Around 20,000 farmers and tribals will hold a protest at Azad Maidan on November 22 over various demands. Yogendra Yadav, national president of Swaraj India and water conservationist Dr Rajendra Singh, will take part in the protest that will start on November 21 from Thane and reach Azad Maidan on November 22.
Some of the demands of the farmers and tribals include minimum support price (MSP) that is 50 per cent higher than the production cost and setting up a judicial system to keep a check on whether or not farmers are receiving it, drought compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for non-irrigated land and Rs 1 lakh per acre for irrigated land, complete farm loan wavier, transfer of forest land to tillers with others.
“After the state government announced the loan waiver last year, the banks are not ready to give the crop loans to the farmers. Besides, the farmers are getting less than the MSP for their produce and there is no mechanism to complain about it,” said Pratibha Shinde, general secretary of the Lok Sangharsh Morcha.
Shinde further said that the government should transfer the forest land on to the tillers name. “If it is not done, then they will not get any benefits such as drought compensation, crop loan etc. Despite several promises by the government, it has failed to resolve the issues. The farmers will march with foodgrains and other material with an intention of not leaving Mumbai until our demands are accepted,” she added.
“Earlier this month, we sent around 20,000 post cards to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stating that we are coming for justified demands,” said Shinde.
Dhananjay Shinde, spokesperson of Aam Adami Party, which has extended support to the protest, said that the representatives of all religions would also take part in the protest. “They will come to stand with the farmers for their issues,” said Shinde. Other parties such as Janta Dal (Secular), Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) have also extended support for the protest.