The Danda Block HQ (Garhwa District) was gheraoed under the leadership of the CPI (ML) Danda Block Committee on 10 October 2017. Earlier, a rally was taken out from Motihari village led by District Secretary Kalicharan Mehta, Virendra Choudhury, Kishore Kumar, Suryadev Choudhury, Abbas Ansari, Hira Choudhury, Amerika Ram and others. The speakers at the gherao protest said that the Jharkhand government has wrongly cancelled 11 lakh ration cards and 2.73 lakh pension holders on the false claim that they are fake. The Direct Benefit Transfer system has been implemented in Nagdi Block through which cash is being given instead of rations, increasing the burden of skyrocketing prices on the people. The note ban has resulted in poor farmers’ money being deposited in the banks, and rich corporate owners NPA loans have been waived. But poor farmers’ loans have not been waived. 99% notes are back in the banks and no black money has been found. Petroleum products have become cheaper everywhere in the world but costlier in India, and they have been kept out of the ambit of GST whereas everyday requirements come under GST. This clearly shows that the government cares nothing for the poor and common people and works only for the benefit of rich corporate houses. Land is being given to corporate houses through the land banks and if the poor protest they are lathi-charged. Rampant loot is going on in MNREGA, PM Awaas Yojana, 14th Finance Commission funds.
A 6-point memorandum was submitted to the Governor, Jharkhand through the dharna with the following demands:
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1. Dead stones are being used for the construction of the road between Bhikahi Mor and Kota Chhappardaga under PMGSY. This construction should be stayed and action taken against the authorities responsible.
2. Two months’ ration arrears should be disbursed to all ration card holders in Danda Block without delay.
3. Timely payment of pension to seniors, disabled, and widows should be guaranteed.
4. Equal pay for equal work should be implemented as per the SC directive to Jal Sahiyas, Rasoiyas, Sahayikas, health workers and para-teachers.
5. The anti-people actions of the Danda police should be stopped and pro-people role of the police should be guaranteed.
6. Signatures of people are being taken by the BDO for entry into the Main Gate of the Block office. This is inappropriate and should be stopped immediately.
The speakers at the meeting said that if the above demands are not met within one month, a befitting reply would be given through the Janvikalp Rally to be held in Ranchi on 11 November 2017.
