AIKS demands 200 days MNREGS work; debate on Food Bill

All India Kisan Sabha, the peasants wing of CPIM, today demanded at least 200 days of work per year to rural people under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and a wage of Rs 300 per day.
".. AIKS demands the provision of at least 200 days of work per adult worker for every rural household at a wage of not less than Rs 300 per day through the MNREGS," one of the six resolutions passed at its four-day 33rd all India conference which concluded here today said.
It also demanded that the scheme be extended to urban areas suitably. "This conference also calls upon all its units to take up problems related to MNREGA implementation and organise workers against efforts to dilute its provisions."

The conference also pressed for a "meaningful debate" in the Parliament on the proposed Food Security Bill and necessary amendments to address various concerns.
It urged that the system of universal PDS be put in place and entitlements restored to seven kg per capita per month, with a minimum of 35 kg per household per month.
Another resolution expressed concerns at the non implementation of the Forest Rights Act in most states in the country and sought remedial action.

"All the land that is in the possession of and being actually cultivated by Adivasis and other traditional forest dwellers be vested in their names."

Other resolutions resisted corporatisation of agriculture and to protect peasantry, demanded substantial increase in public investment in agriculture, expansion and strengthening of extension and research services and prompt procurement at remunerative prices.
The conference elected Amra Ram as its new President and Hannan Mollah as General Secreary. P Krishna Prasad is the new Finance Secretary.
Vice Presidents: S Ramachandran Pillai, K Varadha Rajan, Madan Ghosh, Malla Reddy, Abdul Rezzack Mollah and K Balakrishnan and the Joint Secretaries are Suryakant Misra, Bajuban Riyan, N K Shukla, Vijoo Krishnan, Ashok Dhawale, E P Jayarajan and Nripen Choudhury, an AIKS release said.
All the newly elected members will have a tenure of three years.