Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab govt: Rs 590 crore waiver for landless farmers, workers tomorrow

BATHINDA: Taking ahead its farm loan waiver scheme, Punjab government has decided to extend a Rs 590-crore waiver to landless farmers, farm labourers, and SC/BC beneficiaries on Friday. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh will virtually launch the disbursal of debt waiver and cheques will be provided to beneficiaries in their respective districts. On July 14, it was announced that the beneficiaries will be handed over cheques in a state-level function to be held on August 20, which coincided with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The waiver, up to Rs 20,000 per beneficiary, will be handed over to farmers/labourers, who have availed loans from district cooperative banks for being members of primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS). In all, a benefit of Rs 520 crore will be extended to 2.85 lakh landless farmers and labourers. The remaining will be provided to 7,600 beneficiaries belonging to scheduled castes and backward classes. In all, the state government has provided a debt waiver of Rs 4624 crore to 5.64 lakh small and marginal farmers. Punjab revenue minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar said, “Ministers will provide the waiver to beneficiaries in the districts”. Muktsar deputy commissioner M K Aravind Kumar, who also hold charge of Bathinda district, said some clarifications were yet to be received, but the programme of debt waiver would be launched on August 20. A debt waiver of Rs 14.11 crore will be provided to 8,900 beneficiaries in Bathinda. Meanwhile, the state government has yet not finalised the schedule for handing over appointment letters to kin of farmers who have died during the ongoing protest against the three farm laws passed by the Centre last year. Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, on January 22, had announced jobs to kin of farmers apart from ex gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh. After SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal announced jobs to kin of farmers upon forming government in 2022, Congress government had made claims to provide jobs to kin of 220 farmers who have lost lives. When Amarinder met PM Narendra Modi on August 11, he had advocated repeal of farm laws and had said that over 400 farmers and farm workers had lost their lives in the stir. He had stated that the stir had the potential of posing a security threat for Punjab and the country as Pakistan-backed anti-India forces could look to exploit the farmers’ disgruntlement with the Centre and attempt to hijack the ongoing protests. Sources said though the state government has cleared class 3-4 jobs to kin of 220 farmers, they have stopped action on the file as the government is now looking to give jobs to kin of all farmers who died during protest and the casualty count could be over 400. Punjab agriculture department director Sukhdev Singh said they had sent the file. “The state government might be looking into the issue,” he said. Punjab revenue minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar said his department had to give jobs too and government was looking into it. “We hope to hand over appointment letters at the earliest,” he said. Farm stir deaths: No clarity on job lettersThe Punjab government has not yet finalised the schedule for handing over appointment letters to kin of farmers who have died during the ongoing protest against the three farm laws. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, on January 22, had announced jobs to kin of farmers apart from ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh. After SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal announced jobs to kin of farmers upon forming government in 2022, Congress government had made claims to provide jobs to kin of 220 farmers who have lost lives. When Amarinder met PM Narendra Modi on August 11, he had advocated repeal of farm laws and had said that over 400 farmers and farm workers had lost their lives in the stir. He had stated that the stir had the potential of posing a security threat for Punjab and the country as Pakistan-backed anti-India forces could look to exploit the farmers’ disgruntlement with the Centre and attempt to hijack the ongoing protests. Sources said though the state government has cleared class 3-4 jobs to kin of 220 farmers, they have stopped action on the file as the government is now looking to give jobs to kin of all farmers who died during protest and the casualty count could be over 400. Punjab agriculture department director Sukhdev Singh said they had sent the file. “The state government might be looking into the issue,” he said. Punjab revenue minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar said his department had to give jobs too and government was looking into it. “We hope to hand over appointment letters at the earliest,” he said.

The Times of India

2021-08-19

Amritsar