Srinagar, June 6: J&K Kisan Tehreek (JKKT) held a day-long working committee meeting at Srinagar on the issues confronting Kisans in the region. The meeting was presided over by Ghulam Mohammad Shah, President Kisan Tehreek.
Zahoor Ahmad Rather, General Secretary of the Tehreek presented the Secretary’s report and expressed concerns over the plight of kisans in the region. He said that agriculture has totally been neglected by the government despite a major chunk of the population being dependent on this sector. He said the amendments to the land laws have created uncertainty and distress among the poor peasant community. The administration has taken over a large chunk of state, kacharie, shamilat lands which had been under the cultivation of farmers for decades.
He demanded adequate compensation for affected orchardists, peasants who suffered extensive damages due to hail and wind storms that wreaked havoc in several areas of the valley in recent days. The government should assess the damages immediately so that the orchardists and peasants are provided compensation.
Several resolution including providing of anti-hail nets at 75% subsidized rates to growers, implementation of grower-friendly Crop Insurance Scheme during natural calamity, providing of subsidy to high density growers instead of companies and desilting of water canals which has not been taken up sofar, keeping in view the ill advisory issued by the agriculture department.
The meeting was also addressed by Mohmad Afzal Parry, Gh Rasool Ganie, and Gh Qadir Hafroo kisan leaders.
