The new year has dawned with hope; the farmers hold their ground at our capital's borders. Despite the best efforts of the Modi government, the corporate media and anti-social elements to discredit, infiltrate and physically break the movement, it has grown even stronger. However, the better part of the country is yet to rise up in support. We carried out numerous activities as a part of the Shetkari Bachao Kriti Samiti, Pune that has been formed in Pune by all the non-BJP political parties (esp. the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena) together with various social organisations, to express our solidarity with the farmers' struggle and to raise public awareness and support for the same. Apart from that, we also organised campaigns on the streets in Pune to make people aware of how the farmers' struggle is actually a struggle of all the people of the country and why everyone must support it. January is also when we commemorate the birth of Savitribai Phule and the birth of our Republic and the coming into effect of our Constitution. Here is a brief report of our activities in January 2021.

Activities in support of Farmers' Movement

Bullock Cart Rally on Republic Day in Support of Farmers' Struggle: 'Bailgadi Morcha'

26th January 2021

Shetkari Bachao Kriti Samiti Pune is an alliance of all non-BJP parties and organisations in support of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha struggle for the abolition of the three anti-farmer laws and implementation of an MSP assurance law. Lokayat is part of this alliance. Our activists participated wholeheartedly in the Republic Day rally in Pune to protest the BJP government’s pro-corporate, pro-MNC and anti-farmer stand. As an homage to the farmers and in keeping with the celebratory spirit of 26th January, this was a bullock cart rally. Our activists made three beautiful tableaus, one depicting our Constitution, another with women farmers in traditional dresses of their states, and a third tableau paying homage to the farmer martyrs. We also carried large placards with quotes of our freedom fighters expressing their dreams for the farmers of India. All our activists marched in this rally. More than two thousand people participated in the rally, and thousands more watched from the ramparts of Shaniwar Wada and balconies as the rally wound its way through the crowded streets of old Pune. The Police stopped the rally just before it reached the office of the BJP but the sabha was held right at the barricades.

On Gandhiji's Martyrdom Day: Uposhan Sabha

Day long fast paying condolence to 177 shaheed farmers

In solidarity with the national call by farmers to observe a day-long fast on Gandhiji’s martyrdom day, Shetkari Bachao Kriti Samiti held a day-long sit-in fast at Balgandharva Chowk. All the constituents of the Samiti sent their representatives to participate in the fast; many of our activists also fasted. There were songs and speeches and slogans throughout the day; we also distributed leaflets to the continuously flowing crowd at this busy intersection. Condolences were offered to farmer martyrs on Mahatma Gandhiji's Martyr's day. A beautiful rangoli was drawn on the footpath depicting Gandhi and the poem Mahatma by Mardhekar, which was admired by both by the passers-by and the policemen on duty.

Campaigns in support of the Farmers' Movement

16th, 18th, 29th January 2021

Our activists organised several campaigns to raise awareness of the three anti-farmer bills and their implications for the people of the country. We organised five such campaigns this month, in diverse locations ranging from the verdant Vetal tekdi where the middle class comes for evening walks to the crowded inner lanes of Shivneri nagar, where vegetable vendors and unorganised workers of all trades live. One campaign was organised jointly with the Shetkari Bachao Kriti Samiti in Bopodi gaon.

Visit in solidarity to Farmers' Protest in Delhi

Mid to end of January 2021

Two more teams visited the farmers’ protest sites at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur and stayed for a week. Just like the previous teams, they experienced the most exhilaratingly democratic and powerful protest of our times and came back with new friendships and a reaffirmed faith in democracy. We held a press conference to share our experiences which was attended by a section of the Marathi press. Articles written by our activists were published by notable Marathi online portals - Jaglya and Aksharnama, and videos of our activists in Delhi went viral on FB and Youtube channels among the farming community and diaspora of Punjab and Haryana. We also organised several small meetings in Pune where activists who returned from Delhi narrated their experiences to our local activists who were unable to join them. The sessions were both enlightening and encouraging.

Programs organised by Abhivyakti

Celebration of Savitribai Phule Jayanti

3rd January 2021

3rd January is the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule. Her pioneering role in women's education needs no introduction. But her numerous other contributions, including her contribution to the struggle for caste annihilation as well as her writings and poetry, have been almost forgotten. To celebrate her birth anniversary, Abhivyakti, Anganwadi Karmachari Sabha, and Shaheen Bagh of Mominpura, Pune came together and decided to perform a short play that touches on these forgotten aspects. The entire play was put together in a matter of two weeks and performed by activists of Anganwadi Karmachari Sabha and Abhivyakti. The performance took place on the evening of 2nd January, at the historic Phule Wada – the residence of the Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule. Numerous Anganwadi workers and local women attended the program. We also held performances of this play in a few colleges in the subsequent days and also delivered online talks to colleges on the forgotten contributions of Savitribai Phule.

Campaign on Mahila Kisan Divas

18th January 2021

Women play a significant and crucial role in agricultural development and allied fields. Women contribute to between 60-80% of the various components of agricultural work, but this has not been recognised. On 18th January, following a call given by the farmer's movement, National Women Farmers' Day was celebrated all over the country. We campaigned in Pune highlighting the contribution of women in agriculture with attractive banners and placards. This campaign got a good response from people.

Celebrating Kite Festival

17th January 2021

As a part of our several activities to break gender stereotypes, every year on the occasion of Makar Sankranit we organise a kite festival to break the gender barriers associated with kite flying – which is considered a ‘man’s sport’. This year too we organised this on Sunday, Jan 17 at a Pune tekdi. This year more than 12 women flew kites for the first time in their life.

Besides these programs, talks on Gender Equality were delivered online to students of three different colleges by Abhivyakti. Attended by more than 100 students, they were much appreciated.

Women's contribution in various movements in India

31st January 2021

Women have played leading roles in so many social-political movements in India, be it the freedom struggle of our country or the various post-independence movements that have taken place on a wide range of issues. While participating in these movements, age has never been an obstacle for women: school going girls to women even in their 90s have actively participated. Be it the struggle against the Bhopal gas tragedy, the tribal women fighting against destruction of the environment by Coca-Cola-Pepsi bottling companies, the anti-nuclear energy struggles of Jaitapur and Kudankulam, to the anti-NRC-CAA Shaheen Bagh protests that flared up across the country and now the present farmers movement - women have been in the forefront of all these struggles. Abhivyakti organised an online and offline meet to discuss these little known great deeds. Women who attended this meeting were overwhelmed hearing the work and spirit of many brave women.

Programs organised in Pune Slums

Compensation for fire victims

15th January 2021

Last month, we succeeded in securing new ration cards for many families who lost their houses in the Wadarwadi fire of March 2020. However, quite a few households are facing problems while rebuilding their houses. To add insult to injury, the PMC is demanding the arrears of property and water taxes from the victims, many of whom have lost their jobs during the lockdown. We carried out a survey of all victims' families, and held a meeting with them, and to understand their problems in detail. The matters will be soon taken up with local authorities. We have also made some headway with the authorities in resolving the irregularities in ration distribution at Indiranagar vasti.

Collaboration with Anganwadi Karmchari Sabha

Visit to Bhide Wada

1st January 2021

A fighting start to the New Year: It was on 1st Jan some 125 years ago that the Phules started the first school for girls in Pune – at Bhide Wada. Today this historical building lies neglected and in a ramshackle condition; even the blue plaque commemorating it has faded. Every year, for many years, the Anganwadi Karmachari Sabha under the leadership of Nitin Pawar has been marking the 1st of January with a visit to Bhide Wada and reiterating the demand for a befitting memorial at the site. We joined this demonstration on the morning of 1st Jan. We raised slogans and sang a song in tribute to Savitribai Phule. Many citizens, passersby or crowding at the popular temple across the street, realised the importance of that building for the first time. Shri Hemant Rasne, chairman of the standing committee, Pune Municipal Corporation, accepted the invitation to garland the plaque and promised restoration of the plaque at the earliest.

Support to Protests of Anganwadi workers

for their long-standing demands

18th, 21st and 23rd January 2021

In solidarity with Anganwadi workers: In the first month of the new year, hundreds of Anganwadi workers and assistants held demonstrations outside local government offices in support of their long-standing demands of regular salaries and entitlement to workers’ benefits. Our activists are working with the Anganwadi Karmachari Sabha, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. We participated in the protests and also in Anganwadi meetings where the issues facing workers were discussed.

Other Programs

Swami Vivekanand Jayanti -'Yuva Din Parishad'

12th January 2021

On the occasion of Youth Day – Swami Vivekanand Jayanti - the quarry workers’ union organised a talk by our activists on the topic of unemployment and youth. More than 60 young workers attended this talk.

Union Protest: 'Bemudat thiyya Andolan'

22nd January 2021

The quarry workers’ union demonstrated at the Pune district collectorate demanding plots of land for housing for quarry workers. Even though they have been fighting for this for more than two decades now, the total land plot demanded by them is very small, and so many resolutions have been passed by authorities at various levels accepting their demand, the actual land transfer to them has still not taken place. Our activists joined their protest in solidarity.

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