Maharashtra farmers agitation ends as Fadnavis agrees to most demands
The week-long farmer agitation organized by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) in Maharashtra finally ended in Mumbai on Monday evening after the Devendra Fadnavis government gave in to most of their demands. Over 35,000 farmers, primarily tribals, from across the state began the 170-km 'Long March' in Nashik on March 6. They arrived at Mumbai's Azad Maidan early on Monday. Read on for more.
Decision reached after two-hour meeting between ministerial committee, farmer-leaders
The farmer-leaders and a ministerial panel headed by chief minister Fadnavis had a discussion for over two hours. The government gave a written assurance to the cultivators that their demands — including the transfer of forest lands under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 within six months — would be met. Special trains were also announced to ferry the protestors back to their home districts.
Government agrees to diluting loan waiver conditions
According to a report in Hindustan Times, Maharashtra government also agreed to: *Dilute the loan waiver condition: It has been extended from June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2017. Now farmers with pending loans from 2001 (instead of 2009) will also be covered under the scheme. *Consider to waiver loans up to Rs. 1.5 lakh if taken for buying agricultural implements/equipment.
Protestors on their way to the final venue
Cultivators also wanted pension hike, compensation for failed crops
Among their other demands were: *Setting up a special committee to look at the rights of temple trusts/grazing lands *Renewing old ration cards in three months *Hiking pension under social schemes for BPL destitute people and senior citizens *Full waiver of electricity bills *Implementing Swaminathan Commission for issues of land reforms, ownership and cattle stock *Compensating for loss of crops due to natural calamity/diseases
