Include farmers' demands in poll manifestos: ICCFM

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SME Times News Bureau | 15 Mar, 2019
Asserting that the much-touted PM-Kisan scheme will not help ease the agrarian distress, the All India Coordination Committee of Farmers' Movement (ICCFM) on Thursday asked political parties to include farmers' demands in their election manifestos.

It has prepared an 18-point demand list for political parties to take help from.

The ICCFM, an umbrella organisation of 40 smaller farmers bodies, including Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), Kisan Sangathan, Tamilaga Vivasaiyagl Sangham, Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha, stated this at the end of its two-day meeting here.

Addressing reporters, BKU general secretary Yudhvir Singh said, "We have nothing to do with who forms the government after the Lok Sabha elections. We just want the new government to implement our demands."

The farmers said the government should implement the Swaminathan Commission's recommendation of the 50 per cent profit over the input cost based on the 'C2' formula to ensure remunerative crop prices.

"If remunerative prices are guaranteed, there will not be any demand for loan waiver," Singh said and added the Rs 6,000 direct income support to small and marginal farmers was insufficient.

"The Rs 6,000 assistance is nothing. We want the government to give an additional income support of Rs 10,000 per acre a year to each farmer," Singh said and.

The charter of demands also includes at least Rs 5,000 monthly pension for farmers after the age of 60 years.

The organisations also sought criminal action against traders who violate the minimum support price (MSP), to ensure remunerative prices.

Vijaya Jawandhia of the Kisan Sangathan said the PM-Kisan Scheme was launched only after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost elections in three Hindi heartland states last year.

"(Prime Minister) Narendra Modi has no feelings for farmers," he said.