Rajasthan: Farmers Gherao the Collectorate for 22-point Demands, Including Crop Insurance

Thousands of farmers of Rajasthan's Churu district have laid an indefinite siege in front of the collectorate office from June 2 under the leadership of All India Kisan Sabha on issues like crop insurance, canal, electricity, etc. Earlier, these farmers travelled at least 100 kilometres on foot from different tehsils and reached the Churu collectorate office on Friday, June 1. 

There is a lot of anger among the farmers against the state and Central governments. They have been agitating for the last one and a half years with their demand for crop insurance.

Under AIKS' leadership, the farmers marched from Churu Sahwa (Taranagar) to the Churu Collectorate and announced they would camp until their demands were met. Farmers named this foot march as Kisan Long March. 

Farmers of Maharashtra have taken out at least three long marches regarding their demands, after which the government had to accept them. Inspired by this, the farmers of Rajasthan marched against the Gehlot government of the Congress.

District General Secretary of Kisan Sabha Nirmal Kumar said, "This time, the gherao will continue until the government fulfils our 22-point demands." 

Although the administration held talks with the farmers when they reached the collectorate on June 2 and agreed to some of their demands, the farmers say that this struggle will continue until they do not get the full crop insurance claim.

One of the biggest demands of farmers is to give insurance claims based on crop-cutting reports. The state government wrote a letter to the Central government on Friday regarding this, but the farmers clearly said they would not be misled.

When thousands of farmers tried to enter through the gate of Churu Collectorate on Friday afternoon, RAC jawans and police officers tried their best to stop them, but the farmers were ready to break the barricades and move forward. For some time, there was a confrontation between the farmer and the police force. 

However, after this, the farmer leaders calmed the situation and explained to the farmers that they would run their movement peacefully outside the government office, after which the crowd retreated, and all the people went to the meeting place. 

The farmers said that they have put up their camp, and until their demands are met, this movement will continue like this.

"This demonstration is being held on 22-point demands, including outstanding crop insurance claims, insurance based on crop cutting, six-hour electricity to farmers, and payment of Rs 600 in MGNREGA," Kumar said.

He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Center and the Congress government in the state of doing injustice to the farmers. He said that the long-standing legitimate demands of the farmers were not being accepted.

"Even now, if the government does not accept their demands, then we will have to block the roads, for which the district administration and the government will be responsible."

The farmers have been walking for six days, even in adverse weather. Sometimes they had to face the scorching heat, and sometimes it rained.

During this time, the farmers also carried food grains in their vehicles for cooking and cooked their food.

In January this year, the farmers protested on a large scale at the SDM office in Taranagar in Churu district and on January 18 at Rajgarh regarding their demands. Farmers sat on dharna for their demands, and at that time also, farmers were demanding crop insurance based on the crop harvesting report of every tehsil.