People's Democracy

Third Jharkhand State Conference Held

Polit Bureau member of CPI(M) Brinda Karat called upon the workers, peasants, women, Adivasis and other socially oppressed sections to unitedly launch struggle to bring the people’s burning problems at the centre of the polity of Jharkhand. She also appealed to keep their unity and defeat communal and casteist forces.

Addressing a public meeting at Imli Chowk of Adityapur, near Jamshedpur, on December 14 on the occasion of the third Jharkhand state conference of the Party, Brinda Karat emphasised on effective implementation of Forest Rights Act, PDS for all and Antyodaya scheme for all poor in scheduled areas. She also stressed the need for effective implementation of NREGA in the state, fighting for women's reservation bill, holding overdue panchayat election in the state and fighting against corruption. Industrial workers, women, Adivasis and other toiling sections joined the public meeting from different parts of Saraikela and adjoining districts. Polit Bureau member S Ramchandran Pillai was also present.

A total of 244 delegates and 29 observers, elected in the 30 district and state level Party units’ conferences, attended the third Jharkhand state conference of the Party, held at Comrade Anil Biswas Nagar, Adityapur in Saraikele-Kharswan district during December 14-16, 2007. Brinda Karat inaugurated the conference while S Ramchandran Pillai summed up the conference. CPI’s Jharkhand state assistant secretary K D Singh greeted the conference on behalf of his party. Amongst the conference participants, 45 were STs, 25 SCs, 26 women, 13 Muslim minorities and 18 OBCs. Their class origin is 39 from working class, 102 poor peasants, 40 middle peasants and 45 from middle class.

The general secretary report shows growth of the mass organisations and of the Party since the last conference, held in December 2004. Mass organisations and the Party have grown in new areas and amongst new sections. Out of 24 administrative districts in Jharkhand, the Party has presence in 23 districts. Mass organisations together have grown by 81 per cent and the Party has grown by 39 per cent since the last conference. Amongst Party members STs are 19.81 per cent, SCs 18.82 per cent, women 6 per cent and Muslim minorities 9.32 per cent. The number of Party branches increased from 389 to 565, local committees from 46 to 81 and district level committees from 17 to 19. All six priority districts have increased their activities in new areas and sections, have all mass organisations and conducted local movements. During this period, the Party in Jharkhand carried on wider movement on all India issues, state issues and on local issues.

The state conference exhibited unity in objective discussion on the reports, resolutions and conclusions. The 66 delegates, who participated in the discussion, emphasised on rapidly building mass organisations, particularly of kisan sabha, and mass movement, for holding Party classes exhibiting urge for developing ideological and political level of the general Party members. By a resolution, the conference demanded underground fire affected 600 sq kms Jharia coalfield area, which is threatening security of lives, property and livelihood of 7 lakh inhabitants, as a national disaster. By separate resolution the conference demanded of holding overdue panchayat election in the state.

A 30-member new state committee and delegates for Party Congress were elected unanimously with seven new members in the state committee. J S Majumdar has been unanimously re-elected as state secretary by the state committee.