Punjab Cong forms panel to study farmers problems

Chandigarh, Dec 16 (UNI) The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has constituted an eight-member Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Committee to study the problems of the agrarian sector in the state.

The Committee formed by PPCC president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is headed by former Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Vice Chancellor K S Aulakh, who would its Chairman. Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who would be the committee convenor.

The committee would present a consolidated report on the agrarian crisis being faced by the farmers of Punjab. The committee will look into the quantum of indebtedness on the farmers in Punjab, both institutional loans as well as loans given by private money lenders or commission agents to the farmers.

The issue of suicides by farmers due to indebtness would also be studied by this committee. The PPCC will prepare a detailed report on the findings of the committee and then submit it to the UPA-government so as to seek a relief package for the states farmers on the pattern of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The other members of the committee include MLAs Sunil Kumar Jakhar and Harminder Singh Jassi, Sukhjinder Raj Lally, Virender Rana, Kuljit Singh Nagra and Vijay Soni.

UNI