The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday demanded compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for farmers as drought relief.
AAP State convener Sanket Thakur while addressing a Press conference here charged that Chhattisgarh is facing drought-like situation and the State Government seems to be least bothered about economic condition and loss to be faced by farmers.
“Due to alleged lackadaisical approach of the government, number of farmers sharply declined in Chhattisgarh. In 2001, around 33 lakh farmers’ families were residing in the State which had come down to about 10 lakh by 2011,” alleged the AAP leader.
Thakur further added that farmers are committing suicide in the State and the government is trying to hush-up such incidents.
In interest of farmers and youth, AAP will be launching a State-wide campaign ‘Jaago Kisan Jaago Jawan’ from September 10, he said.
Under this campaign concluding on September 16, AAP is going to raise series of issues, including paddy bonus, free electricity to farmers for pump-set (upto 5 horsepower), land acquisition bill, preference to local youths in employment, outsourcing of teachers and other, to target the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, Thakur said.
Opposing outsourcing of teachers in the State, Uchit Sharma, Member of AAP’s Chhattisgarh State Committee said the decision would result in deficiency of employment opportunity for local youth in Chhattisgarh.
Under this campaign, the party will conduct a series of rallies, demonstrations and meetings across the State, he said, adding, if the State government fails to take decisions in the interest of farmers and youth, AAP will launch another phase of campaign after ‘Jaago Kisan Jaago Jawan’.