Raising five key demands, 26 farmers’ organisations will stage protests all over Chhattisgarh on June 10 against the "anti-agriculture and anti-farmer policies" of the state and central governments.
The coordinator of the groups, Vijay. B, said: “Keeping in view the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government should lift the condition of registration for maize producing farmers and procure it on support price. This is our first demand.”
He pointed out due to government policies, there will be a loss of Rs 1,700 crore as the market rate has gone down by less than Rs 1,000 per quintal.
“Second, the central government has announced support prices for kharif crops. Instead, based on the Swaminathan Commission C-2 formula to hike the minimum support price by one-and-a-half times, the paddy support price should be Rs 3,465 per quintal,” he said.
He demanded that the Central government should roll back the amendment of ‘Mandi Act’ and 'Essential Commodities Act' brought through ordinance and railed against contract farming being given the legal status.
The migrant workers returning to their native villages due to the Covid-10 lockdown should be transported free, provided free foodgrains, work under MGNREGA and cash financial assistance of Rs 10,000 a month under social-economical security, Vijay added.
He said that privatization of the power sector should be withdrawn as it will end the cross-subsidy given to farmers.
Among the prominent farmer bodies which will hold the protests are Chhattisgarh Kisaan Sabha, Kisaan Prathishta Manch, Chhattisgarh Pragatisheel Kisaan Sabha, Adivasi Ekta Mahasabha, Rajnandgaon Zila Kisaan Sangh, Chhattisgarh Kisaan-Mazdoor Mahasabha, Kisaan Sangarsh Samiti Kurud and Chhattisgarh Advivasi Mahasabha.
At villages, the protests will be held by keeping physical distancing and Covid-19 protocol in mind.