Punjab sabha backs Oct 8 stir for requisite aid to flood victims

Members of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Punjab, on Saturday demanded adequate compensation for flood-hit farmers and labourers in the state and also announced solidarity with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha protest in this regardon October 8. They also announced protest from October 27 onwards for demanding compensation for farm labourers and others affected by floods.

A state-level meeting of the sabha was held today during which issues of flood victims and farmers in the state were discussed. The state-level meeting on the issue was held at the state office of the sabha — Shaheed Sarwan Singh Cheema Bhawan, Garha, Jalandhar — under the chairmanship of sabha’s state president Satnam Singh Ajnala.

In the meeting, a condolence resolution was passed on the untimely demise of 59 flood victims, and tributes were paid to them.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajnala said that the state and the Central governments did not provide any help to the farmers and labourers for the losses caused by the floods that occurred in the state. He said that the Samyukt Kisan Morcha would hold protests on October 8 in all district centres of Punjab, demanding compensation for the losses suffered by farmers, labourers and flood victims.

He said that the arrival of paddy had started in the markets, but the government was delaying its purchase. He warned that if the arhtiyas/cellar owners try to cut the price of procured paddy, then they would have to face the wrath of the farmers and labourers.

He said that basmati, the price of which was over Rs 5,000 in the past, had come down to less than Rs 2,500 this time. He demanded that basmati should be purchased at the MSP.

He also said the government should ensure that the moisture content of the paddy is acceptable up to 22 per cent and that the weighing of the paddy in the markets should be done with a computer scale.

Addressing the gathering, state general secretary of the sabha Kulwant Singh Sandhu said that the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Punjab, would march through the flood-affected areas on October 27 in Gurdaspur, October 28 in Ajnala and October 29 in Khadoor Sahib to pressure the government to help flood victims.

He said that the government should provide compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for levelling the fields, Rs 1.5 lakh for farmers unable to sow further crops and Rs 10,000 per acre for the labourers.