PATNA: The farmer associations in Bihar will hold ‘chakka jam’ on February 6 for one hour only, from 2pm to 3pm, in place of three hours nationwide call for the same made by Samkyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). The SKM is an umbrella body of farmer unions protesting at Delhi borders and elsewhere in the country against the controversial farm laws.
The farmer unions protesting at Singhu border of Delhi has announced countrywide ‘chakka jam’ from 12pm to 3pm on February 6.
Bihar Rajya Kisan Sabha, an umbrella body of 23 farmer associations in the state, however, resolved to block the roads for only one hour in order to avoid any hassles to students appearing in the ongoing intermediate exams being conducted by Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB).
“The first session of the intermediate exams conclude at 12:30pm and the second seating starts at 1:30pm. Thus, considering the greater interest of the students, the farmer associations in Bihar have decided to block roads from 2pm to 3pm only,” Bihar Rajya Kisan Sabha (BRKS) general secretary Ashok Kumar Singh told TOI on Wednesday.
Singh said members of different farmer associations will start coming on the roads from 1pm. “But students and emergency services will be exempted from the blockade. Apart from national and state highways, major roads in several districts will also be blocked,” he said, adding that elected representatives have been appealed to support the blockade.
The farmer wings of Left parties will also participate in the blockade in Bihar. CPI(ML)’s state secretary Kunal said the farmer wing members of the party will block the roads in different districts on the call given by All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee.
“The condition of farmers in Bihar is worse than their counterparts in Punjab and Haryana. This is why farmers from Bihar go to Punjab and Haryana to work as agriculture labourers. Accordingly, our party has demanded revival of Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act in Bihar and ensure minimum support price (MSP) to the farmers for their farm yield,” Kunal said.
He added: “The Nitish Kumar government had abolished APMC Act in 2006, which led to the winding up of the Bazaar Samitis. This, in turn, has worsened the conditions of farmers in Bihar and the Centre is now trying to do the same across the country.”
BRKS’s Singh also said 90% of the peasants in Bihar are marginal farmers with less than five hectares of land. “The districts in Kosi and Seemanchal areas contribute around 30% to the total yield of maize in the country. However, farmers engaged in maize cultivation in this region suffer losses to the tune of around Rs1300 crore per year owing to inability to sell their yields at MSP,” he said.
Meanwhile, ADG (headquarters) Jitendra Kumar said necessary measures and preventive steps will be taken to ensure that law and order is maintained during the Chakka Jam on February 6.