The socio-economic caste census conducted by the Mahagathbandhan Alliance of Bihar has exposed the terrible poverty, homelessness, migration and illiteracy in the state. According to the data, state's 34%, approximately 95 lakh families come under extreme poverty (Mahagarib). The government has considered those people poor, whose income comes under Rs.6000 per month. Had the criteria been set upon Rs.10,000 per month, then the state's two-thirds of the population could come below the poverty line.
However, the Bihar government made two announcements while placing the SECC report on the table of the legislature in December 2023. The first was the expansion of reservation for Dalits and backward classes, the fate which now is hanging with the judiciary, and the second announcement was to deliver monetary assistance of rupees 2 lakhs by the government for self-employment to one member of each family (Mahagarib) living below a monthly income of Rs. 6000. This promise was supposed to be delivered through the Department of Small scale industries.
Although the government announced the benefit, the very next moment, they set a bar on it by imposing a mandatory obligation of submitting a certificate of Rs. 72000 yearly income for the potential beneficiaries. This certificate was demanded in spite of the fact that the required data is already available to the government through the SECC report. Moreover, when the applicants proceeded to avail the required certificate, they were told that the income certificate below Rs. 1 lakh will not be issued. The government opened an online portal for taking applications, but that was closed soon not to be opened again. Subsequently, only 40 thousand families were selected through randomisation for this scheme till now, which raises serious apprehensions about the government's intentions on fulfilling its own promise.
This is being done as the self-employment scheme of small-scale enterprises, but the list of occupations given did not include the important occupation of animal husbandry, whereas animal husbandry is an important source of livelihood. To make things worse, the government has decided to distribute the relief amount in three instalments for five years. How can anyone, unemployed living below poverty line, in dire need possibly build up their own small enterprise in such conditions?
The attitude of the Bihar government reminds of the other promise made to the landless families of allocating 5 decimals of land per family for homesteads.
CPIML is conducting the "Haq Do, Vada Nibhao" campaign on these two questions, along with the Modi government’s promise of providing pucca houses to every family. In the first phase of this campaign CPIML and AIARLA (All India Agricultural and Rural Labour Association) printed and distributed in villages throughout the state application forms for the income certificates for annual income below Rs. 72 thousand, forms related to the distribution of 5 decimal land and a 'pucca' houses as per the central government’s scheme. Till now, lakhs of application forms have been filled and submitted to the respective block offices.
The forms filled out for homestead land in huge numbers is substantial proof that the majority of the people are homeless. CPIML and AIARLA have been consistently demanding the entitlements to the poor of land at their current dwellings, or alternative arrangements should be made for them. But the BJP-JDU government has neglected this demand over the years.
Demonstrations in 250 blocks in the first stage
On 22-24 August huge demonstrations were held at the block headquarters where thousands of protesters also submitted their duly filled forms. In Bhojpur district’s Arrah, Sahaar, Charpokhari and Tarai blocks witnessed huge gatherings. Alongside the above three demands, issues related to mutation and corruption in the public distribution system were also raised by the protesters. These demonstrations were led by Sudhama Prasad, MP, Raju Yadav, Shivprakash Ranjan, MLA, Qayamuddin Ansari, Sudhir Singh and others.
In Nawada, thousands marched from Ambedkar Park to Sadar block office with a 6-point demand charter. The memorandum was submitted to the block development officer. In the block office of Chakai, district Jamui, BDO and CO were found absent from duty, and they were subsequently given warning of protest in case they were found missing next time again from their duty. Hilsa in Nalanda district also witnessed a massive demonstration. In Nasriganj of Rohtas, men and women across all panchayats actively participated in the strike and submitted an 8-point memorandum to the officials. In Punpun, Patna Rural, Gopal Ravidas and in Paliganj Sandeep Saurabh led protest marches. Hanumannagar, Baheri, Biraul, Manigachhi, Bahadurpur, Sadar, and other block headquarters in Darbhanga district also witnessed mass protests. Jahanabad witnessed the protests in the block offices of Modanganj, Ghosi, Kako, Makhdumpur and Sadar blocks. MLA Rambali Singh Yadav put up the demand of 5 decimal land for permanent dwellings to the landless families residing near the Kesar E hind, railway line, roadsides, and living around ponds and water bodies in the district. In Patna Sadar block headquarters, the homeless urban population, mainly women, many of them were victims of the bulldozer demolitions held a big protest. They criticised the government for not implementing the urban housing policy for the homeless, and for neglecting their dire situation. They demanded proper housing for all. While the homeless were being dragged out of the city, there had not been any construction of colonies for the urban homeless population by the NDA government over the years. As a result, the homeless people are suffering. Thousands of homeless people, along with the application forms for urban housing and Rs. 2 lakh rupees relief, reached the block headquarters.
There was notable women's participation in these demonstrations, which reflect the fact that in the absence of basic amenities it is the women who suffer most. These demonstrations were held in approximately 250 block headquarters. There had also been serious confrontations with the officials. These demonstrations unleashed activism in the villages and towns. Now reports are pouring in from various places that officers are providing income certificates below Rs. 72000. In Dhabauli village of Bidupur block in Vaishali the CO, under the pressure of the movement, accepted applications of 25 families for land bandobasti and promised to give land titles to them for the land where they are residing for a long time.
Campaign Continues
The process of filling up application forms is continuing on people’s demand, this also reflects the campaign's success. The month of September has been dedicated to filling up forms and, at the end of the month block headquarters would face similar protests. In many places 'Ghera Dalo, Dera Dlo Aandolan' has also been initiated.
CPIML Bihar state secretary Kunal insists that 'The relief of 2 lakh rupees to extremely poor families was declared by the government, but the progress in this direction is quite weak. When the government has all the poverty-related data with itself, then why is it reluctant to provide promised assistance? The government should withdraw the pre-condition of income certification and replace it with SECC data for the benefit schemes. The scheme for allocating 5 decimal land for housing is also uncertain. The distribution of 'pucca' houses by the Central government is yet to be fulfilled. We will not allow the government's announcements to turn into jumlas just like Modi's Rs. 15 lakh promise."
