Farmers and gardeners of the state disappointed with the budget : Dr Tanwar

There was no glimpse of system change in the budget presented by the state government for 2024-25. The budget is silent about providing minimum support price for the produce of farmers-gardeners, setting up processing industries for the produce and giving fair compensation for the agricultural land being taken from farmers for various infrastructure projects. This is the belief of Himachal Kisan Sabha, an organization representing farmers, gardeners and cattle rearers of the state.

Responding to the budget of the state government, State President of Himachal Kisan Sabha, Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar said that 63 percent of the total population of the state is earning their livelihood from farming, horticulture and animal husbandry, but there is no proposal to change the system in the government’s budget. There was a lack of sensitivity regarding the future of the population.

Dr. Tanwar said that a large part of the agricultural land of the state is being used for the construction of four lanes, national highways, hydroelectric projects and other industrial structures. The government is acquiring farmers’ land either with their consent or forcibly. But in return farmers are not being given proper compensation. The rules of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 are being ignored. Under the Act, compensation is being given on the basis of Factor 1 instead of Factor 2 in the market rate (circle rate).

Apart from this, farmers are not getting proper compensation for the loss of pastures, fields, water sources and gardens due to mining for the project, nor is there transparency in it. Kisan Sabha has demanded four times the compensation for the land acquired from farmers under Factor 2.

The State President said that the burden of this will not fall on the state government. It is to be paid by the Center but the State Government will have to give its in-principle consent.

At the same time, in the budget, the demand of the orchardists to give support price for A grade, B grade and C grade apples at the rate of Rs 60, 48 and 24 respectively has also been ignored. The budget is silent even on the minimum support price for vegetables, flowers and spices.

The government procurement price of milk has definitely been increased but it is not in accordance with the guarantee given before the elections. At the same time, no provision has been made in the budget to provide subsidy on feed and fodder and to create fodder bank, a long standing demand of animal farmers.

There is a provision in the budget for stray animals that damage the crops of farmers in the state, but for a permanent solution to this, it is necessary to increase the budget. At the same time, there is no mention in the budget on relief from wild animals, wild boar, Nilgai etc. exceeding the carrying capacity. There is a need for a plan to conduct scientific culling through trained shooters in the presence of experts. There is also a need to take concrete steps to protect against monkeys and stray dogs in urban areas. With the opening of schools, it becomes difficult for children and women to walk on the roads because of these animals.

Dr. Tanwar said that it is expected that the government will take cognizance of these issues and make appropriate provision in the budget and will take concrete steps for this in the annual plan.