Bathinda: Agricultural workers block NH, press for financial aid

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 10

Agricultural workers today held demonstrations outside at the mini-secretariat and blocked the Bathinda-Talwandi national highway to press for the acceptance of their demands, which include monetary compensation against the damage to their standing wheat crops in the recent rain.

The workers held a joint protest under the aegis of the “Dehati Mazdoor Sabha” and the “Aurat Mukti Morcha”.

They submitted a memorandum to the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

The workers demanded a compensation of Rs 10,000 per acre as relief for crop damage.

They alleged that the government had discriminately announced compensation to the tune of Rs 15,000 per acre only to large land-holding farmers whose crops were damaged.

Aurat Mukti Morcha’s state president Dharshana Joshi said, “The patience of the workers has hit the tipping point due to the dilly-dallying tactics of the government on the compensation issue.”

“The CMO had fixed a meeting of the workers with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on March 17, but he did not show up. The meeting was instead presided over by a minister. However, no action has been taken,” she said.

Their other demands include restoration of ration cards to the workers, increase in minimum wage from the current Rs 300 to Rs 700 and providing work on demand under the MNREGA scheme.

“The AAP government must fulfil all its electoral promises, including payment of Rs 1000 per month to every woman who has attained the age of 18,” said Prakash Singh of the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha said.