Samajwadi Party Demands Compensation For Rain-Hit Farmers In Hathras

The Samajwadi Party has demanded compensation and relief for farmers after crops were damaged due to recent rain and strong winds in Hathras district. Party office-bearers staged a demonstration at the Collectorate premises on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to the SDM, addressed to the District Magistrate in the name of the Governor.

The memorandum raised several issues concerning farmers, including compensation for crop loss, action against black marketing and hoarding of fertilisers, and simplification of the paddy procurement process. The SP leaders demanded that a survey of the affected areas be conducted and that farmers be given compensation and relief as per rules.

According to the memorandum, continuous rain in Sikandra Rao and Hathras tehsil areas has damaged paddy, bajra and chilli crops. In several areas, the rain and strong winds have flattened paddy and bajra crops in the fields. The party leaders urged the administration to immediately conduct a survey in the affected areas and ensure proper compensation for farmers.

The Samajwadi Party also demanded effective action to stop black marketing and hoarding of fertilisers. It asked for inspections of wholesale and retail sellers. The memorandum said that because the subsidy on potash has been reduced, a bag of potash is being sold for around Rs 2200, putting an additional financial burden on farmers. The party demanded that the price of potash be brought down and that sufficient fertiliser be made available to farmers at the time of sowing.

The memorandum also raised the issue of technical and document-related problems being faced in farmer registration. The SP demanded that these issues be resolved at the gram panchayat level so that farmers do not face avoidable difficulty. It also demanded that farmers cultivating on lease and agricultural labourers be provided fertilisers and seeds on time.

The party further sought timely vaccination of animals to protect them from foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy disease. It also demanded that quality seeds be made available at government seed godowns and cooperative institutions.

SP leaders also demanded that the paddy procurement process at purchase centres be made transparent and simple. They also asked that the procurement target be increased. The memorandum said an effective system should be put in place to prevent crop damage caused by bulls, nilgai and wild boars.

The demands also included making farmers’ Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans interest-free and waiving farmers’ loans. SP leaders said farmers’ problems must be resolved in a time-bound manner so that they do not have to face an economic crisis because of rain, costly agricultural inputs and crop losses.

Those present while submitting the memorandum included SP vice-president Bablu Yadav, Advocate Ginesh Yadav, National Secretary Yuvjan Sabha Praveen Baghel, State Secretary Advocate Brajmohan Rahi, State Executive Member Mahendra Singh Solanki, along with several other party office-bearers and workers.