For the past two months, farmers have been persistently protesting at the Greater Noida Authority office, expressing their mounting impatience and determination to have their legitimate demands met. The farmers have assembled from various regions, with representatives from around 55 villages intending to re-strike at the Greater Noida Authority office on July 18.
Dr. Rupesh Verma, representing ICNN media, had an interview with the spokesperson from Bharatiya Kisan Mahasabha. On June 26, a consensus was reached between the farmers and the Greater Noida Authority to form a high-powered committee by June 30 to resolve the farmer’s grievances. This committee was also to make decisions on primary farmer issues by July 15. However, on July 5, the Greater Noida Authority officials stated that they would not form the High Power Committee, leading to outrage amongst the farmers, who felt betrayed and thus, further compelled to protest.
The farmers are demanding:
- Immediate allocation of 10% population plots to disadvantaged farmers.
- Compensation four times the circular rate, amounting to Rs 24000 per square meter.
- Address population issues through backleases.
- Reintroduction of farmer quotas in housing schemes and a fixed employment policy for local youth in companies.
- Provision of free education and healthcare for farmers and their families.
- 40-square-meter plots to be granted to landless families.
This breach of agreement has triggered immense discontent amongst farmers. The Kisan Sabha held a meeting of the village committee on Friday at Pramod Bhati’s farmhouse in Sakipur village, led by Santram Bhati and Jagbir Nambardar, to further discuss their strategy. Dr. Rupesh Verma called out the government and authority for their broken written promises.
Dr. Pravesh Verma shared with the media that hundreds of farmers are set to organize a mahapanchayat at the authority on July 18. The mediators – the MP, the authority, and the administration, are expected to enforce the previously signed agreement. A new Sabha committee will engage in dialogue about the district-level unrest with officials and representatives. The committee decisions will then be conveyed to the village. The village committees are slated to host mahapanchayats and inform the villagers about the decisions. The meeting was attended by several including Gangeshwar Dutt Sharma, Sanjay Nagar, Jaiveer Bhati, Surendra Yadav, Prakash Pradhan, Abhay, Shashank, Prashant, and Mohit Nagar.
Rupesh Verma, the farmer leader, underscored the grave impact of land acquisition, affecting over 1.5 lakh individuals. He emphasized that the very land that sustains the city and the authorities belongs to the farmers. Hence, denying them their rightful access to employment, education, healthcare, and land is not just illegal but fundamentally unjust.
