Delhi Govt’s Stance on Gig Workers Stirs Controversy, Demand for Separate Board Raised

Mukund Jha | 26 Oct 2023

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Delhi government has talked about bringing gig workers under the ambit of the 'Construction Workers Welfare Board,' regarding which many questions are being raised.

Image credit: PTI

New Delhi: For several years, gig workers across the country have been raising their voices for their rights and against the 'exploitation' they face. The effect of their struggles is such that now the safety and rights of gig workers are being discussed in many states, and laws are also being made. The Delhi government has also talked about making a law for their 'rights'. 

However, many labour organisations, including the Gig Workers Union, have raised questions about the 'intentions' of the Delhi government, as it has talked about providing security to gig workers under the 'Construction Workers Welfare Board', which has led to a controversy. 

Who are Gig Workers?

Gig workers are people who do app-based work in the private sector. They do not have any direct relation with any owner. After completing tasks on the app, they get a pre-fixed honorarium. The companies these workers are associated with do not call them workers or labourers but 'partners'. Some of these are part-time, while others are full-time employees. These workers do not have any job security and benefits like Employee State Insurance (ESI) and Provident Fund (PF). They also work for less money, and their working hours are not fixed.

What did the Delhi government say?

On October 19, a delegation of the Gig Workers Association and Amazon India Workers Association met the Delhi government and submitted a memorandum. In the memorandum, there was a demand to make a law for gig workers in Delhi, as has been done in Rajasthan.

After this meeting, newspapers quoted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as asking his cabinet minister Atishi to get information about whether these gig workers meet the definition of workers provided under the 'Construction Workers Welfare Board'. 

The statement from the CM’s Office said, "The CM also suggested to the association that if the gig workers do not come under the purview of the Construction Workers Welfare Board, then they should seek the help of the Central government in this regard. If the Central government issues a notification, it could potentially solve many of the problems gig workers face. The need for a separate law by the state government may be unnecessary." 

The CM mentioned that it was unclear whether state governments had the power to impose taxes (cess). 

Kejriwal also said that most state governments have huge funds under the Construction Workers Welfare Board, often not utilised. If gig workers are included under the Construction Workers Welfare Board, they will be entitled to benefits provided by the Delhi government, said the statement quoting the CM.

Why are gig workers' unions, other labour organisations protesting?

Speaking with NewsClick, Nirmal Goran, director of 'Mehnatkash Association', which works with gig workers in Delhi-NCR, said, "The Delhi government currently has no understanding of gig workers and their issues. Perhaps that is why he (Kejriwal) has talked about including gig workers in the construction workers' board or asking for help from that board. This is just not possible. Gig workers also include construction workers, but there are not only construction workers. The way the economy is going, the gig economy seems to be the future in the times to come. Therefore, a separate labour board should be formed for the safety of workers." 

Manju Goyal, secretary of Amazon India Workers Association, who was part of the delegation that met the Chief, told NewsClick, "It is clear in the memorandum we have given to the Delhi government that we want a separate law and board for gig workers in Delhi on the lines of Rajasthan. Although the Chief Minister suggested if we could be included in the construction workers' board, we refused because it was impossible. The reason for this is that the places where most gig workers work are multinational companies. In such a situation, no security is possible for us by joining the construction welfare board."

She said, "After the discussion, the Delhi government asked us to give a detailed draft for making a new law. We are working on it and will submit that draft to the government very soon, but we want a separate board because our problems are very different."

‘Delhi Govt's Promise Hollow and Baseless’

Meanwhile, the Delhi state committee of the Central Trade of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has also objected to the announcement made by the Delhi Government regarding gig workers. 

CITU works with both construction workers and gig workers across the country. 

Anurag Saxena, general secretary, CITU, Delhi, in a statement said, "Delhi government has made a hollow announcement regarding the social security scheme for gig workers. The announcement came after a meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Education Minister Atishi along with representatives of some gig workers organisations."

"Arvind Kejriwal has expressed the need to explore the possibility of starting such a scheme through the Construction Workers Welfare Board. First, it must be underlined that the Construction Welfare Board came into existence due to a Central statute, "Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996". The law clearly defines the beneficiaries as well as the entire framework – it is clear that gig workers are not covered under this Act."

Questioning the intentions of the Delhi government, CITU said, "The Delhi government and its inspired NGOs have already created a situation in which the benefits of the Construction Workers Welfare Board are not reaching the genuine construction workers. In such a situation, this announcement of the Aam Aadmi Party government is nothing but a ploy to fool gig workers of Delhi."

It said, "Companies agree to this process because it only hinders the genuine demands of gig workers against ID blocking and other anti-labour practices. The need of the hour is for the state government to identify full-time workers and bring them under the ambit of existing labour laws."

Saxena said, "Gig workers are going to become one of the largest sectors of the working class in the country in the coming years. Making employer-worker relationships invisible has become the main tactic to continue exploitation and circumvent existing laws,” adding that the “hollow” announcement made by the Kejriwal government was the result of its policy of “zero expenditure for the welfare of workers. “

“Note that the money for the Construction Workers Welfare Board includes a cess collected by a law that came into existence due to workers' struggles. The Delhi government continues to ignore the demand of trade unions to create a separate welfare board for other segments of the unorganised workforce," he said.

According to the trade union, "The recent laws introduced by the Rajasthan government and plans to introduce such laws by the Jharkhand and Karnataka governments (despite the limitations of these laws) have been possible only because of workers' struggles and direct action. Here in Delhi NCR, too, we have seen an increase in protests by gig workers, the most notable of which is the ongoing agitation by Urban Company workers led by the CITU-affiliated All India Gig Workers Union."

CITU urged the government to hold discussions with all stakeholders. 

In the discussion started by the Delhi government regarding gig workers, there are some essential points that the labour organisations are continuously raising. First, this discussion is still at a preliminary stage. Second, labour organisations say that the government must understand this issue more deeply. Third, labour organisations say that the government wants to spend the welfare money of other workers on gig workers instead of giving money from its budget, which does not seem practical at present. Fourth, these workers are demanding that if the government is serious about them, it should immediately hold discussions with all the parties with an open mind, and the laws made in other states of the country should be studied.

(Translated from Hindi)

 

Kerala: Employees, TUs Gear Up to Prevent Attack on Cooperative Societies, Bat Against Centralisation

Neelambaran A | 26 Oct 2023

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The coordination committee of cooperative employee unions accuses political retribution on the sector by central agencies, a lifeline for lakhs of people from poor economic and social backgrounds across Kerala.

UP Joseph, state vice president of the CITU, inaugurated the ‘Save Cooperatives' gathering at Thrissur as part of the statewide campaign (Courtesy: CITU Kerala)

The cooperative sector has played a crucial role in the lives of socially and economically backward people across Kerala. The public enjoys a strong bond with the cooperative societies governed and run by the public.

The Department of Cooperatives in the government of Kerala and other departments together have administrative control over 23,167 cooperative societies for agricultural credit, public distribution system, health, education, housing, and welfare of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe sections.

The recent scam in Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank in Thrissur district has tarnished the sector's image. The state's mainstream media is accused of exaggerating the issue, leading to a trust deficit in the cooperative sector itself.

The different cooperative employee unions cutting across political affiliations, political parties led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and youth organisations have ridiculed the attacks on the cooperative sector. They are holding programs to save the sector from such malicious propaganda.

The trade unions have opposed the move of the Union government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for attempting to take control over the cooperatives listed under the state subject.

'MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO TAKE COOPERATIVES'

The cooperative societies fall under the 'state list' as per the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India, giving the respective state governments exclusive power to administer, control and manage the cooperative societies.

The Kerala Cooperative Employees Union (KCEU), affiliated with the CITU, has accused successive Union governments of attempting to centralise the cooperative societies.

Speaking to Newsclick, NK Ramachandran, the general secretary of the union, referred to the 97th amendment to the Constitution introduced in 2012.

"The union cooperative ministry was formed by the BJP-led government after the earlier attempts by several Union governments failed to find favour from the apex court and struck down the provisions," he said.

The cooperative societies include marketing, health, education, agriculture, women, SC, and ST, among others, providing credits for vast requirements for the members.

"The services provided by the cooperatives boost the economy of the state. It also acts as an alternative financial system. Similar to the stifling of state governments by limiting share of funds, restricting borrowing limits, the BJP government wants to stifle the cooperative societies as well," Ramachandran said.

The KCEU has accused the Union government of vindictive action against the cooperative societies.

'GOVERNMENT OF KERALA FOUND OUT DISCREPANCIES'

Criticising the move to enhance the number of multi-state cooperative societies (MSCS), Ramachandran said, "The minister for cooperation, Amit Shah, informed the Parliament that 71 MSCS, including banks, are under liquidation in the Parliament. There is no guarantee for the money of the depositors in such institutions. But in Kerala, the government has an audit mechanism through which the malpractices were identified."

The enquiry by the Registrar of Cooperatives found fraud in 272 cooperatives in the state through the existing audit system. The opposition block, United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, had stepped up the attack on the LDF government for the fraud, but the audit reports were a setback. Of the 272 societies, 202 are headed by the UDF, 63 by the LDF and seven by the BJP.

"The officials associated with the frauds in societies including Karuvannur are subjected to disciplinary action including suspension and dismissal from service. The LDF government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the smooth functioning of the societies, but certain sections of the media are tarnishing the sector's image for reasons best known to them," Ramachandran said.

'MOVEMENT TO SAVE COOPERATIVE SECTOR'

With the resolve to rebuild the lost confidence in the cooperative sector, the different employee unions in the sector have decided to hold door-to-door campaigns to meet people directly to appraise them of the malicious campaigns.

"All the six unions in the sector have formed a coordination committee to carry out the campaigns to defend the campaign. We will meet the houses of the members for five days from October 27. A family meeting of employees is planned on October 30 to save the cooperative sector," Ramachandran said.

The CITU held district-level programs on October 17 against the ongoing malicious campaign about the cooperative sector. Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held similar protests condemning the raids and actions of the central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), on the sector.

"The issues within the cooperative societies must be addressed from inside, and no outside interference shall not be permitted. This sector provides employment and credits to lakhs of people and needs to be protected from political attacks," EP Jayarajan, the LDF convener, said while addressing a meeting.

INDIA

Kerala AIKS Holds Protests, Rallies in Solidarity with NewsClick

Neelambaran A | 27 Oct 2023

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The Kerala Karshaka Sangham condemned the use of UAPA against founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and human resources head Amit Chakraborty. 

Kerala Karshaka Sangham state president M Vijayakumar and other office-bearers march towards the Kerala Raj Bhavan. 

The Kerala Karshaka Sangham (KKS), the state unit of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), held protest marches and demonstrations across the state on Thursday as part of the nationwide agitation condemning the Centre’s “vindictive action” against NewsClick. 

The association condemned the use of the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and human resources head Amit Chakraborty. 

Inaugurating the Raj Bhavan march in Thiruvananthapuram, KKS state president M Vijaya Kumar accused the BJP of pursuing undemocratic practices against the media outlet. 

“The Special Cell of the Delhi police carried out planned raids on employees and those associated with NewsClick, breaking all laws and seized their electronic gadgets without even providing seizure memos to many. The BJP government is known for threatening the media. But this is unprecedented in independent India,” he said. 

The Special Cell had conducted coordinated raids on journalists, contributors and part-time employees of NewsClick on October 3. 

Kerala Karshaka Sangham state general secretary Valsan Panoli lead the solidarity march in Kannur.

“NewsClick widely reported the historic farmer struggle opposing the three farm laws. The FIR has stated that the organisation disrupted essential services. The government has insulted the farmer struggle and targeted the organisation for genuinely reporting on it,” Kumar said. 

Similar protest marches and demonstrations were held in all district headquarters. AIKS national vice-president EP Jayarajan inaugurated the protest in front of the Reserve Bank of India office in Kochi.

The AIKS has accused the BJP government of capturing a large section of the mainstream media through backdoor channels and by utilising corporate entities.

“They create fear psychosis and silence media organisations. Recently, NDTV was taken over by the Adani Group. Despite multiple threats and Central agencies unleashing raids, NewsClick continued to function the way it had done earlier by taking a critical position on policies affecting workers and farmers,” Kumar added. 

He also criticised the Union government for “stifling” the media’s voice since 2014 through raids by Central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and Income Tax Department. 

“The Wire, BBC, Alt News and several other media organisations have been facing continuous assault in recent years. During the Emergency, there was total censorship. Now, it is targeted censorship on media organisations criticising the government’s wrong policies,” Kumar added.

HINDUTVA IS FASCISM

Delhi University Campuses Witness Growing Trend to Push RSS Ideology: Report

Newsclick Report | 28 Oct 2023

The trend has extended to various DU departments and colleges, with several of them inviting RSS functionaries to seminars and conferences; Academicians flag concern over 'shakhas'.

Image Courtesy: PTI

New Delhi: The growing presence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) within Delhi University (DU) campuses has sparked concerns over the potential impact on academic and intellectual independence. 

According to a report published in The Telegraph, on October 20, the RSS held a "shakha" or assembly at Swami Shraddhanand College, a DU-affiliated institution, to disseminate its ideology among students. A faculty member at Lakshmibai College, another DU-affiliated institution, revealed that the RSS had organised multiple shakhas on their campus since September. This trend has extended to various DU departments and colleges, with several of them inviting RSS functionaries to seminars and conferences, often due to their positions in saffron organisations.

Nandita Narain, former president of the DU teachers' association, expressed her concern over this development, describing it as a "misuse of the public university space" and a "politicisation of campuses."

One student from Shraddhanand College reported that approximately 25 students had attended the shakha, which included prayers, discussions, and various exercises. However, he couldn't provide detailed information as he hadn't personally attended the event. This college has been consistent in inviting individuals associated with the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to its official events.

For instance, on October 18, Pawan Rana, the Delhi BJP "sangathan mantri," and Shashi Yadav, the Delhi president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, were invited to the college's "Meri Mati Meri Desh" programme, which is part of a government campaign to pay tribute to freedom struggle martyrs. Furthermore, a conference titled "Svavalambee Bharat Abhiyan Ke Antargat: Udyamita Protsahan Sammelan" was organised on October 4 to encourage entrepreneurship for India's self-reliance. The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, the RSS's economic think-tank, was represented by Deepak Sharma, Sanjay Gaur, and Rajendra Saini, along with BJP district president Satyanarayan Gautam.

Leaders of the DU unit of the RSS student arm, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), were invited as guests to the oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected college students' union on October 16, leading to protests by students. In response to the protests, a university-level leader of the Congress student arm, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), was also invited.

The increasing presence of the RSS and its affiliated organisations has raised concerns among students and faculty. The report quoted one student saying, "In our college, there is administrative support for the RSS and its affiliated organisations."

Suraj Yadav Mandal, a teacher at one of the colleges, emphasised that the RSS has intensified its activities within DU colleges and departments in recent years, and they are now operating more openly. He noted that posters for seminars and conferences now prominently mention RSS functionaries, complete with their designations, as guests. Faculty members, including newly recruited teachers, are often required to attend these sessions.

At Lakshmibai College, where RSS shakhas are conducted, some faculty members are reported to join the sessions, indicating the extent of RSS's influence.

In April, Delhi University organised a program on the Panchang (a Hindu calendar and almanack) and Indian traditional knowledge in light of the National Education Policy 2020. The chief guest was introduced on the poster as Ramlal, holding the designation of the all-India communications chief of the RSS.

Narain, acknowledging that experts and government officials may be invited to universities, regardless of their political affiliations, emphasised that this should be done based on their qualifications and expertise rather than their political associations.

 

TN: Electricity Workers Hold Hunger Strike, Say Scrap E-Tender’

Sruti MD | 28 Oct 2023

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Union demanded the state to identify contract employees who have been working with the TNEB for more than 15 years and regularise their employment.

The protest held by  electricity board workers in Chennai on October 21

The office bearers and executive committee members of the Central Organisation of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Employees (COTEE) held a one-day token protest on Friday. They demanded the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) to withdraw the e-tender notification to hire workers through a third party.

Additionally, the union demanded the state to identify contract employees who have been working with the TNEB for more than 15 years and regularise their employment. Filling the increasing vacancies is another important demand of COTEE.

Although the union welcomed the wage revision, they criticised the state for delaying arrears sanctioned on 1 December 2019.

Ahead of the hunger strike, TNEB workers affiliated with COTEE held protests at district headquarters across Tamil Nadu between October 20 and 26. Protests were held in Chennai, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Nagapattinam, Perambalur and other places.

As the next level move, the joint action committee (JAC) has called for a protest on November 2.

‘SCRAP E-TENDER’

The e-tender for hiring ground-level workers is a move towards privatisation, observes COTEE. The union demands the board keep the existing method of hiring contract workers and provide them with a daily wage of Rs 587.

“The tender is to fill four types of initial-level workers per sector, and a contractor will overlook them. They will not come under the direct purview of the electricity board,” said COTEE president T Jaisankar.

“The initial-level workers are those who directly engage with consumers; they check faults, do maintenance work and carry out service. So, if the vacancies are filled, we can ensure work without delays and mental stress, and that way ensures quality, hassle-free electricity supply,” he said.

“There are 32,500 vacancies in these initial-level positions of work. Overall, there are around 62,000 vacancies,” he added.

‘FILL VACANCIES’

S Rajendran, general  secretary of COTEE, said, “The growing vacancies have increased the burden on existing workers.”

 “No efforts were taken by the board in the past four years to fill these vacancies. Only 10,000 gangmen were hired, not for existing work but for expansion and other work,” he said.

Jaishankar pointed out the increasing number of accidents and fatalities on the ground-level workers and said, “They lose their limbs, their organs get burnt internally. The electricity board has no respect for human life and emotions.”

“The TNEB has a yearly profit of Rs 375 crore. Use these funds to give employment to the youth of the state and to regularise existing contract workers. Do not use it to outsource work and give funds to the privates,” said Rajendran.

‘WE ARE STUCK’

The electricity workers’ union accused the electricity board and the Tamil Nadu government of bypassing the law and not hiring workers based on the Industrial Disputes Act.

“We do not directly work for the government. We are hired on contract per the Industrial Disputes Act and have the respective benefits. But no hiring is done as per the act these days,” said Jaishankar.

“We are stuck. We don’t have the equipment; there are not enough workers. How can we continue like this? That is why we are holding continuous protests and strikes,” he said.

Moreover, regarding the delay in arrears, he said, “We were promised wage revision arrears in two batches. We were supposed to receive the last batch in December 2022, then in June 2023, later in July and latest in August, but we have still not received it.”

COTEE has also raised a critical voice against the TNEB for no longer, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing bonuses with the union representatives and unanimously taking decisions.

DEEPAVALI BONUS ANNOUNCED

Ahead of Deepavali, the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday announced a bonus and ex-gratia for over 2.83 lakh eligible employees and workers of state-run public sector undertakings (PSUs) for 2022-23. The State exchequer would incur an expenditure of Rs 402.97 crore.

The percentage of bonus is as per the demand of the Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) affiliated unions. The unions held a protest on Thursday demanding a 20% bonus for employees of the PSUs, such as the union of workers in transport, electricity board, TASMAC, co-operatives, drinking water and drainage board and consumer goods trade corporation.

 INDIA

Over 1000 Marxist Book Stalls in WB to Work for Communal Peace During Festival Season

Sandip Chakraborty | 28 Oct 2023

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The communist parties induced the culture of setting up progressive literature stalls during the Autumn festival season.

Kolkata: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], which administers over 90% of the Marxist literature stalls, has decided to use these stalls as outposts not only to spread progressive literature but also to maintain communal harmony in the state.

In Kolkata, over 200 book stalls have been set up like every year, with more than 109 stalls located at the heart of the city and the rest in the KMC areas. If the Kolkata Metropolitan area is considered, the number will be nearly 400, according to preliminary estimates. Besides the CPI(M), other Leftist parties like CPI(ML) Liberation, SUCI, RSP, Forward Block, and CPI also administer about 10% of the progressive stalls in various areas of the state.

Following the Communist-induced culture of setting up progressive literature stalls during the Autumn festival season, even rightist and centrist parties in West Bengal, namely the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have started book stalls, although they are few in number and mainly concentrated in urban areas.

"While the book stalls started by the TMC are packed with over 40 book titles by Party Supremo and CM Mamata Banerjee and drawings by her, BJP's book stall now focuses on Modi and Shyamaprasad, and Congress on Gandhian philosophy and Nehru. However, the Progressive Book stalls boast a wide range of titles, from ideological books to classics to children's books and even books on science and technology. It is this rational approach and its positioning as a rationality-based knowledge centre that makes these makeshift progressive knowledge stalls the most favoured destination, even during the autumn festival," said Sudip Sengupta, a CPI(M) State Committee member and organiser of the largest Marxist study stall in the state at Jadavpore 8B. 

He also added that thousands of progressive literature stalls this year are also serving as outposts for spreading communal harmony and amity against any religion or language-based violence in the state. "This is an added responsibility for all of us who will be keeping guard against any untoward incident in our respective localities during the festival days," he added.

Two of the oldest book stalls, situated in Park Street and Jadavpur, have also been opened this year. The Jadavpur Book Stall, during the puja times, had recorded sales of over Rs 3 lakhs.

"This year, despite steep economic depression, we are getting a good response as we slightly changed our policy of keeping books with high denominations. Instead, we focused on keeping lower-denomination informative books. Books on RSS combating, on Kashmir, on Shyamaprasad's divisive role, and eminent historian Prof. Sukumari Bhattacharya's book 'Revisiting the Myth of Ram' are selling like hotcakes."

It can be recalled that over 2000 Progressive Book stalls used to be held during the autumn festival before 2011, and at one point in 2013, the number had dwindled to nearly 600 due to large-scale terror by the ruling party. Until 2018, many book stalls were vandalised multiple times by ruling TMC hooligans. However, each time they were vandalised, they reopened. This time also, a bookstall in Diamondharbour was vandalised by TMC hooligans, but the stall was reestablished on a polythene sheet spread across the pavement and did brisk business from there.

Senior Journalist Aniruddha Chakraborty, Director of National Book Agency, the largest progressive book house in the state, which was initiated by Communist Doyen "Kakababu," said, talking to NewsClick, that "this year, even the Leftist activists belonging to terror-stricken Goghat, Khanakul, Purshura, Arambag, Naranghat of Hooghly district, will be sharing the joy of setting up Marxist Literature stalls with Leftists all over the state, as more than scores of stalls are coming up in the terror hotbeds of West Bengal."

"However, since the last few years, in the over 1000 progressive stalls in the state, the star attraction is the Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattachrya's Bengali book, 'Swarger Niche Mahabishringkhala' (Pandemonium under Heaven), rewritten from a write-up by Bhattacharya that appeared in CPI(M) Periodical Mouthpiece 'Deshhitoishee' in 1983. From climate change to books on traditional folk-based philosophy pioneered by eminent philosopher Debiprasad Chattopadhya, and a number of publications brought out this year on Martyr Bhagat Singh and the translation of Comrade EMS's book on 'Adi Sankaracharya,' published last year, are very much in demand this year too. Jailed Newsclick editor Prabir Purakayshtha's booklet on digital journalism has been published and is also much in demand."

"One thing can be said with certainty that the huge response that Progressive literature is getting in the state is directly proportional to the deepening crisis in the state and in the country," Chakraborty added, and recalled that approximately over crores of progressive books were sold from Progressive stalls last year during the Autumn festival in West Bengal.

"Despite the recession, however, going by the interest in setting up these stalls, it can be easily said that Progressive Book sales might record a multifold increase. In this age of the internet too, Progressive books ranging from Gorky, Turgenev to Tagore and Tolstoy have been selling like hotcakes, which itself shows the mindset of millions to allocate millions to gather a permanent source of knowledge and study resources that they find using Progressive books as a reference to deal with the present difficult situation in the state," he said.

The religious hue of the autumn festival rests on gods and goddesses, especially the Durga Puja. However, starting from 1952, the Communist Party has been at the forefront of setting up Marxist literature stalls in the vicinity of the different places where large gatherings take place, offering an opportunity to spread rationalist and progressive ideas throughout the state.

 

Israeli Forces are Attacking Palestine Every Minute: Abeer Abu Khdeir

Peoples Dispatch | 27 Oct 2023

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The feminist activist shares her concerns about the attacks in Gaza and Jerusalem, but also her firm belief in the Palestinian resistance and struggle for freedom

Abeer Abu Khdeir (Photo via Capire)

Abeer Abu Khdeir lives in Jerusalem. She is a member of  the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), a member organization of the World March of Women, which conducts a daily work of resistance with Palestinian women inside their villages and communities.

In the following interview, Abeer spoke with Capire about the recent escalation of Israeli attacks on Palestinian territories. Her powerful testimony highlights the urgency of stopping the massacre perpetrated by the Israeli state and the need for Palestinian grassroots freedom and self-determination. As she said, “the occupation has to leave,” because it is the cause of the continuous violence, poverty, and persecution experienced by the Palestinian people.

Abeer is now 54 years old and began engaging in politics at the age of 14. Working with the feminist organisation and being part of what she calls a “political family,” political persecution has been part of her life: “I have five kids and I’m married to a Palestinian man who was arrested many times because of his political work. He has been in jail for 17 years of his life. I was arrested by this occupation too, so was my daughter and my son, who was in prison for a year and a half and got released last October.”

The interview took place during the 13th International Meeting of the World March of Women, in Ankara, Turkey, on October 10, a few days after the beginning of the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. When she got back home, her house had been raided and her communication devices had been seized. Her daughter, the lawyer and human rights activist Asala Abu Khdeir, was arrested by the Israeli security forces after she posted about the situation in Gaza on social media. Asala then published on her social media profile, “It is a pity that a personal intimate post leads to an ongoing fanatic incitement against me. I never thought, even in my worst nightmares, that I would find myself in a turmoil of a fanatic nature that refrains to fade away.” What is happening with Asala and Abeer’s family is part of the systematic intimidation, violence, and political persecution that must be denounced and stopped.

Capire: How are you? How was it being far from home during the escalation of Israeli violence against the Palestinian people this week, as we are here in the 13rd International Meeting of the World March of Women, in Ankara, Turkey? 

Abeer Abu Khdeir: We came to this meeting because we want to do our political work. In the morning, we woke up and got to know that there is a war in Palestine, which started after we came here. I felt like going back home, to be with my kids and my husband. The war is in Gaza, but it is not just in Gaza. They attack Palestine every day. There are many martyrs. When it begins in Gaza, it then hits Jerusalem, because of the importance of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israel attacked all our villages on the first day. I heard that they were going to my village, Shuafat, in Jerusalem. These settlers were really close to my house, and they were shooting any Palestinian who was passing by car. So I got worried, I started to cry and say, “I want to go home, please, I want to go home.” After that, I spoke with my family and they told me to not be worried. I am a mother of five. One of them works in Tel-Aviv, so I told him not to go to work. He said, “Mom, don’t worry, we are at home, now take care of yourself, we are waiting for you.” I also asked about my daughter who works in Ramallah and knew that she got stuck there, waiting until the checkpoint would open. Israel closed all the checkpoints around Jerusalem, so people could not go home. I’m worried about my family and about all the Palestinian situation. They are attacking Gaza every minute. They destroyed Gaza.

C: Could you please introduce the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees?

AAK: The UPWC has many members — more than 300 women inside Jerusalem alone. Even in these bad conditions, we are active, we are together. When somebody is released from a prison, we go visit her as the Women’s Committee. We also visit people whose family members have been martyred. We are holding lectures and leadership courses for women to understand that they are human, with their needs. All the women are under pressure across Palestine. The UPWC has centers in the North, in Ramallah, in Qalqilya, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Jenin; in the West, in Bethlehem and Hebron; and in the Middle is the capital, Jerusalem, which was our first office, and was closed ten years ago.

Last year, 2022, Israel attacked our office in Ramallah and put ours and 5 other Palestinian human rights centers in a terrorist list: the Agriculture Committee, the Health Committee, Addameer (which works with prisoners), the Al-Haq (which does research on what Israelis do against the Palestinian people), the DCI (for children). The UPWC is the only one doing humanitarian work with women, specifically. We help women in many cases.

C: This conflict did not begin now. How is this new moment connected to the history of the Israeli occupation of Palestine? How did we get to what is happening today?

AAK: This is not the first time Israeli forces destroyed Palestine. Many people have been killed in all these years. Every day, settlers go to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, inside Jerusalem, and damage it, with the help of the Israeli police. Nobody can speak with them. They hit the women there. There are many pictures that can prove how they treat women who pray at Al-Aqsa. Israel was warned about the call to stop all those attacks to Al-Aqsa and the people inside there, which was a reaction to what they were actively provoking.

And we cannot forget the situation in Gaza. They closed Gaza from everywhere and control it, so people cannot breathe. Even if anybody needs a hospital, they refuse many times to let this person come out of Gaza. Gaza is without food, without work, without anything. Young people finish their Master’s and Doctoral degrees and don’t have one dollar in their pockets. This is what Gaza is like under pressure. We want to work, we want to live like any other people. Why are we enclosed?

In Gaza, agriculture is their food. They put all the settlers around Gaza and destroyed Gaza’s agriculture and land.

We are worried about this situation. Gaza is in danger. We don’t know when will it stop and what will happen. Until now, thousands of Palestinians have been killed inside Gaza.

C: What does this escalation of the conflict mean for Palestinian and Middle Eastern women?

AAK: We, women in the Middle East, have a problem with the governments around us, but we don’t have a problem with the people. All the people are with the Palestinians. You can see the demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in Jordan, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Scotland, Lebanon, Venezuela, Latin America, everywhere around the world — even in Washington there was a big demonstration. The problem is with the governments that are with Israel, because the people are with us, they believe in our cause and that it is our land.

C: What are the contemporary methods of colonialism used by the state of Israel against the Palestinian people?

AAK: Yesterday, they used phosphorus bombs on Gaza an illegal weapon. This causes many diseases — since the last time when they used it, many women had cancer. Now, you can hear that they closed all the checkpoints. Yesterday, I heard some news and someone sent a message from inside Jerusalem. So two men went to buy bread near their houses, in a Palestinian area, not a Jewish area, and the police caught them, took their money, their phones, and everything they had, and then hit them. They shared a message in many social media groups, saying, “This is what happened to us, don’t let anybody go out of their house.” The Israeli police want to replicate what they are doing in Gaza with the people of Jerusalem.

Yesterday, near Jerusalem, two men used fireworks in a demonstration. So they shot them. In Huwara, near Nablus, they killed one person. In Al-Khalil/Hebron, they killed people too. Everywhere, they kill. They don’t care, they don’t worry. The United States of America gave them the green light to destroy Gaza. Why? There are kids, women, families. What are they doing for you to kill them? Now they are doing this enclosure in Jerusalem too. For Israel, Jerusalem is [key to] the religious dream of making a Jewish country. How do they want to do that? By controlling the people inside of it. Nothing can enter Jerusalem. There is no bread, no food, no vegetables, nothing. Whoever has anything doubles their price. We cannot shut our mouth and sit at home watching it, saying “poor Gaza.” It is dangerous for women to go outside and fight.

C: You mentioned internal communication — sharing what’s happening, saying, “don’t go there,” “don’t go to this place…” Is that a form of resistance?

AAK: Yes. Look, I am a mom, but I can’t control my son if he goes out. He is a human being. My son was arrested two years ago, when they attacked the Sheikh Jarrah village. I can’t tell my son “don’t go there,” “don’t save your country,” because I was like my son, going to the streets. I spent all my life doing that. I was arrested many times, sitting in front of the Damascus Gate, for being against the war. It is not just me. We go on the streets, we fight for our rights, we hold many marches and demonstrations.

All women share now, in demonstrations, the right to political expression against the war. Now women have started to collect money and food to send to people in Gaza, and to collect clothes for the people who had their houses destroyed. 300,000 people are displaced today [one million in one week]. They need help now. The Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees is a national organization. It is for all women’s associations. But, also, everybody, all of us, inside Palestine or around the world, can work together to help the people who are under attack.

C: What are the tasks of feminists from other countries around the world to support Palestinian freedom and self-determination?

AAK: International support is very important for us. As I told you, when I heard the news, I knew that most governments are with Israel: the British, the French, the European Union, all of them are against Palestine. But I’m sure the people and social movements are with us. I can see the World March of Women and La Via Campesina, for example, supporting Palestine. Thank you to all the women’s organizations, all the movements, the women and men who work for Palestine. Thank you, also, to Capire, who always wants to write about Palestine. The challenge is the language, but don’t worry — we will have more women writing and translating it.

The occupation has to leave. It’s our land. So I will fight until the end of my life to see this occupation out. And if I don’t see it happen, I hope my children can see it and fight for their land.

This article was originally published on Capire.