Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 2: A delegation of Sarpanches of RS Pura and Vijaypur led by former Mayor, Ch Manmohan Singh and BDC Ramgarh chairman, Darshan Choudhary today met with Director Agriculture Jammu, Inderjeet Singh in his office at Talab Tillo and raised various issues pertaining to farmers with him.
Ch Manmohan Singh informed the Director that the farming community were facing various issues due to COVID-19 pandemic and it was imperative for the Government to increase the subsidy on all agriculture products up to minimum 50 percent of the value. “With the migration of labourers, the farmers are facing difficulties for maintenance of their crops. Thus, they are demanding that the Combine harvesting machines to be given on 50 percent subsidy to every blocks of the Jammu province,” he said.
He asked the Director to review the previous relief offers and see how the Government has exempted the registration fee and token tax on the newly purchased tractors. “The Transport Authority has started charging nine percent charges of the total cost of the tractors as a registration fee and token tax from the farmer community. This is a clear case of injustice and the farmers need to be exempted from such taxes and fees for the agricultural purposes,” he added.
He further said that the price of the crops should be fixed every year after consultation with farmers. The Government alone should not make all the decisions. Farmers’ needs and demands should also be considered, he said.
Director Agriculture heard them very patiently and assured them that he would discuss their issues with the higher ups soon.
Other who were part of the delegation including Sarpanch Ch Dev Raj, Sarpanch Tajinder Singh, Sarpanch Ch Prem Pal and Sarpanch Ch Om Parkash.