Delhi Govt. ignoring farmers

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 21. While the Congress(I) leadership is all set to take on the NDA Government, accusing it of ignoring the interests of the farmers by holding a Kisan Rally on February 25, its own Government in Delhi has been sitting on various issues, including enhancement of compensation rate for acquisition of land and holding of Panchayati Raj elections more than two years after coming to power.

In fact, the impression gaining ground among farmers and rural people is that the Sheila Dixit Government is only concerned about the welfare of urban Delhi and nothing much is being done for the rural areas its traditional strongholds. Be it the issue of setting up of a Rural Development Board, inclusion in the Bhagidari, consolidation of land records or provision of basic amenities the Delhi Government has been adopting an ``indifferent attitude'' and there has been no urgency to sort out the issues.

In what could turn out to be an embarrassment to the Congress(I), the Delhi Government has been found wanting on settling the demands of farmers. Strong resentment prevails not only among farmers but also among the MLAs against the indecision of their Government to work out a amicable formula. ``Imagine what could be the situation if the issue is raised by a section of farmers at the rally in the presence of all Central leaders. The State Government has been sleeping over issues concerning farmers,'' a senior MLA remarked.

It was only after the farmers threatened to launch an agitation that the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dixit, announced a 10 per cent hike in land acquisition rates last year. It was decided to set up a committee headed by the Finance Minister, Mr. Mahinder Singh Saathi, to look into the issue and submit a report at the earliest. But it has been months and the final announcement has not been made, leading to strong resentment among farmers. It is learnt that many farmer leaders, who had raised this issue and demanded a massive hike in compensation rates, were not taken into the committee robbing it of credibility. In fact, Mr. Saathi faced an hostile audience at the farmer's rally at Mahipalpur in Outer Delhi on Tuesday where they demanded that an announcement regarding welfare measures be made immediately.

It has been almost a year since the Chief Minister announced that a Rural Development Board would be set up on the pattern of the Trans-Yamuna Development Board to promote the interests of rural people. But this has also remained a mere announcement. In fact, the Bhagidari initiative has no place for the farmers who are the ones who gave up the land for building urban Delhi. What has further hampered implementation of welfare schemes is that the portfolios of Development and Revenue are held by two different Ministers in the Sheila Dixit Cabinet. This has created problems of coordination and smooth implementation of schemes.

Also, the farmers are annoyed over the Delhi Government's failure to repair damaged transmission lines for months which had affected irrigation operations. At many places like Bawana, Narela, Pooth Kalan and other areas, major portions of transmission line wires are missing. Several representations to the Chief Minister and the Power Minister, Dr. Narendra Nath, has not helped matters. A demand has now emerged that the DVB should withdraw the power bills for the period during which these lines have not been functional.

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