Imphal: Communist Party of India (CPI), Manipur State Council, on Sunday demanded a special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and adopt a decision to address the plights of the farmers in the wake of drought like situation in most parts of the state.
The demand was raised during a sit-in-protest staged by farmers of Keirao area in Imphal East district under the aegis of Keirao block of CPI, Manipur State Council, today.
Banners displayed at the protest site read – “Summon a special session of the state Assembly,” “Conduct a survey to identify the paddy fields in which crops failed,” “Compensate farmers at the rate of Rs 30,000 per sangam,” etc.
Taking part in the protest, CPI state secretary, L Sotinkumar said that due to scanty or less rain this season, paddy crops failed in most parts of the state.
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The paddy fields at places where there are irrigation facilities, there will be a drastic reduction in the paddy crop production due to non-availability of fertilizers, particularly urea, he also said.
The CPI leader estimated a failure of 95% of the total paddy fields of the state due to water and fertilizer scarcity. The yields of the remaining fields will also be drastically low compared to the previous years, he added.
Despite the woes facing the farmers due to the drought-like situation this season, the state government, particularly the Agriculture department, is doing nothing to get the farmers relief from the woes, he alleged. He demanded that the plights of the farmers should be discussed by summoning a special session of the state Assembly.
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The session should discuss the plights of the farmers and measures that can be taken up on the part of the government to get the farmers rid of the woes, he also said.
Sotinkumar criticized the government for not taking up works to provide irrigation facilities to the fields nearby water bodies and rivers.
The state government had done nothing to provide water to the fields. It had not taken up steps to supply Urea timely to the farmers, he alleged.
The CPI leader further alleged the government of not implementing a long term policy for the welfare of the farmers. The CPI strongly denounced the way the state government deals with the farmers’ plights, he further added..
NNN
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