CPI demands setting-up of Kisan Sewa Kendra's in Punjab

Jalandhar, May 30 (UNI) Punjab Kisan Sabha, a Communist Party of India(CPI) frontal organisation, has demanded setting-up of Kisan Sewa Kendra at block level in the State for providing essential services and assistance to farmers.

Talking to UNI here, organisation general secretary Bhupinder Sambhar said handing over agriculture in the State to corporate players like Reliance Industries was no no solution to the problems of the state and its peasantry.

Mr Sambhar said instead the government should take initiatives on its own to strengthen agro activities in the state.

He said that Kisan Sewa Kendras manned by an agronomist and other supporting staff should be set up in all block headquarters.

He said that these centres should be responsible for agro production in their respective areas and should be capable to provide supply inputs and guidance on all production related aspects including options of credit facility.

He said that budget allocation on agriculture, irrigation and rural development should be increased from present 12 to 13 per cent to 34 per cent.

This allocation was 34 per cent way back in 1992-93 but in the due course of time it had been brought down, Mr Sambhar recalled.

He said that agriculture is contributing 18 per cent revenue in the gross domestic product(GDP) but not getting adequate allocation in return.

He said that strengthening of canal irrigation system is answer to problems of power crisis and declining ground water table and this could be achieved within a year without much trouble.

Reiterating its opposition to the State Government's move of land transfer to Reliance Industries Limited(RIL) Mr Sambhar said that Reliance is not coming Punjab to put industry but the move is aimed at controling agriculture.

He said that sabha has decided to hold ''Satyagrah'' at tehsil headquarters in the state from July 10 to July 21 next for stressing on farmers' welfare oriented demands.

UNI SS HS SHB PM1601