Chetawni Yatra

(Warning foot march)

As you are aware that Ekta Parishad has given a call for a significant non-violent mass action, called Janadesh 2007 (People’s Verdict 2007) to raise for launching a New Vision for Land Reforms so as to address the pivotal issues of poverty, social distress, violence and inequitable distribution of resources.

There have been many promises, assurances and ample lip-service given by the successive governments to resolve these problems. But in practice, little has been changed and much more needs to be done and achieved. People are fed up with these assurances and responses and consequently some are resorting to violence. Other indications of social distress are the high number of farmers’ suicides.

People have decided to pick up the non-violent collective action (that was successfully invoked by Gandhi ji during the Freedom Struggle) and in this direction, more than 400 activists and landless people are marching from Gwalior to Delhi in October 2006 to press for their demands. This collective action is being called as the Chetawni Yatra. They will meet the President, the Prime Minister and other Ministers during their campaign.

This would kick off a year-long non-violent collective action, called the Janadesh 2007 (People’s Verdict 2007) that would culminate during October 2007. During this action, more than 25,000 landless people (the majority of them would be adivasis and dalits) will walk from Gwalior to Delhi. This will take twenty days and cover a distance of approximately 350 km to reach Delhi.

Simultaneously, about 500 landless people from all over India are sitting on Fast and Dharna (Sit-ins) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi from October 16 to 20, 2006 under the leadership of Rajagopal P.V. This Dharna will be in solidarity with the people and highlight their issues so that governments can take appropriate steps to resolve land and livelihoods rights issues with pro-poor perspective keeping the poorest of poor in the centre of policy making and implementation.

These poor people are going to use this non-violent direct action method to tell the government that they also are citizens of this country and their problems also need to be addressed. This collective action is being supported by many social organisations, social movements and activists working on land and livelihoods rights across the world.

In fact, the demands will not be employment or welfare-based, rather they are asking for a piece of land on which they can work to earn their livelihoods. A piece of land will also help them to stay in their own villages and obviate migration to the cities which leads to increased pressure on the cities and urban societies including more slums. A piece of land will also mean economic justice to the poor so that they do not need the support of armed groups. A piece of land is basically the first step towards reducing poverty and augmenting development opportunities and realizing dignity for millions of people.