Farmers to protest for demands across state

Alleging that the state government has failed to protect the interests of farmers, the Himachal Kisan Sabha (HKS) has decided to launch a statewide campaign from November 23 on issues including restoration of timber distribution rights, relief against monkey menace, increase in milk procurement price and proper availability of fertilisers.

In a meeting held over the past two days, which was attended by N.K. Shukla and Noorul Huda from the All India Centre, the HKS discussed that due to continuous attack on livelihood of peasants due to pressures of market forces, the agriculture sector in the state is in deep crisis. The experts observed that agriculture had become non- remunerative as the government has withdrawn its support to it in form of subsidies, increasing cost of production manifold.

President of HKS Tikender Singh Panwar said a mass-level protest would be staged across 36 blocks through rallies. “The government is answerable to people on various issues that were included in its party manifesto and so far the government has not done anything on it. The promises include increasing subsidies of seeds and fertilisers, system for marketing of vegetables and a strategy to tackle the menace of wild animals, especially monkeys,” said Panwar.

The farmers affiliated to the Sabha have reported shortage of fertiliser. In a statement, general secretary of Kisan Sabha Onkar Shad said there has been a big loss to vegetable growers of the state due to continuous bad weather, but the government has not acted.