Thousands Of Maharashtra Farmers March To Mumbai Over Onion Price Woes, Loan Waiver Demand

Farmers are marching towards Mumbai to demand financial relief amid falling onion prices. Unorganised sector workers, tribals as well as ASHA workers have also joined the march.

Farmers are on their way to Mumbai, holding protest march over issues including Onion prices, waiving off Kisan loans. ( Image Source :Twitter/ANI )

Thousands of farmers from various districts of Maharashtra are marching from Nashik to Mumbai to highlight their problems, particularly over onion prices and waiving off Kisan loans. The Maharashtra government has deputed two ministers to hold talks with them. 

On Thursday, the government is set to hold another round of talks with a delegation representing thousands of farmers and tribals, said former MLA Jiva Gavit, who is spearheading the march, as reported by the news agency PTI.

Unorganised sector workers as well as ASHA or community health workers have also joined the march.

Here Are All The Demands Stated By The Protesting Farmers:

• The farmers have demanded a subsidy of Rs 600 per quintal for onions from the Maharashtra government and explore all possibilities of exporting onions in bulk. The farmers have also demanded the state government to buy onion in bulk through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India at the lowest price of Rs 2,000 only.
• Land should be given in the name of the tribals who have been plowing the land for years and who have forest land up to 4 hectares in their possession at 7/12. The 7/12 extract or Utara is an extract from that land register and includes complete information about agriculture land in a rural area of Maharashtra. The farmers have also demanded that the state government should accept ineligible claims of tribals. 
• The farmers have also demanded the state government to waive off extra electricity bills and ensure electricity to them for atleast 12 hours a day.
• The farmers have demanded to clear 7/12 of the farmers by waiving the entire agriculture loan. The revenue department of the Maharashtra government maintains 7/12 & 8A Utara records. The Utara (bhumi abhilekh from mahabhulekh) provides information of the survey number of the land, land owner name, the area of the land, the type of cultivation (irrigated / rain fed).
• In their demands, the farmers have asked for immediate compensation from NDRF for crop damage due to unseasonal rains and natural calamities that continue throughout the year. They have also asked the state government to control the loot of crop insurance companies and compel them to compensate crop insurance holders for losses.
• Establish an independent system for regular inspection of milk and weighbridges used for inspection of milk. Appoint Milcometer Inspector. Implement FRP and revenue sharing policy for milk. Give the minimum price of cow milk Rs 47 and the minimum price of buffalo milk Rs 67.
• Stop the 'conspiracy' to reduce the prices of soyabean, cotton, arhar and gram crops. Give compensation to the affected farmers on the lines of Kerala. The farmers also demanded a proper rehabilitation for the victims of Navi Mumbai airport project .
• Implement old pension scheme for government employees who are recruited after 2005. Apply the pay scale to the employees of the Social Welfare Department as well. Give 100% grant to partially aided schools.
• In view of the current inflation, the farmers have sought an increase in the subsidy of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for poor farmers, agricultural laborers, labourers, slum dwellers from Rs. 1 lakh 40 thousand to 5 lakh from Rs. 5 lakh and also conduct a new survey of deprived poor beneficiaries and include their names in list 'D'
• Increase the amount of old age pension and special financial assistance scheme applicable to senior citizens of Maharashtra and others to at least Rs 4000.
• Resume the sale of food grains with free food grains on ration cards every month. Fill vacancies in government jobs. The farmers also demanded an increase in the wage rate to Rs 26000 and regularisation of contract employees.