Today, Ajit Kumar Bhuyan and Paresh Malakar from Asom Nagarik Samaj joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Actress Pooja Bhatt also joined the Yatra. Meanwhile, Yogendra Yadav flagged off Nafrat Chhodo Samvidhaan Bachao—Jan Samvaad Yatra from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The Yatra will travel through Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Dharashiv, Latur, Prabhani, Hingoli, and Nanded to join Bharat Jodo Yatra on November 11. The Yatra was joined by various political and civil society organizations and hundreds of common citizens. Similar, yatras and programmes are being organized in other parts of the nation as well.
Throughout its journey, a number of prominent activists and organizations have lent their support to the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Yesterday, a delegation of around 20 people from the Women and Transgender Joint Action Committee and associated organizations joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra. A hall meeting was also organized with Rahul Gandhi, where Jairam Ramesh, Madhu Yashki, Digvijay Singh, K Raju, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Prof Yogendra Yadav, Admiral Ramdas and Lalita Ramdas were also present. The delegation put forth a number of issues, including
a) Right to dignity, livelihood security, fair payments, health care, ESI and social security of unorganized sector workers, especially domestic and garbage workers. Specific Act for domestic workers, need for sector specific welfare boards and repeal of anti-worker labour codes, unjust evictions of slum dwellers, rehabilitation without livelihoods were also mentioned.
b) Need for upholding the rights of transgender persons with specific attention to health care, education, livelihoods and reservations and urgency to increase efforts in this regard.
c) Hardships of acid attack survivors, non – implementation of SC’s orders, violations in rule of law, need for comprehensive approach towards gender justice that respects human rights and due process of law & systemic measures.
d) Rights of Muslim women organizing for harmony, livelihoods etc under challenging circumstances and need for support by State and all sections of society.
e) Specific concerns of homeless persons, single women, sexual violence, need for state intervention to ensure housing & social security for all
f) Foregrounding public health as a central concern, allocating adequate budgets and providing adequate primary health care.
Yesterday, the Yatra was also joined by Radhika Vemula and Adv Raja Vemula (mother and brother of Rohith Vemula), Dr Mirapa Madhavi (on Justice for Rohith, safeguarding Constitution, education & employment issues), murdered dalit youth Pranay’s parents and his 2-year-old son Nihaan, four youth associated with the Hyderabad Children’s Parliament, representing families of a garbage worker, construction worker, domestic worker and hamaal worker.
