Farmers Movement Archive

Cotton compensation: Punjab postpones talks at 11th hour

BATHINDA: After the Punjab government showed its inability to hold a meeting with protesting farmers on Saturday, activists of farmer organisation BKU Ekta Ugrahan again laid siege to the residence of Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal at Badal village on Saturday afternoon. The farmers were supposed to have met government representatives on Friday. A large number of farmers, after breaking open the various barricades put up around Manpreet Badal’s residence, reached there and started the siege. Earlier, senior officials of the state government postponed the meeting to October 13 stating that the quantum of compensation to be provided to farmers for loss to cotton crop is yet to be worked out. It is only after getting the estimated amount of compensation, approval could be obtained from the state government for enhancing the compensation beyond the policy decision, and meeting could be held with farmers, stated the official as reason behind postponement of meeting that otherwise was fixed for Saturday. Sources said the revenue department felt loss to crop due to pink bollworm attack in Bathinda and Mansa could be in around 40,000 hectares. As per state government policy, there is a provision of the compensation of Rs12,000 per acre if loss is from 76-100% and farmers are demanding compensation of Rs 60,000 per acre. “We were to lay siege to Manpreet Badal’s residence on Friday, but the district administrative officials kept on holding meetings and assured us of fixing a meeting with higher ranking officials at Chandigarh for Saturday, but in the morning we were told about postponement of meeting as the chief minister is busy in the preparations of his son’s marriage and officials could not take decision on their own so we will have to wait, This was not acceptable to us. The activists now have started protest at the residence of Manpreet Badal,” said BKU Ugrahan vice-president Janda Singh Jethuke and state secretary Shingara Singh Mann. Muktsar deputy commisioner Harpreet Singh Soodan said, “The state government has yet not got the final report of revenue assessment about loss to the crop to exactly know the quantum of the compensation. Though the loss is roughly estimated in around 40,000 hectares, final field survey still not out. The matter pertains to policy decision, so time is needed to work out various modalities. We have been told about meeting to be possible after October 11. We are trying to convince the farmers.”

The Times of India

2021-10-10

Amritsar