People's Democracy

Kisan Tehrik Stages Dharna At Jammu

ON February 2, Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Tehrik (JKKT), an affiliate of the All India Kisan Sabha, staged a militant dharna at the divisional commissioner�s office in Jammu. Those sitting in the dharna were addressed among others by JKKT president Kishore Kumar, its general secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik and senior leaders including Bishan Dass, Abdul Hamid Wani and Mohd Khalil Naik.

In his address, Kishore Kumar dealt at length with the problems facing today by the common man because of the sky-rocketing prices of all essential commodities and the scarcity of ration supply. He accused the central as well as state government of pursuing anti-people policies and for not fulfilling their promises made during the elections.

Ghulam Nabi Malik dealt with the continuing drought situation in the state and its adverse effects on the rural, particularly the hilly areas. He said the people are compelled to purchase the basic essentials at high prices. Because of scarcity of fodder, the paddy grass is being sold at Rs 5 a kg. He demanded that the crop insurance scheme be implemented in the state forthwith and the crop damage caused due to drought may be covered under this scheme.

In their addresses, senior leaders Bishan Dass, Abdul Hamid Wani and Mohd Khalil Naik explained the adverse situation facing the common man due to power failure and its avoidable interruptions, particularly in the rural areas. They said the public distribution system (PDS) is there in name only and this is why the black-marketers and hoarders are taking benefit of the situation. People are facing the scarcity of kerosene oil and LPG as well. They demanded that drinking water supply must be made a fundamental right of all the citizens. They also demanded that all necessary measures must be taken to tackle the drought situation in the state.

In view of the existing situation when the poor people, both rural as well as urban, are the worst sufferers, the J&K Kisan Tehrik made some demands through its memorandum handed over to the divisional commissioner. One of these was the demand that all the essential commodities must be provided to the people through the PDS, and that the government must fulfil its promise of providing 50 kg of food grains against every ration card.

To resolve the expected fodder crisis in the coming days, the JKKT demanded that the kisans must be provided the fodder at subsidised rates.

Implementation of the crop insurance scheme to cover all the crops and to recompense for the crops damaged due to the continuous drought situation was another important demand made by the organisation.

The JKKT also demanded electric supply to all rural areas without unnecessary cuts, supply of kerosene oil and LPG at reasonable prices, drinking water supply to every citizen, and stringent actions against the hoarders and black-marketers so as to bring the prices of essential commodities down.