Dharna to protest against attack on peoples’ rights

Over 1,500 people, representing peoples organisations from across 15 states, have gathered in Jantar Mantar on April 23 and 24, as part of a joint dharna organised by the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), Right to Food Campaign, Pension Parishad, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) and National Fish Workers Forum, to protest against the attack on the rights of people.

Activists working at the grassroot-level shared experiences of how people are struggling to access livelihoods and public services. People have worked under NREGA but have not been paid their wages for months. Crops have been damaged due to the hailstorms and unseasonal rains but farmers have not received any compensation. Even in cases where compensation has been received, absurdly small amounts like Rs 65 and Rs 10 have been given. 

A group of farmers who will be affected by the Airport project in Ajmer shared how they are about to lose land on which they used to grow two crops a year to the  the airport, which is being planned without due diligence and going against principles for land acquisition and building of airports.