LEFT FRONT'S OUSTER WILL REMAIN A DREAM

LEFT FRONT'S OUSTER WILL REMAIN A DREAM

 A victory for the Trinamool would mean a reversal of the land reforms”

The dream of those wanting to see the Left Front government out of power in West Bengal “will remain a dream,” said Ashok Mitra, a noted economist and former State Finance Minister, on Sunday.

Questioning the call of “paribartan” (change) by the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance, Dr. Mitra said the election reverses that the Left had suffered in recent elections in the State — the rural polls in 2008, the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and the civic polls to 81 bodies in 2010 — was not a “matter of credit” the alliance could claim for itself. “What have they done for West Bengal?” he asked at a seminar here.

It was because of certain mistakes committed that the Left parties had been put into a somewhat awkward position in these elections, Dr. Mitra observed.

“A section of the people of the State — between six and seven per cent — who have been with us in the past was piqued. This we have accepted and given respect to…We have promised to rectify our mistakes,” he added.

Coming down strongly on the Congress and its policies of capitulating to the United States and interests of big businesses, Dr. Mitra described the principal Opposition in the State as its “branch party” that had adopted the “autocratic” model of the former.

On rising prices of foodgrains and the Congress not paying heed to repeated requests by the Left parties for releasing food stocks rotting in Food Corporation of India's godowns and making it available to the people, he said Congress' policies are designed to protect the interests of the classes. The more preferable option for the party is “to dump the stocks in the Arabian Sea than giving it to the poor.”

“So if the poor of the country are to live, the Congress would have to be removed,” Dr. Mitra said.

A victory for the Trinamool would mean a “reversal” of the land reforms process that has been initiated by the Left Front “and this is a huge concern,” said economist Jayati Ghosh.

While pointing out that “the question of land is the biggest and hottest political question in Bengal,” she said the developments at Singur and Nandigram had given rise to a certain perception regarding the government's policies on land acquisition.

The government has made certain mistakes, but West Bengal is the only State in the country where the land-distribution process is still on.

“Over the last four years, nearly 20,000 acres of land has been distributed and even in 2007-2008, when Singur and Nandigram were a subject of public discussion, 11,000 acres was distributed,” Dr. Ghosh said.

“The perception that the Left Front is anti-peasant is an unfortunate and a wrong fall-out…This perception has to be fought,” she noted, while cautioning against the “emergence of corporate landlordism” in the country.

Referring to talk of bringing changes in land reforms in West Bengal in the election manifesto of the Trinamool, Dr. Ghosh said: “This a very genuine and real fear

                                          

LEFT FRONT'S OUSTER WILL REMAIN A DREAM

LEFT FRONT'S OUSTER WILL REMAIN A DREAM

 A victory for the Trinamool would mean a reversal of the land reforms”

The dream of those wanting to see the Left Front government out of power in West Bengal “will remain a dream,” said Ashok Mitra, a noted economist and former State Finance Minister, on Sunday.

Questioning the call of “paribartan” (change) by the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance, Dr. Mitra said the election reverses that the Left had suffered in recent elections in the State — the rural polls in 2008, the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and the civic polls to 81 bodies in 2010 — was not a “matter of credit” the alliance could claim for itself. “What have they done for West Bengal?” he asked at a seminar here.

It was because of certain mistakes committed that the Left parties had been put into a somewhat awkward position in these elections, Dr. Mitra observed.

“A section of the people of the State — between six and seven per cent — who have been with us in the past was piqued. This we have accepted and given respect to…We have promised to rectify our mistakes,” he added.

Coming down strongly on the Congress and its policies of capitulating to the United States and interests of big businesses, Dr. Mitra described the principal Opposition in the State as its “branch party” that had adopted the “autocratic” model of the former.

On rising prices of foodgrains and the Congress not paying heed to repeated requests by the Left parties for releasing food stocks rotting in Food Corporation of India's godowns and making it available to the people, he said Congress' policies are designed to protect the interests of the classes. The more preferable option for the party is “to dump the stocks in the Arabian Sea than giving it to the poor.”

“So if the poor of the country are to live, the Congress would have to be removed,” Dr. Mitra said.

A victory for the Trinamool would mean a “reversal” of the land reforms process that has been initiated by the Left Front “and this is a huge concern,” said economist Jayati Ghosh.

While pointing out that “the question of land is the biggest and hottest political question in Bengal,” she said the developments at Singur and Nandigram had given rise to a certain perception regarding the government's policies on land acquisition.

The government has made certain mistakes, but West Bengal is the only State in the country where the land-distribution process is still on.

“Over the last four years, nearly 20,000 acres of land has been distributed and even in 2007-2008, when Singur and Nandigram were a subject of public discussion, 11,000 acres was distributed,” Dr. Ghosh said.

“The perception that the Left Front is anti-peasant is an unfortunate and a wrong fall-out…This perception has to be fought,” she noted, while cautioning against the “emergence of corporate landlordism” in the country.

Referring to talk of bringing changes in land reforms in West Bengal in the election manifesto of the Trinamool, Dr. Ghosh said: “This a very genuine and real fear

 

                                          

OIEWS WELFARE SOCIETY ELECTIONS - MESSAGE FROM J. GURUMURTHY, SECRETARY STANDING COMMITTEE

To All members of OIEWS

v    Support AIIEA candidates   1      8       10       12    

Polling for election of four employees’ representatives to the Governing Body of Oriental Insurance Employees’ Welfare Society will take place in all offices of the company on April 20, 2011.  All India Insurance Employees’ Association (AIIEA) has nominated the following candidates for election.

The major task of such society is to see that it works for the welfare of the members by getting regular inputs and feedback from the beneficiaries.  To extend maximum benefits to the members, a proactive, efficient and effective Governing Body is required.

AIIEA is the vibrant organization of employees in the Insurance Sector and has since entered into the Diamond Jubilee year of its purposeful existence.  During this long period of journey since its formation, AIIEA has proved its mettle on various counts – be it protection of the industry or securing benefits for the entire insurance fraternity.  Very recently we could achieve a Wholesome, Handsome and Outstanding (WHO) wage revision overcoming all the hurdles created by some of the organizations within and outside the industry; all classes of employees were substantially benefitted.  AIIEA had successfully campaigned so as to create confidence in the minds of employees and unite all the organizations to secure an excellent wage deal at par with LIC while some of the organizations tried to sow seeds of diffidence intermittently.

In Oriental, a lot more requires to be done and AIIEA’s strength requires to be improved by wider support.  Of the four PS general insurance companies, we are concerned about Oriental’s sliding in business operations.  The Personnel policy pursued by Oriental is causing resentment among officers and employees affecting the work morale.  It is only in Oriental that TMP is mindlessly implemented year after year while other companies have realized the futility of it;  three companies would ensure retransfer of employees immediately after completion of 3 years stay, but Oriental would delay them longer on the plea of cut-off date;  posting on promotion is done as if a penalty is given making senior employees to decline the hard-earned promotions.   Many more anti-employee measures are pursued by Oriental affecting the morale of employees and thus the business development.  AIIEA’s fight against such policies continues.

Be that as it may, it is widely acknowledged that presence of representatives of AIIEA in staff welfare forums would immensely benefit the employees.  It is for this reason, we have nominated the candidates for election to the Governing Body of OIEWS.  We have sought the support of all the organizations to these candidates.   It is heartening to note that various organizations of Class-I, Class-II and SC/ST Welfare organizations have come forward in support.  We appeal to all the individual members of OIEWS to cast their valid votes in favour of these candidates.   

J. Gurumurthy                                                                                                        

Secretary

OIEWS election on April 20, 2011

Pl cast your valid votes in favour of AIIEA candidates

Sl No. in the Ballot	Name of the candidate
1	AMI CHAND
8	RAMESHWAR SHARMA
10	SANJAY KUMAR
12	SUSHIL KUMAR NERWAL

Remember       1       8       10       12

Our Zonal Vice President Com. V. Kubendiran role in TNUEF highlighted in Hindu dated 14th January 2011

Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2011/01/14/stories/2011011450780300.htm)
Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, Vellore district, has planned to picket the road opposite the Collectorate here on February 3 demanding action against ‘Mosaic' Selvam who allegedly razed to ground the houses in which 36 families of Adi Dravidars and minority communities had been living for the last 100 years in land bearing survey no.674 on Battai Street in Melalathur Road in Gudiyatham.
Giving this information to newspersons here on Thursday, V. Kubendran, Vellore district organiser of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, alleged that Selvam and his men razed the houses to the ground on April 14, 2010.
At a meeting held in the presence of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore, at the Gudiyatham taluk office on August 12, when the members of the Front conducted an agitation of inhabiting the taluk office, it was resolved to provide alternative sites to the affected families and take action against Selvam. However, when the agreement was about to be signed, 59 persons, who participated in the agitation, including G. Latha, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA of Gudiyatham and A. Narayanan, Vellore district CPI (M) secretary, were arrested.
Mr. Kubendran said that though the members of the front had met the Collector five times, the latest on December 22, no action has been taken to provide alternative sites to the displaced families, despite an assurance from the Collector about the provision of alternative sites to them.
Dayanidhi, State secretary of the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Association, said that the displaced families were living in tents in a coconut grove in Gudiyatham in the absence of alternative house sites.
The district organiser of the front said that the Revenue Department should carry out a fresh survey of the land bearing survey no.674 in the ward 36 in Jothimadam area of Gudiyatham in which the houses existed, with the help of the district surveyor, find out the extent of ‘poromboke' land and provide house sites in the same place where they lived. When asked about the demand, E. Saravanavelraj, District Revenue Officer, Vellore, told The Hindu that the Revenue Department had conducted a survey and found that 90 per cent of the land on which the houses existed were patta land that belonged to Selvam, who had obtained a court order in his favour, and 10 per cent comes under common pathway land.
The district administration has identified alternative land for provision of house sites to the 36 displaced families. But, it would not be possible to provide house sites in the same place in view of the legal position, he said.