Sugarcane growers want payment of arrears, subsidy

Ashok Kaura

Phagwara, January 23

Sugarcane growers have alleged that despite assurances and the state government’s announcement of

Rs 55 per quintal subsidy, the farmers were not getting it from the management of Golden Sandhar Sugar Mill. Moreover, the mill management was issuing minimum slips to the farmers.

This was alleged in a meeting of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Doaba) held at Gurdwara Shri Sukhchain Sahib on Tuesday. BKU leader Satnam Singh Sahni presided over the meeting. Manjit Singh Rai, president, BKU Doaba, Davinder Singh, senior vice-president, BKU Doaba and Harbhajan Singh, senior vice-president, BKU Doaba, also addressed the meeting.

The farmer leaders said that a deputation will meet Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, Captain Karnail Singh soon and demand that the administration give directions to the mill management to give sugarcane slips to the farmers on time.

Talking to media after the meeting, BKU leader Sahni said that the deputation of farmers will urge the DC to hold a meeting with the mill management to solve the problems of farmers, including a huge amount of arrears.

Farmers warned to intensify their stir if their genuine demands could not be accepted soon. The meeting also strongly opposed the decision taken by the Central Government to impose a tax on farmers. He said that the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha has given directions to hold a protest march with tractors on January 26 in the country.