Calling Vibrant Gujarat business meet anti-farmer, top leader to hold foot march against "pro-industry" land laws

Sagar Rabari

By Our Representative
Khedut Samaj Gujarat (KSG), the state's non-political farmers' organization which has successfully fought few major battles against land acquisition in special investment regions (SIRs) formed to speed up industrialization across the state, has announced that it would take out what it called “vedna yatra” (pain march) from Somnath to Gandhinagar from December 11 to January 2 to “highlight” farmers' plight.
KSG general secretary Sagar Rabari, who would walk on foot for 450 km all alone, said, he would be accompanied in between by farmers of different villages. Addressing newspersons in Ahmedabad, he added, following the Government of India's demonetization move, Gujarat farmers have been further pushed to distress after they were made to suffer from different laws to indiscriminately acquire land.
Asking three nother new non-political organizations that have cropped up across Gujarat in the recent past – Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), Apesh Thakor's Other Backward Class (OBC), and Jignesh Mavani's Dalit Adhikar Manch (DAM) – to support his yatra, Rabari said, the idea is to highlight the farmers' sorrow ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat business summit.
To be held on January 10-11 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, the plan is to oppose the Vibrant Gujarat summit by holding a 10,000-strong farmers' rally in the state capital. “The summit is a pro-industry and anti-farmer. It is being held against the backdrop of several laws passed by the Gujarat government to acquire farmers' land”, Rabari alleged.
“Facing distress due to irregular rainfall over the last three years, several anti-farmer laws were simultaneously imposed on Gujarat farmers. One of of them was to set aside certain progressive provisions of the Central Land Acquisition Act (LAA), 2013. Under this law, the Gujarat government dropped LAA's provision of social impact assessment (SIA) or consent for acquiring farmers' land”, he said.
Another law passed by the Gujarat government is the SIR Act, Rabari said. Under this Act, the Gujarat government can turn the entire SIR zone into a town planning area. By applying the town planning Act on SIR, it can acquire 50 per cent of farmers' land for urban infrastructure without taking their consent. Opposed by farmers under KSG, the state government was forced to drastically downside the Bechraji-Mandal SIR following long-drawn-out agitations two years ago.
The third one is irrigation Act, passed in 2015. “While this law has still not been implemented as no rule has been formed, it is patently anti-farmer, as it defines canal as not just irrigation canals as they are usually understood, but also any stream which flows during rainy season. The farmer is not allowed to use the a specified area of the land of this stream without the permission of the canal officer. If he does, he would face Rs 5,000 fine and three months' imprisonment”, Rabari said.
“The irrigation Act further bars anyone to pick up wood for even domestic burning in this zone, and says that if someone found guilty would be charged with Rs 10,000 fine and six months imprisonment”, Rabari said, adding, “It also seeks all farmers to register tubewells and wells in their fields, and requires farmers to take government permission to set up them up in future.”
“We oppose all these laws and want the state government to take them back”, he said, adding, “As for demonetization, it has particularly badly affected the farmers who produce vegetables. The farmers are being forced to either distress sell their vegetables, or allow them to rot for failing to get cash in return. For instance, they are forced to sell chili at Rs 2 per kg and tomatoes at Rs 5 per kg, while both the vegetables are available to the consumer at several times higher rate”, he said.
Rabari also said, against the backdrop of demonetization, he wants the Gujarat chief minister to waive farmers’ debts, which amount to Rs 30,000 crore, and declaring a date for complete payment of crop insurance they are entitled to receive because of natural disasters. “Also, the government should provide cash help of Rs 50,000, needed against the backdrop of the loss they have suffered because of demonetization”, he added.

Comments

Clive Lloyd legacy reminds us of the golden era that reshaped cricket

By Harsh Thakor* As August 31 marked the 80th birthday of cricketing icon Clive Lloyd, it also heralds the impending 50th anniversary of his ascension to the captaincy of the West Indies team. Under his leadership, a collection of extraordinary talents coalesced to create one of the most formidable teams in cricket history. The roots of West Indian cricket dominance trace back to a colonial past.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Impact of water anxiety, stress and trauma on women: World Water Week 2024 talkshow

By Mansee Bal Bhargava, Durga Das, Garbhit Naik, Sromona Burman* A newly formed no bet-for-profit organization, WODER , dedicated and motivated to work towards water security for all for all the time, was at the World Water Week (WWW) 2024 organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) from August 25 to 29th. The WWW2024 theme was, ‘Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future’ and centered around water cooperation for peace and security. The event underscored the collaborative effort needed to achieve a peaceful and sustainable future.

Trailblazer in literary innovation, critic of Indian mythology, including Ramayana

By Harsh Thakor* Ranganayakamma, commonly known as RN, stands out as a transformative figure in promoting Marxist thought, democratic ideals, and anti-caste principles through her remarkably clear and engaging writing style. A trailblazer in literary innovation, her works span a broad array of topics, from critiques of Indian mythology and revivalism to discussions on civil liberties, the Indian Communist Movement, and Maoism in China.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

'Void in Leftist landscape': Loss of Sitaram Yechury who had helped form INDIA bloc

By Vikas Meshram* The passing of Sitaram Yechury has cast a profound stillness over leftist organizations across India. Renowned as a distinguished politician, columnist, economist, and social activist, Yechury was a staunch advocate for student rights and movements. His leadership skills became apparent early in his academic career, as he was elected three times as the president of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Yechury also endured imprisonment during the Emergency period, underscoring his commitment to political activism.

Unwavering source of ideological inspiration in politics, life: Personal tribute to Yechury

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak Sitaram Yechury was everyone's comrade. He lived his life in public like an open book of praxis. Everyone was familiar with his family background, student life, many talents, achievements, and political journey that defines his everyday life as a committed communist.

Narmada valley again facing flood disaster, exacerbated by Sardar Sarovar dam 'mismanagement'

By Our Representative The environmental advocacy group South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has issued a warning , supported by detailed diagrams, that the Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) is at risk of causing flash floods in the Narmada Valley this year, similar to incidents that occurred last year.

Search This Blog