UP committee of AIKMS has condemned UP government’s decision not to declare all districts of UP as drought affected despite unprecedented failure of Monsoon this year. Allahabad unit held a protest on 30.07.2002 at Bara tehsil in which over 800 peasants participated.

In view of the unprecedented drought conditions, AIKMS has been demanded immediate implementation of Food for work programmes in all villages, 2 quintals of free foodgrain to all families in view of the loss of work due to failure of agricultural operations and grant of drought relief @ of 30 kg of rice seed per acre of land and 50 kg of Phosphate and 20 kg of Potash fertilizer per acre of land to all farmers in order to cover the losses suffered in the sowing.

The campaign conducted by the All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha has raised the question of non functioning of canal pumps, widespread and deep-rooted corruption in Public distribution system, deliberate overcharging of electricity tariff, and an insensitive administrative setup as important reasons of the massive hunger and impending starvation crisis facing the state. AIKMS has demanded that foodgrains from Govt. stocks should be used for fulfilling above demands.

AIKMS has also condemned the callous implementation of Supreme Court’s order banning quacks without making any alternative arrangements of doctors in villages. Far off villages have no medical care left and even in PHCs medical care is available during office hours. During the remaining time people are forced to go without medical care or run to costly nursing homes which fleece patients with impunity. Over last few weeks there has been a rise in number of deaths due to lack of medical care in rural areas. AIKMS has demanded 24 hour medical care facility in villages and withdrawal of the ban pending some alternative arrangement for training of these quacks.

AIKMS is also demanding immediate provision of free books to school children studying upto class 8. Every year these books come in January when the children have already purchased them and the money finds its way into the pockets of the managers. This year the Bahujan Samaj Party led government has doubled the cost of these books and all text books have been changed in order to force guardians to purchase new sets.

AIKMS strongly condemns the begging gimmickry being conducted by a section of BJP MLAs to provide for books. In Lucknow these MLAs unitedly fight for ministries and cabinet expansion and not a word is heard about books. Here they are making a mockery of peoples’ suffering by collecting funds in order to gain sympathy of the people and cover up the misdeed of their government of increasing cost of education.