through his spartan life and affable character. The All India Kisan Sabha dips its banner in his memory.

The AIKS condoles the sudden demise of Com. Nizamuddin Khan, member of the CKC and President of Assam State Kisan Sabha. He passed away on May 14 due to cancer. Two times MLA, Com. Nizamuddin, was a senior leader of CPI(M) in Assam, and very popular with toiling masses and ground level cadres. The AIKS dips its red banner in memory of Com. Nizamuddin Khan and sends its heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.

The AIKS dips its red flag in honour of Com.Dipankar Mukherji veteran Trade Union leader and former CPI(M) Member of Parliament who passed away on 18th June, 2012. As a parliamentarian he played a significant role against the disinvestment of Public Sector Units and against different corruption scams. His role in exposing the huge corruption involved in the telecom sector, fertiliser sector, natural gas and petroleum sector will always be remembered. His untimely death is a graet loss for the Trade Union Movement and the larger democratic movement.

This All India Kisan Sabha expresses grief at the death of Com.Krishna Khopkar, former CKC member, freedom fighter, a veteran leader of the peasantry and working class of Maharashtra, who passed away on September 15, 2010. The AIKS dips its red flag in memory of Com. Krishna Khopkar and sends its heartfelt condolences to his wife family members.

This Conference of AIKS condoles the sudden passing away of Com. Ambal Ramamurti, Freedom Fighter and wife of Late Com. P. Ramamurti, who passed away on July 16 2013 at the age of 87. She actively participated in freedom struggle from a very young age. Then she was drawn to trade union movement and Marxist Ideology. She worked hard in underground days disguised as flower seller and vegetable vendor along with her sister and distributed hand written revolutionary pamphlets hidden in the basket she carried. The AIKS dips the red flag in memory of Com. Ambal Ramamurti and conveys heartfelt condolences to her family members.

The AIKS expresses its deep sorrow at the passing away of Com. Mohan Lal, a veteran trade union leader of Delhi and President of Delhi State Committee of CITU, who breathed his last on 27 January, 2013 at the age of 70.

The AIKS deeply condoles the passing away of Com.P.Govindapillai, prominent Marxist intellectual from Kerala, who gave immense contribution to popularise Marxism. He was admired for his critical sense of analysis and wide range of reading habit and authorship of many books. Com.PG as he was popularly called was a former MLA and Former Editor of Deshabhimani daily. He passed away on 22 November 2013. He was 86.

The AIKS expresses its deep sorrow on the passing away of Comrade Vasudev Singh, MLC, a veteran leader of Communist Movement and popular leader of school teacher’s movement of Bihar. He was former MLA and three times MLC and gave rich contributions to the progressive democratic movement. He was very honest, devoted and committed to the cause of working people, who won all round respect. He passed away on 29th April 2013.

The AIKS deeply condoles the death of Com. Nivedita Nag, veteran freedom fighter of undivided Bengal who breathed her last on 5th May 2013 at Kolkata. She spent a long period in underground during freedom movement and played an important role in strengthening left and communist movement. She had also participated in the Bangladesh Liberation Struggle.

The AIKS deeply condoles the death of Com. Jawahar Singh, a veteran kisan leader of Rajasthan and Vice President of State Kisan Sabha, who passed away on 7th November 2011, at the age of 90. He was the oldest delegate at our last Guntur Conference.

This Conference of AIKS condoles the sudden passing away of Com. Sant Lekha Singh, Chairman of the famous Ghadsana movement of Rajasthan. He was 78 years old. He died of heart attack, when he was participating in the public hearing with the District Magistrate of Shri Ganganagar district in his village on 27th October 2010.

The AIKS condoles the death of Com.Chandrabali Singh, founder General Secretary and later President of Janwadi Lekhak Sangh, who passed away on May 22,2011, Com. C. Bhaskaran founder President of SFI, who died on April 10, 2011, due to chronic illness at the age of 65, Com. Vinayak Gaikwad, Vice President of Maharashtra State Kisan Sabha, who passed away on June 22, 2011, due to heart attack at the age of 58 years and Shri. Maqbool Fida Hussain, eminent painter, who died on June 9, at the age of 96.

The AIKS deeply mourns the passing away of Com. Braj Mohan Jamatia, a veteran tribal peasant leader of Gana Mukti Parishad, former member of Tripura Legislative Assembly and one of the architect of tribal-non tribal unity in the State, who breathed his last on March 2 at the age of 106.

The AIKS deeply mourns the sudden demise of Com. Sukumar Barman, a veteran peasant leader and MLA of Tripura, who was the General Secretary of State S.C Coordination Committee, who life long fought for the up-liftment of Dalits and other downtrodden sections. He died on March 10 at the age of 60.The AIKS dips its red banner in memory of Com. Sukumar Barman and sends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

The AIKS mourns the passing away of Com. Kitty Menon, a veteran Journalist, who remained committed to revolutionary ideology of Marxism-Leninism, fought all through her life for the up-liftment of workers, peasants and other down-trodden. She breathed her last on May 28 at the age of 90.

The All India Kisan Sabha condoles the sudden demise of Com. Madhu Bag, former secretary of Murshidabad District Kisan Sabha, a veteran mass leader, who passed away on September 26, at the age of 84. The All India Kisan Sabha condoles the death of Com.Bhim Singh Rawat, Kisan leader and one of the main organisers of Rudraprayag District in Uttarakhand. The All India Kisan expresses its deep sorrow at the untimely demise of Com. W.R. Varadharajan, an All India Secretary of the CITU and former Central Committee Member of the CPI(M).

The All India Kisan Sabha condoles the death of thousands by the recent devastating floods and landslides in Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and earlier in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamilnadu, Bihar and other States and urges the Central and concerned State Governments to adequately compensate the losses suffered by the peasantry and other sections of people due to the these natural calamities.

This Conference of AIKS expresses heartfelt condolences to all the martyrs who laid down their lives fighting against Trinamul Congress and Maoist terror, landlords and ruling class goons. Several hundred activists of Kisan Sabha and other mass organisations have been killed by Maoists and Trinamul Congress goons in West Bengal alone.

The AIKS strongly protests the brutal killing of SFI leader Com.Sudipta Gupta, under police custody in Kolkata on 2nd April 2013. He was arrested while leading student demonstration demanding holding of Students Union elections in West Bengal.

Comrades have been killed in Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh by the landlords and Maoists. We dip our red banner in their memory. The Conference of AIKS expresses condolences to the families of victims of terrorist and separatist violence in different parts of the country. In the course of struggles in the recent period many comrades have passed away. We remember all their valuable contributions and shall take forward the struggle in the true spirit that they upheld. We dip our red banner in memory of all the AIKS comrades who passed away recently.

Dear Comrades,

The 33rd Conference of the All India Kisan Sabha is being held in Cuddalore after a period of nearly three and a half years since the 32nd Conference was held at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, in January 2010.

Our experience after the last conference in West Bengal has been one of intense struggles and resistance amidst extreme repression. We have been successful in bringing the unity of farmers. It was a serious task to defend our organisation during the attacks of TMC Government. Our movement carried on actively during the last 3 and half years despite such attacks.

Thousands of farmers were denied pattas during the regime of TMC and the peasants who were driven out of their land got back their land due to our struggles. The suicide of farmers, which was invisible during the Left Front Government, is a common phenomenon during the TMC regime. Attacks are being organised by the TMC and the Police men against us throughout the State. The repression of the nature of the semi-fascist terror in early 1970s is again being perpetrated against us. Thousands of activists were assaulted and many killed in different parts of the State. Police are acting as tools in the hands of the TMC Government. Now, we are again facing tremendous attack from TMC Goondas and police.

The TMC Government is quickly becoming unpopular and facing anger of different sections of society. The attacks on women are also increasing. People from all parts of the States are agitating against this. We are trying for the restoration of democracy in the State. The TMC Government is conspiring to destroy the democratic set up of the State. In the Panchayat elections the TMC using Government machinery and goons captured thousands of booths across the State resorting to undemocratic methods. We turned out to defend the voting rights of people. Thousands of new activists are fighting now throughout the State. We are trying to increase our membership. Poor peasants of the villages are standing strongly united and fighting under our banner.

Kerala delegation fully agrees with the contents and perceptions of the Report. Kerala Karshaka Sangham attended substantial growth during the last 3 years. 10 lakhs membership has increased during the period. We have 19,753 units, 1868 Village Committees 202 Area Committees and 14 District Committees.

Various struggles have been organised during the period after the last Conference. We fought a historic Land struggle during the period. We are facing Post Land Reform problems. The Congress-led UDF Government is trying to dilute the Land Reform Act. Land mafia is active in Kerala during the UDF regime. We entered lands during the land struggle. We pointed out the land to be taken by Government. 5653 huts were built on the land. At last the Government was forced to call for negotiations and they agreed with our demands and reached a settlement.

“Save Farmers, Save Kerala” was another struggle. We now have arranged a programme to increase production and productivity. We have taken up agitation on Madhav Gadgil Report. 6 States are going to be affected by the Report. We have passed a resolution on our stand on the Commission Report. Our demand is a new Commission should be appointed in which the representation of political parties and farmers organisations should be included. The entire problem should be properly discussed.

The quota for the Central Office is Rs.35 lakhs which we have handed over to the Centre. But only Rs.77 lakhs has been collected throughout the country. We have conducted two State level Conventions in which 300 comrades participated.

We have taken up the issue of credit. The NABARD has demanded that the Cooperatives Banks should not give agricultural loans. We are fighting against the policy of NABARD to deny loan to farmers. We are getting help from the Central leadership on all organisational matters.

We welcome and fully support all the points formulated in the Report. Land should be central point of all our struggles. 10,000 acres of lands were distributed to farmers because of our struggles. These lands which were intended for Dalits are being encroached there. We have taken the Neyyar dam water distribution issue. We won financial help for the farmers who lost a lot due to drought. On Rangarajan Committee Report AIKS Centre has not given a call for struggles. But we took up the issue. We took up the issue of the financial institutions refusing to give individual loans to farmers. Farmers, who leased their lands in Tamilnadu are facing a lot of problem. Tamilnadu Government is not ready to given help for the attack on agriculture by animals and we are regularly fighting against this policy.

We express our deepest solidarity with the struggling comrades of Bengal. We agree with the General Secretary’s Report. We have got 50 seats out of the total 60 in the last Assembly election. A record 92% of the electorate openly voted. Most of the rural seats have been won by Left forces. We have campaigned on all the national and local issues. The policies of the Left Front Government helped us to organise the farmers throughout the State. All possible support to the kisans is given by the Left Front Government. We have organisation in almost all parts of the State. Successful utilisation of land is helped with lot of Projects. Successful implementation of the Forest Rights Act in Tripura is remarkable. 30,000 applications were processed. Non tribal traditional forest dwellers cannot be given pattas now as per the present Act due to the three generation criterion for considering their claims. It should be changed. AIKS should take initiative to fulfill the demand.

Farmers’ suicide is increasing day by day. We took up a Movement for house-sites. A protest at the State Assembly with over 3000 peasants and agricultural workers was held after which the Revenue Minister issued a circular for distribution of house-sites to the homeless. On the issue of repeated droughts and floods we have demonstrated at different places seeking compensation. We have successfully intervened in resisting indiscriminate land acquisition for the Kuldiha Wild Life Sanctuary and a Thermal plant and saved thousands of families from displacement. Kisan Sabha intervened on the issue of rural credit and tried to ensure loans to the farmers by bank are granted.

We support the Report. The Government of Assam has decided to give pattas. We are feeling that the provision of Forest Rights Act should be amended. A lot of Assam people are migrating to other States. They are doing it due to the low level of income in the State as well as lack of proper employment opportunities. The North Eastern Frontier Region is having the influence of Identity Politics and it disintegrates the unity of mass organisation. A lot of people are evicted from their homeland. The Bodoland issue is major problem in Assam. Identity Politics is gaining strength in the region.

Organisation is very small in the Andaman and Nicobar islands with only 1781 membership. Cashew Growers are facing problems. Even if we are a small organisation we are fighting for the rights of the farmers. We are fighting for the democratic rights of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Gujarat delegation supports the General Secretary’s Report. In Gujarat there is no growth in Human Development as claimed. In 2008 Gujarat is the 13th in the big 17 States. Under the BJP Government price rise is increasing. Adivasis are suffering due to shortage of drinking water. Kisan Sabha is fighting against these issues including price rise. A programme was organised on the 75th Anniversary of Kisan Sabha in 2011. We are demanding remunerative MSP and public procurement of agricultural crops. Public meetings were organised throughout the State. District Conferences were organised in all Districts of the State. Programme to increase membership is planned in the last State Committee meeting. Save Peasants campaign was launched in the State.

We broadly agree with the General Secretary’s Report. The situation of farmers is worse in Andhra Pradesh due to the neoliberal economic policies. The demand for the State of Telangana is the major issue affecting 40 lakh farmers there. The State is not ready to identify the problem of tenant farmers. Even though there is the Tenant Protection Act it is not implemented.

We developed our organisation in 9 Coastal Districts during the last 3 years. 30,000 tenants rallied under our banner in protests. Demand for Identity Cards for tenants is gaining strength.

Payment of compensation, insurance benefit etc has been raised by us. Caste oppression and other issues are taken up. Due to natural calamities, when the agricultural product are lost we intervened. People on 42000 acres of land have to get pattas. We raised their problem.

We got enhancement in compensation in land acquisition for National Highway due to struggles. We agitated against the seed monopolies demanding the rights of seed farmers and proper prices. Irrigation is also a major issue in Andhra Pradesh. Timely completion of the irrigation projects is also an issue taken up by us.

We have worked on increasing the price of sugarcane. We conducted campaigns against the Rangarajan Committee Report. We express solidarity to the West Bengal comrades who have been bravely fighting reactionary elements and enemies of the peasantry.

We extend greetings to the West Bengal Comrades for their heroic struggle. People of Jharkhand are very poor and according to a recent Report more than 80 % of Jharkhand people are below poverty line. We are working and building Kisan Sabha in adverse situation. Maoist terror is there in Jharkhand. Land Mafia and other sections are snatching the land of peasants. There is 27% tribal population in Jharkhand. Pattas are not being provided to landless and poor peasants. 1,18,000 applications were given demanding pattas but very few pattas are given.

We have mobilised peasantry in various places on the land question and we were able to provide land to the peasantry which was occupied by feudal lords forcefully. We are taking up the issues of peasantry and tribals. Membership decreased in Jharkhand.

Report is a good document. We accept it. Central leadership is not effectively intervening in farmers’ problems. Nationwide agitations are not taken up by the central leadership. In Kerala we launched agitation under the banner of Kisan Sabha on all issues of farmers. NGOs are taking up the Kisan issues in many places. We should intervene on these issues more effectively.

Central Government decided to withdraw from the price fixation of fertilisers and decontrolled. But our central leadership failed to intervene effectively.

Agrarian condition is worsening but we are not giving adequate attention to that. We want to know our role in Noida and such other places. Lands are taken away for multinationals in different States. What is done by our leadership? Participation of women is not adequate.

Land reform is also important. In Kerala only 6 or 7 % are landless. But we are addressing such issues.

National Water Policy is declared for benefiting multinational corporations. We have to find out the ways of building broad-based protest.

National resources are being looted by multinationals. In the case of fertilisers also we are not at doing anything. We want agitations all over India on land problems and water problems and other such demands.

We support the Report. Many comrades have laid down their lives in the last two years in West Bengal. In the last Assembly election TMC came to power. TMC is continuing their attacks on CPI(M) and AIKS. 450 comrades were killed from 2002 to 2012 in Bengal. 112 comrades were killed from 2012 till date.

Over 11 lakhs acres of land was distributed during the period of Left Front Government. A lot of people have got pattas during that time. After the TMC has come to power 1.5 lakh people have been evicted from their land despite having pattas. Land was given to tribal people during Left Front rule. Allocation of funds for SC and ST is reduced to a great extent. Prevention of atrocities against SC and ST is not being practiced in Bengal. Pensions are not being given regularly. The present Government is following anti-farmer, anti–people and pro-landlord policies. We are fighting against these policies. More than 97 farmers committed suicides in the State which was unheard of during the Left Front rule.

The anti-people policies of the Central Government is being fought out and resisted through consistent struggles. Successful land reform, Panchayat Raj system and other measures are taken by the Left Front Government. Distribution of land has also taken place and is an ongoing process to remove landlessness. Government of Tripura is following progressive measures. State is giving importance to supply of drinking water. Central Government has not the least concern for Tripura. PDS is given proper importance in the State by the Left Front Government. At the outset we appreciate the measures taken by the CKC. The Centre should give more importance to weaker States. CITU is successfully mobilising sister organisations and have built a broad unity of all Central Trade Unions. But this has not been possible in agrarian sector. More importance should be given on this.

Land concentration scenario is worsening. Land is concentrated in hands of few. 16% of the farmers possess less than 1 acre of land. Land is concentrating in the hands of few. In 1990 82.6% getting loan from Institutional sources came down in 2010 to 42%. Small farmers are getting less credit and rich farmers are getting more loans. Farmers’ suicides are resulting due to the problem of money-lenders charging high interest rates.

A nationwide agitation to stop the farmers’ suicide should be called by our Central Committee.

We support the Report placed by General Secretary. In Assam various programmes were organised on peasants’ issues. Thousands and thousands of bighas of land which are in possession of farmers are not getting pattas. We organised Dharna and Protest on this and various issues of peasantry.

Anti people policies of the Government is affecting the basic livelihood of the peasant. Various separatist forces are also active in Assam. In Assam the democratic movement is shrinking day by day. We are trying our level best to organise the poor masses of Assam despite different threats and hurdles. State Centre is functional but District and Taluka Committees are not functioning well. In the recent Conference we decided to strengthen our State Centre.

Kerala delegation supports the General Secretary’s Report and suggestions are welcomed. The pathetic condition of farmers is described in the Report. Adequate participation of women should be guaranteed. In Kerala women have been given active position in different levels of our organisation. Women’s sub-committees are formed in different stages in Kerala. We have even brought a change in the Constitution of the organisation to accommodate women.

Most of the women in the milk sector are unorganised. NREGA sector and organising of workers needs more attention. Nationwide demand should be raised on their demands. Input price is increasing day by day. A nationwide agitation should be called to fight the pitiful condition of Indian farmers.

We extend our solidarity to the West Bengal comrades. Himachal Pradesh is a very small State. 70% of the farmers indulge in fruit and horticulture. There are policy issues in which our position should be cleared well. It should be translated in local level and struggles should be built. No compensation to the marginal farmers is given in H.P. In the State 66% area is forest area. National level Convention should be held on certain issues. Some intervention has started from the Centre. But it is not enough. It should be developed further. Import duties are sought to be reduced or removed under the WTO and Free Trade Agreements. It would worsen the situation in our State. Membership should be done along with the struggle. Our focus should be on movements and not on membership.

West Bengal delegates support the Report placed by the General Secretary. Mamata gave the slogan of Maa, Maati & Manush but Mamata-led TMC regime is working against Maa, Maati & Manush. Attacks on democratic rights of people are continuing. Government is trying to weaken the Panchayat Raj System. Present CM is not ready to listen or tolerate any type of criticism. Various schemes are not being implemented. Corruption is rampant everywhere. Attacks against women have increased. Suicides by farmers are increasing. Women’s participation in organisation is also decreasing as rapes and cases of sexual abuse by TMC goons against women are increasing in the State. TMC Government failed to protect the women from such attacks.

We have identified our weakness at District level and have planned to overcome them. Various programmes and activities were organised on peasants’ issues. We have planned to gear up the organisation at every level. State level classes were organised and classes were organised at lower level also. Various booklets have also been published. Many agitational programmes were held throughout the State.

Punjab delegation agrees and supports the Report placed by General Secretary. Question of land is most important and in Punjab we are raising land related issues. We succeeded in PEPSU area and we achieved some demands.

We have formed a “Sangharsh Samiti” to protect and fight for the rights of peasantry. A case under section 307 IPC was registered against our activists in the course of our struggles.

Water level is going down continuously. Government is trying to impose the responsibility upon the peasantry.

Water is getting polluted day by day and we have to raise the issue very seriously. Agriculture is going in deficit day by day. 3 lakh farmers committed suicide in the country. We failed to mobilise the peasantry on suicide cases. We in Punjab gave slogan that no suicide- but fight against the policies.

Minimum Support Price of all crops should be increased and we should raise this issue at all levels. Sugar has been decontrolled by the Government. We should fight against decontrol of sugar and diesel. 500 bighas of land in the border area has been occupied by the Government but no compensation has been paid to the farmers. We will raise this issue and a delegation in this regard will meet with the Central Government.

Tamilnadu Committee has made excellent arrangements for the AIKS Conference which is commendable. Karnataka delegates express solidarity with West Bengal comrades who have been putting up a brave fight against extreme repression. Ruling classes are trying to implement the neo-liberal policies which are anti-farmer. There was corruption everywhere in Karnataka during BJP Regime. Land was provided to various companies and the land mafia at pittance. Ruling classes and local bourgeoisie alone benefited from these policies.

Ruling classes are attacking farmers in various forms. Though our intervention is increasing but our delegation feels that CKC must give more emphasis on fighting these policies and uniting farmers under our banner for a consistent struggle. Karnataka Kisan Sabha is organising and mobilising peasants on various issues.

We took up various issues affecting the peasantry like forceful land acquisition, remunerative prices for produce, silk farmers’ problems and others and mobilised farmers in struggles. Jathas were organised in different parts of the State. Numerous cases were registered against our activists during these struggles. Our membership has also increased.

Rajasthan supports the Report placed by General Secretary. Last conference took the decision to organise a workshop of Hindi States but why we failed to organise?

Kisan Sabha Bulletin in Hindi is not published regularly. We cannot progress forward if Centre does not give emphasis on Hindi Belt. Meetings have to be held regularly. 3 lakh peasants committed suicide. Why we could not launch militant agitation on this issue?

Rajasthan Kisan Sabha made intervention on the issue of electricity charges and we mobilised peasants and forced the Government to return the changed rent to the farmers.

If we want to progress forward the All India Centre should make special efforts. On MNREGA we had only organised a Convention at Delhi. We did not mobilise peasants on MNREGA issue.

Maharashtra supports the Report placed by General Secretary. In 2011 very big struggles were held in Maharashtra for the implementation of Forest Rights Act. Very few applications were admitted by the Government. 1 lakh peasants blocked the road in different Districts. In Thane the Delhi Mumbai National Highway was blocked. State Highway was blocked for four days. Government reached certain agreements. But they did not implement them. Again the movement started. Government was forced to call a negotiation and decided to implement Forest Right Act. Certain other issues were also taken up. In coming days these struggles will be intensified.

At the very outset, I would like to support the Draft-Report placed by our General Secretary. Manipur is under the repressive Armed Forces Special Powers Act under which common people and peasants particularly the womenfolk suffer a lot. After 6 decades of Indian Independence Indian Railway does not touch Manipur. Manipur is fully dependent on two national Highways which the conditions of roads are extremely bad. Frequent economic blockade on these highways increased the problems for the people of the State and prices skyrocketed 100 times more than the other parts of the country. Manipur is depending most of food items from outside of the State. While such situation prevails the farmers or the peasants are having less interest on cultivation as the production cost is very high. State Kisan Sabha demanded the State Government to initiate steps and policies to lower down the cost of cultivation. We also demanded for immediate completion of decades long pending Central Sponsored irrigation Projects like Dolaithabi, Khuga, Thoubal Dam and Loktak downstream.

The NHPC owned Loktak Hydro Multipurpose project affected around 100 hectares of cultivable agricultural land. The victim peasants do not get any form of compensation. For this specific purpose a North East Convention could be organised. Politics of identity exploited the social fabric; the unity and social harmony ethnic conflicts and discord are common and regular phenomenon. Armed insurgent groups representing each ethnic group are fuelling the situation more. Corruption is very high in this region. The crime and atrocities against women are also becoming high. Once again I draw the attention of our leadership to make deeper study of the region.

The solidarity extended to Bengal will strengthen our resolve and we will carry forward the struggle more intensely. We are facing a situation similar to the 1970s semi-fascist regime and the condition during the emergency. We can survive and overcome the condition. Muslim minority is facing a special problem throughout the country. Question of Identity, Security and Equality is faced by the Muslim. The minority is facing the same position in the development issue as was seen in Sachhar Committee Report. The Left Front Government in West Bengal from 1977 onwards had given a special attention to this section. More than 80% got land in West Bengal. The Left Front Government a offered a lot of schemes for the minority community, opened lot of schools for them and Mishra Commission was implemented in Bengal becoming the first State implementing the recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Committee. The TMC Government is subverting these gains. Mamata Banerjee is in-charge of the Minority Affairs Ministry. Only 40% of the allocation is expended in this account. But she is declaring a lot of institutions for Muslim minorities. But no moves are taken to implement them.

At this juncture we are trying to rally the people on class grounds. The result of Murshidabad elections reflect the change that is going on there. The Kisan Sabha in West Bengal tried to unite the Anganwadi workers. We have to organise the class movement. Minority Question is not a religious demand. It is a secular demand that has to be implemented in a secular nation.

Madhya Pradesh delegates support the draft Report. In our State BJP is in power. This Government is providing land to big companies and evicting peasants especially the tribal people. Kisan Sabha mobilised people and launched struggles against indiscriminate land acquisition and for proper compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement. Many protests were organised and due to these struggles we have forced the Government to accept some of the demands. Many cases are registered against our activists. Membership in M.P. has increased and it is double now.

Maharashtra delegation supports the draft Report. In Maharashtra we increased our membership this year. Fluctuation is there in membership. We have targeted to achieve a membership of 3 lakh by next year. 2012-13 membership is not mentioned in the draft Report. Maharashtra Kisan Sabha deposited more than Rs. 2.01 lakhs for the Central Office construction fund. Conferences have been held at various levels. We have work of Kisan Sabha in 33 Districts. 1000 Villages Conferences were held before the State Conference.

Bihar delegation salutes the brave comrades of West Bengal. Land issue is the Central Question even today in Bihar. We have organised struggles against eviction drive. We have planned a big mass movement on land issues. 19 lakh landless families are there in Bihar. If land distribution is made these families can get at least one acre of land each. But all landlord-bourgeoisie parties and forces got together inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha and opposed the D.Bandhopadhyay Commission’s proposal to distribute land among the landless families.

We have organised Convention of sugarcane producers and other specific crop-based producers. We raised various issues at all levels and local struggles were fought. We could not raise many current issues. We have planned in the State Committee to raise all issues of peasantry and launch struggles. We appeal to the CKC to carry forward all India struggles and “Gherao Delhi” call should be given.

Punjab delegation supports the General Secretary’s Report. In our State we are demanding proper marketing system for purchasing our crops. We are not getting fair MSP for wheat and paddy. We are trying to streamline our organisation. Our membership has gone down drastically. We are making efforts to rectify this situation. The situation in Agricultural sector of Punjab is becoming serious. The Akali-BJP State Government is encouraging corporatisation of agriculture and they are also honouring terrorists like Bhindranwala. Both State and the Central Government are encouraging divisive forces.

Due to the impact of neo-liberal policies, farmers are forced to commit suicide. In recent years Vidarbha region has become number one in farmers’ suicides. Price of cotton has crashed internationally, affecting our farmers, who are the main cotton growers in Vidarbha. Farmers have to purchase all the agricultural inputs, seeds etc. from market on credit mostly through moneylenders. When the prices crash and they are not able to repay the loan, they commit suicide. The drought situation in Maharashtra is creating famine like condition. But the State Government is doing nothing. We are organising agitations against neoliberal policies and against the anti-farmer State Government.

Kisan Sabha unit in Rajasthan has been taking initiative to take up the issues of farmers. We took the issue of water and power. Big movements were organised and that strong and widespread movement helped us to send three MLAs to the State Assembly. We intervened and forced the Government to purchase onions, when there was price crash. We got a number of new cadres in these movements. Tribals are being evicted at some places. We are organising them to resist. Due to our agitations the farmers of Churu got Rs.2 crores 80 lakh as compensation from Insurance companies for crop losses due to natural calamity like cold wave and frost.

There is weak organisation in Chhattishgarh with very small membership. But peasantry and poor people are facing so many problems. So, the AIKS Centre should give more attention to the State. Suicides are going on in Chhattishgarh also. BJP State Government is encouraging MNCs and PPP model in Agriculture. Congress is also helping these neo-liberal acts. Farmers’ land is being indiscriminately acquired on a large scale & real estate builders are encouraged. Small farmers are becoming agricultural workers and large scale migration by the poor and landless, particularly of tribal people is taking place. Tribals are also being evicted. Naxalite-Maoist elements are being encouraged by various ruling class elements and our activists face attacks from these sections.

Uttarakhand delegation supports the General Secretary Report. In our State we have taken up the local issues like problems in mandis, price of milk and its collection, the issue of land grabbing by moneylenders, corruption in MNREGA etc. and got some successes in these movements. We have been fighting against Tunnel Based Power Plants. They are allowed to come up indiscriminately in hundreds and due to the blasting of the mountains they are creating cracks in houses, drying up water resources and ruining the environment.

In the recent devastating flash floods more than 10,000 people have lost their lives, and hundreds of villages have been seriously affected, roads were swept away and we are in a very serious situation. But till now no one from AIKS Centre visited the devastated area of Uttarakhand.

Bihar delegates support General Secretary’s Report. The importance of Land Question in many States needs to be stressed. There are attempts to reverse and dilute the ceiling laws. We have captured and distributed land in many new areas and are fighting to defend the old spots of Land Struggles in Madhepura, Saharsha, Gaya, Begusarai, Darbhanga, Madhubani and other Districts. At a number of places CPI led organisation is helping the landlords. Without expanding and strengthening the land movement, no real agrarian alternative can be presented in the country.

We have campaigned to implement the D.Bandopadhyay Report in our State on the issue of registration of sharecroppers, house-sites and distribution of surplus, Government and Bhoodan Lands. At present Bihar is facing serious drought situation. We have organised Convention both on drought, floods and soil erosion. We are organising movements on these issues. We are also taking up the issues of proper M.S.P. for various crops, and purchasing centres for them. We have also taken up the scarcity and black marketing of fertilisers and pesticides. AIKS Centre should also plan to make some militant struggle in Delhi.

We are witnessing very bad effects of neo-liberal policies in sugarcane, wheat, paddy, potato etc in the State. Sugarcane growers are facing problems of under weighing at Mill centres, less price and huge arrears. De-reservation of mill areas and de-control of sugar is going to affect both growers and consumers. We have been taking up these issues through campaign and struggles. Very few purchasing centres are opened for wheat and paddy. Thus farmers get less than MSP, due to distress sale.

UP is one of the biggest producers of potato, particularly Agra region. But producers are facing serious problems due to price crash and high cost of cold-storage. The AIKS should demand for a proper policy for potato by the Central Government. Other vegetable growers also are facing serious problems of price, storage and transportation. State Government has increased rate of power by 40%. They are privatising power sector. Small agro-industries such as edible-oil units are dying.

Forcible land acquisition going on in different areas of UP has assumed serious nature, particularly in west UP where land is being acquired for Railway Freight Corridor. We have been intervening as we have done in Bhatta Parsaul area and Etawah. We got help from AIKS Centre also. We are also fighting on 400 acres ceiling surplus land of the former king of Benaras.

Though we have increased our membership we have to do more in this big State. U.P. is the den of casteist, communal forces. They always try to divide the people and divert them from real issues. We have only one whole timer at the State Centre. More whole timers are needed both at State, Regional and District level to advance the movement and organisation.

Haryana delegation condemns the ongoing attacks on West Bengal comrades by TMC goons and admires the brave fight put up by our comrades. We support the General Secretary’s Report and greet the Tamilnadu comrades who have hosted the 33rd All India Conference successfully.

In Haryana membership increased. The target now is two lakh. Due to Kisan Sabha struggles Haryana farmers got Rs. 917 crores as compensation for damaged crops, due to national calamity. Kisan Sabha fought against corruption of 257 officers and employees, mainly of banks and forced them to return Rs.70 lakh 27 thousand to farmers. Auction of land of 57000 farmers was prevented. We forced electricity department to pay Rs.1.50 lakhs to 4.50 lakhs, compensation for big towers, Rs.30,000/- for crop damages and 15000/- for road.

In twelve sugar mills in Haryana we organised strike for 7 days and farmers got Rs.40/45 per quintal in cash. For electric pump-rate slab system was implemented. Due to our struggles the Government was forced to issue receipt for fertiliser/pesticide damage and compensation for crop losses due to spurious seeds/pesticides at the rate of Rs.25000/- per acre for cotton & Rs. 16000/- for other crops.

Kisan Sabha intervened and cooperated with movements launched by workers, women and others like that of Maruti workers in Gurgaon. Now after so many years of struggle Abadkars of Kurukshetra have got assurance that they will get permanent pattas.

In Maharashtra we have fought against the proposed SEZ in Raigarh District, which was acquiring 25,000 hectares of land and affecting more than 50 villages. After long drawn struggle, we got success. Prices of inputs are rising day by day, while farmers are not getting proper MSP for their crops. We have also taken up the issues of price of cotton and sugarcane, organising a big rally of more than 50,000 farmers. The issue of BPL people also was raised.

Jammu and Kashmir delegation salute the brave comrades of West Bengal who are marching on facing several attacks. In our State we have taken up various local issues like compensation for damaged crops, power and irrigation and also against bribery and corruption. In some places, we got some successes. In our State the loan sanctioned for rural areas by NABARD, is being diverted to help the traders and capitalists. CKC should intervene and help us in this matter.

In my State farmers have to pay higher prices for seeds in the name of hybrids but productivity is not high. The State was on 9th place in food production in 2010-11 with 4.65%. Productivity is going down. Migration and displacement is taking place. The only investment is in the name of Real Estate. Attacks on farmers are increasing. Number of BPL is increasing but they are not properly enrolled and given ration cards. Anger against anti-people policies is increasing. We are trying to overcome our organisational weaknesses at State level.

The meetings of the Committees in Tamilnadu are held regularly. Issues are taken up. All India Centre took initiative in conducting a Workshop. Milk production is a major occupation in Tamilnadu. We have taken up the issues of Milk farmers. We achieved certain victories through prolonged struggles. Agriculture loan are levied high interest. We fought against this. The GAIL pipeline is affecting the farmers in seven Districts adversely. We mobilised the peasants and agitated. We got wide contacts among new sections of peasantry.

Revolutionary greetings and special red salutes to the delegates from West Bengal. Kerala is standing in solidarity with you. The report is a complete one. The growth in agrarian front in the socialist countries is not mentioned in the Report. Unity of Kisan and agricultural workers is the need of the hour. But obstacles of Identity Politics and communalism are issues. It is not properly mentioned.

Swaminathan Commission has given a lot of recommendations. However, no struggles demanding the implementation of the Report were unleashed from our part. PPP with corporates is being arranged. It is not taken up seriously. We should demand the modernisation of the entire agricultural sector. It is not done. This has to be taken up with the Government and a national campaign should be launched.

Crisis is deepening day by day. We are intervening. 7 comrades are working from the Centre. This is highly inadequate when agrarian crisis is demanding? Meeting of CKC should be held more regularly. In every hour two farmers commit suicide. It is alarming. We have to bring out militant struggles. The serious agitation and sustained movements should be brought out as in Kerala when the Ommen Chandy Government tried to dilute the land reform laws we organised a lot of struggles. Of course we are in a position to take a crucial role.

We extend our solidarity with West Bengal Comrades. We fully support the draft Report placed by the General Secretary. But some shortcomings are there. In last Conference it was decided that at least 3 member State Centre should be formed and made functional. We did not review the decision and evaluate how many States implemented this decision. We have purchased an office for State Committee. We have formed a 5 member State Centre and we are getting proper guidance from All India Centre. We have also equipped our office with computer. Formation Day of AIKS was organised in Bihar in presence of Com. S.Ramachandran Pillai and N.K.Shukla. We are trying to overcome the ups and down in our membership in Bihar.

The spirit of democracy and the great experiment of democratic decentralization–the Panchayati Raj system which flourished under the Left Front regime-is now under severe attack. West Bengal as well as our country has not witnessed such a degree of violence and reign of terror except from 1970–1977. Since the Assembly election result was declared on 13th May, 2011, there have been systematic attacks on the Bargadars (sharecroppers), patta holders, small and marginal farmers and rural workers in the State.

The class interest of the ruling TMC has been unmasked. In the first six months of the TMC coming to power, nearly 28,000 Bargadars and Patta holders have been evicted from about 10,000 acres which were under their cultivation. About 4,000 small farmers were prevented from cultivating their own land measuring 10,000 acres on the plea that they were the followers of Left parties. Due to the kisan movement and through continuous struggle, rural workers were able to increase their wages. But now in many places they have been compelled to work with low wages.

More than 40,000 Left followers, workers and leaders have been forced to leave their place of residence. Land reform measures implemented by the Left Front have been termed by the TMC Government as “robbery of land’’, as a prelude to the reversal of redistributive land reforms.

In West Bengal 116 Left leaders, activists and followers have been killed by TMC goons. 750 women were assaulted physically, more than 600 were molested and incidents of rape have become a daily occurrence. More than 6,000 comrades had to be hospitalized for treatment of injuries suffered by them. Many more were forced not to lodge complaint to the police and seek hospital treatment. Looting of houses, extortion of money from the people in the form of fines imposed by the TMC anti-socials is also a regular feature. In many places TMC goons have forcibly closed Left party and mass organisation offices or have demolished and captured the same. No political programmes, right to assemble, right to protest, right to express views are being allowed in some areas.

Election of co-operatives, school managing committees, library committees, student unions and other democratic institutions has now become a game of force to effect a change by any means. Now in the panchayat elections, the poll has been marred by large scale booth capturing, false voting, blocked off villages and violent attacks on opposition candidates, polling agents, voters and workers. In many places even women have not been spared.

The role played by a section of the media in defence of democracy, the role played by the Human Rights Commission to protect the rights of the people, the role played by other constitutional bodies are under semi-fascist attack.

The 33rd conference of the AIKS is of the opinion that this not an issue which concerns West Bengal alone. It calls upon all AIKS units all over the country to mobilize all sections of the people in defence of democracy.

Proposer: Dr. Ashok Dhawale

Seconder: E. P. Jayarajan

The 33rd conference of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) expresses deep concern at the refusal of the Central Government and its various agencies to ensure remunerative prices to the peasantry for its agricultural produce.

Along with the rising cost of all agricultural inputs and the sharp crunch in institutional credit to the peasantry, the fall and fluctuations in the price received by peasants for agricultural outputs is one of the major reasons for the current agrarian distress and the shocking and continuing incidence of peasant suicides on a large scale.

The Minimum Support Prices fixed by the Government are neither fair nor remunerative. In many of the crops, the MSP announced does not even meet the costs of production. The Swaminathan Commission recommendation for computing MSP as C2+50% is now here taken into account. Moreover there are no effective procurement facilities and in most regions it is at best skeletal, forcing farmers to sell to traders at distress prices.

The announcement of a Fair and Remunerative Price for Sugarcane has brought out most starkly the disconnect between the nomenclature and the reality. While States were giving a price of up to Rs.200/Qtl of sugarcane, the UPA Government announced a price of Rs.127/Qtl and declared that it was “Fair” and “Remunerative”, while in reality the cost of cultivation was also not being met. The same holds true for the MSP declared for cotton, jute, rubber and other important cash crops.

The Government announced the MSP for Kharif crops in June 2012 far below the expectations of the peasantry. A comparison of the MSP announced with the Costs of Production arrived at by the Government agencies for 2011-12 brings out the truth about the Government’s claim of providing “Fair” and “Remunerative” prices.

Even for the Rabi Crops the Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has, against the interests of the peasantry, reportedly recommended a freeze on MSP of wheat in the 2013-14 marketing season at last year’s level of Rs.1285/Qtl. This is despite the Kisan Sabha and different State Governments demanding not less than Rs.1700/Qtl so that farmers may break even and have incentive to cultivate in the next season. The increasing input costs and consequent rise in the cost of cultivation have not been taken into account by the CACP. Field studies across the country show that the costs of cultivation are far higher than the figures put out by the CACP in the case of most crops.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has also decided to make a meagre hike of only Rs.60/Qtl in MSP of paddy recently. It has retained the MSP of jowar and urad without any increase at last year’s level and made very meagre increases in MSP of bajra, moong and arhar. None of the MSP announced reflects the increased costs of production or the expectations of the farmers. The MSP announced are unfair and unremunerative and will act as a disincentive to farmers.

The last few months have also witnessed increasing volatility in world market prices of agricultural produce, particularly commercial crops. The removal of quantitative restrictions has also led to cheap imports flooding the market and also cheaper substitutes like palm oil which is leading to price crash in coconut, groundnut and other oil-seeds.

While farmers are facing a situation of increasing input costs and overall costs of production, the Government is not taking any steps to address the issue of price crashes and volatility. The encouragement to futures trading has led to wild speculation. The benefits of even the marginal increases in MSP are being cornered only by the traders and corporate players at the expense of farmers. The Price Stabilisation Fund has not been accepted by the Government despite continuous demand.

The unilateral manner in which the Government of India is entering into FTAs which hurt the interests of the peasantry and of the economy of many States, is to be strongly condemned.

In the light of the above, the 33rd Conference of the AIKS demands the following:

1. The recommendation of the National Commission for Farmers headed by Dr. M. S. Swaminathan for computing MSP for all crops as C2+50% be immediately implemented by the Central Government.
2. The Central and State Governments must set up a timely and effective procurement mechanism to procure farmers’ produce at the MSP.
3. A Price Stabilisation Fund must be set up immediately to deal with crashes and volatility in farm output prices.
4. The necessary changes must be made in import-export policies and tariffs to protect the interests of the peasantry. The issue of Quantitative Restrictions should be reopened at the WTO.
5. Free Trade Agreements that lead to a crash in prices of agricultural produce in our country should be scrapped forthwith.

Proposer: Amra Ram

Seconder: U.Basavaraju

The contemporary processes of globalization have impacted negatively on agriculture and on the peasantry across the world. In India, policies of neoliberal globalization have led to a major crisis, manifested both in the tragic suicides of more than 2 lakh farmers since the late 1990s and in the slowing down of growth in productivity and production of almost all major crops with the exception of cotton for nearly two decades now. The UPA government’s response to the crisis is to hand over the agricultural sector to the corporate sector through a variety of means such as: allowing both foreign and Indian monopolies to take over the seed, fertilizer and other input markets; cutting back on provision of research and extension services through public sector entities, abandoning the earlier efforts to strengthen and expand credit to agriculture as well as provision of infrastructure including irrigation, storage facilities and so on; opening up the multi brand retail to FDI; removal of quantitative limits on agricultural imports and lowering of tariffs on them; and weakening of price support mechanisms and gradual abandonment of procurement.

The Government of India has recently announced a new policy initiative called ‘Framework for supporting Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Integrated Agricultural Development (IAD) under the Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojana (RKVY)’. The scheme essentially seeks to hand over the peasantry to corporate monopolies, and provide huge subsidies to the corporates for organizing peasants on a large scale to produce what the corporates are confident of selling at good profit. A recent presentation by a senior government official indicates that in late 2012, 35 proposals covering an area of 12 lakh hectares and 11.7 lakh farmers had been received from corporates, including from large players such as ITC and Nestle.

The fundamental position of the government is that small holder farming is obsolete, and that the lands of the small and middle peasants must be handed over to the corporates in order to modernize agriculture and enhance productivity. Consolidation of holdings under the aegis of the corporates is only a first step in this process. In parallel, many State governments have been enacting legislation raising land ceiling limits and creating provisions for corporates to acquire and operate large tracts of land at near zero rentals from the State and encouraging small and marginal farmers to sell out to the big players. In essence, the central government is providing huge subsidies to the corporate sector directly through this scheme and indirectly by allowing corporates to lease huge amounts of government land for very long periods at practically zero cost.

The 33rd Conference of the AIKS demands comprehensive land reforms to ensure that the landless poor get land and that land monopoly is smashed. It demands an end to all attempts at diluting land ceiling legislations and opposes the granting of government lands on long term lease to corporates, domestic and foreign, practically for free. It demands the protection of land and all other natural resources of the country for use for public purposes and people-centred development.

The 33rd Conference of the AIKS strongly condemns the several moves of the government towards corporatization of agriculture. It is an open abdication of the state’s responsibility to provide infrastructural, credit, extension and technical and research inputs to the peasantry, to provide quality inputs at affordable prices and in a timely manner, and to serve the interests of the peasantry through open-ended procurement of farm produce at remunerative prices.

The Conference demands a substantial increase in public investment in agriculture and related infrastructure, timely provision of inputs of quality at affordable prices, cheaper and more credit, expansion and strengthening of extension and research services and prompt procurement at remunerative prices as well as creation of price stabilization funds for crops with considerable price volatility.

The 33rd Conference of the AIKS calls upon the peasantry to rise unitedly in defense of their interests and push back the corporate and state offensive against them. The Conference pledges that all units of the AIKS will work actively to mobilise the peasantry, forge the broadest unity of all peasant organizations, unite with other sections of working people and build powerful resistance to defend the peasantry against corporate loot and against the attacks of the State on their livelihoods.

Proposed By: Tarun Roy

Seconded By: Yashwant

One of the most adverse impacts of neo-liberal policies in India has been the rise in the costs of different inputs in agriculture. Among the different inputs, fertiliser prices in particular have risen very sharply because of the Government policy to decontrol the fertiliser sector. The introduction of the Nutrient Based Subsidy regime led to a shift from a variable subsidy-fixed Maximum Retail Price System to a fixed subsidy-variable MRP system and fertiliser companies have been given a free hand to determine farm gate prices. Notably the fertiliser companies get most of the fertilisers in bulk from outside India and corner huge subsidies from the Government while the farmer ends up paying exorbitant rates.

It is estimated that even by keeping conservative population estimate of 1.4 billion and minimum food-grain need of 301 million tonnes by the year 2025, it will be necessary to use 30-35 million tonnes of NPK from fertiliser carriers and an additional 10 million tonnes from organic and bio-fertiliser sources. However, the Government has not made any efforts for increasing production of chemical and organic sources of plant nutrients.

The Government had on July 8th, 2011 by a notification withdrawn any restraint on increasing prices of non-urea fertilisers by the companies and stated that the market price of non-urea fertilisers “will be open”. The extent of profiteering can be understood when we take the instance of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP). This year Indian Fertiliser companies imported it in bulk at a rate ranging from $450 to $500/tonne from Morocco and China. They cornered a subsidy of nearly $250/tonne from the Government thereby having to in effect spend only $250/tonne for DAP bought in bulk. Our farmer spends around $550-$600 per tonne for the DAP in the market. DAP that used to cost Rs.9350/tonne before April 2010—when prices of all non-urea fertilisers were decontrolled—has more than tripled in the wake of this notification and is now hovering around Rs 30000/tonne. Dealers are charging even higher by creating artificial scarcity in some States. Farm-gate prices of Muriate of Potash (MOP) have similarly gone up and are slated to rise further. Urea prices too are rising on a regular basis.

About 15 to 20 per cent of the total paid-out costs per acre of land are for fertilisers. Given this, the sharp rise in fertiliser prices in the recent years raises serious questions regarding the viability of farming itself. The real effect of the fertiliser policy can be understood from the latest figures of fertiliser utilisation by the farmers. The actual procurement by farmers reduced significantly in the last year, and this kind of a reduction in demand was never reported earlier. On the contrary till recently farmers’ agitations were reported, demanding for more fertiliser supply. Now because of the huge cost, the real demand has decreased.

The Government has been drastically cutting down fertiliser subsidies and the last two budgets saw a cut in fertiliser subsidy by around Rs.8000 crores. Again in May 2013 citing falling global prices another Rs.5000 crores of subsidies were cut. The Expenditure Reforms Commission estimated that phasing out of fertiliser subsidy on food-grains production, if other things remaining unchanged, would lead to the fall in food-grain production of about 13.5 million tonnes. The Government must reverse this trend and increase fertiliser subsidies to the peasantry. This has to be extended to organic fertilisers too.

The Government moves are aimed at increasing the profitability of a handful of agribusinesses. It is estimated that with the decontrol of urea the incremental profit for large companies may be as high as 147 percent. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) also criticised the fertiliser policy for increased costs for farmers and losses for the exchequer by importing fertilisers.

The 33rd Conference of the AIKS notes with concern the sharp rise in fertiliser prices and the serious disruption in the supply of fertilisers to farmers. The Conference demands that the Congress-led UPA Government reverse its anti-farmer fertiliser policy and demands:

• The Nutrient Based Subsidy regime has failed to balance fertilisation and has only increased prices for the peasantry. It has to be scrapped forthwith. The Government has to formulate a long term and conducive policy covering all nutrients consistent with the objective of balanced fertiliser use.
• Price Control has to be brought back and as far as the farmers are concerned the fertiliser prices must be frozen at the pre-NBS level. Any additional costs must be borne by the Government. Any steps towards direct subsidy and cash transfers will only adversely affect the small and marginal farmers and the tenant farmers. So this move should be scrapped.
• If a vast country like India goes to the international market permanently to meet the requirement of fertilisers, the prices will shoot up and India will be at the mercy of MNCs. India should not give up priority on indigenous manufacturing. Closed Public Sector fertiliser companies must be immediately re-opened to try and achieve self-sufficiency in fertilisers as well as soil ameliorants like lime, gypsum, dolomite and get out of the import dependence.
• There is need to monitor the demand-supply situation and rationalize the distribution and movement of fertilisers through Government controlled outlets at affordable prices. Black-marketeers, hoarders as well as traders indulging in unethical practices must be curbed.

Proposed By: S. Malla Reddy

Seconded By: Noorul Huda

Under the regime of neoliberalism, the rate of growth of food grain production in India has come down sharply. Yet, the government is sitting on huge stocks of food grains while millions of Indians go hungry. This is a direct consequence of neoliberal policies and of the targeted public distribution system. India has become more food-insecure over the last decade in terms of all three dimensions of food security: availability, access and absorption. Availability has been undermined by policies reducing productivity growth and making grain cultivation un-remunerative. Access has been weakened by jobless growth and massive inflation destroying people’s purchasing power. Absorption has been undermined by the failure to invest in safe drinking water and sanitation. All three consequences are directly traceable to neoliberal policies. Yet, the UPA government hypocritically talks of food security and has promulgated a so-called Food Security Ordinance in an attempt to gain political mileage while flouting all norms of parliamentary democracy.

Under the Ordinance, it is claimed that 50 per cent of urban population and 75 per cent of rural population will be eligible to receive 5 kilograms per capita per month, at prices of Rs 3, Rs 2 and Re 1 respectively for rice, wheat and millets. It thus reduces per capita entitlement of grain for those eligible from 7 to 5 kilograms per person. Moreover, the prices mentioned are valid only for three years, and can then be revised to as much as half the minimum support price of the grains concerned. Further, the provisions of the ordinance thus take away even existing benefits that people in several states are currently entitled to from a universal PDS that prices grain more cheaply than does the ordinance.

Under the ordinance, the Central government will determine the number of eligible beneficiaries in each state. It requires that the entire process of identification of beneficiaries has to be completed within 180 days according to guidelines which are yet to be issued by the Central Government. This has been done without any consultation with the States. The ordinance also gives the Central Government the right to introduce cash schemes instead of food in the Rules as and when it decides, thus making clear its long term agenda of dismantling the system of open-ended procurement of grain from the peasantry at notified minimum support prices. It smuggles in the aadhaar identification procedure, seeking to legitimise a scheme that has not received parliamentary sanction. While the ordinance thus has a number of centralising measures, it makes the states responsible for the implementation of the scheme without adequate financial provision.

Most important, the Bill and the Ordinance are utterly hypocritical measures when one considers the fact that the UPA, which has been in power since 2004, has done little to ensure remunerative prices to the growers of grain but has in fact done everything to make farming unviable. Without ensuring adequate returns to the peasants from the cultivation of grain, there is no way that the availability of food grain can be increased adequately to meet the requirements of food security for all in the country. Further, the approach of the government based on retention of the targeted PDS, though with some new nomenclature, shows clearly that the government is not serious about food security for all. The present ordinance and the Draft Bill introduced in the parliament are instruments of food insecurity and not food security.

In view of these considerations, the 33rd Conference of the AIKS demands that the Ordinance be rescinded and that a meaningful debate on the draft Bill on Food Security be conducted in parliament and necessary amendments incorporated to address the concerns raised above. It further demands that the system of universal PDS be put in place, and entitlements restored to 7 kilograms per capita per month, with a minimum of 35 kilograms per household per month. It demands that all centralizing measures be rescinded, and that the States be taken on board. It demands that the legislation eventually passed should not curtail the benefits already in place in several states.

Proposer: R.Chandra

Seconder: Kushal Bharadwaj

The 33rd Conference of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) expresses its grave concern at the non-implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in most states of the country. Despite the passing of the Forest Rights Act in 2006 in order to redress the historic injustice meted out to tribals for over a century, the Adivasis and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers are yet to receive land and forest rights seven years after the Act was enacted. Large scale loot of resources by corporates is also taking place in tribal areas.

As of 31 May 2013, 32.48 lakh claims had been filed and 28.22 lakh claims had been processed. Of this a majority, i.e., 15.20 lakh claims were rejected. The highest rejection rates have been in States like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Even among the claims that were accepted, the amount of land given was far less than what was actually in possession of the Adivasis and was being cultivated by them. Both individual and community claims to forest land, as well as the right to minor forest produce, have been arbitrarily denied in several States. It is also significant that the Left-ruled State of Tripura is the best implementer of the Act whereas States like Kerala with strong democratic mass movements have much lower rejection rates. This shows that the implementation of the Forest Rights Act has been more effective in regions where the Left and AIKS are active. These democratic mass organisations have been instrumental in forcing the implementation of the Forest Rights Act.

In contrast, the neo-liberal State is committed to a half hearted implementation of the Act and has intensified its efforts to facilitate the corporate loot of resources. Since 2004 more than 70,000 hectares of forest land has been diverted for corporate profits. In most cases tribal people are the victims of displacement. This has been done through the manipulation and liberalisation of environmental laws and their selective implementation to suit big corporate houses. Illegal mining scams expose the nexus between government and corporate houses.

The 33rd Conference of the AIKS demands that the Central and State Governments immediately implement the Forest Rights Act stringently and all the land that is in the possession of, and being actually cultivated by Adivasis and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers be vested in their names. It also demands that the corporate loot of forest resources and displacement of Adivasis and forest dwellers be stopped forthwith.

Proposer: Jitendra Choudhary

Seconder: K.K.Raghesh

The 33rd Conference of All India Kisan Sabha expresses serious concern at the attempts of the Congress-led UPA Government to gradually wind up the MNREGS by reducing the District level allotment for employment generation and also by not providing work throughout the year but only during the lean season. While MNREGA could in principle have improved the employment scenario in the rural areas, the fact that allocations for MNREGS have been far below requirements and have been declining over the years in real terms has meant that this has not happened. Further, the irregular release of funds and inadequate preparation of schemes is continuously reducing days of employment provided under the scheme. In 2011-12, out of a total over 12 crore job cardholders, only about 3.8 crore were given some work. The average days of employment provided per household was only 34 days instead of the stipulated 100 days. Only 2.8 per cent of the households with job card got 100 days of work.

There is a motivated and misleading campaign against MNREGS by a section of bureaucracy, corporate media, the landlord lobby and the Union ministry of Agriculture, alleging that the Scheme caused shortage of agricultural workers especially during the peak seasons. Against this backdrop, the tardy and flawed implementation of the Scheme appears to be a conspiracy by the ruling classes and bureaucracy to dilute and gradually finish off the Scheme.

In this situation, AIKS will fight to defend the provisions of the law, insist on its character of producing collective benefits and support its provision of providing employment as an effective safety net to resist starvation, check distress migration, ensure increase of wages to counter inflation. AIKS will intensify the campaign to increase the days of work to not less than 200 days per year and not less than Rs.300/- per day.

This 33rd Conference of the AIKS expresses its deep concern over the growing corruption in implementation of the MNREGS due to the unholy coalition among corrupt local politicians, officials and contractors. Practices such as use of machines, violation of the rule of wage-material ratio of 60:40, non-payment of wages for months are rampant. There are reports of agricultural workers committing suicide due to non-payment of wages from Aurangabad, Parbhani, Buldhana and other districts of Maharashtra. Organised resistance must be built against such trends.

The Conference demands the provision of at least 200 days of work per adult worker for every rural household at a wage of not less than 300 rupees per day through the MNREGS. AIKS demands that the Scheme be extended to urban areas suitably. This Conference calls upon all its units to take up problems related to MNREGS implementation and organise workers against efforts to dilute the provisions.

Proposed By: Hannan Mollah

Seconded By: Praful Linda

The 33rd Conference of the All India Kisan Sabha strongly condemns the decision of the Congress led UPA government to raise the FDI cap in different sectors. This move will mortgage the Indian Economy and promote unbridled profiteering by the corporate sections. It is against the interest of the people of our country and will impose great hardship on the common masses.

AIKS has opposed the decision to allow FDI in agriculture and multi-brand retail and believes that the recent decision to allow 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail is against the interests of the millions of traders and the peasantry in India. It will only lead to further hardships for the common masses and threaten livelihoods of millions of people.

The proposal to increase FDI in the insurance sector in the wake of the dismal experience of privatisation of the insurance sector is undemocratic and our experience shows that it will hit the peasantry adversely.

The decision to allow 100 per cent FDI in the basic and cellular services in the telecom sector and the decision to allow foreign capital beyond 26 per cent in defence production has serious implications. This will open the way for foreign control of the vital telecom sector as well as the defence production sector.   Notably these decisions have been taken by subverting the established norms of parliamentary democracy in an extremely arbitrary manner as well as by disregarding the federal principles.

This Conference of the AIKS demands that the Congress led UPA Government immediately withdraws this decision. AIKS will unite broadest sections of the peasantry and along with other sections and toiling masses resist this move by launching militant struggles.

Proposed By: Vijoo Krishnan Seconded By: P.Shanmugham

The 33rd Conference of the AIKS strongly condemns the increasing efforts of communalisation of society, communal violence, caste oppression and caste-based discrimination that have been going on in the recent days.

Extreme forms of caste violence and oppression have been reported from different parts of India and the writ of caste-based Panchayats or Khaps run in many States. The ruling classes openly connive with the oppressors from high castes and perpetuate the worst forms of attacks on human dignity. Untouchability, manual scavenging, denial of access to drinking water, temples and other public places also continues unabated. The recent rioting and destruction of Dalit hamlets in Tamilnadu, Haryana, forcible eviction of Dalits from their land in Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra and other States, increasing incidents of sexual violence against Dalit women, continuation of pernicious practices like Madesnana and the Devadasi system, denial of access to proper education, employment, health and livelihoods- all bring out starkly the nature of caste oppression and discrimination. There are hundreds of types of discrimination based on caste and even after six decades of independence the Dalits are not having the minimum basic needs like housing, food and other needs met. Even allocations under the SC Sub Plan are not being made adequately. Casteist forces are polarising the society and are a divisive threat against the unity of the peasantry, the rural poor and the working class.

The recent years have also witnessed concerted efforts by the communal forces to polarise the society along religious lines. These efforts have intensified in the run up to the impending General elections and the Sangh Giroh led by the RSS have been fomenting communal riots in different parts of the country. In some cases the State has also remained mute spectator or at times actively connived with such efforts to divide society and communally polarise people. Repeated incidents of religious profiling, attacks on minorities, minority educational institutions and places of worship have been going on in different parts of India. The attacks on Muslims in Assam, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and attacks on Christians in Karnataka, Odisha and other places point to a dangerous trend. Majority communalism has often begot minority communalism and there is also an increasing trend of fundamentalism rising its head.

Although the progressive, democratic and secular minded people of India are countering the Casteist and communal forces as well as their reactionary ideologies these divisive forces are a threat to the peasant movement and in our struggle against neoliberal policies. Many activists and leaders have lost their lives at the hands of communal and Casteist forces. Kisan Sabha will continue to unite all forces against such reactionary elements and this 33rd All India Conference resolves to resolutely fight casteist and communal forces and strive to maintain the unity of people in general and the peasantry and rural poor in particular.

Proposed By: Awadesh Kumar Seconded By: Dulichand Meena

The 33rd Conference of AIKS, being held at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, expresses deep anguish, shock and sorrow at the death of 27 children after consuming their mid day meal on 16 July 2013 in Dharmsati Primary School in Mashrakh block in Saran district of Bihar. We demand an independent enquiry into the entire incident and exemplary punishment for those who are found guilty. This tragedy reveals the alarming levels of corruption involved at all levels, the deplorable infrastructure facilities, the inadequate fund allocations and substandard food items for some of the most crucial central schemes such as the Mid Day Meal Scheme and the ICDS.

World’s largest schemes of their kind, the MDM and ICDS schemes proved to be successful in addressing the challenge of malnutrition among the children of our country, which is home to half of the world’s malnourished children approximately eight crore in numbers. Eighty lakh children die every year in our country. That is more than twenty one thousand children a day!. At present, the ICDS scheme provides nutrition and health care to nearly seven and a half crore children and 1.8 crore pregnant and lactating mothers through nearly 14 lakh anganwadi centres in more than seven thousand blocks all over the country. The MDM Scheme provides one meal to 11.7 core school children in nearly 12 lakh schools.

Since the advent of the neoliberal policies, the government has been attempting to privatise these schemes and withdraw from its responsibility. It has been incorporating the directions of the World Bank, the main thrust of which is privatization and targeting. Instead of providing adequate infrastructure and other facilities and ensuring transparent and effective delivery system, the government is handing over the scheme to big corporate houses through PPP, to big corporate NGOs like Akshaya Patra Foundation of the ISKCON, Nandi Foundation etc. The government had brought the ‘ICDS Mission’ in which the privatisation is mandatory. In the name of faulty delivery system, there are systematic efforts to privatise the MDMS as well.

More than 27 lakh anganwadi workers and helpers and nearly 25 lakh Mid Day Meal Workers (cooks) mostly women, who are the grass root implementers of these schemes are not recognized as workers by the government. They are paid a pittance ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 3000 per month as ‘honorarium’. In spite of the recommendations of the 45th Indian Labour Conference, the government is not ready to recognise them as workers, pay those minimum wages and pension.

These schemes which provide basic nutrition to the children of workers, poor peasants, agricultural workers and to poor women are crucial for the development of the Nation.

This conference demands that the government should stop any attempts to privatise the MDM and ICDS Schemes and assume full responsibility to ensure for every child in India its right to food, health and education for a holistic development. It demands the government to allot the necessary financial resources for these schemes.

This conference fully supports the struggles of the mid day meal workers and anganwadi employees for regularization, minimum wages, social security and against privatization. It calls upon all the state committees of AIKS to extend full support to their struggles. It recalls the joint campaign undertaken by AIKS, AIAWU and CITU in 2008 to prevent the then efforts of government of India to privatize ICDS.

This conference also calls upon all the beneficiaries of ICDS and the people in general to join the struggle to save these schemes from privatization and being dismantled.

Disasters continue to be an ever present feature of the life of rural India. From Uttarakhand to Assam, Andhra or Maharashtra, people continue to suffer from the impacts of floods, droughts, cyclones and other natural hazards. While various kinds of State-led interventions, demanded by the people for decades, have begun to ensure that the human toll of disasters is gradually decreasing, the peasantry and the labouring population of the country side continue to suffer from the significant economic impacts of such disasters. Often, the impact of natural events such as extreme rain or inadequate rainfall is magnified several times as a result of unplanned, unregulated and unmonitored development projects.

Low levels of development expose the rural population, particularly the poor, to hazards on a daily and continuing basis. Women and children disproportionately suffer the burden of an enormous range of such daily hazards, ranging from the young who lose their lives as they make their way by hazardous country boats to school to the toll on women’s lives from the smoke of the traditional chullah.

Overall, it is the poor, who are the worst affected by disasters, oftten losing a substantial proportion of their assets or means of livelihood. Disasters can tip marginally well-off rural households into renewed poverty. Often, the small gains that the poor make from some development scheme, project or initiative may be nullified by disasters. Poverty drives rural households to means of augmenting their meagre incomes that can place them in the path of such disasters. Unregulated, unmonitored construction projects continue to place large sections of the population in harms way in several parts of the country, both in rural and urban areas.

Climate change is expected to increase the occurence of natural disasters such as very heavy rainfall events, intensified cyclones and other phenomena such as the bursting of the banks of natural lakes created by landslides in the path of melting glaciers, or even the general increased tendency to flooding in low-lying areas. Thus climate change will add to the already considerable burden that the poor bear due to the lack of all-round development.

The role of the State in discharging its responsibility towards its citizens with respect to preventing disasters and providing relief and means of recovery when they do occur remain completely inadequate. Apart from some capability for large-scale evacuation in favourable circumstances and the provision of immediate relief, Central and State governments have done little to anticipate and either prevent or limit the occurence of disasters. Compensation after disasters is completely insufficient and much of the burden of recovery or rebuilding is borne by individual households. The repetition of the same succession of disasters annually in every region points to how little is being done for proper disaster management. Meanwhile the State continues its policy of withdrawal and privatisation even in this area and often looks to corporate charity to fill the gaps in its meagre efforts or outsource emergency services to private players. Little has been done work out a system of compensation for loss of crops from disasters that is integrated with a larger scheme of social protection. The gap between the responsibilities of the Centre and State governments as laid down the National Disaster Management Act and their performance in practice is enormous. The potential of using government schemes such as the MNREGS for improving disaster prevention and management has hardly been utilised.

This Conference therefore demands that the Central and State governments discharge their responsibilities with respect to disaster management fully. It demands that an adequate system of compensation be worked out fully with government support and that can make adequate payments when the peasantry and labouring population suffer from the impact of natural events. It demands that Panchayati raj institutions be adequately provided with funds, equipment and scientific advice and training, so that the people themselves may be begin to take action to protect and support themselves when disasters strike. It demands that agricultural extension services be urgently mobilised after disasters so that the peasantry can be fully informed of alternatives for cultivation to replace lost crops and harvests and be provided with seeds and other necessary inputs to resume cultivation. The restoration of power supply after disasters is an urgent requirement and must be given the highest priority.

The Conference recalls the fine tradition of the kisan movement in standing by the peasantry and labouring population in its every hour of need. It calls upon all State, district, taluk/tehsil and local units of the Kisan Sabha to intervene effectively in ensuring that the Central and State governments provide timely, adequate and appropriate relief as well as identifying the many sources of danger to the lives and livelihoods of people and demanding adequate measures to address them before disaster strikes.

July 8, 2014 marks the year culminating in the centenary of the birth of Comrade Jyoti Basu, Communist leader, freedom fighter, trade unionist and Vice President of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions from its inception till his death, Chief Minister and leader of the Left Front Government from 1977 to 2000 in West Bengal, fighter for secularism and against communalism, and respected and beloved leader of the Left and democratic movements in India. For decades before his death, Jyoti Basu was the best-known national symbol, administrator, and popular leader of the Left in India.

Comrade Jyoti Basu was closely associated with the peasant and agricultural workers’ movements. He was active in the movement for famine relief during the Great Bengal Famine in 1942. As one of three Communist MLAs, he visited every site of the glorious Tebhaga movement. It is no exaggeration to say that Comrade Jyoti Basu was at the forefront, as leader and activist, of every great mass struggle of the Left in West Bengal after Independence and until his death.

Under Comrade Jyoti Basu’s leadership, Left Front rule was responsible for historic changes in the West Bengal countryside. Over the 23 years of his helmsmanship, it implemented land reform, established India’s first comprehensive system of democratic decentralisation, and extended rural electrification and irrigation. Agricultural production came out of the impasse in which it had been trapped for decades before Left rule, and in the 1980s and 1990s West Bengal showed the highest rates of agricultural growth among the 17 most populous States of the country. As a consequence of the new institutional changes and agricultural growth, nutrition levels improved and rural poverty declined in the State. During his period as Chief Minister West Bengal became a living example of the democracy at the grassroots. There have been elections to panchayat institutions every five years since 1978, panchayats have taken on responsibilities that were earlier vested with the district-level bureaucracy, and, during his period as Chief Minister, elected members of panchayats were overwhelmingly from land-poor and landless households. The West Bengal experience with local government was the primary impetus for the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Indian Constitution, which made regular elections to local bodies, rural and urban, mandatory in all States.

The 33rd All India Conference of the All India Kisan Sabha pays homage to the memory of Comrade Jyoti Basu, and is proud to participate in the celebrations organized in connection with his centenary year all over the country.

Proposed and Seconded By: Steering Committee

May 1, 2013 was the hundredth birth anniversary of Puchalapalli Sundarayya – one of the founders of the All-India Kisan Sabha, Communist, freedom fighter, leader of the great Telangana people’s struggle of 1948–51, and first General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was also a leader of the fight against caste discrimination and the caste system.

Sundarayya’s writing and teaching on the agrarian question drew on many sources, including the works of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Mao Zedong; works on agrarian India, including the available sources of secondary statistical data, data from the surveys and other types of empirical study conducted by him (particularly in Andhra Pradesh) from the 1930s to the 1970s; and the experience that came from his deep involvement in peasants’ and rural workers’ organisations and struggles. He conducted what may be called the first detailed Marxist village studies in India. No individual has had as great an influence on the formulation and understanding of the agrarian question in India by the organised Left in India as has P. Sundarayya.

Sundarayya’s philosophical efforts were always linked to revolutionary practice. From his youth, Sundarayya came to the conclusion that it is not possible to achieve social change in the country without understanding the rural economy. He believed that understanding the village amounts to understanding the country.

Sundarayya gave the utmost importance to the study of concrete social conditions. He stressed the need to study agrarian relations through careful and rigorous study, and to study rural areas again and again in order to strengthen and deepen our understanding of the conditions of life and work of the toiling masses. He did not come to conclusions about social conditions without examining extensive information, including quantitative data and other types of evidence. That is why he was not only an activist, but also a researcher and student throughout his life.

Building a strong organisation and cadre base were the hallmarks of Sundarayya’s political life. He attracted, encouraged, trained and nurtured more than two generations of activists for the agrarian and democratic movements.

This 33rd Conference of the All-India Kisan Sabha salutes the memory of Comrade P. Sundarayya, and takes the utmost pride in being among the inheritors of his legacy. We will strive to live up to his example, to carry through the tasks and struggles that he began, and to strive to complete the most important social task before our country – the revolutionary solution of the agrarian question in India.

Proposed and Seeconded By Steering Committee

Male: 613(92.8%)

Female: 47(7.2%)

16 – 30 Yrs. : 09(1.36%)

31 – 50 Yrs. : 185(28%)

51 – 65 Yrs. : 370(56.06%)

66 – 75 yrs. : 84(12.7%)

Above 75 yrs. : 11(1.6%)

Not mentioned : 01

Total : 660

** The oldest delegate in this conference is Pokle Nana Saheb from Maharashtra.

* The youngest delegate in this conference is Tinku Bag from West Bengal.

Married : 639

Unmarried : 21

Agri. Worker : 61(9.2%)

Poor Peasant : 206 (31.2%)

Middle Peasant : 260(39.4%)

Rich Peasant : 17(2.5%)

Rural Craftsman : 01

Worker : 25(3.8%)

Middle Class : 82(12.4%)

Landlord : 07(1.06%)

Trader : 01

Total : 660

Whole timer : 414(63%)

Cultivator : 133(20%)

Worker : 100(15%)

Not mentioned : 13((2%)

Total : 660

SC : 69(10.5%)

ST : 70(10.5%)

Religious Minority : 98(15%)

Total : 237(36%)

Upto Rs.1000 : 66

1001 – 5000 : 335

5001 – 10000 : 140

10001 – 20000 : 20

200001 and above : 54

Illiterate : 03

Primary Education : 65

Secondary/Inter/ XII/Diploma : 277

Graduate : 212

Post Graduate : 103

Total : 660

Land/House sites : 362

Share Croppers’ Rights : 201

Agri. Workers’ Rights : 390

Remunerative Price : 283

For Inputs : 202

Against price rise : 407

Other democratic rights : 416

Primary/Village/Panchayat : 05

Tashil/Block/Taluk : 15

District Committee : 191

State Committee : 358

AIKC : 46

CKC : 44

Total : 660

1948 – 1967 : 40

1968 – 1976 : 129

1977 – 1995 : 288

1996 – 2006 : 134

2007 – 2011 : 60

After 2011 : 08

Not Mentioned : 01

Total : 660

** Delegate who joined earliest:

Nakul Mahato of West Bengal in 1956.

O. V. Narayanan of Kerala in 1957.

P. N. Prabhakaran of Kerala in 1958.

Agri.worker : 63(9.5%)

TU/Employee org. : 53(8%)

Student : 141(21.3%)

Youth : 216(32.7%)

Women : 38(5.7%)

Up to one month : 163

Up to two months : 35

Up to three months : 27

Up to 6 months : 26

Up to 1 year : 06

Up to 2 years : 19

Up to three years : 05

Up to four years : 02

Up to five years : 02

Above Five years : 02

Total : 277(42%)

** Kamaleswari Shah of Bihar is having the longest jail life of 5 years and 3 months.

* Anadhi Mahato of West Bengal is having the second longest jail life of 4 years and 8 months).

Up to one month : 36

Up to two months : 16

Up to three months : 18

Up to 6 months : 15

Up to one year : 07

Up to two years : 09

Up to three years : 08

Up to four years : 02

Up to five years : 04

Above Five years : 02

Total : 117(17.7%)

** Highest : Dinesh Singh of Bihar(8 years and 3 months).

Debu Roy of West Bengal(8 years).

Md. Aijuddin Shaikh of West Bengal (8 years).

1st : 258

2nd : 113

3rd : 62

4th : 51

5th : 44

6th : 26

7th : 28

8th : 24

9th : 09

10th : 14

11th : 12

12th : 07

13th : 05

14th : 01

15th : 04

16th : 02

Total : 660

Village/Ward Member : 06

Gram Panchayat Member : 07

Mukhiya/Pradhan : 04

Sarpanch (Panchayat Head) : 05

Block Panchayat Member : 10

Zilla Parishad Member : 14

Zilla Parishad Chairman: : 01

Municipal Chairman/Vice Chairman: 04

Co-op Chairman/Vice Chairman : 22

MLA : 25

MP : 04

Minister : 01

** 2 Executive Members of TTA-ADC(Tripura) have also participated in this Conference.

President: Amra Ram