Asom farmers demonstrate in Delhi against District Council decision

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Some agricultural workers from Asom's Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts held a demonstration here today to protest against the "pick and choose policy" adopted by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).

The workers were led by the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills Kisan Shramik Sabha (KANKIS).

Later, addressing mediapersons here, Secretary All India Agricultural Labour Association, Incharge of North Eastern Regionand President KANKIS Robi Kumar Phangcho said the delegation has called on Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and submitted a memorandum to him in this regard.

He said the KAAC has not yet implemented the National Rural Employment Gurantee Act (NREGA) and was gradually dismantling the Public Distribution system (PDS) resulting 'in starvation deaths among the tribals'.

He said on the basis of information gathered by them, the process of registration and issue of job cards for aspirants under the NREGA scheme is marred by political interference by local representatives of various ruling parties as well as by the administration and the state government.

Mr Robi Kumar Phangcho said the most glaring example is from the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar hill districts of Asom where around 1.5 lakh applicant have not been issued job cards, simply because they do not owe allegiance to the ruling Congress party. These applicants have been told to bring letters of recommendations from local Congress leaders failing which they will continue to be denied job cards.

He said Mr Singh, after listening to their complaints, assured them of taking prompt action in this matter.

Mr Phangcho said that they will be holding a day bandh in Karbi Anglong on August 21 to lodge their protest against the apathy of the administration in solving this issue.

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