'Give daily wages as per NREGS'

Raitha Sangha members along with farm workers organise protest march

Urging the authorities concerned to fulfil their various demands, the protesters took out a protest march, which began from the Travellers Bungalow and passed through the main thoroughfares of the City, including M G Road, bus stand, etc, and finally culminated in front of the deputy commissioner’s office.

Throughout the protest march, the members shouted slogans against the Government and the officials.

Staging a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office, the members stated that under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, though there is a provision to provide an amount of Rs 125 wages to the farm labourers, the officials concerned were not implementing it.

Infact, the protesters stated, under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, there is a provision to provide Rs 150 as coolie to the farm labourers. They are supposed to work for 200 days.

Officials quite

From March 13 itself, the farm labourers were supposed to get Rs 125 as daily wages.

And yet the officials concerned were keeping mum in this regard, they expressed their anger.

They said, steps should be taken to ensure that people belonging to all classes get foodgrains commonly under the public ration system.

Also, as per the model followed by the Kerala state government, essential commodities should also be given along with foodgrains through the public distribution system, the members urged.

All the banks should offer new loans to the farmers, at 3 per cent rate of interest.

Amendment

There should also be an amendment to the Land Reforms Act, they also urged and demanded that measures should be taken to ensure that continuous power supply for 12 hours should   be provided to the agricultural pump sets.

In order to solve the drinking water crisis prevailing in the district, a permanent irrigation project should be implemented, they said. The State and the Central governments had forgotten the assurances made to the people before the elections. They were following anti-people policies.

The prices of the essential commodities was rising. There was a need to announce pro-people policies in the monsoon session of the budget, the farmers urged.

Pathetic conditions

According to the statistics provided by the Government, the per capita income earned by about 78 per cent of the people in the country was Rs 20 only. But, the conditions prevailing in Kolar district was very pathetic. More than 80 per cent of the people residing in Kolar district were farm labourers. Kolar district largely depended on the rains.
The district hardly had any rivers or canals.

There were irregularities in the grants sanctioned under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Urigili village of Kolar taluk.

When Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha taluk unit president T Krishnegowda questioned about this, he was allegedly assaulted. And those people who were behind the assault, are said to have registered a complaint against Krishnegowda. The members of the Sangha have urged for a detailed inquiry in this regard.