Maharashtra: Farmers Call Off Protest After Getting Written Assurance From Fadnavis Government
Protesting farmers were demanding loan waiver, drought compensation and the transfer of forest rights to tribals.
Mumbai, November 22: A delegation of farmers, who stationed in protest at Azad Maidan demanding loan waiver, drought compensation and the transfer of forest rights to tribals, on Thursday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Vidhan Bhavan. The state government also gave an assurance to farmers in writing, after which the agitation was called off.
Fadnavis assured the Lok Sangarsh Morcha, which was leading the farmers, that their forest land rights claims will be settled by December this year. The chief minister gave this assurance to the representatives of protesting farmers for redressal of their grievances, which include compensation for drought and transfer of forest rights to tribals.
The state government agreed to review all the eligible claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and assured farmers compensation for their crop losses, which they were not getting so far as the land was not in their name. It will also provide foodgrains to the farmers at nominal rates, Fadnavis told the representatives. The farmers and tribals who began the two-day march from Thane to Mumbai on Wednesday reached Azad Maidan early Thursday.
The march traversed through Dadar and the JJ flyover before reaching the Maidan, adjacent to the Mumbai municipal corporation headquarters. The farmers were demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report, which suggested that farmers must have assured access and control over resources such as land and water. They were also demanding an increase in the minimum support price and a judicial system to ensure its implementation.
In March, thousands of farmers, led by the Left-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha, took out a 180-km long march from Nashik to Mumbai in March to press for their demands. That protest saw a sea of red, formed by farmers in red caps, converge in Mumbai from across Maharashtra. (With agency inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2018 09:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).