The Hindu : Pledge to continue the task of slain social workers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 01, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Pledge to continue the task of slain social workers

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 31. People from all walks of life today paid rich tributes to two social activists, Sarita and Mahesh, who were gunned down near Sabdo village in Gaya district of Bihar on January 24, and pledged to carry forward their work of social and economic progress of Dalits and poor people. They also decided to hold a protest meeting at Jantar Mantar here on February 4 and mobilise support for the Patna-Gaya protest march scheduled for February 12.

The protest meeting was jointly called by a group of non-government organisations including the National Alliance for People's Movement (NAPM), the Socialist Front, the National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI), Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD), the Lokayan, the National Campaign for Right to Food (NCRF), the National Coordination for Dalit Organisations (NACODOR), Vasudhiava Kutumbakam, Jan Abhiyan, Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS) and Insaf. A large number of social and political activists, academicians, writers, artistes and students also remembered the slain workers.

Speakers remembered how in a short span of two years the two social workers who were associated with the NGO -- Institute of Research and Action -- transformed the lives of over 35,00 villagers of 40 villages in Gaya district by reviving a 45 km.-long canal which had been lying defunct for decades leading to a green revolution in the entire area.

"Ironically, the State Government had refused to complete the task and had pegged its cost at Rs.6 crores, but the duo mobilised villagers and through their voluntary efforts they revived the canal in just seven months. They also broke several other social barriers and united Dalits and poor people living in the region."

Stating that it was high time the socially conscious masses in society should unite to save democracy and safeguard people's rights, they alleged that successive governments had failed to fulfil promises and perform their duties as laid down in the Constitution. "The true tribute to the brave social workers would be to carry forward their mission of bringing social awakening in the society and serve the poorest of the poor in the country."

Speakers said both of them, who came from affluent social background, could have easily led a comfortable life. Instead they worked in rural Bihar. They also knew about the dangers and had even been threatened. But still they continued to work among Dalits whom they had united for land reform movement in the region. It was this threat to big landlords that led to their elimination," they added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section

No privatisation of water, says CM

Some glimpses of the other face of war

Pledge to continue the task of slain social workers

U.K. to fund poverty removal schemes

Jobs go online at XLRI

Delhi sky this month

KMC gears up for jubilee celebrations

Fond farewell to Gupta

Exams are here, so is Disha

Stay one step ahead of trouble, says new police chief

Around the City

Briefly

In the Capital Today