Why pick and choose, asks landless worker

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Balian (Sangrur), June 22

Disappointed at the debt waiver scheme being introduced only for farmers, 68-year-old farm labourer Parkash Singh has lost all hope. His son, Bikar Singh, hanged himself after he failed to repay a debt of Rs 3 lakh.

“There should not be any pick-and-choose because all debtors need the government’s help. The government should at least think that labourers are landless and they need more help than the farmers with small and marginal land holdings,” said Parkash Singh in his small dilapidated house at Balian village.

Bikar (45) took loans from private money lenders for the treatment of his wife Sarbjeet Kaur, who died of respiratory problems in 2016. Banks had refused loan as he did not have land to mortgage.

Bikar left behind minor sons Hardeep and Jagseer.

Chief Agriculture Officer Jagtar Brar said they had forwarded all suicide cases to the government for seeking help. “All farm labourers are also getting a compensation of about Rs 3 lakh. This year, the elections have delayed it,” Brar said.