Over the years, all governments in centre have never done any development work in Uttaranchal. Some local groups never lost sight of their duty towards the toiling people of the area and their democratic movements. They always stood for the hill people’s democratic rights. People of Uttaranchal has stood for the people’s rights over basic resources like land, forests, water and power, which form the basis for the state’s planned development.
Now, we should forcefully put before the people of Uttaranchal the essence of the development process, which is deliberately being sabotaged by the State Government in Uttaranchal. We should fight a battle for more autonomy to the state, devolution of powers, affirmative action from the central /state government in favour of the state’s people and acceptance of the principle of democratic decentralization.
Having fought for decades for their uplift, the people of the area naturally looked to the government with great expectations. But their experience has been one of disappointment and betrayal. All the governments in Uttaranchal have proved totally insensitive to the people’s aspirations and problems. The region that was known for peace and tranquility has now become a hotbed of lawlessness and crime. Atrocities on minorities and Dalits are on the rise. The government itself seems to have fallen in the grip of politicians, mafia and bureaucrats. A total collapse of the public distribution system, of the state transport system, the crisis and massive rural and urban unemployment, and similar other problems hardly attract the government’s attention.
We should demand change in centre-state relations and other constitutional rights, women’s demands for establishment of family courts and a commission for women, workers’ rights, the demands of Anganwadi women, minimum wage for plantation workers, food for work, unemployment and industrialization, power and irrigation facilities at subsidized rates to the farmers of the state, reopening of public sector units, which can generate employment to Uttaranchali people.
A state with a relatively higher level of literacy, with a tradition of massive participation of women in democratic movements, with a history of anti-feudal and forest-related movements can surely forge a strong movement.
Now, we should forcefully put before the people of Uttaranchal the essence of the development process, which is deliberately being sabotaged by the State Government in Uttaranchal. We should fight a battle for more autonomy to the state, devolution of powers, affirmative action from the central /state government in favour of the state’s people and acceptance of the principle of democratic decentralization.
Having fought for decades for their uplift, the people of the area naturally looked to the government with great expectations. But their experience has been one of disappointment and betrayal. All the governments in Uttaranchal have proved totally insensitive to the people’s aspirations and problems. The region that was known for peace and tranquility has now become a hotbed of lawlessness and crime. Atrocities on minorities and Dalits are on the rise. The government itself seems to have fallen in the grip of politicians, mafia and bureaucrats. A total collapse of the public distribution system, of the state transport system, the crisis and massive rural and urban unemployment, and similar other problems hardly attract the government’s attention.
We should demand change in centre-state relations and other constitutional rights, women’s demands for establishment of family courts and a commission for women, workers’ rights, the demands of Anganwadi women, minimum wage for plantation workers, food for work, unemployment and industrialization, power and irrigation facilities at subsidized rates to the farmers of the state, reopening of public sector units, which can generate employment to Uttaranchali people.
A state with a relatively higher level of literacy, with a tradition of massive participation of women in democratic movements, with a history of anti-feudal and forest-related movements can surely forge a strong movement.
K.S.RAWAT / NEW DELHI
Member & Moderator Team PG Group!
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