PHM-Exch> Over 2000 participate in mass protest by Right to food campaign and PHM in Maharashtra, India

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Abhay Shukla <abhayshukla1 at gmail.com>




*Over 2000 participate in mass protest on Food security and Health rights
issues in Maharashtra, India*


The Right to Food campaign, Maharashtra and PHM – Maharashtra jointly
organized a state level *protest *on 22nd March, 2013 jn Mumbai, to press
for urgent action on important policy demands regarding Health services and
Food security in Maharashtra. Over 2000 people from ten  districts across
various parts of the state participated in this protest to demand prompt
action on demands like ‘No cash transfers’ and the need for a Maharashtra
state act to regulate private hospitals.


Mass organisations of adivasi and rural people were in the forefront of
mobilisation for this protest. Representatives from various political
parties in the state visited the site and put forward their party positions
on the demands being raised regarding Food security and Health related
policy issues.

*
*

*Major demands on Health issues included-*

   1. Adopt a state specific ‘Maharashtra Clinical Establishments Act’ to
   regulate private hospitals, with inclusion of provisions for participatory
   regulation and Patient’s rights.
   2. Stop privatisation of Radiological services in Medical college and
   District hospitals!
   3. Ensure adequate provision of essential medicines in all public health
   facilities by implementing the ‘Tamil Nadu model’ in comprehensive manner
   at earliest
   4. Government should strictly and effectively implement the ban on
   private practice by Public doctors, and should not dilute this order in any
   manner.


*Major Food security related demands were-*

   1. Stop Cash Transfers as an alternative to the Public Distribution
   System.
   2. Do not pass a Food Security Act that will in reality dismantle the
   Public Distribution System. Pass an effective Food Security Act that will
   ensure that no one remains hungry.
   3. Reform, Universalise and Strengthen the Public Distribution System.
   4. Fourteen essential items and millets must be distributed through the
   PDS
   5. Every ration card holder should be eligible to obtain twelve
   subsidised gas cylinders per year.
   6. Stop the entry of foreign companies in retail trade



This large scale mobilisation of people coming from far flung hamlets and
villages across the state reflects growing discontent related to the
dysfunctional Public Distribution System system for foodgrains, continued
problems related to the public health system (such as serious shortage of
essential medicines), and major exploitation of patients in private
hospitals. The ‘solutions’ being offered by the Government such as cash
transfer instead of subsidised foodgrains and privatisation of public
health services, will further weaken the already dysfunctional PDS and
Public health systems. Many of these demands have been raised earlier with
the State government, which has not taken any effective action on the range
of issues that are in its power to address.


Given the increasingly regressive policies being observed at both state and
national levels, as well as elections coming up in Maharashtra as well as
at national level next year, it was decided to continue to raise these
demands through political processes, while carrying forward the mass
campaigns on these issues. Given the positive experience of joint
mobilisation by the Right to food campaign and PHM, it was decided to
continue joint follow up with political representatives and to discuss
further strategies in a joint meeting in early May.


The main banner for the programme carried the following slogans:


   - *Food security and Health care is everyone’s right!*
   - *Strengthen the Rationing system and Public health system!*
   - *Do not wind up or privatise public services!*
   - *Ensure social control of Public Distribution System and Health
   services (public as well as private)!*
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