news details |
|
|
| Agri Deptt leaves farmers high & dry | | Officials distribute seeds among their known people, deserving left in lurch, allege locals | |  Early Times Report
Rajouri, May 23: The officials of Agriculture Department in Rajouri district on Saturday sent hundreds of farmers back without providing them with the seeds for sowing.
Sources told Early Times around 200-300 farmers gathered at Seed Store of Agriculture Department at Rajour this morning to take seeds for sowing in their fields but they were shocked when they were told by the officials that most of the seed packets have already been distributed. “We came to know that employees of the department had opened the store early this morning at 6 am and issued seeds to their known people and only few packets were left when farmers reached at store around 10 am, which was the official time of store,” they said.
They further alleged that when they asked how seed packets finished so early, the employees misbehaved with them and asked them to return. “When we warned them that we will approach the top officials the arrogant employees replied that they have very strong political connections and we can’t harm them,” they alleged.
“The employees misbehaving with the framers led to heated argument between the two sides and minor scuffle following which the employees called the police. The policemen resorted to lathicharge to disperse the gathering which resulted in injuries to two farmers,” said a witness.
The farmer urged the government to provide them with seeds as the sowing season has commenced and without seeds they won’t be able to carry on with their plans. They also demanded stern action against the erring employees who sold the seeds to their known people only.
When Early Times contacted Chief Agriculture Officer Rajouri VK Bhagat, he said that all possible efforts will be made to provide seeds to the left out farmers. “I have ordered to assess the availability and scarcity of seeds soon and accordingly the arrangements will be made,” he informed.
On today’s incident, the CAO Rajouri said that he would personally investigate the matter and if any irregularities and fault on the part of employees is detected strict action will be taken against the erring employees. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
