“We will stay until we die. We will never leave Delhi until we get land”, says Rajkuwan, a 40 year old widow from the Indian state of Chatissgarh. She has joined 25,000 other landless people in blocking the main highway into Delhi as part of Janadesh-The Peoples’ Verdict-a demonstration organized by grass roots pressure group Ekta Parishad. Since early October they have been marching along the highway from Gwalior and have already covered over 300 KM. Their aim is to pressure the Indian government into carrying out land reform by using non-violent direct action, so that poor people can secure their land and livelihoods.
70% of India’s population live in villages, yet they feel that they have been forgotten by a government that is only interested in rapid economic growth, regardless of the social consequences. Apart from natural disasters such as crop failure and lack of access to water, they face many man-made difficulties as well. Many are displaced from their land to make way for multinational companies. In India’s mineral rich state of Orissa alone, some US$13 Billion dollars is currently being invested in steel and aluminium plants.
Without land people are powerless. They are held at the whims of landlords and corrupt officials.
Rajkuwan’s case is typical. In the village she lives in there is no water. The nearest water source is 4KM away and the nearest doctor 13KM away. The 150 children in the village are taught in a makeshift school by just 2 teachers. Rajkuwan has to fend for herself. As well as losing her husband her only child is now dead also. She has no land and has to work for a landlord for just Rs25 per day (approx 30 pence). When she tried to organize the local villagers into asking for better pay and conditions the landlord stopped paying them altogether. She has been frustrated at every turn in trying to assert her rights. When she went with other villagers to request land from the local collectors office she was refused. A subsequent demonstration at the police station led to the head of the village being shot by the police.
Rajkuwan says she will go on hunger strike if necessary when she gets to Delhi. She is tired of asking for what she believes is her right. In a few days time the march will reach Delhi. She feels in a confident mood and is hopeful that this time her struggle will be successful