Prosen Sam is a beneficiary of land reforms. Once a landless labourer, his life changed after the Left Front government gave him a three-bigha plot in 1984. “I am still a farmer but my sons have their own businesses,” boasted the 65-year-old resident of Kurumba village in Birbhum, a proud participant in Friday’s rally by the Left Front’s farmer wings in Metro Channel. The meeting, attended by around 4,000 people from across...

A MARRIAGE hall in Kolkata is packed with 1200 of India’s poorest citizens. They have trekked here from all over West Bengal, from remote forests and dingy alleyways, from Howrah, East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas. They have come because there is a story to tell, a brutal story that may otherwise never be told. Finally, there are people willing to hear. These people may never bring justice; may never be...

Those willing to hand over their land for the laying of new railway tracks will be adequately compensated and a member of the families concerned provided employment, Mamata Banerjee, Railway Minister announced on Monday. “The railways will not acquire land forcibly and will negotiate with those willing to hand over their land. We will provide them adequate compensation as well as a job to one member of their family. This is...