Farmers stage protest seeking Gwalior region be declared as drought-hit

Gwalior, Aug 18(ANI): Thousands of farmers accompanied by workers of the Congress party took to the streets in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district to stage a protest on Monday to demand the 150 villages of the district be declared as drought-hit.

The farmers wanted the villages be declared drought-hit following delayed monsoon and deficient rainfall this year.

Apprehending complete ruin of their crops in the absence of ample rains before the end of September, the farmers lamented about the lack of alternative irrigation facilities.

"We demand to declare the region of Gwalior drought-hit as the farmers are very worried over the inadequate monsoon rain. We want to appeal to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh to declare this region as drought-hit. Further, the farmers are unable to pay off their debts due to the losses," said Ramavtar, a farmer.

Farmers also demonstrated outside the office of Gwalior's District Collector to submit their signed memorandum with a request to report the matter to the State Government.

Munnalal Goyal, a member of the Congress Party who led the delegation of farmers to the Collector's office, insisted that the State Government should take special measures for farmers to sail through this crisis.

"Farmers are really worried about their drying fields. We have come to appeal to the government, which doesn't seem serious about the situation. Congress party demands that this rural area should be declared drought-hit. And also the government should create employment opportunities here," said Munnalal Goyal.

The Bundelkhand region, which is adjacent to Gwalior District, has already been declared as a drought-hit area. (ANI)