J&K Kisan Tehreek holds protest, highlights demands

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 18: J&K Kisan Tehreek held a day long dharna outside Divisional Commissioner Office in support of their demands.
Hundreds of farmers and growers under the banner of J&K Kisan Tehreek assembled outside Divisional Commissioner Office and raised slogans in favour of their demands.
The protestors were demanding implementation of crop insurance scheme, agricultural loan on 4 per cent interest as recommenced by the Swaminathan Commission, procurement of agriculture produce directly by FCI instead of intermediates/ middle men, implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendation regarding MSP for procurement of agriculture produce on the basis of double the cost of production +50 per cent, exemption of electricity charges, abiana for only three months during irrigation facilities, subsidized agricultural inputs including fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and tools/equipments, providing of irrigation facilities from Ranbir Canal in time, providing of fertilizers through co-operative and in time and early disposal of files having deposited levy under vesting of ownership of State land under Roshni Act.
While speaking, president of J&K Kisan Tehreek, Kishor Kumar said that the farming community across the State has been undergoing adverse hardships in absence of entitled concession due to the community.
“Farming community being the backbone of the society has been hit hard by the policies where nothing substantial has been earmarked for the community”, he added.
Sohan Lal, Secretary, J&K Kisan Tehreek said that the people have been denied relief on account of damaged caused to their crops due to torrential rains and hailstorms.
Banarsi Dass, senior leader, J&K Kisan Tehreek and Sham Prasad Kesar, regional secretary, CPI (M) also expressed their views.