Meeting between farmer unions, Punjab govt ends without resolution; action promised after October 15
PTC Web Desk: A three-hour meeting between Punjab's Principal Chief Secretary and leaders of the Farmers' Union ended without any resolution on Saturday. The meeting was held in Chandigarh. After the meeting , farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher expressed his disappointment at the lack of progress.
He said while some issues garnered consensus, others remained contentious. The government assured the union leaders that it would address their demands after October 15, yet the union remains skeptical about the government's commitment to their concerns.
Sarwan Singh Pandher described the meeting as "unproductive," and said clarity regarding the situation would only emerge post-October 15. Another leader from the farmers' union, Kaka Singh, elaborated on various critical topics discussed, including the burning of paddy stubble, the installation of smart metres, the establishment of new rice mills, and compensation for farmers affected by recent policies.
Although the government has promised to create a committee to tackle these issues, no meeting has been scheduled with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as of now.
Key Points farmers' memorandum:
Compensation and Employment: Establish a permanent policy for providing compensation and government jobs to the families of farmers and labourers who lost their lives during the Delhi farmers' protest.
Compensation for injured farmers: Immediate compensation and promised facilities should be given to the 14 farmers injured during the Shambhu protest.
Implementation of land acquisition law: Enforce the 2013 Land Acquisition Act fully to prevent the acquisition of farmers’ land without compensation.
Strict anti-drug measures: Ensure stringent enforcement of anti-drug laws and provide treatment for drug victims at the state's expense, helping them secure employment.
Resolution of labour strikes: Address the ongoing strike by labourers and traders in the markets and establish the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Basmati rice to facilitate its procurement.
Quality control of fertilisers: Take action against low-quality samples of DAP fertilisers and ensure adequate availability of DAP fertiliser for farmers.
Management of stray animals: Implement measures for the management of stray animals and find viable solutions to this persistent issue.
Stubble burning: Cease punitive actions against farmers for stubble burning and impose a carbon tax on industries, redistributing the funds as subsidies to farmers.
Release of sugarcane payments: Disburse immediate payments owed to sugarcane farmers and ensure the timely operationalisation of sugar mills.
- With inputs from our correspondent
