Update 25

ROZGAR ADHIKAR YATRA

(second preparatory meeting, 21 April 2005)

The second preparatory meeting for the "Rozgar Adhikar Yatra" (to be launched from Delhi on 13 May) took place in Delhi on 21 April. The following issues were discussed:

1. The itinerary of the Yatra was reviewed and minor changes were made in the light of comments received. The revised itinerary is copied below. This is very close to final (except for the last leg, from Allahabad to Delhi). The final itinerary will be circulated very soon.
2. Some new suggestions were made regarding the last leg of the Yatra (Allahabad to Delhi), including possible stopovers in Rae Bareli, Lakhimpur Kheri and Hardoi. It was agreed that follow-up discussions on this would be held separately as soon as possible.
3. Note was taken of various problems involved in hiring a bus for the Yatra, especially the cost involved in securing national or state-wise ?permits?. A small team of four persons was formed to tackle this problem. It was agreed that exemption from permits would be sought from the relevant state governments.
4. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti offered to form a "cultural team" to accompany the Yatra from beginning to end. This was unanimously accepted.
5. It was agreed that only a limited number of "banners" (from the 21 December display in Delhi) would be taken on the Yatra. The banners will be displayed mainly at the state conventions. Elsewhere, the feasibility and desirability of displaying the banners would be discussed with the local organisations.
6. There were differences of opinion as to whether public meetings were best held in the day or in the evening. It was agreed that this would be decided, district-wise, with the local organisations. The travel times would be adjusted accordingly.
7. It was suggested that district-wise "preparatory meetings" should be held well in advance of the arrival of the Yatra, with broad participation from local organisations. A list of district-wise contact persons/organisations will be prepared and circulated, to facilitate this process.
8. Representatives of students' organisations (AISA, AISF, PSU, and AISB) expressed interest in involving their local units in the Yatra. The office of People's Action for Employment Guarantee will help to put these local units in touch with other local organisations involved in the Yatra.
9. Short presentations were made on three forthcoming events relevant to the Yatra: (1) the rally of unorganised sector workers in Delhi on 5 May, (2) a convention on the right to work in Jodhpur on 8-9 May, organised by the National Alliance for the Fundamental Right to Education (NAFRE), and (3) a dharna and march to Parliament on 10 May, organised by All India Agricultural Labour Association and Akhil Bharti Kisan Sangharsh Samiti. The demand for a full-fledged Employment Guarantee Act is on the agenda in each case.
10. It was suggested that the demand for a full-fledged Employment Guarantee Act should be linked with the right to work and the fundamental right to life. Following on this it was agreed that the basic motivation of the Yatra would be reformulated as follows: "The aim of this Yatra is to affirm the right to work as an aspect of the fundamental right to live with dignity. In particular we demand the immediate adoption of a full-fledged, universal and irreversible Employment Guarantee Act."
11. Kavita Srivastava (PUCL) gave a brief account of recent discussions in Ranchi regarding the national convention on "right to work and employment guarantee", to be held there on 17-19 June.
12. The meeting ended with a long discussion of funding matters. The main points are as follows:
    • The funding principles agreed at the first preparatory meeting were confirmed. ("Support will be accepted in three forms: (1) local hospitality, (2) contributions from organizations that are participating in the Yatra, and (3) individual donations in rupees with no strings attached.") It was clarified that the term "participating organization" would not include any funding agency.
    • It was decided that a "chanda" would be launched to collect funds for the Yatra. An appeal for support was drafted for this purpose and a team of three volunteers agreed to take charge of finalising the appeal, getting receipt pads printed, distributing receipt pads to the participants, etc.
    • In addition, donations will be sought from the participating organisations. As a starter, commitments of Rs 1,000 each were made by most of the organisations represented at the meeting (total Rs 16,000).

(Members of the following organizations participated in the meeting: All India Agricultural Labour Association (AIALA), All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU), All India Students Federation (AISF), All India Students Bloc (AISB), Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS), CPI-ML (Liberation), Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Kashtkari Sanghatna, Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), National Conference of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR), National Alliance for the Fundamental Right to Education (NAFRE), National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), National Campaign for the People's Right to Information (NCPRI), National Coordination Committee for Unorganised Sector Workers (NCC-USW), National Federation of Indian Women, Nirmana, New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI), Pairvi, Peace, People's Action for Employment Guarantee, People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Progressive Students Union, Punervasan Sangarsha Samiti, Right to Food Campaign secretariat, Sajha Udyog, Samajik Nyay Morcha, Sanket, Sathi, Socialist Front; and two or three others whose name is not clear from the attendance sheet.)

ROZGAR ADHIKAR YATRA (May-June 2005)

Revised Itinerary

NOTE: This itinerary is based on the second preparatory meeting, held on 21 April 2005. It is very close to final, though minor changes are not ruled out. The final itinerary will be circulated as soon as possible.