news details |
|
|
| Caught amidst border hostilities, wind storm aggravates farmers' plight | | Govt assumes stoic silence on compensating losses | |  Akshay Azad
Jammu, Oct 27: Farmers along International Border that has witnessed worst exchange of fire between hostile neighbours in the recent past have become foremost casualty of the hostilities coupled with unkind divinity that struck them in the form of a nasty wind storm on October 7.
Forced to abandon their farming activities which ensure food for them for the entire year, these farmers and their families are facing uncertain future.
Sitting under the shade of Sheesham tree near one of the major bunker of Border Security Force (BSF) in village Abdullian -- surrounded by fencing from three sides, which separates both hostile nations -- Kapoor Chand (65) was among the few villagers, who were watching their fellows playing play cards and chatting, on one sunny afternoon of October.
After spending nearly a fortnight in the makeshift camps established by government in RS Pura, following heavy shelling by Pakistani forces which claimed nearly one dozen lives, injuring hundred others, Kapoor Chand's family had returned back to their village along with several other families in their village Abdullian few days back.
Though, Kapoor Chand had been use to with border shelling but was upset with the hostilities, which are refuses to die down. "Our area is famous for Basmati rice but this year our crop has suffered damages thrice. During rainy seasons, our entire paddy fields got inundated in floods water and on October 16,the devastating wind storm turned the seed of paddy black or white and now the sporadic border shelling has been making it impossible for us to harvest the crop", Kappor Chand said.
Suggesting a move to his friend, who was playing cards, Kapoor Chand further says that government of both countries have been threatening to teach lesson but no one is talking about plight of farmers, whose crop has suffered damages by two natural calamities and now the man made calamity-border firing. Joined by his other fellows, the villagers quipped, "It is almost fifteen days now since wind storm had caused massive damage to our crop but government has not announced anything against damages. How we will harvest our major crop, if there will be no peace and flag meeting between two countries?"
Abdullian village, from where houses of Pakistani villagers are also visible behind barbed fencing wire, is among the hundreds of villages perched along International border with Pakistan, which become first target of mortar shells and bullets showered by Pakistani rangers. "Sporadic firing is still on and there is no possibility of flag meeting between two countries. In such conditions we will not get labourers from other states to harvest our crop and how we will overcome the damage if we will fail to harvest crop", the villagers said.
The politicians made tall claims for rehabilitation of border residents but in reality everything is hoax. "Now the government is claiming to give 5 Marla land in cities for rehabilitation of border residents but in 2002, when Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former Chief Minister of J&K Gulam Nabi Azad had visited Abdullian, after ceasefire violation, they had assured 7 Marlas land but all these announcements, we know are restricted to words only and farmers will get nothing", they said.
As the villagers were busy in playing and chatting, two white cars appeared there and the driver of car, who identified himself as Jugal Kishore of Miran Sahib enquired from villagers, "Can we see the border from here?. Natha Ram, a villager started murmuring, "Hum Log Pareshan Hain aur Log Nazara Dekh Rahe Hain. (We are in distress but people come here to watch the scenic view of border)".
"It is very easy for those sitting in their luxurious drawing rooms for a war with Pakistan or for the middle class people residing in cities but farmers from both sides will be the worst sufferers and government of both countries will not provide any compensation to any farmer", Rattan Lal, who was playing cards said. Criticizing the government, President of RS Pura Rice Growers Association, Devraj Choudhary said that all discussions were restricted to allegations and counter allegations by politicians of both countries but the damages caused to crops by natural calamities never become discussion issue of any politician. "Farmers from both sides want peace on border and at the same time it is our request to government to provide compensation to farmers for the damages caused by natural calamities", he said.
Member of Legislative Assembly of Suchetgarh Constituency, Sham Lal Choudhary says that Basmati crop has suffered massive loss due to wind storm of October 7.
"We had visited the villages along with officials of Agriculture department to assess the losses suffered by windstorm but till date government has not announced any compensation for farmers", he said, adding that if the border would remain calm, the farmers would do harvesting otherwise it would be very tough for farmers.
Director of Agriculture department, SS Jamwal said that several thousand hectares area has been affected by the windstorm and the department had sought details from field functionaries, but there was no word from government on compensation to farmers.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu said that the details regarding area affected by wind storms have already been submitted by Agriculture department and has been forwarded to government.
When asked if any word from government side on compensation to farmers, Sahu said that till date there was no word from government side but adding that they have been preparing lists. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
