Farmers from flood-ravaged northern States to gather in Chandigarh to press for special package, compensation from Centre

File photo of a farmer protecting his dry paddy from rains by covering it in plastic sheet | Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

Farmers from the flood-ravaged States in north India have announced to gather in Union Territory of Chandigarh on August 22 to press for immediate compensation from the Centre government.

Farmers associated with as many as 16 farmer outfits from the States Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand would be participating in the demonstration in their show of strength. Farmer outfits are demanding an immediate release of compensation for flood victims in all the States, which have seen the flood fury in the ongoing monsoon season.

The outfits include – Kissan Majdoor Sangarsh Committee, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Karantikari), BKU Ekta-Azaad, Azaad Kissan Committee (Doaba), BKU (Bheramke), BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), BKU (Sir Chotu Ram), Bhartiya Kissan Majdoor Union, Kissan Maha Panchayat (Haryana), Pagri Sambhal Jatta (Haryana), Azaad Kissan Union (Haryana), Progressive Farmer Front, Aathrai Kissan Manch, Bhoomi Bachao Mohim, Joint Kisan Sabha and Rashtriya Kissan Sangathan.

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“The Centre government has been indifferent towards our problems, and hence we have decided to stage a demonstration to wake the government,” Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Punjab unit of Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee.

He said the Central government should announce a special package of ₹50,000 crores for the damage caused by floods in North India, besides a compensation of ₹50,000 per acre should be given for the loss of all crops. “The government should also pay ₹1 lakh for the loss of cattle, arrangements should be made for mining of fields that have been filled with sand due to floods, and all loans and interest should be waived for one year. These are our few demands among others,” he said.

Separately, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has also expressed concern over the widespread devastation caused by a fresh spate of heavy rains and cloud bursts in various parts of Himachal Pradesh.

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Rain fury: A damaged road following flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, where over 330 people have died since the monsoon began. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has declared the rain havoc a State calamity.

In spate: A man watches the swollen Sutlej river after heavy rain at Rampur in Himachal Pradesh.

Deep cut: A view of the portion of a road which was washed away by the raging river in Manali, Himachal Pradesh.

On edge: People stand by a road washed away by the swollen Beas river in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.

Broken link: The damaged ShimlaKalka railway track, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Summer Hill on the outskirts of Shimla.

Clearing a path: An excavator being used at the site of a landslip on the outskirts of Shimla. Days of intense rain across northern India rendered many areas inaccessible as bridges were destroyed and roads were blocked, officials said.

Broken and battered: A portion of the Badrinath National Highway collapsed due to a landslip, after heavy rain, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

Road to normalcy: Restoration work under way on the National Highway that was blocked at Bhanerpani in Chamoli district.

No way home: A vehicle stranded in debris after a landslip on the National Highway in Chamoli.

Filled to the brim: An aerial survey was conducted to inspect the increased water level of the Ganga in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.

A gap to bridge: A bridge over the Malan river was damaged after incessant rain, in Kotdwar of Uttarakhand. In Phata area on the Kedarnath Yatra route in Rudraprayag district, five persons travelling in a car were buried under debris earlier this month.

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In a statement, the AIKS condemned the BJP-led union government for not yet declaring the floods in Himachal as a national disaster with a financial package to meet the requirement of huge losses. The AIKS demanded that the Himachal tragedy must be immediately declared a national disaster, an adequate financial package must be provided, and the loss of farmers, homes, and dwellings must be compensated.