COVID-19 Lockdown: Farmers’ Body to Protest against Government on May 27

Crores of farm labourers, migrant workers and farmers continue walking to their homes due to an  “unplanned lockdown” announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24. The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has decided to raise their voice and call out the failure of the Modi government.

AIKS leaders held a meeting on conference and decided to register their protest both on social media and outside their homes. AIKS Secretary Hanan Mollah and its President, Ashok Dhavale, were present for the meeting.

"We can see how the unplanned lockdown has turned into a calamity for the labourers, farmers, farm labourers, workers and the landless. The package which was declared by the Modi government is also in the interest of capitalists; these people walking for hundreds of kilometeres will not get any benefit from it either. To protest this gross insensitivity, we have decided to launch two immediate campaigns and protests," said Dhavale.

On May 16, AIKS will felicitate farmers across the country on social media. Despite the odds stacked against them and the ignorance of the Centre and various state governments, farmers have not shied away from their duty and are trying to feed the country. The event is designed as a mark of respect for their labour and also to express gratitude towards them.

On May 27, AIKS workers as well as its supporters will take to social media and raise their voice for farmers as well as labourers. On this day, people are expected to stand for protest in front of their houses. With a lockdown in place, AIKS is avoiding large gatherings at a single venue.

AIKS has also made the following demands to the Central Government to help the stranded labourers and farmers. 

1. Arrangements of buses and trains, should be done for 20 crore labourers across India, so that they can reach their native places.

2. If the central government can write off the loans of almost 67 thousand crores for few capitalists then why it is not giving complete loan waiver to farmers. It should immediately announce farmer loan waivers. 

3. Banks should give fresh loans to farmers for the upcoming Kharif season and the government should give a guarantee. 

4. Government should give the farmers complete compensation for the losses in Rabi season. 

5. Farmers, farm labours, labours, landless labours and unorganised workers should get Rs 10 thousand per family as compensation from governments. 

6. There should be immediate extension of works for MNREGA. 

7. PM Kisan Sanman Yojana shall include all the tribal farmers and they should get Rs 18 thousand per year instead of Rs six thousand for the year. 

8. Farmers must get a Minimum Support Price of 1.5 times the investment price for all the produce. 

9. Farmers must get diesel as per Rs 22 per litre. 

10. Public Health system must be empowered to be ready for the future.