Ultimatum to Central Government - Chetawani Rally in Delhi

From March 6-8 10,000 people will be in Delhi for a large scale action. Ekta Parishad is mobilizing the marginalized and landless poor from more than 17 states across India. They will be gathering at Ram Lila Ground to give an ultimatum to the Central Government. Based on the promises made following the 2007 Janadesh March to carry out a land redistribution program, the Government hitherto has not taken up any genuine action.

The first day will include a discussion on the memorandum for the Prime Minister (see attachments); the second day will be a march to Parliament and a meeting there; and the final day will be on `Voicing Grassroots Women`s Concerns on Corruption`. All participants leaved their family`s and homes to travelled the long journey to Delhi. During the next cold winter days and nights, they will live tents. This huge acceptance of suffering, shows how deeply people are convinced by their non-violent struggle. They deplore a lack of accountability of the government and the ineffective implementation of government schemes, as well as growing violence affecting deprived people.

"The country cannot find a comprehensive solution to poverty without reforms that ensure equitable access to land and other natural resources. What we required is to shift to a decentralized, democratic and sustainable land system witch recognizes the farmer as the key producer" says Rajagopal P. V. As reaction to Janadesh, the Government of India constituted a National Council for Land Reforms and the National Committee on State Agrarian Relations and the Unfinished Task in Land Reforms and promises an new land agenda but till now our main issues remain unsatisfied:

1. There is continuing poor implementation of Forest Rights Act across the country: For effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act it becomes necessary to create awareness and mobilise the Gram Sabha to recognise and protect the rights of the forest dwellers and the tribal communities in a definite time frame. Tribal communities who were earlier displaced must be rehabilitated under the purview of FRA.

2. There is a continuing non-implementation of the National Land Reforms Committee Report: The PM has still not called a meeting of Land Reforms Council to discuss the recommendations of the Committee. The report integrated the implementation of the Tenancy Registration Act, the end of conversion of agricultural land for non-agriculture purposes, the implementation of land ceiling and the distribution of homestead land. Our propositions to create fast-track courts for redressing disputes and a simple single window system were incorporated.