Mumbai Morcha by Kolhapur DBSS and DSVP

Globalization and Industrialization disastrously failed aiding rural entrepreneurship! Rural Communities especially Dalits who had drawn loans in a hope faced huge losses and could hardly repay the loans taken. Banks labeled these small entrepreneurs as defaulters and pressurized them for the repayment and threatened to confiscate the properties.

Previous year also saw the inundation of assurances from the government that said the loans of these farmers who had suffered loss due to natural calamities shall be waived off. But these words couldn’t get formulated in a policy or written agreement and the woes of farmers continued. In spite of repeated requests and agitations, banks didn’t pay any heed so as a way out a protest march – Morcha was organized in Mumbai on 15th March 2010.

The Diocesan Board of Social Services (DBSS) Kolhapur and its People’s Organisation – Dalit Samaj Vikas Parishad (DSVP) teams brought in hundreds of women and men from Kolhapur and Sangli field areas on one platform for the Mumbai Morcha. The demands put forth were: regularizing the occupied land, subsidy on loans, effective implementation of government schemes and ensuring its benefits to the dalit communities and waiver on loans. The people assembled in Azad Maidan carried placards and banners shouting slogans. The local media covered the event and gave due coverage. The DBSS & DSVP delegates also presented the Charter of Demands to the Maharashtra State’s Home Minister. He assured that he would take up this matter to the higher level for further action.

While sharing the strategy, DBSS Kolhapur and DSVP said that in the initial stages, they built pressure at local levels, created mass awareness on these issues took rallies to the government offices strategically using media advocacy, networking with like-minded civil society bodies and gained people’s confidence. They thanked CNI SBSS, Diocese of Kolhapur and the funding partners for supporting the cause and strengthening people’s struggle. Mervin Makhwan and Sunil Mahajan represented the CNI RCSA Pune on this occasion.