Farmer’s body Manipur Loumee Lup (MLL) secretary H Ibobi said, “We have requested the departments and officials concerned to let us know the quantity of relief materials like seeds or pulses for the kharif crops under drought relief programme. But they (officials) are not ready to talk. Even the Deputy Commissioners of the districts concerned are not giving us appointment in this regard”, Ibobi added.
The farmer community in Manipur, who had faced miseries during the recent harvest season due to drought this year, are reportedly getting 1 to 5 kilograms of seeds or pulses of kharif crops. But no one knows how the distribution takes place, an angry farmer narrated.
“We want transparency, otherwise we will take the help of RTI (Rights to Information),” the leader of the farmer’s body said.
On Monday, the farmers’ body staged a demonstration in Imphal decrying the failure of the Government to act on its demands, including timely supply of Public Distribution System (PDS) items tofarmers in spite of having submitted memorandum to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.
The MLL secretary, talking to The Assam Tribune, asserted that farmers in Manipur have been deprived of their rights, whether it is ensuring irrigation facilities, seeds, fertilizer, etc. Irregular supply of PDS items like rice, sugar and kerosene is another issue, he said.
Highlighting the demands of the aggrieved farmers, a memorandum has been submitted to the Prime Minister and also the Chief Minister on August 27, which included sanctioning of fund and seed for the this year’s kharif season, ensuring availability of PDS items tofarmers, allowing full participation of farmers in NREGS works, formulation of a suitable agriculture policy for Manipur, payment of compensation to farmers affected by Loktak Project, revival of co-operative societies and ensuring the benefits of Krishi Viyan Kendra and ICAR to the farmers. Taking up necessary measures for harvesting rainwater in both the hill and valley areas for irrigation purposes, extension of Kishan Credit Cards to thefarmers without guarantor, interest-free loan and proper implementation of Panchayati institutions are also among other demands of Loumee Lup.