SKM ends protest as Mann govt accepts key demands
The CM announced a fresh schedule for staggered paddy sowing from June 14 and June 17, thus restricting the number of total zones as decided earlier from four to two
FIELDS LOCATED ACROSS THE FENCE IN BORDER BELT HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM RESTRICTIONS, FARMERS ALLOWED TO SOW PADDY FROM JUNE 10
CHANDIGARH: The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday called off the protest at the Chandigarh-mohali border as Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann conceded to most of its demands, including that of advancing the paddy sowing schedule.
In a three-hour-long meeting held with farm leaders representing 16 different bodies, Mann announced a fresh schedule for staggered paddy sowing from June 14 and June 17, thus restricting the number of total zones as decided earlier from four to two.
Earlier, paddy transplantation was to begin between June 18 and 24, which the farmers had claimed was too late. The state had been divided into four zones depending on the sowing pattern and availability of water.
Now, sowing in waterlogged areas and those lying along rivers and canals where subsoil water level is adequate will begin on June 14 while farmers in the rest of the state will be able to begin transplanting the crop on June 17.
However, fields located across the fence in the border belt have been excluded from the zonal restrictions, and the farmers have been allowed to sow paddy from June 10. The CM also asked the farmers to set up paddy nurseries so that transplantation could be ensured within the stipulated time.
Dhaliwal announces government decision After the meeting, state’s rural development and panchayats minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal reached the spot where farmers had been protesting since Tuesday to announce the government decision, following which the dharna was lifted.
On Tuesday, farmers seeking resolution of their 13 demands were stopped from heading to the state capital, and spent the night near the YPS Chowk on the Chandigarh-mohali road. They had given an ultimatum to start an indefinite protest if the chief minister did not hold a meeting with them by Wednesday.
Farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal led the delegation to the CM in the afternoon. The CM reportedly called upon the group to give him one year to show results and shun the path of agitation as he was open to dialogue.
“We are satisfied with today’s decisions,” said Gurmeet Singh Mehma, general secretary of SKM constituent Krantikari Kisan Union, adding that his organisation will keep pushing for reducing the cost of upgrading tubewells.
On MSP & relief
Mann apprised the farm leaders that the state government has already issued a notification to procure the entire crop of moong (green gram) on minimum support price (MSP) of ₹7,275 per quintal, assuring the farmers that the government was in the process of finalising modalities to procure maize on MSP too in its efforts to support crop diversification.
On another demand, the CM said the Punjab government would come up with a policy for giving ownership rights to the cultivators in possession of panchayat land.
He asked the rural development and panchayats minister, Kuldeep Dhaliwal, to convene a meeting with the farm associations to resolve the matter.
He also told the farm leaders that during his meeting with Amit Shah, he would take up the matter of restoring Punjab’s role in operations of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
Chief secretary Anirudh Tewari and other senior officials were also present during the meeting.