Ghasin Bai a laborer in National Thermal Power Corporation says that contract laborers in Seepat plant in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh are not getting minimum wages and other legal provisions. The farmers who lost their land have been treated badly. Some are yet to get proper compensation. Promised jobs has not been given. Her union is organising a protest on 1st May and requesting all of us to join and support their demands. For more Ghasin ji can be reached at 08435549641

Anil Bamne from Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh says govt has privatized the bus transport in the state some time back stating that state transport corporation was running in loss. But the state has no control on private bus operators who are giving their bus on rent to highest bidder and people are suffering. Many are not able to come to hospital because the bus has been leased to a marriage party or a picnic. We should demand restarting of state transport corporation. For more Bamne Ji can be reached at 09977161570

Bhan Sahu is reporting from Sarkeli village in Chhattisgarh. Today is the fourth day of the Jan Chetna Yatra organized by Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan. Krishnadas Mahant ji is holding a dharna on land rights at Sarkeli. An interview with Krishnadas ji –

B.S. : Since when is the dharna in progress?
K.M : The dharna has been on since 15th February and will go on indefinitely until the government accedes to our demands. Our only demand is that we do not want to give up our lands to the government on any condition and that no plans should be made for our land. When they accept this, we will cease the dharna. Otherwise it will continue indefinitely.

B.S. : Has the government responded?
K.M.: SDM saheb came after the 2nd or 3rd day and said, “This demonstration that you are doing…the elephant is dead, what is the point of posing for photographs with the corpse?”
We asked him to give this to us in writing, but he avoided the subject and said we would receive it in 15-20 days and went away.
We have not seen him since nor has he asked about us.

B.S. : Has anyone else supported you in your dharna?
K.M. : Yes many people have supported us, such as Chetna Manch, Samman Manch, Jal Jangal Bachao Sangharsh Samiti and leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Party. We have also got support from many other parties and people and we are confident that we will be successful and that the government will have to accede to our demands.

B.S. : An invitation to the listeners of CGNet, there is a meeting on 20 April 2012,at Janjgir at 11 AM. All activists and development workers in the area are invited to attend and show their support for this cause.

You can reach Bhan ji at 9993675635 for more details.

Kopa Kunjam from Chhattisgarh says all the poor adivasis who are in jail from 2009, many of them associated with political parties and some also elected members still languish in jail while all the rich have got bail. He says when court sends notice to people for statement many do not bother and the cases get delayed. High Court had ordered that if a witness does not turn up for 3 months then case should move ahead but this order is not being adhered. Poor in jail in Chhattisgarh need your help. For more Kopa can be reached at 09753368262

Rajim is talking to Saura adivasis in a Sirghoda village in Saraipali block of Mahasamund district in Chhattisgarh who tell her that a non tribal busienessman from Madhya Pradesh has bought 100 acre of land from them for stone mining in the name of some fake adivasi buyer. But he has registered many times more land then what he has paid money for and also cut all the trees on the land which he did not buy. Rajim requests the authorities to check this out. For more she can be reached at 09424215854