Farmers get assurance on pending concerns

Chandigarh: Punjab govt officials held a three-hour long meeting with representatives of the farmers’ unions to discuss their demands and claimed that a “general consensus” was reached on various issues.
On the issue of jobs to the kin of farmers who lost their lives during the farmers’ agitation, the Punjab government assured that out of 856 such farmers, about 99% of the family members have already been provided government jobs and assistance, with the remaining cases in process.Necessary steps to complete the remaining cases will be taken soon, said a spokesperson.
The state govt reassured the farmer leaders that many of their demands have already been implemented, and actions to fulfill the remaining legitimate demands are underway. On purchase of paddy, the state govt committed to ensuring the purchase of every grain and said discussions were on with arthiyas and rice millers. On due payments to farmers by sugarcane mills, officials said all payments have been made except for the Phagwara sugarcane mill, with assurances that these payments will be processed soon.
The issue of stray animals affecting farmers would soon be addressed by the government, which is forming a committee to comprehensively tackle this problem. On the drug problem in the state, Punjab police officials reported that 26,000 persons have been arrested in drug trafficking cases.