Padyatras against "Anti People Policies" in Rajasthan

Jaipur, Aug 7 (UNI) Various NGOs and citizens groups, including Rozgar Evum Suchna Ka Adhikar Abhiyan will organise 'Jan Adhikar Yatras' from August 9 to 20 against "escalating anti-people and undemocratic land policies" in Rajasthan.

The Padyatras (marches), will start simultaneously from Alwar, Ajmer, Sikar and Tonk, and a cycle yatra will commence from Nimbahera in Chittorgarh district, a spokesperson of the organisers said.

These padyatris would congregate at Jaipur on August 20 for a week-long dharna and a series of public hearings from August 21 to 26.

"A critical matter of concern was the land policies in the State.

The opening up of sale of government land to corporate and private vested interests would result in depriving the poor and marginalized from access to common resources and livelihood in thousands of villages across the State. This would result in large scale displacement, migration and the economic downscaling of lives of the rural masses," she said.

The Yatra, would take the debate into the public and share with people the specific legal framework and the implementation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), rapidly mushrooming in the state, "indiscriminate policy" of leasing lakhs of hectares of common land to companies for Jatropha cultivation, and the plans to do away with restrictions on sale of land owned by Scheduled Castes(SC) and Scheduled Tribes(ST).

"The poor implementation of the Right to Information Act , the demand for including more districts under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the lack of a legal framework for social security for the unorganised sector would also be issues of concern", the spokesperson added.

UNI