SKM members submit memo to Punjab Governor over farmers' demands
Chandigarh, June 19
A delegation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Friday called on Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, at Lok Bhavan here and submitted a memorandum highlighting various issues and demands concerning the farming community.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha delegation raised several key issues, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP), debt relief for farmers and agricultural labourers, conservation of water resources, crop insurance, land acquisition matters, withdrawal of cases related to farmers' agitations over the three contentious farm laws four years ago, and other important concerns affecting the agricultural sector.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria assured the delegation that he would personally take up all the issues and demands raised by the farmers with both the Punjab government and the government of India and make every possible effort towards their resolution.
He stated that matters relating to Punjab's agriculture, water resources and the livelihood of farmers are of utmost importance and deserve serious consideration.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria urged the Samyukta Kisan Morcha to submit a detailed proposal outlining not only their demands but also practical and long-term solutions so that the issues could be effectively presented before the governments concerned.
The Governor also informed the delegation that the proposal regarding the withdrawal of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against farmer leaders has already been sent to the President of India for approval and that the necessary process is currently underway.
The representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha expressed their gratitude to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria for patiently hearing their concerns and for assuring them that their issues would be taken up with the respective governments in order to bring about a suitable resolution at the earliest.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Another meeting, another memo - but what about the farmers who died during the 2020 protests? The FIR withdrawal is a small step, but justice needs to be done properly. And debt relief is the real issue, many farmers are literally hanging on by a thread.
The Governor asking for detailed proposals with solutions is actually smart - just complaining won't help. But the real test will be if the central government listens. Water conservation and crop insurance are equally critical for Punjab, especially with depleting groundwater. Hoping for concrete action, not just assurances.
As an outsider looking in, I'm impressed that the Governor personally met with farmers. In many countries, this would be handled by junior bureaucrats. But the MSP legal guarantee seems like a no-brainer for food security - why is it so hard to implement? Genuinely curious.
The farmers have been raising these issues for years, and still nothing changes. MSP guarantee, debt relief, water conservation - these are survival issues. I hope the Governor actually pressures both the state and central governments. Enough of photo ops and memos, we need results. 😔
Its a positive sign that the FIR withdrawal proposal has been sent to the President. Many innocent farmers were dragged into cases just for protesting peacefully. But the bigger issue remains - without MSP guarantee, the next generation won't even consider farming. We need both immediate relief and long-term agricultural reforms.
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