1. An Overview

2. The Mukti Sangharsh organized
small and medium peasants and
the displaced industrial workers
in the early 1980s in Sangli
district which was affected by
drought in 1982.

3. There were scarcity
conditions due to
uncertain rainfall, poor
soil and small holdings.

4. One of the leaders was Bharat
Patankar who with his wife Gail
Omved and mother Indutai
mobilized the peasants and
workers under the employment
guarantee scheme act of 1978.

5. Morchas and Dharnas
were organized to
create an awareness
regarding their rights.

6. The demand was that the
Economic Guarantee Scheme
(EGS) be used comprehensively
for the people to bring about
sustainable agricultural
development.

7. An unusual feature of this
movement was that
almost half of its
participants and many
leaders were women.

8. It addressed gender
inequalities in division of
labour and raised issues of
corruption in the sugar
cooperatives and exploitation
of Dalits.

9.  The MS stated that stone
breaking and road building did
not lead to growth and a demand
was made for a regional plan to
construct small dams and tanks
to solve the water problem.

10. The MS linked
environmental
sustainability with
public participation.

11. It started a Stri Mukti
Sangharsh in 1985 to
develop feminist
consciousness and involve
male activists.

12. This gave women
access to land and
political power.

13. In fact this movement did
not have a single focus but
was committed to multiple
struggles for economic and
social justice.

14. It incorporated concrete
material targets and broad
ideological goals through
direct action and political
activism.

15. Sincere Thanks
to Prof. Anita
Mandrekar

16. Thank You
Saurabh Deshpande