Kissan Union demands Rs 500 crore relief package

Excelsior Correspondent

REASI, June 5: All Jammu and Kashmir Kissan Union held a protest demonstration in support of their demands.
Hundreds of farmers, from various areas of the Jammu region participated in the dharna and demanded Rs 500 crore special relief package for drought hit 40 lakh farmers of Jammu region and to make entry regarding crop loss in Rabi.
Addressing the gathering, Chairman of the union, Ashok Sharma, pleaded for formulating a comprehensive farm policy for the State, so that the losses caused to standing crops, orchards and live stock due to drought, excessive rains, floods, hail storm and various diseases could be offset by providing full compensation for such loss. He stressed that for the purpose, all the crop and cattle be insured on Government expenses.
He also demanded six months free ration, power supply, seeds, fertilizers and other agriculture inputs for the kharif. He also pleaded for strengthening of local-self Government by incorporating 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in J&K Constitution and urged the Government to issue Kissan Credit Cards and Land Pass Books before November 2012.
District president, Vijay Verma, pleaded for augmenting irrigation facilities, promoting rain water harvesting management, providing the farmers latest techniques of dry land farming, bringing small and marginal farmers under BPL category and reservation of seats for their children in professional, technical and institutions of higher learning as per the population of farming community.
Bal Krishan, Kamal Singh, Mohan Lal Bali, block presidents, in their speeches demanded establishment of Kissan bhawan at block, district and divisional levels.
Rajinder Sharma, Murad Ali, Shalinder Bhardwaj, district general secretaries, Pritam Singh, Kapoor Singh, Janak Singh, Abdul Rashid Nag and Sita Ram also addressed the gathering.