On the issue of job cards and work under NREGA, agricultural labourers led by CPI(ML) and AIALA gheraoed the DM residence in Gazipur on 8 December. Prior to this, AIALA had held a 5-day dharna at Gazipur Sadar block. In the same district, in Jamania block, an AIALA dharna had been continuing since 25 November. AIALA has been demanding that the administration must set up a counter to issue job cards to all job-seekers, take photographs, open bank accounts for the workers with zero balance, guarantee 100 days work or else pay unemployment allowance, and also hold camps to disburse pension to widows and the handicapped, as well as old-age pension.
Eventually, after the administration had failed to respond positively to the dharna, more than 100 workers, led by CPI(ML) Distrct Sectretary Rampyare Ram, marched from the party office to the DM’s residence and began a gherao. All the protestors were arrested and brought to police lines. However, they were released later and the administration conceded the major demands raised by the protestors. Following this assurance, the dharna at Sadar block was called off, though as a precaution, the dharna at Jamania block will continue till the assurances are implemented.
