Srinagar ,February 18, (Scoop News)-Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Tehreek (JKKT) today held a strong protest demonstration at Partap Park in Srinagar against price rice, faulty PDS, non-implementation of crop insurance scheme, dismal performance of Kisan Credit Card Scheme, erratic power supply and spurious fertilizers and pesticides. The activists of JKKT were carrying placards, banners and were shouting slogans against the government.
Addressing the protesters G.N.Malik, General Secretary of JKKT expressed serious concern over the government ineptitude towards the concerns of the people. Given the present inflation rate and sky touching price rise, he said that it was a disgrace for a welfare state if it cannot review its budget allocation for poor and downtrodden and instead spend huge sums on bleak areas.
On the dismal functioning of Public Distribution System in Jammu and Kashmir, Malik said that a substantial number of families have been left unregistered with Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) and they are forced to procure the ration from open market at un-affordable prices. He remarked that ration is being provided to the households on 2001 census and the government does not bother about the families that have split since 2001 and need ration.
Seeking adequate relief to the peasant community whose crops suffered heavy damage due to extreme weather conditions Malik demanded early implementation of crop insurance scheme stating that it could be the only way out to help the growers in the event of natural calamities. Referring to the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme he said that it has failed to deliver all that it promised and added that the agriculture department’s role vis-à-vis banks performance in this regard has been dismal. He said that out of 14 lac Families identified so far only 1.65 lac families have been covered under the scheme. The traditional system of procedures, documentation adopted by the banking system has rendered credit facilities for farmers cumbersome, he observed. All problem areas need to be addressed by the government so as to make the scheme successful among all the farmers he demanded. He also demanded that farmers be provided agriculture loans at 4% interest rate.
Mohammad Afzal Parray and Ghulam Mohi-ud-din lone senior kisan leaders also addressed the protesters. Terming the fresh hike in electricity tariff as highly unjustified they demanded that the decision be rescinded immediately as it is bound to hit lakhs of consumers in the state who have witnessed an unprecedented and an arbitrary hike in power tariff in past few years.
While expressing serious concern over unchecked import of spurious fertilizers and pesticides in the state, due to which farming community is suffering huge losses not only in terms of money spend on purchase of fertilizers and chemicals but also due to adverse damage caused to crops, the kisan leaders sought prompt action from the Govt to check the menace.
Meanwhile the regional Committee of Kisan Tehreek Jammu also held a demonstration highlighting issues confronting the common people of the state especially the peasant community. The demonstration was led by Kishore Kumar state president of the Tehreek. Among others Sham Prasad Kesar, Banarsi Das, Sohan Lal senior leaders of the Tehreek addressed the protesters.
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