Activists to merge in Delhi to defend ‘progressive pro-people’ laws
On the 2nd of December 2014, various activist groups from across India will be gathering in Delhi during the winter session of parliament. These pan Indian activists will be in the capital to protest the current amendments initiated on various laws by the government of India.
According to an email from, Ashish Ranjan Jha of Jan Jagaran Shakti Sangathan (JJSS) (formerly Jan Jagaran Abhiyaan), trade union of unorganised sector workers active in North Bihar, the rally is expected to bring together 20,000 plus people to Delhi. The people’s activists are concerned by the central governments moves to make fundamental changes to the National Rural Employments Guarantee Act, the Forest Act, the Land Acquisition Act and in Labour laws. This threatens the hard won entitlements for the people, many of whom oscillate between abject poverty and ensuring basic survival. Apart from the protests against the government’s laws changing spree, the activists will also share an alternative development model that goes beyond the current market based approach.
Prior to the mass rally on 2nd December, activists will be meeting in People’s Assemblies of about 300-500 people to bring focus on the critical issues and highlight the need of an alternative development model. The protesters on a shoe string budget will be living in the open under the approaching Delhi winter. Some of the organizations involved in the drafting committee of an alternative development model are National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM), Pension Parishad, Rashtriya Mazdoor Adhikar Morcha (RMAM) and Right to Food Campaign.
The rally is termed- Joint Demonstration For Social Services and Social Security, People’s Rights to Natural Resources, Labour Rights and Proposing an Alternative Development Paradigm.
