Topless farmers’ protest called off after minister’s promise
MUMBAI: Farmers from Satara district decided to temporarily call off their protest on Monday after state industries minister Subhash Desai assured them that the government would accept a majority of their demands, including developed land as compensation and a stop to forceful land acquisition.
The farmers threatened that if their demands are not met, they will commit mass suicide in the Nira river (jal samadhi) in the district on February 20.
Desai said that the government will not acquire any land forcefully from the farmers and their due compensation will also be cleared at the earliest. The industries minister also vowed to start an inquiry against district officers responsible for the delay in providing compensatory land.
“The compensatory land will soon be allotted to the farmers. The farmers opposing giving their land will not be forced,” said Desai.
Around 200 farmers from Khandala tehsil of Satara district arrived in the city on Sunday evening after starting a topless march on January 12 to press their demands. On Monday, their delegation met Desai at Mantralaya to discuss their charter of demands.
The issue pertains to the land acquisition process in the district for Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and an irrigation project which was to be carried out in three phases from 2007.
Farmers who lost their land in the first phase are still waiting to get 15% developed plots which were promised as part of their compensation package. This had led to strong opposition from the agrarian community to giving land for other phases, explained Pramod Jadhav, district president, Shetkari Sangathan Kisaan Manch, who led the delegation.
“In phase I, the MIDC acquired around 850 acres of land in the district. In the second phase, they want to acquire 1,200 acres and 4500 acres in the third phase. The farmers opposing the acquisition are being forced to give up their land. We want the compensatory land to be given immediately to the affected farmers. Also, forceful compensation should be stopped. The industries minister has agreed to most of our demands following which we have decided to temporarily call off our protest,” Jadhav said.