National Day of Mourning

Pic Courtesy: Shramajibi Mahila Samity, South 24-Parganas

A call for the National Day of Mourning was given by the Right to Food Campaign and leading civil society networks on 1st June 2020. The Right to Food and Work Network, West Bengal in association with its member organizations also has marked the day in memory of the people who have died due to the apathy of the government agencies during the nationwide lockdown. Sit-in(s), demonstrations and related social action initiatives were taken by the field activists with adherence to physical distancing protocols. Women activists led the demonstrations in most of the field areas spread across twenty districts of West Bengal.

The call to observe a National Day of Mourning to highlight the insensitive handling of the crisis arising out of the nationwide lockdown was necessitated by the outpouring of sufferings as reported by leading media houses and civil society networks. The call was supported by numerous people led initiatives, trade unions, civil society organizations and public-spirited individuals. Our senior activists observed a two-minute silence in memory of the people succumbing to the insensitivity of the nation in responding to the needs of the vulnerable communities. They also wore black bands and called for a sustained campaign to demand a better response to the crisis from the administration. Social media handles and messaging platforms were engaged throughout the day to spread the importance of marking the day and also to share photographs and video clips of the concerned activities. The secretariat coordinated with the national platforms to represent the concerns of West Bengal and to show solidarity with the cause. A press release was done a day before and leading media houses covered the programme in various parts of West Bengal.

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha, Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, Human Life Development and Research Centre, Malda Sahayogita Samity, Mukto Kantho Mahila Samity, Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity, Seva Sadan, Seva Kendra, SEWA Bharat, Shramajibi Mahila Samity, Shripur Mahila-o-Khadi Unnayan Samity, Swayam, Udayani Social Action Forum, Lok Manch and Gitaldaha Bikas Samity are some of the member organizations who took an active part in our show of solidarity. 

Protest sites ranged from local fair price shops, MGNREGA worksites to panchayat as well as block offices. The local population were engaged effectively in the field areas and specific issues of the affected communities were expressed through the programme. Tea garden workers, erstwhile enclave dwellers of the Indo-Bangladesh border, women 'bidi' workers, marginal farmers, agricultural labourers, women in sex work, slum dwellers, domestic workers and people from other vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds participated through our member organizations. Our allies from similar rights-based groups and networks also extended their invaluable support to the call. Platforms for informal sector workers and trade unions bought out the unique challenges confronting the working class in a time marked by rising unemployment and dilution of critical labour laws.

Some of the demands raised by the network have been listed below:

• Immediate steps to address the concerns of stranded migrant workers
• Universalization of the Public Distribution System
• Minimum 240 days of guaranteed employment under MGNREGA, 2005
• Developing an employment guarantee programme for urban areas
• Access to health services, especially for the disadvantaged sections
• Ensuring maternity benefits according to the provisions of the NFSA, 2013
• Revival of the rural economy and adequate measures to prevent distress migration in the future

The super cyclone 'Amphan' has also added to the woes of the people and devastated large parts of coastal West Bengal. Hence, the demands for immediate state assistance for crisis mitigation were also included. Specific demands (not inclusive of ) rebuilding temporary and semi-permanent dwelling units, assistance to farmers and fishermen, revival of natural water bodies and adequate steps to protect the fertility of lands after being inundated by seawater.