‘Ghanta Nad’ protest seeks fixed support rate for farm produce

AURANGABAD: The Marathwada Labour Union organized a ghanta nad (bell ringing) agitation near the statue of Mahatma Phule to highlight the problems faced by farmers and workers. Their main demand remains the introduction of a fixed support price for farm produce.
Earlier, hundreds of farmers, farm labouers and workers from the unorganized sector took to the streets near the statue of Mahatma Phule as a part of state wide agitation to introduce fix the prices of farm produce.They also demanded that the government to wave farmers loans, the implementation of Mathadi Act, 5 acre land for everyone who lives in the rural area, implementation of 7th pay commission recommendations for the workers in unorganized sector and Rs 5000 pension for these workers.
The labour union also raised the issue of demonetization saying that this has resulted in problems for workers in the farming and unorganized sector. They also demanded the Union government to ease the rules so that workers could get their wages which have been held up due to demonetization.
“Mahatma Phule in 1880 had given a call for social boycott of the money lenders forcing the then British regime to intervene and take appropriate action. Similar situation has arisen now and the farmers are facing the same issues as they have been facing in 1880,” said Subhash Lomte, vice president of the Maharashtra State Hamal Mapadi Mahamandal.
Former sugar commissioner K E Haridas, labour union leader Qasam Bhai, professor H M Desarda and Anna Khandare and the union general secretary Devidas Kirtishahi also addressed the gathering.