Peasant and Workers gathered in Hyderabad to demand pro-people policies from their government

Green Rural Development Organization organized a “HARI (peasant) CONFERENCE” and “HARI MELA” at Mehran Art Council, Hyderabad on 28^th of March, 2007. More than 3000 peasants/workers attended the conference. More than a dozen civil society organizations also participated and entertained the people with their stalls of things made by worker/peasant community.

Organizations participated were SDS, BHS, NRSP, PILER, CRSC, SAFWCO, IDS, BRD, Textile Workers Union Karachi, SRDS, HMT and others. Besides, representatives of local/district government, print and electronic media persons, community leaders, representatives of political parties, teachers, advocates, intellectuals, officials of line departments were present and participated actively.

Items included were speeches, theatre, drama, dialogue on bonded labour and distribution of “Certificate of Appreciation” to those who have given the hope for justice to society (these included released bonded labourers, community leaders, female focal persons of rural areas, advocates).

At the end a demo was conducted that focused on Single International Campaign for “food security for those who grow and process it”. The participants urged the world community to fulfill their promises of MDGs for food security of the persons living under poverty line. Most of the participants were wearing white clothes with green stroll inscribed the slogan “Grain Growers are Hungry! Why?”

Speakers were Ms.Aqeela Naz, Anjuman-e-Mazareen Punjab , Ms.Tahira Ali, Pakistan Fisher Folk, Ms.Nazir Qureshi, Sindhiani Tehreek, Ms.Sana Hakeem, SRCS, Dr.Haider and Comrade G Hussain, GRDO, Comrade Jam Saqi, veteran labour leader, Mr.Nanji and Mr. Amb from HMT and others.

The conference urged the government and UNO on following demands;

1. MDGs must be fulfill to eradicate hunger by 2015
2. No to Intellectual Property Rights
3. No to corporate farming
4. equal wages for females to male workers
5. 50% seat (in province and center) be reserved for women
6. government must show political will to abolish bonded labour
7. right of decision making be given to women