CPM gheraoes FCI godown in Steel City

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Rourkela: CPI (M) workers, under the leadership of CITU State General Secretary Bishnu Mohanty, today gheraoed the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown to press various demands.

Holding placards, flags and banners and shouting slogans, party workers demanded provision of 35 kg of rice at Rs. 2 a kg to every BPL family and enhancement of minimum wages of daily wage workers to Rs 10,000 per month. The other demands raised by the party were construction of a second bridge on River Brahmani, up-gradation of health services in Rourkela government Hospital, jobs for unemployed people in Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) and other industries in the Steel City and justice to the displaced and green card holders.

Slamming the apathy of the Central government towards the poor and needy people, Mohanty said FCI had failed miserably to provide food security to the nation. Hundreds of tonnes of food grains are buried underground even as thousands of people starve, he said.

Due to faulty policies of the Government, prices of all essential commodities like rice, dal, oil and vegetables, which are the basic needs of the poor people, have sky-rocketed, the CPI (M) leader said adding this has left the poor to suffer and even die.

Mohanty said a large share of the 800 lakh tonnes of rice and wheat procured by the government is rotting due to lack of adequate storage facilities. He demanded that the artificial distinction between BPL and APL people should be done away with and both categories of people treated equally.

Among others, party leaders Rajkishore Pradhan, Biman Maity and Jahangir Ali addressed the gathering.  

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