Statewide protests were held on January 5 and 6 across Bihar against the demolition of homes of Dalit and poor families amid the ongoing cold wave. The protests were called by the AIARLA along with other agricultural labour organisations. Demonstrations took place in more than 200 blocks, demanding an immediate halt to bulldozer actions.
Leading the movement in Bikram block of Patna district on Jan 6, AIARLA national general secretary Dhirendra Jha said that Bihar was the first state after Independence to enact the PPH Act in 1948, which recognised the right of sharecroppers and workers to homestead land. Despite this, nearly 30 percent of the state’s population remains landless for housing, exposing the failure to honestly implement laws meant for the poor. He demanded a proper survey of all long settled habitations and issuance of land titles to residents. He also called for the establishment of workers’ colonies in panchayats and urban wards for families displaced in the name of development projects. Dhirendra Jha announced that a militant gherao of the state assembly would be organised during the forthcoming budget session. Demands for full implementation of MGNREGA and repeal of the four labour codes were also raised.
In Darauli block of Siwan district, the protest was led by AIARLA national president and former MLA Satyadev Ram. He said that the government was uprooting poor families to hand over land to corporate houses such as Adani and Ambani. He said the chief minister had already been confronted on this issue inside the assembly and that the struggle would now intensify on the streets. He added that Nitish Kumar would not escape responsibility by handing over land reforms to the BJP.
In Paliganj and Dulhin Bazar, the movement was led by CPIML MLA Sandeep Saurabh. He said that the failure to regularise Dalit settlements that have existed for decades raises serious questions about justice and development. He demanded regularisation of all Dalit settlements, including Musahar and Bhuiyan habitations.
