[2014 update] Building alliances

Bihar Jan Sansad: While the Bihar state assembly was in progress representatives of people’s movements and campaigns held a People’s Assembly (Jan Sansad) on the road at Hadtali More, Patna, from 18th to 20th February. On 20th there was a seminar on “Challenges of Alternative Politics”. It was very well attended. Main speakers were Nikhil Dey, Siddharth Varadrajan, Dr. Anand Kumar, Shailendra and Vidyut Pal. A people’s manifesto for the 2014 General Assembly elections was prepared and given to various political parties for consideration. The Assembly touched upon: Governance Issues (Anti Corruption, Transparency and accountability), State Responsibility: Social Security and Basic Services, Violence against women, Issues of the Urban Poor, cultural issues and related themes.

Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sangharsh Yatra (AISSY): The concept of the AISSY was introduced in a meeting held in Patna where representatives of various people’s organisations, teacher’s unions, activists participated. The main aim of the Yatra was to call for a common school system from KG to PG (Kindergarten to Post-graduation). Arvind represented the JJSS at the state level in this exercise. A two day orientation workshop by renowned educationist Anil Sadgopal, was held in three districts of Bihar including Araria. The yatra was welcomed in Araria on 22^nd November and the JJSS organised a village level meeting in Dabhra. The AISSY had taken off from 4 directions in the country and culminated in Bhopal on 4^th December, 2014 where a 25 member delegation of the JJSS participated.

NAPM biennial convention 30^th Oct – 2^nd November, 2014: The 10^th biennial convention at Pune was attended by over thousand activists/supporters/media persons/concerned citizens from seventeen states. Twelve delegates from JJSS attending the three day convention. JJSS is part of National Alliance of People’s Movements since our inception. Kamayani has been elected one of the National Conveners of NAPM again this year. You can read a report on the NAPM convention by an independent observer here .

Coming together of movements: JJSS contributed to the process of coming together of various movements in a major way. Kamayani, the General Secretary of the organization spent a lot of time and energy in this process. JJSS members in its executive committee meeting resolved to mobilise in big numbers for the 2^nd December 2014. More than two thousand five hundred(2500) saathis of JJSS made one of the largest contingents in the December Rally. You can read more about the rally here.