Around 2.5 lakh farmers have written to the Chief Justice of the Bombay high court ‘s Aurangabad bench, demanding pension of '5,000 after 60 years of age. Under the Shetkari Shetmajur Kruti Samitee, an intiative by NCP MLA Shankaranna Dhondge from Marathwada, the farmers have submitted letters articulating their difficulties in agriculture sector. Mr Dhondge has also filed a PIL in the court narrating the plight of the farmers.
“I am a farmer and my family and I are dependent on the agriculture for living. The agriculture production cost and efforts have increased over a period of time but my financial condition has not improved. The farming has become unreliable due to changes in nature. It is financially also not viable and the government’s directionless policies have just increased debt load on me. It has even become difficult to make ends meet and hence suicidal thoughts keep coming to my mind,” the letter said.
It further presses for a few demands by the farmers to improve his financial condition. “It is necessary to waive off the loan completely and give protection to the agriculture sector. The new technology for farming should be made available easily and a direct connect between agriculture and consumer is necessary. We should get Rs 5,000 pension after 60 years of age,” the letter added.
Speaking on the letter, Mr Dhondge said that the government should stop treating food as a commodity, else farmers will never get desired returns on it.
