Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, 16, January: Diglipur Farmer Union held a massive dharna in front of the Assistant Commissioner’s Office today to press for their demands.
As per report, the protest was mounted by the Diglipur Farmer Union to press for resolving their demands. The agitation got a support from political parties such as the BJP, Congress (INC) and CPI(M) while Diglipur Merchant Association, Drivers’ Union, N & M Andaman, Auto- Rickshaw Union, Diglipur, Diglipur Travel Union reportedly extended their full support to the dharna. Addressing the gathering, every speaker advocated immediate issuance of fertilizers to the farmers by the Agriculture Department.
Mr. Naresh Halder, a stalwart of the BJP said that there is no restriction from the Central Govt. nor any ban on issuance of chemical fertilizers like DAP and Urea in Andaman islands, it is reportedly the A & N Administration which stopped supplying these two prime fertilizers to the farmers in Diglipur and elsewhere in Andaman, and too without consultation with the farmers and taking them into confidence; and also without introducing an alternative for the same.
As a result of which the farmers are suffering and that needs to be resolved on priority by the Administration, he urged. Mr. P R Singa Ram, Pradhan, (INC) Gram Panchayat Subhashgram said that complaints after complaints have been piling on his table from the farmer community for fertilizer and he is seized of the grievous situation the farmers are in owing to non-issuance of the fertilizers by the concerned Dept. He urged the Administration to seriously take note of the situation and ensure to redress the issue early.
Smti. Alpana Mazumder, newly BJP District President said that it was those days when there was no requirement of the chemical fertilizers for agricultural purposes, but it was the Agriculture Department which reportedly supplied the chemical fertilizers to the farmers against their will and thus gradually the soil became accustomed to applying chemical fertilizers for growing crops.
And now when the farmers are in dire need of the fertilizers, the very department has ceased to supply the fertilizers which is untenable. The officials should realize the situation if the farmers cease to bring vegetables to the market, and hence the administration should gauge the sentiment and their pangs owing to non-availability of the fertilizers and take immediate steps in this regard and supply the fertilizers as soon as possible.
On an interesting note, it was again observed that, whenever this type of public grievance emerged in Diglipur, political parties irrespective of their entities united under one umbrella and fought for the common cause; and this sort of thing was reportedly again visible in today’s dharna as well.
However, talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Mr. Kamal Halder, President Diglipur Farmer Union said that Mr. Kamleshwar Rao S (IAS), the Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur came down to the dharna site and sat down on the tarpaulin placed on the road for dharna purpose and held talks with Mr. Kamal Halder. The talks between the Assistant Commissioner were reportedly fruitful and the AC gave assurance to fulfil their demand as early as possible, the President Diglipur Farmer Union, said. The AC also reportedly told Mr. Halder, the Director of Agriculture, is expected to arrive from Sri Vijaya Puram to Diglipur shortly to address the farmers’ grievances, Mr. Kamal Halder further added.
