Unconditional loan waiver on demand list of farmer outfits
TNN | Mar 15, 2019, 04:03 IST
A farmers' protest demanding loan waiver (File photo)NEW DELHI: A number of farmer organisations from across the country on Thursday jointly released their 18-point demand, including unconditional loan waiver and substantial hike in 'assured income support' to farmers, and urged political parties to include it in their election manifesto with a promise to grant it in a time-bound manner.
Assembled as All India Coordination Committee of Farmers' Movement, the groups also sought government keep agriculture out of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) saying "the interests of farmers must not be compromised in any trade negotiation". The movement comprises major farmer unions such as Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam (TVS) and Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha (AGM) among others from south India.
"We have 18 key demands and we want all the political parties to include it in their election manifesto with clear time-line on implementation," said Yudhvir Singh of the movement .
Referring to the recently launched 'assured income support' scheme (PM-Kisan) which provides Rs 6,000 annually to small and marginal farmers, Singh said the amount was insufficient and it w ould not cover every farmer.
"Wewant the government to give an additional income support of Rs 10,000 per acre per year per farmer to all farmers across the country," Singh said, adding the small and marginal farmers should also be given a pension of at least Rs 5,000 per month after the age of 60.
Assembled as All India Coordination Committee of Farmers' Movement, the groups also sought government keep agriculture out of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) saying "the interests of farmers must not be compromised in any trade negotiation". The movement comprises major farmer unions such as Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam (TVS) and Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha (AGM) among others from south India.
"We have 18 key demands and we want all the political parties to include it in their election manifesto with clear time-line on implementation," said Yudhvir Singh of the movement .
Referring to the recently launched 'assured income support' scheme (PM-Kisan) which provides Rs 6,000 annually to small and marginal farmers, Singh said the amount was insufficient and it w ould not cover every farmer.
"Wewant the government to give an additional income support of Rs 10,000 per acre per year per farmer to all farmers across the country," Singh said, adding the small and marginal farmers should also be given a pension of at least Rs 5,000 per month after the age of 60.
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