Yet another farmers’ march in Maharashtra

To highlight the plight of farmers, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has organised a three-day statewide march of thousands of peasants from Akole to Loni in Ahmednagar district during 26-28 April.

The AIKS is being supported by the CITU, AIAWU, AIDWA, DYFI, SFI and other like-minded mass organisations.

“As a result of both natural calamities and the corrupt and immoral politics in the state, the basic issues of farmers, workers, agricultural labourers and all working people have intensified. Due to political instability the problems of the people and issues of development have got completely sidelined. Since most ruling party leaders of the BJP are busy offering various kinds of bribes or showing the fear of jail to break political parties, it has again become imperative to come on to the streets to solve peoples' fundamental problems,” AKIS President Ashok Dhawale said.

Also Read: Maharashtra farmers walk to be heard, seen

The march will be taken to the Loni office of the Revenue and Dairy Development Minister of Maharashtra Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who hails from Ahmednagar.

If the demands are not met, an "indefinite Mahapadav" will be conducted at Loni.

“In the last two years, excessive and unseasonal rains destroyed crops in large parts of the state. The state government loudly declared that compensation would be given to farmers, but it has been given nowhere,” he said.

According to Dr Dhawake, assurances were given time and again to vest forest land, temple land, inaam land, waqf land, pasture land, and land for housing to peasants and agricultural workers, many of whom are actually tilling that land for several generations.

“But instead of vesting land in their names, the police and forest department were misused to beat up poor peasants and drive them out of their meagre land and houses. Lands are being forcibly acquired for highways, corridors, ports and airports, with very little compensation,” he said.

Dr Dhawale pointed out that during the Covid pandemic crisis, milk peasants were forced to sell their milk for just Rs 17 per litre! “Now, just when they are trying to stand up again, the BJP central government has begun moves to import milk and dairy products, thus once again destroying their future. Prices of cotton, soyabean, tur, gram and other crops have collapsed,” he said.

The problems of unorganised workers like Anganwadi, Asha, Mid Day Meal Scheme, construction workers, domestic workers, are becoming grim, with no help at all from the BJP-led State or Central governments.

The AIKS demands include: vesting of various categories of lands in the names of the peasants and agricultural workers, and proper compensation for essential land acquisition; remunerative price for milk, cotton, soyabean, tur, gram and other produce; opposition to import of milk and dairy products; Adequate compensation for crop loss due to natural calamities; Increased pension for peasants, agricultural workers and destitute people; Mediclaim and housing facilities for construction workers; Increased remuneration and status of government employees for Anganwadi, Asha, Mid Day Meal and other unorganised workers; and so on.

Besides Dr Dhawale, other senior leaders who would lead the rally include J P Gavit, Umesh Deshmukh, Dr Ajit Nawale, Dr Uday Narkar, Kisan Gujar, Subhash Choudhary, Chandrakant Ghorkhana, Sanjay Thakur.