Farmers block road, demand bonus on paddy

The Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS), an organisation fighting for the cause of the farmers in the State, blocked NH-5 on the outskirts of the city on Thursday demanding pension for farmers and bonus on paddy. Hundreds of farmers staged the road blockade at Hanspal protesting the State Government’s apathy towards farmers. They demanded a minimum Rs 500-pension for farmers from the age of 20 years and at least Rs 100-bonus on minimum support price (MSP) of paddy to help financial condition of the farmers.  

The farmers further demanded setting up of cold storages across the State to preserve agriculture produces and mandis for marketing of the produces. They also stressed on an amendment to the Relief Code to give actual compensation to farmers.  NNKS coordinator Akshay Kumar said they had met Chief Secretary GC Pati on Wednesday and discussed about a 29-point charter of demands of the farmers. “The Chief Secretary assured that the Government would try to fulfil the demands, but he cannot give any concrete picture about their specific demands,” Kumar said.

Kumar said the Sangathan has been staging road blockades, dharnas and other types of agitations to press its demands, but the State Government has not taken any steps to meet the demands. “The former Chief Secretary had also promised us to solve the problems, but nothing has happened till date,” Kumar lamented.