Organizing the rural poor
Das, A.N.
Participatory development learning from South Asia co authored by Wignaraja, P; Hussain, A; Sethi, H; Wignaraja, G: 315-335
1991
Document Number: 404216
This chapter describes the peasant movement and the role played by the rural poor in political matters in Bihar State, India. The movement spans 7 districts and has its source in the peasant struggles of Bhojpur and Patna in the 1970s. The conflict has been mainly based on a demand for wages among agricultural labour, a change in land distribution away from feudal members of society and an improvement in the socioeconomic status of lower caste Hindus. The struggle has taken the form of an extremist movement which is organized by the 'Naxalites', a party with strong religious tendencies.