An Overview

Shoshit Shetkari Kashtkari Kamgar Mukti Sangharsh

(SSKKMS)OR

Mukti Sangharsh

The Mukti Sangharsh organized small and medium peasants and the displaced industrial workers in the early 1980s in Sangli district which was affected by drought in 1982.

WHAT WAS IT?

There were scarcity conditions due to uncertain rainfall, poor soil and small holdings.

WHY?

One of the leaders was Bharat Patankar who with his wife Gail Omved and mother Indutai mobilized the peasants and workers under the employment guarantee scheme act of 1978.

AND SO …

Morchas and Dharnas were organized to create an awareness regarding their rights.

A LA ANNA …

The demand was that the Economic Guarantee Scheme (EGS) be used comprehensively for the people to bring about sustainable agricultural development.

THE DEMAND …

An unusual feature of this movement was that almost half of its participants and many leaders were women.

WOMEN POWER

It addressed gender inequalities in division of labor and raised issues of corruption in the sugar cooperatives and exploitation of Dalits.

3 MAJOR ISSUES

The MS stated that stone breaking and road building did not lead to growth and a demand was made for a regional plan to construct small dams and tanks to solve the water problem.

DEMAND FOR SOLUTION OF WATER PROBLEM …

The MS linked environmental sustainability with public participation.

ENVIRONMENT & PUBLEC INTERCONNECTED …

It started a Stri Mukti Sangharsh in 1985 to develop feminist consciousness and involve male activists.

A PLATFORM FOR WOMEN …

This gave women access to land and political power.

IT HELPED

In fact this movement did not have a single focus but was committed to multiple struggles for economic and social justice.

MULTIPLE ISSUES ADDRESSED

It incorporated concrete material targets and broad ideological goals through direct action and political activism.

CONCEPT & ACTION …

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