Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti

Last updated

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) is a peasant organisation based in Assam. Formed by the RTI activist Akhil Gogoi in 2005, the organisation works on a diverse range of issues from Public Distribution System (PDS) thefts, non-implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), land rights, governmental and corporate corruption, Right to Information Act (RTI) and construction of big dams in fragile seismic territories of north east India. [1] The organisation came to national lime light after it joined the agitation against corruption under the leadership of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare. [2] However, KMSS broke with India Against Corruption campaign after some of the IAC members decided to form a political party. Explaining the reasons to resign from IAC, KMSS General Secretary Akhil Gogoi said that the support IAC had received was only for building up a strong and sustained mass movement against rampant corruption, and not floating an election-centred political party. [3]

Contents

Campaign Against Big Dams

Since mid-2009, KMSS has been leading a statewide movement against construction of big dams in the ecologically sensitive regions of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. In particular KMSS demands immediate halt to the ongoing construction of the dam of Lower Subansiri, a mega hydroelectric power project under NHPC with an estimated capacity of 2000 MW. [4]

Campaign Against Fraudulent Financial Institutions

From February 2013, KMSS was leading a campaign against mushrooming of chit funds and such related activities encouraged by financial institutions of dubious nature in the state. The organisation threatened to go to court if government does not take appropriate action against such institutions. [5]

Campaign for Peasant Access to Markets

Of late KMSS has opened a number of provisional retail outlets in different parts of Guwahati city to facilitate direct access of rural peasantry with urban markets. Claiming it as an alternative to FDI in Retail as well as mafia-run-syndicates, KMSS expressed its plan to open more outlets in the city on a permanent basis. These outlets will be run by the peasants themselves and will sell agrarian products on a drastically lower price, removing the middleman in between. On the very first day of the opening of the outlets, more than hundred quintals of vegetables have been reported to be sold within a few hours. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahom people</span> Ethnic group from Assam

The Ahom, or Tai-Ahom is an ethnic group from the Indian states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The members of this group are admixed descendants of the Tai people who reached the Brahmaputra valley of Assam in 1228 and the local indigenous people who joined them over the course of history. Sukaphaa, the leader of the Tai group and his 9000 followers established the Ahom kingdom, which controlled much of the Brahmaputra Valley in modern Assam until 1826.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Federation of Indian Women</span> Indian womens organisation

The National Federation of Indian Women is a women's organisation in India, the women's wing of the Communist Party of India. It was established in 1954 June 4 by several leaders from Mahila Atma Raksha Samiti including Aruna Asaf Ali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sivasagar</span> City in Assam, India

Sivasagar, is a city in and headquarters of the Sivasagar district, Assam. Sivasagar is situated about 360 kilometers (224 mi) northeast of Guwahati. It is well known for its Ahom palaces and monuments. Sivasagar is an important centre for tea and oil industries today. Sivasagar is a part of Jorhat. Akhil Gogoi is the current MLA of Sibsagar.

Dhemaji is a City in Assam and it is the headquarters of Dhemaji district, Assam, India.

Moni Singh was a preeminent Bengali Communist politician popularly known as Comrade Moni Singh. He was the founder of the Communist Party of East Pakistan. Singh operated a guerrilla wing of the Mukti Bahini during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and was an advisor to the Provisional Government of Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subansiri Lower Dam</span> Dam in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh

The Subansiri Lower Dam, officially named Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP), is an under construction gravity dam on the Subansiri River in North Eastern India. It is located 2.3 km (1.4 mi) upstream of Subansiri River on Arunachal Pradesh. Described as a run-of-the-river project by NHPC Limited, the Project is expected to supply 2,000 MW of power when completed. The project has experienced several problems during construction to include landslides, re-design and opposition. It was expected to be complete in 2018. It is notable that, if completed as planned, it will be the largest hydroelectric project in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akhil Gogoi</span> Indian activist

Akhil Gogoi is an Indian peasant leader, RTI activist and MLA from Sibsagar, Assam. Over the years he has been leading many anti-graft movements in the state. Gogoi came to national attention after he was awarded the Shanmugam Manjunath Integrity Award in 2008 for his relentless fight against corruption. In 2010, he was awarded the national Right to Information Award by Public Cause Research Foundation for his role in exposing a Rs. 12.5 million scam in Sampoorna Gram Rozgar Yojna in the Golaghat district of Assam. Gogoi is the founder Secretary of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS)- a left wing peasant organisation based in Assam.

The Central Organising Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Party Unity, more commonly known as CPI(ML) Party Unity or simply 'Party Unity', was a communist party in India 1982-1998. Narayan Sanyal (politician) alias Naveen Prasad was the general secretary of the party. Party Unity was the official organ of the party. CPI(ML) Party Unity was one of the predecessors of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

National Alliance of People's Movements is an alliance of alter-globalisation activist groups in India. It is an umbrella organisation for various civil society organisations and individuals working towards similar goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanmugam Manjunath</span>

Shanmugam Manjunath was a sales officer for the Indian Oil Corporation who was murdered for sealing a corrupt petrol station in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. This incident inspired several students at IIM, IIT and other institutes culminating with the IIM students setting up "The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust".

Anjali Anish Damania is an Indian anti-corruption activist and politician. She was the convener of Maharashtra state unit of Aam Admi Party (AAP). During 2011–12, she exposed corruption in the Kondhane dam project through RTI queries. She came into the limelight in 2012, after she accused the Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari of having a business partnership with the Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. She unsuccessfully contested 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Nagpur, as an AAP candidate against Gadkari. However, in March 2015, she quit the AAP amid allegations of horse trading against national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. She has filed several PIL's against powerful politicians like Chhagan Bhujbal and Eknath Khadse. On 2 June 2016 she went on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the resignation of Eknath Khadse, which resulted in Khadse's resignation from the position of Maharashtra state Revenue Minister.

Gana Mukti Sangram, Asom was a regional Indian political party of Assam, founded on 20 March 2015, at Moranhat, Assam. This was announced by activist Akhil Gogoi after a speech by Gandhian leader Anna Hazare at the 4th 2-yearly conference of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS). "The party aims at changing the capitalist system of India" said Gogoi.

Barun Roy, born Prasun Kanti Ray, was a politician of the Communist Party of Bangladesh. He was born in Sunamganj District and was the member of Parliament from Sunamganj-1.

Guwahati Central Jail is a prison located at the center of Guwahati city in Assam, India. It is one of 31 prisons located in the state of Assam. Spread over 28 acres (0.11 km2) including 11 acres (0.045 km2) of the actual jail area, it was constructed with a capacity for 900 male inmates and 100 female inmates, for a total of 1000 inmates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raijor Dal</span> Political party in India

The Raijor Dal is an Indian political party based in the state of Assam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maitrayee Patar</span> Indian Singer and Writer

Maitrayee Patar is an Indian writer poet and musical artist from Assam best known for her work in Assamese literature and new-age music. She married IIT-B alumnus Arindam Baruah in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assam Jatiya Parishad</span> Indian political party

Assam Jaitya Parishad (AJP) is a state Political Party in Assam, India. It is formed by two student organizations of Assam, All Assam Students Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) in September 2020. Former All Assam Students Union General Secretary, Lurinjyoti Gogoi is the first president of Assam Jaitya Parishad. Its party symbol is 'Ship', as allotted by Election Commission of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashraful Hussain</span> Indian politician

Ashraful Hussain is an Indian politician who is serving as a Member of Assam Legislative Assembly representing the All India United Democratic Front from the Chenga Assembly constituency in the 2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengali Hindus in Assam</span> Bengali Hindu community in Assam.

Bengali Hindus are the second largest Hindu community in Assam just after Assamese speaking Hindus. As per as estimation, around 6–7.5 million Bengali Hindus live in Assam as of 2011, majority of whom live in Barak Valley and a significant population resides in Assam's mainland Brahmaputra valley. Most Bengalis in Assamese dominated Brahmaputra valley are immigrants from neighbouring Bengal region and Tripura, while Bengalis in Barak Valley region of Assam are mostly native.

The population of Assam consist of tribal ethnic groups, and linguistic groups such as Assamese, Bengali, Hindi speakers and Nepali.

References

  1. "Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti A Note". Sanhati. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  2. "Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti Gheraoed PM's House". Times of India. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  3. Sushanta Talukdar (2012-08-05). "News / National : KMSS opposes Team Anna's decision". The Hindu. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  4. "Massive KMSS Ralley Against Big Dams". Assam tribune. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  5. "KMSS Demands Strict action Against Fake Financial Institutions". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  6. "KMSS vegetable shops draw huge crowd". Assam Tribune. Retrieved 2012-02-26.