Time to Rage Against Sexual Violence, Inequality & Patriarchal Mindset

9 March 2015 Women
IWD-2015

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2015, New Socialist Alternative in Bangalore participated in protest rally organized by several women’s group in Bangalore in which over 2000 people participated. We also distributed over 1000 leaflets in the rally.

In Pune, our comrades had organized a small meeting on the occasion. We had Prof. Swati Rajan as the main speaker. About 30 people attended the meeting.


MinTW



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#OccupyRBI Protests

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The following is a facebook post by Jagadish G Chandra from the New Socialist Alternative on the #OccupyRBI protest that was organized in Bangalore yesterday. It also features short videos with activists speaking about how the demonetization by the Modi govt has ended up hurting the working people. Jagadish & others activists were detained and later released by the police.

Please click on the following link for more reports on the protests

Pune Public transport Campaign
Maharashtra

Campaign for Affordable & Quality Public Transport

13 March 2015 Maharashtra

For over a month now, New Socialist Alternative, Pune has been campaigning and protesting against the recent public transport price hike. The 50% hike will hit many ordinary people hard and many in Pune are angry about this.

In our campaigns we have been highlighting on the very notion of a public transport system and it is not about generating profits, but the duty of the local municipality to provide affordable and quality public transport system. We have campaigned on different bus stops throughout the city, interacted with over 1000 people and got petitions signed.

We raised important issues such as how the corporation has strategically under-funded public transport, reduced the revenue of the corporation by cutting down on octroi/Local Body Tax (LBT) to favour the petty-bourgeoisie trading businesses and then crying hoarse saying lack of money so the need to privatize these essential services would be the only alternative.

After getting favourable responses amongst the general public, we approached the various organizations for a meeting and it was decided to organize a protest in front of Pune Municipal corporation. Apart from us, the other organizations involved included Parisar, Shramik Mahila Morcha, Bharatiya Mahila Federation, Lokjagar, Lok Chetana Manch and individual activists Sulabha Brahme, Anagha Lele.

The protest was held on 21st February and over 40 people attended. We also protested against the daylight murder of the communist party veteran activist – Govind Pansare and condemned the communal forces.

The joint demands put forward, included

  • Both Pune Municial Corporation and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation must contribute 400 Crores each annually for PMPML as the both remain the only shareholders/owners of it.
  • Min. fare should be Rs.3 and that of Maximum should not be more than Rs. 20. Ticketing should be done based on ‘Kilometer Basis’ and not on ‘stage basis’.
  • PMPML should purchase 1500 buses more (as it lacks the same number and it hires those no. of buses as per statistics.). Proper planning of bus routes should be done and the timetable should be displayed on every bus-stop.
  • (Private/personal) Four wheelers should be charged Congestion Tax and parking charges across the city.
  • Huge spending of capital on bridges and underground should be stopped immediately.
  • Contract system in PMPML should be stopped.
  • Contract laborers should be made permanent employees and until then they should be paid on ‘Equal work, Equal pay’ basis.

B. Youvraj and Rushikesh Divekar of New Socialist Alternative, Pune gave representation to the mayor of the city and Chairman of PMPML. The campaign is still ongoing and different protests are being planned in the coming period.

Venkatesh Harale

Pune

Solidarity Protest
Maharashtra

Pune: Solidarity Protest Supporting Spanish Student’s Strike

26 October 2016 Maharashtra

A solidarity protest organized by New Socialist Alternative (Indian Section of Committee for a Workers’ International) at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune on 25th October in support of the Spanish Student’s Strike. 

A protest rally was organized at SPPU in solidarity with Spanish Students’ Strike. First we distributed leaflets and appealed students to join the protest. In response around 50 students gathered. We began the rally by first singing the song “Shikshanachi zaliya daina, itha sarakari shala disana” (Education system is in shambles and now public schools are no more seen, being replaced by private ones).

A comrade explained the background of strike in Spain and the resolute, inspiring struggle built by Spanish students to defeat such policies. Then all shouted slogans condemning the privatization of education, cuts in education and demanding free and universal education systems. We tried to give it a bit of Spanish flavor by including a slogan “Students’ Unity – VIVA VIVA”. Later more comrades came in and addressed the students connecting these worldwide protests with ongoing struggles by Indian students against similar though much more savage neoliberal policies. We also brought forward the issue of unemployment among youths. In response to our appeal other left, Dalit organizations in the city too joined the rally and their comrades addressed the gathering. These organizations included Phule-Shahu-Amebdkar Vidyarthi Kruti Samiti, All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI). All through the program, we continued to shout slogans and sing various songs supporting struggles in India as well around the world.

New Socialist Alternative – Pune