Farmers Withdraw Protest After 180-Km March, Receive Written Assurance From Govt
Although the agitation has been called off, the movement to seek "complete loan-waiver" will remain underway, said AIKS state unit secretary Ajit Nawale.
Mumbai, Mar 12: The 50,000 farmers who marched to Mumbai from Nashik withdrew their stir on Monday after receiving a written assurance from the government.
The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), under whose aegis the 180-km long march was organised, called off the agitation following a two-hour long meeting with a cabinet committee headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The government also announced two special trains to be plied by the Central Railways for commutation of farmers back to their home districts.
One of the key demands addressed by the government is the allocation of land to adivasi cultivators. Fadnavis, during his meeting with the Kisan Sabha leaders, promised to transfer the ownership of land within six months, as per the provisions of Forest Act, 2006.
On loan-waiver, the CM was non-committal to announce a new package for completely waiving off all agrarian loan, but assured measures which would increase the number of beneficiaries.
Earlier, loans pending till June 30, 2016, were considered to be waived off upto Rs 1.5 lakh. "Now, we have extended it upto June 30, 2017," Fadnavis said.
Similarly, loans taken before 2009 were not considered to be waived off in the scheme announced last year. As per the amendments made, the loans pending from 2001 would be waived off up to Rs 1.5 lakh.
On the demand seeking pension for farmers above 60 years of age, the government has promised to take adequate steps within the next three months. Farmers falling under the senior-citizen category would be granted pension under prevalent social security schemes, said State Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil.
"We are very happy. Our demands have been met. We will be getting back our land which is like mother to us," said Suresh Jairam, a Nashik farmer who was participating in farmers' protest.
"Government has accepted our demands, we are happy. Leaders of every party and people of Mumbai supported us. Our strength combined with theirs and hence we achieved this result," said Sanjay Deshmukh, another farmer who came marching all the way from Nashik.
AIKS state unit secretary Ajit Nawale, however, claimed their movement will remain underway till a complete loan-waiver is not announced for state's farmers. "We will continue to hold talks with the Chief Minister," he said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 12, 2018 08:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).