Kisan Manch demands a separate commission for farmers

Mathura, Aug 21 (PTI) Kisan Manch, a forum for farmersfounded by former Prime Minister VP Singh has demanded aseparate commission for farmers, with constitutional powersand representation of farmers in it. "Like Nirvachan Aayog, it would have constitutionalpowers with representation of farmers in it", Shekhar Dixit,state president of Kisan Manch said in Govardhan town heretoday. He said the working of this Ayog would be farmeroriented. Dixit’s submission came while he was talking aboutmiserable condition of farmers in independent India. "Even seven decades after independence, there has been nochange in the economic status of the farmer, in spite of tallclaims by different political parties", he alleged. According to Dixit, the farmers have not gained with cropinsurance policy of Modi government. "Owing to red tapism and absence of proper publicity, thefarmers have not benefitted from crop insurance policy of theunion Government", he said. He expressed the need for such a decentralised body withmore power to farmers where their interest would be supreme. Dixit also highlighted the need for construction of morecold storages. Favouring changes in the land acquisition law, he said,"Neither agricultural nor industrial growth is attained if theland acquired for industries remains unused for four to fiveyears after acquisition".  He asserted that such land should be returned to thefarmer if industrial activity does not start within threeyears since it leads to unemployment also. "A job in the industry should be made obligatory if theland of the farmer is acquired for industrial purpose", hesuggested. He also demanded speedy payment of cane arrears to thefarmers in UP. PTI COR ARK RTARK