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Ludhiana | Dairy farmers intensify protest against state govt
Daljit Singh Sadarpura, president, Progressive Dairy Farmers Association (PDFA) said over 20,000 dairy farmers joined the protest in Ludhiana on Thursday
Hundreds of dairy farmers from Ludhiana and nearby districts in Malwa region staged a protest against the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, for backtracking from their promise, on the second consecutive day outside Verka milk plant on Ferozepur road here
In order to register their protest, the dairy farmers had parked their trolley in front of the main gate of the plant and did not allow the entry and exit of vehicles. However, the authorities of milk plant used an alternative entrance to ensure uninterrupted milk supply.
Daljit Singh Sadarpura, president, Progressive Dairy Farmers Association (PDFA) said over 20,000 farmers joined the protest on Thursday.
He said the problem was not new, adding that “For the past four years the price at which the milk is procured from farmers has not been revised, but the cost of fodder has doubled. If the revised rates are implemented, then the government is liable to pay ₹123-crore to dairy farmers. Similarly, an outstanding amount of nearly ₹900-crore was pending against private players,” Sadarpura claimed.
Farmers have suffered a double whammy. “On one hand, farmers have suffered heavy losses due to the death of cattle. Secondly, due to high input costs, small and marginal farmers are under heavy debt. Rubbing salt on the wounds of dairy farmer, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government is not releasing money promised recently,” said Sadarpura.
Recently, Punjab co-operation minister Harpal Singh Cheema had in May announced an increase in milk procurement prices by ₹55 per kg for dairy farmers.
Harmeet Singh Kadian, president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kadian), said the government had agreed that while ₹ 20 was to be given by Milkfed, ₹35 was to be released by the state government. However, the state government has not released the grant yet, he added.
“Leaving the comfort of our homes, we are all gathered here and sleeping on the road. It is for a reason. The AAP government earned much limelight and projected themselves as pro-farmers, but in reality they are turning pro- corporate,” Kadian said, adding that dharna would be lifted only after farmers receive funds as promised by the government.
Similar to farmer protests against the three contentious farm laws last year, a huge number of tractors and trolleys had been parked under the Ferozepur road flyover. PDFA has made arrangements of food and other enmity for farmers.
Lumpy skin disease adds to woes
Kadian said dairy farmers are already burdened under a huge debt due to the spread of lumpy skin disease.
He added that the government had made tall claims of issuing funds to the BDPOs and directed them to arrange JCBs to ensure burial of dead cattle and remain in touch with sarpanches of villages.
“However, dairy farmers are spending from their pockets for the burial of cattle,” he said.
