Mahila Kisan Union demands MSP Act, gives memo to Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 15

The Mahila Kisan Union, on the nationwide call given by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), on Friday observed the MSP Guarantee Act week and handed over a memorandum in the office of Deputy Commissioner to be forwarded to the Prime Minister.

Union president Rajwinder Kaur Raju also demanded from the Union Government that a compensation of Rs 500 per quintal must be announced to all farmers for low yield of wheat. She said under the leadership of the SKM, farmers across India are celebrating MSP Guarantee Act week from April 11 to April 17.

The farmer leader has demanded that as per the recommendations of Dr Swaminathan and Ramesh Chand committee, the Centre must announce MSP for all crops to all types of farmers in India. Besides, a new law should be enacted to provide legal guarantee for the purchase of crops at the MSP announced by the Central Government in this regard.

Raju also demanded that along with the MSP being announced by the Centre for 23 crops every year, the government should also announce MSP for all other crops/produces like vegetables, fruits, milk and fish. “Such crops/produce must be procured at the assured price,” she demanded.

The Mahila Kisan Union has also demanded that farmers should be given a compensation of Rs 500 per quintal for the loss of wheat yield due to shrinking of foodgrains during scorching heat in the rabi season. Apart from this, the central procurement agency should also be directed to buy every single grain by giving necessary relaxation in the government purchase of food grains.

President Raju said the wheat production of every farmer has been affected due to the record heat in the rabi season. Due to this natural calamity, there was a low yield of five to eight quintals of wheat per acre. In this way the income of farmers has been decreased instead of increasing as promised by the PM. Keeping in view, Raju has demanded from the Centre that immediate financial compensation should be announced to the farmers of Punjab for their heavy losses in wheat production.

The women farmer leader said the Food Corporation of India has refused to take “direct delivery” of the wheat crop procured in Punjab. She lamented that the Punjab farmers were already worried due to low yield of wheat and the new decision regarding procurement by the central government has increased the concern of the stressed farmers. At the same time, due to non-lifting of purchased wheat, there was a stock piles of wheat in the mandis.

Raju also sought immediate intervention of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to put pressure on the Centre so that farmers could get compensation for low yield of wheat. Besides this, the stressed farmers should not face any problem in selling wheat smoothly in the mandis.

Don’t panic about shrivelled grain, says minister Jimpa

Hoshiarpur: Cabinet minister Brahm Shankar Jimpa on Friday reviewed the procurement of wheat at Dana Mandi in Hoshiarpur and assured the farmers that the Punjab Government won’t let the farmers encounter any difficulty in the mandis He said the farmers were a bit concerned about the shrivelled grain of wheat but they need not panic as the state government stands for them with the commitment to resolve any issue they might face The minister also interacted with the farmers and got their feedback regarding the arrangements made by the administration in the mandis. He also inspected the wheat crop at various stacks and directed all the officers as well as the procurement agencies to ensure that the farmers don’t face any problem.

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