Janadesh Cycle Tour - Update Feb 8, 2007

Janadesh Cycle Yatra: Update

Today the Janadesh Cycle yatra reached the Gandhi Museum in Maduri, Tamil Nadu. This is the 11th day of the Yatra and already they have covered a distance of 543 km and have had a real grassroots experience and exchange with the complex issues and diverse people along their path.

One of the cyclist expressed that the first day of cycling was difficult, but after seeing the issues faced by the people, the physical pain did not seem important.

Some of the major issues being faced by the people in the villages are inadequate land, displacement, unemployment, child labour, gender inequalities, discrimination, and abuse.

In Tuticorin area, the people living in the village that the yatra visited were once forest people that had been displaced, causing the lose of their livelihood. They are a community of 20 families living in tents on the side of the road close to a bus station. Their homes, constructed of tarps and reeds are neither permanent nor secure. They do not have any access to land and cannot provide for their own food security. During Pongol they drew beautiful designs on the road close to their shelters. When they learned that the cyclists were from Ekta Parishad they were so excited because an organization named Metchay, meaning ‘to pull out of difficulty,’ is now helping them to advocate for their basic needs. The advocacy movement to help the community started when some members from Metchay attended the 09808 yatra this past October and became inspired to support deprived communities in their own region. Metchay is now organizing a Dharna to get land for the community.

In Celon Colony, the Yatra learned about a success story of civil non-violent action. Last year on Januray 9th, the children of Celon Colony entered the district collectors office with their books and notes and started studying in the corridor there. The children were lead by the state organizer of Dalit women rights forum, Indira, who witnessed the constant neglect of the government officials to the petitions of the residences of the Celon Colony. The community was in dire need of electricity and had tried in all ways possible to make the authorities understand. It was a clear violation of human rights and the action of bringing the children to the collectorate pressured the officials concerned and they took immediate action to supply power to the community. This story of the school children in Celon Colony is such a good example of how non-violent action can produce adequate pressure to bring about change for communities suffering from neglect and discrimination.

In Payingulam, there were 125 families dependent on farming. Many of the families do not have land but work as labourers. It was found in this community that the women only get paid half the amount of salary as the men. In other villages such as Palarpatti where the people are dependent on salt cultivation for their livelihood, the people are facing problems of unemployment. The National Rural Employment Guarentee is ment to ensure 100 days of work but there has been very little sign of this.

In Kadodinpani, there were 50 families waiting to receive the 25 acres of land promised to them. They live in very small houses and because of their lack of land they have to live 3 families to one house.In Menachiparum, children are working in the match box factory instead of going to school. Because their families do not have any other income, they are forced to send their children to work.

In A.M Patti, they organized a very big gathering to celebrate pongal festival. It was a great opportunity for the activists to share about Janadesh. In this village, one of the cyclists became so popular because of his singing that they made him a money garland as a donation to Janadesh. The Cycle Yatra visited the home of Subramyanya Bhrathi, one of India’s freedom fighters and great writers to pay their respects.

Along the route the Janadesh Cyclists were hosted by numerous ashrams that work in Cadi production and received food and shelter by these kind people.

At the Gandhi Museum in Maduri, the cyclists were welcomed by senior Gandhian’s Bal Vijay, K.M Natarajan, and Lakshmi Kanth. Bal Vijay who walked with Vinoba Babi during the land gift movement was in great support of the Cycle Yatra. He encouraged the group to continue with the Yatra and to focus on the four major issues of poverty, unemployment, injustice, exploitation, and ignorance.

More to come….

Ekta Parishad