Statewide Padyatra Campaign Against Inflation and Unemployment to Run from August 6 to 14, Activists to Engage with Public on People's Issues Village by Village
Bhagalpur, Special Correspondent: Political and social activity is heating up in the Bihpur region within the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. An essential and high-level meeting of the CPI (Communist Party of India) Zonal Council was organized on the local office premises. Several senior leaders of the party, local activists, and zonal-level office bearers were present at this meeting. The main highlight of the meeting was the extensive discussion held on the outline of a statewide campaign to be conducted across Bihar at the call of the party's central and state leaderships. It was decided by unanimous consensus that a comprehensive Padyatra (Foot March) Campaign will be carried out from August 6 to August 14 regarding soaring inflation, escalating unemployment, and other burning public issues connected to the common people, under which party activists will go from door to door and village to village to establish direct dialogue with the general public.
Issues of Public Concern Echo in the Meeting, Leaders Corner the Government
This meeting of the CPI Zonal Council proved highly significant on multiple fronts, with open deliberation taking place on basic regional problems:
Public Suffering Under Inflation: Addressing the meeting, speakers stated that prices of food items, cooking gas, petrol-diesel, and other essential commodities are touching the skies across the country and the state today, making life miserable for the poor and middle class. Government policies run counter to the interests of the common man.
Growing Crisis of Unemployment: Deep concern was expressed regarding employment for the youth. Leaders noted that due to a lack of adequate education and employment opportunities in the state, youth are continuously forced to migrate. Apart from false promises, no concrete plans for job creation are visible on the ground.
Local Issues and Administrative Apathy: Intense outrage was also expressed over the decay of irrigation, electricity, and health services as well as corruption in Bihpur and surrounding rural areas. Speakers declared that public interest works have come to a standstill and ordinary citizens are forced to make rounds of offices for minor grievances.
Outline of the Statewide Padyatra Campaign Running from August 6 to 14
To take all these public issues to every single person and draw the administration's attention, the CPI has prepared for a massive mass-contact campaign:
Activists to Reach Every Village: According to the scheduled plan, this padyatra starting August 6 will pass through various villages, hamlets, and wards of the Bihpur zone. Party workers and leaders will walk on foot to reach every household and listen to people's problems.
Street Corner Meetings and Public Dialogues: Small street-corner meetings (nukkad sabhas) and chaupals will be organized in different villages during the padyatra. In these gatherings, speakers will make the public aware of the current political and economic conditions of the country and state.
Exposing the Policies of Central and State Governments: The core objective of this campaign is to make the public aware of how the lives of the poor are becoming difficult due to anti-people policies. The party will endeavor to garner widespread public support on these issues.
Responsibilities Assigned to Activists, Call to Intensify the Movement
At the conclusion of the meeting, office-bearers of the Zonal Council assigned responsibilities for individual villages to all active workers:
Emphasis on Discipline and Proactivity: Party leaders appealed to activists to make this padyatra successful with utmost dedication and energy. Individual and collective problems of people should be compiled by visiting every village.
Preparation for Submitting Memoranda: Following the conclusion of the padyatra (around August 14), a memorandum will be submitted to the government through the local administration and Block Development Officer (BDO), strongly demanding a check on inflation, allowances or employment for the jobless, and the restoration of basic amenities in rural areas.
This meeting organized by the CPI Zonal Council in Bihpur and the upcoming statewide padyatra campaign scheduled from August 6 to 14 indicate that the regional political temperature is set to rise in the coming days. How effective the Communist Party's decision to take to the streets regarding national and regional issues like inflation and unemployment will prove to be remains to be seen, but it is certain that this will give a new platform and strength to the voice of the common man.
