Farmer organizations to hold protests ahead of Vibrant Gujarat summit in mid-January

By A Representative
Around 30 organizations working with agricultural labourers, farmers, tribals and women farmers, who gathered at the Sardar Patel Smarak Bhavan, Bhadra, Ahmedabad, discussed issues like debt eradication, crop insurance, irrigation and drought, affecting Gujarat farmers.
They also discussed issues related with forest land rights, tribal council, use of ST plan funds, PESA Act, mining etc.in tribal areas. Issues of saltpan workers, fisherfolk and farm labourers also cropped up during the meet.
The meeting decided to oppose the Vibrant Gujarat summit, even as focusing on how it runs against society's interests. A programme of action was chalked out to hold a foot march from Karamsad to Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad, from January 9 to 11, 2019, three days ahead of the summit. It was also decided to hold meetings on the same lines in Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surendranagar, Bharuch and Ahmedabad districts.
Ahead of the state-wide protests, on December 26, 2018, it was decided, farmers would hand over memorandums in taluka and district government offices highlighting their plight. The memorandum would highlight how the Gujarat government has been favouring industrialists and privatization, even as neglecting farmers' interests.
Attended, among others, by Dahyabhai Gajera of the Gujarat Kisan Sabha, Sagar Rabari of the Gujarat Khedut Ekta Manch, Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti's Krishnakant, Rajni Dave of Bhumiputra, Jamin Adhikar Movement's Gova Rathod, Annadata Hitrakshak Samiti's Pankaj Patel, Bharat Singh Zala of the Kisan Ekta Adhikar Manch, and Deepesh Shah of Kisan Ekta Samiti, the meeting decided to align with small entrepreneurs in their fight.

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