We Won’t Be Uprooted: Himachal Farmers Rally Against Forced Evictions
Thousands gather at Shimla Secretariat, demand land rights and justice
Under the shadow of the Himalayas, a sea of farmers and orchardists stood firm outside the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat on Tuesday, their voices rising in unison against what they call “unjust evictions” and the destruction of their apple orchards.
The protest, led by the Himachal Kisan Sabha and Himachal Apple Producers Union, comes days after the Supreme Court temporarily halted the cutting of apple trees—a lifeline for many families here. But for the farmers, the fight is far from over.
“Where Do We Go?”
Holding handwritten placards and wearing rain-soaked jackets, farmers from across the state shared stories of displacement.
“First, they sealed our homes. Now, they want to take our land. How will we feed our children?” asked 62-year-old Prem Singh, who traveled from Kullu with nothing but a jute bag and a faded land deed he hopes will prove his rights.
Others, like Sunita Devi, a widow from Shimla district, broke down as she described spending nights under a plastic tarp with her two daughters after her small orchard was marked for demolition. “They say we’re encroachers, but this land has fed our family for generations,” she said.
A Flawed System?
Sanjay Chauhan of the Joint Farmers Union didn’t mince words: “The government can’t give jobs, but it’s snatching the last means of survival from the poor.” He pointed to Dalit and tribal families receiving eviction notices despite decades-old claims.
Rakesh Singha, State Secretary of the Kisan Sabha, accused authorities of sidestepping legal safeguards. “In Nautor cases, land was allotted but never formalized. Now, families are being punished for bureaucratic delays,” he said.
A Temporary Truce?
After hours of protests, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu invited farmer leaders for talks. The government promised to:
- Advocate for farmers in the Supreme Court
- Halt tree cutting and house sealing immediately
- Form a committee to draft a “farmer-friendly” land policy
But skepticism lingers. “We’ve heard assurances before,” muttered Harish Thakur, a farmer from Mandi, as he rolled up his protest banner. “This time, we’ll be back in 15 days—with more people.”
What’s Next?
On August 13, protests will spread to block offices statewide. For now, farmers brace for more rain—both from the skies and, they fear, from the courts.
“They want us to vanish,” said 70-year-old Darshan Lal, staring at his gnarled apple trees. “But these roots run deep.”
Why This Matters
- Over 65% of Himachal’s land is classified as forest, restricting farmer rights.
- The apple industry supports ~150,000 families in the state.
- Evictions have surged since 2022, with 1,700+ cases reported this year alone.
