Challans, red entries against 600 farmers

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 15

Over 600 farmers in Jalandhar set to lose benefits of government schemes after FIRs and challans were filed and red entries were made in their land records for burning stubble.

Collectively in Jalandhar and Kapurthala, 80 FIRs had been registered (61 in Jalandhar and 19 in Kapurthala).

In Jalandhar, action had been taken against over 600 farmers for stubble burning. There have been challans against 322 farmers, red entries against 256 farmers and 61 FIRs for stubble burning incidents in the district so far. On the other hand, over 2,000 farmers have so far applied for compensation of Rs 2,500, fixed for farmers for not burning stubble.

Farmers against whom stubble burning cases had been lodged or red entries filed would not be getting any government benefits this year.

District Agricultural officer Nazar Singh said: “All farmers against whom red entries have been made or challans filed will lose benefits of government schemes. There are no clear guidelines on how long they will lose the benefits. Additionally, a fine of Rs 9 lakh has collectively been levied on those who have been challaned.”

ADC (G) Jasbir Singh said, “All farmers seeking the compensation of Rs 2,500 have to apply through panchayats, SDMs or DDPOs. They have to formally apply through the government portal. So far, we have received applications of 2,000 farmers. We will appeal to the rest of the farmers to apply so that they can be compensated.”

Notably, the condition of only those farmers with less than 5 acres of land being applicable for the Rs- 2,500 compensation has not gone down well with several farmers. State president of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Satnam Singh Pannu said: “The condition of eligibility of farmers for getting Rs 2,500 compensation should be removed. We demand all farmers be included in its ambit. Farmers should also be provided with stubble management tools free of cost. Only those with less than 5 acres will get it. Farmers sowing basmati have also been ousted from the benefits. A small number of farmers are left. There have also been thousands of FIRs against farmers in the state, which should be quashed. We will hold a huge stir if the government fails to do so.”

District president of the committee Salwinder Singh said: “The compensation is mere an eyewash. In the district, the government has not even sent notices to farmers against whom cases have been lodged. Only once we get to know the magnitude of FIRs, the resultant action will be planned. The department has failed to implement the NGTs recommendations on stubble burning. Rather, policies being adopted are detrimental to farmers.”