Chandigarh, October 31
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab has categorically rejected the meager amount of compensation announced by the Channi government for the cotton crop ruined by pink bollworm infestation. The AAP has termed theCongress government’s announcement as a jest with cotton growers and farm laborers. At the same time, the Aam Aadmi Party has questioned the government’s parameters used to measure crop damage.
In a statement issued from the party headquarters here on Sunday, AAP Kisan Wing state president and MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that the dreadful attack of the pink bollworm in the Malwa region had inflicted heavy economic losses on cotton growers and farm laborers. If the government does not change their deadly attitude towards ‘annadatas’, the cotton belt will not emerge from the economic crisis for many years to come. As a result, the trend of suicides among farmers and farm laborers will increase, for which the state Congress and the BJP-led central government will be directly responsible.
Addressing the Punjab Chief Minister, Kultar Singh Sandhwan said, “Channi ji, the speed with which you went to the cotton fields ruined by pink bollworm and witnessed the catastrophe, heard the painful pleas of cotton growers and laborers and gave them assurance. Even ate food in a simple way at the house of the affected farmer, stopped the car on the way and blessed the newly married couple. It seems that you have caught the arms of the affected farmers and laborers and you will 100 percent release the compensation of the crop as soon as you come to Chandigarh. But,sadly it has to be said that you too proved to be a ‘dramebaaz’ as Narendra Modi towards the annadatas. The latest announcement of nominal compensation in respect of cotton loss has exposed your drama and showmanship. You are stabbing common people in the back by putting on the mask of the ‘Aam Aadmi’. The annadatas and the people of Punjab will never forgive you for this shameful crime.”
He said because of this, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had rightly said about Channi during his Punjab visit that ‘you can imitate the Aam Aadmi Party, but you cannot live up to the implementation’. Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that the cotton crop was attacked by the pink bollworm when the crop was ready. By that time the farmer had already paid almost all the cost, including the contractual cost of the land including seeds, sowing other sprays, (manure-pesticide) diesel and labor wages, which in any respect should not be less than Rs 50,000 per acre on an average. The levy was yet to be started by the laborers, through which they had to spend the necessary expenses for the house, weddings and festivals. Unfortunately, the pink bollworm also shattered the dreams of the farm laborers.
Whereas, the Channi government had made fun of the poverty of the landless and working poor by keeping only 10 percent of the nominal amount announced for the affected cotton growing farmers; for the farm laborers. According to the government announcement, the farmer whose crop is damaged by 26 to 32 percent, will get a compensation of Rs 2,000 per acre. Accordingly, the concerned laborer will get Rs 200. Rs 5,400 per acre has been announced for 33 to 75 percent loss of crop and Rs 12,000 per acre for 70 to 100 percent loss. Accordingly, the concerned farm laborer will get compensation ranging from Rs 200 to a maximum of Rs 1200. “Will a laborer be able to run his house with this amount? Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi should answer this,” said Sandhwan.
The AAP leader further said that it is a matter of shame that the Central Government also has a share in the compensation of a maximum of Rs 12,000 per acre. That is, even the governments together are not compensating for the loss caused to the farmers and farm laborers. On the contrary, they are making a joke of them. Sandhwan also raised questions on the parameters that measure crop damage. He asked which was the thermometer, which proves that the crop loss is not 33 percent but 32 percent. He also asked why does the government not consider the loss less than 26 percent as a loss? Kultar Singh Sandhwan demanded that the need of the hour is for the governments to formulate the formulas to measure the loss of crops in favor of the farmers. He said that there was a need for major changes in the rules and regulations of the Disaster Relief Fund. Along with this, the Aam Aadmi Party has demanded a compensation amount of Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000 per acre and relief of Rs 15,000 per laborer to compensate for the loss of pink bollworm infestation.
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