Bonded Slavery
India is one of the world’s largest producers of silk. Silk sarees, silk curtains, and clothes command a premium globally. However, Sericulture in India has a dark side—bonded slavery, particularly child slavery. It is an aspect yet to be acknowledged, let alone addressed. The problem is severe and needs much attention. Most people employed in these industries are children of Dalits, people belonging to socially and economically marginalised communities.
MC

‘Hunting Arundhati Roy....’
The FIRs against Arundhati Roy and Dr Hussain allege the commission of an offence under Section 13 of UAPA, which deals with punishment for unlawful activities. Section 13 of the UAPA comes under Chapter III of the UAPA, which states that the Court shall not take cognizance of the offence unless previous sanction is accorded either by the Central Government or by another officer authorised by the Central Government. More importantly, this sanction is accorded based on material collected by the investigating agency, which forms part of the final report under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

It is unclear if the Delhi Police took the accusations made in 2010 to a reasonable conclusion. A careful examination of the speech given by Ms Roy shows that she had shown the lack of democracy existing in different parts of India, including Kashmir, Northeast and Central India, where the government military and semi-military forces are waging war against the citizens of India. In her talk, she urged people to be on the side of justice, justice for even the weakest sections of society. Thus, it was more of a call for establishing a true democracy where people need not live under threat.

The antecedents of the Central government in the last 10 years show that the real intent of these steps is to choke any voice of dissent.

Thus, the LG’s invocation of the UAPA is politically motivated and should not be seen in isolation.
Asish Gupta, Tapas Chakraborty & Kranthi Chaitanya, Coordinators, CDRO

Communal Flare Up in Odisha
Communal violence flared up in Odisha a few days after the first-ever BJP government was sworn in Orissa with Mohan Charan Majhi as the chief minister. A curfew was imposed in Balasore town following communal violence during Eid celebrations. It is reported in the media: “The BJP has won the Balasore seat in both Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Before the communal violence, two priests were brutally assaulted in Sundergarh district when they tried to thwart an attempt by robbers to loot a church. However, the robbers managed to decamp with Rs.10 lakh. The priests’ room was ransacked.” Reportedly, the communal violence erupted “when a section of Right-wing activists suspected that someone from the minority community had killed a cow inside a house and was trying to sell it in the market during Eid-al-Adha celebrations.” (The Telegraph, June 19, 2024)

It may be noted in this connection that The Wire has reported the organic connection of the new chief minister of Odisha with the violent politics of Hindutva: “Newly-appointed chief minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi has already landed in a controversy. Immediately after he was sworn in…news reports surfaced that he supported Sudarshan TV’s editor Suresh Chavhanke to demand the release of Bajrang Dal activist Dara Singh, who was convicted for the 1999 murder of Christian missionary Graham Staines and his two children.” (www.thewire.in)

It is feared that violent politics of Hindutva will be manifested in the modalities of governance in Odisha under the new political regime.
Arup Kumar Sen, Kolkata

Indefinite Fast by Medha Patkar!
16th June 2024: The 15th of June marked the beginning of an indefinite fast by Medha Patkar, for justice in the Narmada valley. The demands from this fast include rehabilitation of all the remaining Project Affected as per the laws, policies, and Supreme Court orders. The women and men in the present struggle are also asserting their right to, a fair market value compensation to all those who endured losses in the 2023 man-made devastation along the Narmada, the appointment of Rehabilitation officers and Hon. Members of grievance Redressal Authority, Madhya Pradesh, in all the vacant posts, and till all these tasks are not completed, maintaining the Sardar Sarovar water level at 122 metres (crest level), keeping the 17 metres gates open.

Women of the movement led the way with blue flags bearing the symbols of the river, banners that express their rights, and chanting ‘Narmada Bachao, Maanav Bachao’ (Save the Narmada, Save Humans).

Today, the 16th of June, is Day 2, and those sitting on the relay fast are Saraswatibahen from Semalda, Bhagwan Septa from Narmada Nagar, Gauri Badole and Sita Avasya from Pichodi. Till the demands are met, the people continue with their Satyagraha in Chikhalda’s Kheda Muhalla, with Medha-didi on an indefinite fast.
Om Patidar, Sushila  Nath, Kailash Yadav, Hari Solanki, DevesinghTomar, Kuwarsingh Nargave, Rahul Yadav, Mukesh Bhagoriya, Kamla Yadav, Hemendra Mandloi, Mahendra Tomar, NAPM

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Frontier
Vol 57, No. 2, Jul 7 - 13, 2024