Farmer clubs to launch agitation

Hike in land tax and power bill, norms for damages invite ire

Farm Fed Wayanad, a coordination committee of the farmer clubs under various nationalised banks in the district, is preparing to launch indefinite agitations against the anti-farmer polices of the government.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday P. Hariharan, chief coordinator, and K.J. Pramod, secretary of the committee, said the recent decisions of the State government such as hike in land tax, increase in power consumption charges for farming purposes, and new norms set for providing compensation for crop loss in natural calamities, had put the agrarian community in a distress.

A recent increase in land tax, from Rs.80 an acre to Rs.320 an acre with a retrospective effect, was the first blow to the community following the hike in stamp duty and land sketch charges, they said. “The land sketch charge was increased to Rs.503 a sketch from Rs.253 a sketch and the minimum charge of stamp duty was raised from Rs.100 to Rs.500,” they said.

While the neighbouring States such as Karnatka and Tamil Nadu were providing free electricity for farming purposes, the State government was charging Rs.5.25 for a unit of power consumption now. It was 65 paise a unit before after subsidy, they said. According to a recent government order, the farmers had to collect the prior permission of the District Collector to get land related certificates from Revenue Department offices concerned, as the cultivable land under farmers’ possession in the district either belonged to Land Reforms Act or Land Utilisation Act.

Even while such hikes are announced, the compensation for farmers for crop loss during natural calamities has been cut short considerably this year.

If the farmers got Rs.100 for the loss of a plantain before, as per the new norms they will get only Rs.3.50 a plant, Mr. Hariharan said.

All such moves put the farming community in a fix, Mr. Pramod said, adding that the government should reconsider revoking its decisions.

The organisation will submit a memorandum to Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister soon, the committee said. If the government failed to revoke its decisions, the organisation will launch a series of agitations, the office bearers added.

Memorandum to CM, Agriculture Minister soon

Hike in stamp duty, land sketch charges