Farmers had gathered in Ahmedabad, under the aegis of 'Kranti' organization to highlight their plight.
Farmers in Gujarat said that the compensation announced by the state government is not only miniscule but a mockery of the farming community. At a gathering in Ahmedabad, they demanded that, considering the severe drought conditions in Gujarat, it should be raised to the level announced by Punjab or other governments.
Farmers had gathered in Ahmedabad, under the aegis of 'Kranti' organization to highlight their plight. Bharatsinh Zala, founder of Kranti said that Gujarat government has announced a relief package of Rs 6,300 per hectare (with a cap of two hectare) for farmers affected by drought. "This is nothing but a joke. Punjab government's assistance is Rs 25,000 per acre. So while a scarcity-hit farmer in Punjab gets an assistance of Rs 1,25,000 per hectare, his counterpart in Gujarat Rs 6,300. We want Gujarat government to raise the assistance accordingly," said Zala. He demanded that with unprecedented drought in Gujarat, the state government should implement the judgements by the Supreme Court of India and recommendations of Swaminathan Committee to give immediate relief to farmers as a stop gap measure and as a long term plan to improve the condition of farmers, should bring a comprehensive agriculture policy.
Ramniklal Dalwadi, a farmer of Limbdi taluka of Surendranagar district complained that farmers are increasingly getting into debt trap. "Following consecutive bad Monsoons, farmers are unable to repay loans. If one takes a loan of Rs one lakh, it spirals to Rs 3.5 lakh in three years. There are various parameters that add to the debt. If prompt and corrective actions are not taken, farmers will sink in bad debt," said Dalwadi.
Himanshu Thakkar an advocate said that the process of claiming insurance is so complicated and non-transparent that it is impossible for an individual farmer to get one. He has filed over 100 cases in consumer court. Farmers from Banaskantha district said that it is for about four consecutive years that talukas like Vav have faced bad Monsoon and so farmers are unable to repay loans. "With no water available, farmers have to rely on supply of water from private bore-wells but farmers have to give one third of their crop to those who supply water," said Karsanji, a villager from Vav taluka.
Bharatsinh Padhiyar of Nagnesh village of Botad district said that in the year 2016-17, only 21 of 122 farmers of a local cooperative got insurance and in 2018-19, 92 of 101 farmers got. "There are no set parameters for accepting or rejecting insurance. There are no standards for determining the quantum of payment," he said.
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