SUNDERBANI: Farmers Action Committee Sunderbani held a protest Dharna at SDM Office Sunderbani, which was led by Thakur Shamer Singh (Sarpanch) and other prominent leaders of the area. They were demanding relief and compensation for huge loss they suffered due to unprecedented rain and hailstorm on 14th March 2016.
Speaking on the occasion Ravinder Sharma, former MLC and Chief Spokesman JKPCC said that the farmers of Tehsil Beripattan , Sunderbani, Siot and adjoining areas have suffered extensive damage due to heavy rains and unprecedented hailstones on March 14th 2016 and on couple of other occasions, in various parts of these areas. As a result of this there is total loss of standing crops of all kinds including wheat, vegetables, fruits as well mulberry in most of these areas while in other parts also there is 70 to 90 per cent loss of different crops.
He said that the people have been left with no provision of ration besides total damage to vegetable cultivation and fruits and fodder for animals. A large number of families are cocoon rearers in this belt, who have been rendered without any source of livelihood due to total destruction of Mulberry leaves.
Sharma demanded free ration for six months to the affected farmers., adequate compensation to Vegetable growers, Provision of fodder or in lieu money/relief for fodder for animals for six months., compensation/ adequate relief to cocoon rearers, Seed and fertilizers subsidy to the affected farmers including vegetable seeds. KCC loan should be waived off, Crops damage should be compensated to all farmers/cultivator irrespective of the title of land whether state/EP land. He also demanded that the left out claims of House damage to the people and also those who had been denied so far being on state land/ EP land. Besides old scale of ration be restored and atta instead of wheat be provided.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion include Roshan Lal, Dwarka Nath, Tirath Ram, Kashmir Singh, Capt. Mohinder Singh, Sub. Chuni Lal, Mulkh Raj, Balwant Singh and Sain Dass.