http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/CPM_has_failed_Dalits__women_says_its_report/articleshow/2924249.cms
CPM has failed Dalits & women, says its report 4 Apr, 2008, 0051 hrs IST,Amita Shah, TNN COIMBATORE: The CPM, which is finding it difficult to spread its sphere of influence, has admitted that it has failed in articulating the concerns of Dalits and women. "Except for some sporadic attempts, we have not been able to take up any issues of social reform in a sustained manner," the political and organisational report presented at the CPM congress said. The party leadership laid the blame for this failure at the doorsteps of state committees. "It is indeed a matter of concern that the need to take up issues of social oppression of Dalits apart from the economic issues is not yet taken seriously by many party committees in the states". While commending the party workers for undertaking serious efforts on issues concerning minorities, the party said a breakthrough can be achieved only if the organisation succeeds in winning over the numerically preponderant Dalits. In any case, a forward movement has been made quite difficult by parties playing identity politics. The party document admitted that there was an immediate need to identify with the aspirations and assertions of all socially and economically weaker sections. The party went to the extent of admitting that there was a reluctance to take up social issues. "Some party committees and comrades are showing apathy in taking up issues related to social oppression. Such wrong attitude should be corrected and the party, at all levels, should take up all issues related to social oppression. The people who are affected should feel through their experience that the party and the mass fronts genuinely fight for their cause," the report said. The report said the willingness to be part of such struggles has been helping the Andhra Pradesh unit to make impressive gains. It said the party's involvement in the implementation of the NREGA and other central schemes has been helping the organisation to reach newer sections. "Wherever the party has taken up people's issues, it has been able to strengthen its influence," the report said.
