Despite the tall claims by the State Government that it is pro-farmers, a 65-year-old farmer died at an agricultural market in Vidisha district after waiting in the scorching heat for four days for his crop to be weighed up and sold.
Opposition Congress has pulled up the BJP Government over the incident which took place at lateri Mandi in Vidisha district two days ago. The deceased farmer was identified as Moolchand Maina, resident of Bijukhedi village in the district.
Son of the deceased Narmada Prasad told that his father had gone to the Mandi to sell chana (gram) four days earlier and was waiting for the produce to be weighed and sold. He collapsed on Thursday morning while still waiting for his turn.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Ashok Manjhi said the situation arose as several farmers reached the Mandi at the same time, and await their turn. “Moolchand was registered with the Mandi and he had received an SMS, asking him to bring the crop for weighing. But many farmers arrived at the same time, so they had to wait,”Manjhi said.
A compensation of Rs four lakh would be provided to Maina’s family, he said. Sub-inspector Banwarilal Sharma of lateri police station said that Maina collapsed due to the heat and strain, and died of a heart attack.
leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajay Singh claimed that farmers have to wait for four or five days to sell their produce at Mandis across the state. Mandis are governed by the Madhya Pradesh Mandi Board, a state agency.