Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 1: A three-member delegation of All Jammu and Kashmir Kissan Union (AJKKU) led by its chairman, Ashok Sharma, met the Agricultural Secretary, Central Government, Ashish Bahuguna, at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, to discuss the plight of farmers who suffered a huge loss due to Rabi crop failure on account of natural calamities.
Giving a detailed resume of the sufferings of seven lakh families of farming community of Jammu region living in districts of Jammu, Samba, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar due to failure of Rabi crop 2012, he demanded Rs 500 crore special drought relief package besides declaration of Jammu region as Drought hit region.
To restore the lost glory of the farming profession and improve the quality of life of farmers of the State, Sharma also discussed some long term and short term measures including six months free ration and power, timely free supply of seeds and fertilisers, issuance of land pass books and KCCs, free crop and cattle insurance, closure of polluting stone crushers at Panjgrian (Nagrota), issuance of fresh gun licences to the cheated youth, compensation to farmers against the pollution of land at Tanda (Samba) land covered beyond ditch and by mines, etc.
Sharma also expressed serious concern over discrimination with Jammu region, as a team sent by the Union Agricultural Ministry to find out the ground situation of the Kissans remained confined to Srinagar. He requested Bahuguna to visit himself to Jammu region or send a high level team to assess the pathetic condition of the farmers.
The Agricultural Secretary assured the delegation to consider their demands appropriately to solve their grievances.
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