A Gujarat based group representing farmers on Saturday laid several demands to be met by political parties in their election manifesto. Crying foul over the new land acquisition act brought in by the UPA government, Rashtriya Kisan Dal, the farmers' group, has sought fair prices to be given by the new government.
The group demanded abolishment of the 1894 land acquisition act and called for land prices to be decided based on farmers' need in the new The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Laying down the group's demands, RKD president Hasubhai Thakar stated that the group and farmers associated with it will support the political party that looks to meet these demands in its manifesto.
"We demand interest free farm loans and terms loans at interest rates of 4 per cent to be included in the manifesto. Also, a huge amount of crops get wasted due to lack of storage facilities. Hence, political parties should also offer 100 per cent subsidy to farmers for setting up godowns, warehouses and cold storages in the country," said Thakar.
Rashtriya Kisan Dal demanded that Centre and state governments each bear 50 per cent of the crop insurance that charges 15 per cent premium which farmers find exorbitant.
"Moreover, the new government should look to offer 50 per cent subsidy on water, electricity and fertilizers, cash benefits of which should be directly transferred to the farmers," the group stated.
