Millions of framers’ from different parts of the country and International representatives gathered in Mysore-India on February 13th 2005 to take an oath for Gram Swaraj.(Village Republic) in protest against the anti farmers’ situation arising out of India’s decision to be part of the WTO. The day also marked farmers’ leader Prof. M. D. Nanjundaswamy’s 69th Birth Anniversary.

Karnataka Farmers’ Mammoth Rally Marks “Gram Swaraj Day” (Village Republic)
on February 13th 2005

Millions of framers’ from different parts of the country and International representatives gathered in Mysore-India on February 13th 2005 to participate in a farmers’ mammoth rally organized by Karnataka State Farmer’s Association and Green Brigade (KRRS).

The rally which marched through the main thoroughfares of the city congregated at town hall grounds (City Hall) to take an oath for Gram Swaraj.(Village Republic) in protest against the anti farmers’ situation arising out of India’s decision to be part of the WTO. The day also marked farmers’ leader Prof. M. D. Nanjundaswamy’s 69th Birth Anniversary.

Ch.Mahendra Singh Tikait, President Bharatiya Kisan Union and National Coordination of Farmers Movements who inaugurated the program sought to establish an alternative system for farmers ’.He said Multi-national Companies are trying to take the agriculture and food sector into their hands. To stop this invasion Ch.Tikait said that the organizations would fallow numerous methods designed by Prof. Nanjundaswamy like non violent direct action against the MNCs , GMO seed companies and the State.

Meanwhile one of the National conveners of farmer’s movements Mr.Yudhhvir Singh criticizing the import policy said that the policy had a direct impact on farmers’ that has led to thousands of suicides in the country. He also warns if the government continues its apathy towards farmers the rate of suicides may explode in terms of millions.

Chukki Nanjundaswamy, general secretary (National and International Affairs)KRRS and Green Brigade raised her voice against the unscientific price policy and agriculture loan policy of the both Central and State governments.

Kodihalli Chandrashekar General Secretary KRRS and Green Brigade demanded the government to halt the seizure of movable and immovable property of farmers’ who were unable to clear their loans on account of the WTO impact. Also farmers’ demanded in unison to be provided with all government services including free power and waiver of farm loans, remunerative price for their crops and avoid price fall. Farmers’ also felt an immediate need of distribution of all revenue lands to the landless laborers. Women and children also participated in the rally.

Namdu ( Ours)

A direct market for agricultural produces ‘Namdu’ was inaugurated to initiate the movement of Grama Swaraj (village republic) as alternatives to the WTO and the neo-liberal economic system. which will create a direct transaction between Producer and Consumer without middlemen through bringing out our own products called “NAMDU” “Ours”

To mark the inauguration tender coconut, coconut oil, milk products, Rice, Ragi, Maize different types of pulses, rice flour, ragi flour, maize flour daily needs like Pain Balm, Cold Cream, detergent powder, soap, herbal shampoo, tooth paste, tooth powder, fruit jam, juice, biscuits, cookies, and kumkum manufactured by women farmers in different villages all over Karnataka was sold under the brand name “Namdu”. “Namdu “concept was introduced to end the middle men menace. Because of middle men prices of agricultural produce shot up incurring losses to farmers, with the introduction of Namdu farmers’ can now gain more for the same yield.

Declarations made after launching ‘Gram Swaraj’ Movement(Village Republic)
in Mysore on February 13th 2005.

1. To establish a suitable market in order to overcome the deficiencies aroused due to the lacuna of a system in safeguarding prices and government import policies that have led to the suicides and downfall of farmers.

2. Decision was made to stop the loan recovery, seizure of movable and immovable properties and collection of electricity charges. Since all the loans of farmers are the result of government policies.

3. Since rain dependent farm practices are in an imbalanced state a decision was made to take up projects to improve ground water level through rainwater harvesting and to continue agriculture utilizing free power.

4. To ensure that entire farmland in the country stays under the control of farming community by stopping the efforts of governments to evict Bagar Hukum (squatted land) farmers and handing over of these lands to Multi-national companies and National Companies or leasing of these lands.

5. To protest the import in order to protect the interests of majority milk producers, silk farmers and coconut growers and based on this it was decided to chalk out a place to market the finished goods.

6. It was decided to reject Genetically Modified Organisms (seeds) as well as throwing out such local and multinational companies as they are pushing farmers and the bio-diversity to greater losses.

7. To contact prompt private insurance companies to decide premium depending on average yield of a crop considering each village or a hamlet as a single unit in order to safeguard the peasant community who have come under the whirl wind of these tragedies.

8. To resolve the inter state differences of water among the farmers it was decided to conduct discussions/ organize convention with delegates from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondichery, Kerala and Karnataka.

e-mail:: chukki_krrs@yahoo.co.in, nagesh.viacampesina@gmail.com phone:: +91 80 2860 4737

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