The second national convention of the Nabanirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) was held here on Wednesday in which farmer leaders of Odisha and other States discussed about farmers’ longstanding demands, including Price, Pension and Prestige (Triple P).
“We had given our 18-point charter of demands including healthcare, education and a drug-free State to the Government on April 30 along with our ‘Triple P’ demand,” said NKS national convenor Akshay Kumar, adding, ‘If farmer lives and agriculture exists, the nation will sustain’.
Kumar said that the NKS movement has started turning into a nationwide stir for the demands of farmers including the ‘Triple P’. The NKS would fight for the rights of farmers and the farmers who are committing suicide across the country.
Another NKS leader said, “We have been fighting since nine years for the 'Triple P’, but since years the Central and State Governments have been showing a callous attitude towards the demands.”
The NKS has demanded for Rs 5,000 pension, i.e, Rs 60,000 a year, but the State Government under its KALIA scheme would provide only Rs 10,000 a year to a farmer, he said. Pointing out the non-inclusion of eligible farmers in the KALIA scheme, he said that in a panchayat only 300 to 400 farmers have got the benefit and thousands of eligible farmers are still deprived of it. He demanded that the State Government include the deprived farmers in this scheme and also introduce a pension scheme for farmers.
Another leader said former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had given a slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, but now the Jawans are getting their social recognition but it is unfortunate that the farmers of the country are yet to get their rights, for which they are committing suicide.
The leaders threatened that if their demands are not fulfilled soon, they would again resort to massive agitation.
On the occasion, a manifesto was unveiled in the presence of farmer leaders of 16 States. Eminent social activist and Gandhian leader Anna Hazare, who had given consent to address the gathering, was unable to reach the venue due to health problems, NKS leaders said.