Agartala, July 12: Three farmers’ organizations associated with CPIM organized a protest rally in Agartala on Wednesday, urging for socio-economic improvements through a 15-point charter of demands.
Members from Tripura Kshet Mazdood Union, All India Kishan Sabha, and Tripura Rajya Ganamukti Parishad participated in the protest march, which commenced from the Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan area and made its way through the streets of the capital city.
The demonstrators raised slogans against the government, primarily focusing on the need to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for farmers’ produce in response to rising input costs.
The protesters voiced concerns that the combination of escalating input costs and an unfair MSP is causing financial distress, particularly among small, marginal, and middle farmers, as well as tenants, leading to increased indebtedness within these communities.
Their demands included the provision of high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to farmers without any cost.
Additionally, they called for the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) and the Tripura Urban Employment Program (TUEP) within the agricultural sector and related fields.
The protesters insisted on a minimum of 200 days of work per year for rural laborers, agricultural workers, and jumiyas, with a daily wage of Rs 600.
Further demands encompassed the establishment of rice procurement centers in remote areas, an enhanced supportive price for rice purchase, greater power and autonomy for district councils through the proposed 125th amendment to the Constitution, comprehensive central assistance to support forest-dependent and landless households’ economic rehabilitation, and an immediate halt to forest dwellers’ eviction.
Police obstructed the protesters near the All India Radio station when they attempted to move ahead in order to submit their memorandum to the Chief Minister at the Assembly.
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) conveyed that due to the ongoing session, the Chief Minister would arrange a meeting with the protest leaders at a later date following the conclusion of the session.
Also read: Assam: IIT-Guwahati develop AI model to predict severity of knee osteoarthritis
