Promises ‘not kept’, Maha farmers protest

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, November 21

Nearly 20,000 farmers from different parts of Maharashtra began their march to downtown Mumbai to protest, what they say, are unfulfilled promises by the Maharashtra government.

The Lok Sangharsh Morcha (LSM), an umbrella body of several farmer bodies which is organising the march, is demanding that the government grant access to local village bodies and tribal councils access to land and water resources.

Other demands of the farmers include implementation of the Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations, apart from extending healthcare benefits under the National Rural Health Mission in rural Maharashtra.

“Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had promised that farm loans would be waived and rights of tribals on their land would be honoured. But these have not been fulfilled. Farmers are not getting fresh crop loans from banks and even the minimum support price announced by the government is not being provided to farmers,” said Pratibha Shinde, LSM general secretary. The farmers had congregated in Nashik from different parts of Maharashtra earlier this week and arrived in Thane on Tuesday night. They began marching to Mumbai on Wednesday. According to the LSM, they will camp out at Somaiya College grounds at Sion in Central Mumbai before marching towards Azad Maidan in South Mumbai on Thursday.

Among those participating in the march include Swaraj Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav and noted conservationist Dr Rajendra Singh. According to police officials, the marchers won’t be allowed to proceed beyond Azad Maidan as winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly is in progress.

Farmers’ representatives say most of the marchers are from the worst-affected areas of Marathwada, which is reeling under drought. According to state government officials, 17 districts in Marathwada and Vidarbha are facing drought this year.

Last March, farmers under the banner of All India Kisan Sabha had also marched to Mumbai and were given a written assurance by the CM about time-bound action.