The Hindu : Karnataka News : ‘Centre dismantling PDS’

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Monday, Aug 10, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka

‘Centre dismantling PDS’

Special Correspondent

MALAVALLI (Mandya district): All India Kisan Sabha president and Communist Party of India (Marxist) polit bureau member S. Ramachandra Pillai has called for a struggle to help secure farmers their rights and suggested greater mobilisation of agricultural workers to strengthen the organisation.

Addressing a public rally here on Sunday, Mr. Pillai dwelt on the agrarian crisis plaguing the country and said the farmers and agricultural workers were the worst affected as the wages continued to decline while price of essential commodities had increased and added, “justice could not be secured without launching a struggle”. The rally was part of the AIAWU general council meeting and is being attended by members from across the country.

Mr. Pillai said the Union Government was dismantling the public distribution system which was collapsing while the State Government had failed to issue ration cards for the poor, as a result of which the workers and peasants were deprived of staple diet, including wheat and rice.

The country was in the grip of drought and hence General Council meeting of the AIAWU would chalk out the next course of action to ensure the protection of farmers welfare, he added. The AIAWU will also discuss the social issues pertaining to the atrocities against Dalits, the social oppression being perpetuated against them in rural areas among others.

A. Vijayaraghavan, secretary, AIAWU and MP, said the Prime Minister, the Union Finance Minister and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa were fooling the people with hollow promises and said the price of essential commodities were beyond the reach of common man and the cost of toor dal was Rs. 94 a kg which amounted to three days wages of a worker in rural areas.

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