Right to Food and Work Campaign, West Bengal

On 27th April, 2020, we have wrote a complaint letter to t he District Magistrate , North 24 Parganas, New Administrative Building, expressing our concern i n reference to the Government Order vide memo No: 1224-FS/O/Sectt/IT-19/2018 dated 31.03.2020, mentioning the provision to offer Food Coupons to ration card holders yet to receive their physical cards through postal service. It has come to our notice that a significant portion of the population residing in the Naihati area has not been able to benefit from the above mentioned Government Order. Below is the letter sent to t he  District Magistrate , North 24 Parganas, New Administrative Building . (to preview letter, click here ) To,                                                ...

About 40 trade unions in the unorganised and organised sector, people’s organisations, doctors forums  and NGOs from West Bengal have demanded that the blanket lock down be discontinued after the 4t May 2020. They have asked instead for isolating and locking down only in affected pockets, with proper testing to determine such areas, regular surveillance and proper quarantine. They have also asked for immediate arrangements to be made for the return of migrant workers. In addition, these  organisations are also demanding protection of workers through programmes like a guaranteed Rs.7000 per month for two months for all working class families , increase in entitlements of free rations in the rationing system, expansion of the 100 days work programme in rural and urban areas, wages for the lock down period and wage subsidy to owners of small and middle scale industry. These demands are being sent to the PM and CM in anticipation to the meeting between the PM and CMs on 27 t...