The Hindu : National : V.P. Singh for council to rehabilitate displaced farmers

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V.P. Singh for council to rehabilitate displaced farmers

Special Correspondent

`Lopsided development model making agriculture a loss-making proposition'

LUCKNOW: Jan Morcha convenor and former Prime Minister V.P. Singh on Saturday demanded the constitution of a National Security Council for the rehabilitation of displaced farmers and tribals.

Stating that a serious agrarian crisis along with a human and economic crisis loomed, Mr. Singh expressed concern at the acquisition of farmland and displacement of tribals from their natural surroundings by corporate investors.

Meeting the press at the Uttar Pradesh Press Club on the conclusion of the first phase of the Jan Morcha's Mukti Sangram Yatra, the former Prime Minister said the recent developments in the farm sector were fraught with dangerous consequences. If the trend was not stopped, there was a possibility of the displaced persons moving towards the extreme Left.

Mr. Singh slammed the "lopsided development model," and said agriculture was gradually becoming a loss-making enterprise.

Farmers' suicides

He said though the sensex was rising and the GDP had increased, suicides by debt-ridden farmers continued. This was a clear sign that the fruit of development had not reached the grassroots.

A proper development model, incorporating the needs of all sections, was the need of the hour.

He warned the United Progressive Alliance and the Mulayam Singh Yadav Governments that the undue emphasis on SEZs and hi-tech cities would prove counter-productive as the hunger and debt-ridden farmers had the potential to wipe out the development model that favoured the corporate sector.

Withdraw banks' powers

He said the Land Acquisition Act should be amended, and the magisterial powers conferred on banks for recovering farmers' loans should be withdrawn.

If the Jan Morcha Alliance came to power in Uttar Pradesh, entrepreneurs and investors would not be allowed to acquire farmland and the Cooperative Bank's loans to the farmers would be waived, he said.

Other measures

He also proposed reservation for Muslim OBCs, subsidised foodgrains for Dalits, and quick settlement of pension for ex-armymen.

Jan Morcha Alliance president Raj Babbar, who led the first phase of the Mukti Sangram Yatra from Fazilnagar to Lucknow, assailed the Mulayam Government for ignoring the development of Purvanchal (Eastern Uttar Pradesh).

Despite being endowed with agricultural wealth, there were no industries in the region. He said some sugar mills established in the region belonged to those who were close to Uttar Pradesh Development Council chairman Amar Singh.

Farmers ignored

He accused the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for ignoring farmers and the agricultural sector.

He demanded that the State advised price (SAP) of sugarcane be fixed at Rs. 215 a quintal. Mr. Babbar said the second phase of the yatra would begin on October 8 from Haidergarh in Barabanki district.

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