A severe flood in Bastar recently destroyed the paddy crops of thousands of farmers, triggering widespread anger. Seeking fair compensation for crop damage and pressing other urgent demands, a large number of flood-affected farmers staged a massive gherao of the collectorate office and submitted a memorandum to the administration.
Protest Features Thousands Of Farmers And Tractors
The demonstration witnessed the participation of around 10,000 farmers alongside more than 200 tractors. The primary demand put forward by the farmers is a compensation of Rs 65,100 per acre for the paddy crops ruined by the floods. Furthermore, they demanded financial assistance of up to Rs 5 lakh for those whose houses were damaged by the floodwaters, along with a complete waiver of agricultural loans.
Allegations Of Administrative Neglect
The protesting farmers alleged that they had previously submitted memorandums regarding their grievances on three separate occasions, but the government and administration failed to pay any heed to their problems. The farmers have issued a stern warning that if their demands are not met promptly, the agitation will be intensified further.
Sharing their plight, Fagunu Kashyap, a resident of Merlenga in the Bastar block, stated that he had cultivated paddy on three acres of land and spent approximately Rs 35,000 on it. Due to the floods, the entire crop remained submerged in water for a week and was completely destroyed. Similarly, Rathi Ram Kashyap from Usri said that his six acres of paddy crop were totally ruined, with not even five percent of the yield surviving, and whatever little could be harvested had already rotted.
Bhartiya Kisan Union Speaks Out
Ramesh Goyal of the Bhartiya Kisan Union explained that the flooding of the Indravati river resulted in a hundred percent destruction of crops. He reiterated that the administration is turning a blind eye to their plight, which forced more than 10,000 people to take to the streets after the ultimatum expired and submit a memorandum to the administration.
