The farmers of Himachal Pradesh particularly those whose land is being acquired for the widening of roads, laying of tower lines, hydropower projects, airport construction etc., held a public meeting at Mandi on October 27, 2021. Nearly 20 organisations of the farmers participated in this protest.

The call for the protest was given by a joint forum of affected farmers in August 2021 at a convention held in Mandi.

LAND LOST IN DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS

Himachal Pradesh is a hilly state and the land for cultivation is less in comparison to other states. Only 17.14 per cent of the total land is available for agriculture and allied activities. The land is a major question of the peasantry in the state. There are nearly 9,96,809 land holdings sharing 9,44,226 hectares of land according to the agricultural census of 2015-16. Nearly 88.4 per cent of farmers are small and marginal farmers and their land holdings are less than two hectares; out of these 48.43 per cent own less than 0.5 hectares and 4.9 per cent are landless farmers. The landholdings are becoming smaller and smaller every year due to the family division.

In spite of the small land holdings, 63 per cent of the people in the state sustain their livelihoods from agriculture and allied activities. Before the Forest Conservation Act 1980, the state government used to liberally distribute land to the landless and small farmers under the Nau Taur(breaking the new land) Act. But then the forest department usurped even fallow land and currently, they are the biggest landlord in the state has 56 per cent of the total land.

The scope of employment for the poor is very less in the state. There are very few industries due to adverse geographical conditions, the chances in the service sector also contracted after the neoliberal reforms. In such a situation land is the only available resource left to sustain a large population of the state.

The land has been incessantly acquired for developmental activities. In Bhakra and Pong Dam more than one lakh hectares of cultivable land was acquired and submerged in dams. The displaced farmers are still fighting for their resettlement issues. Pong Dam oustees are waiting for justice. In other projects and industrial acquisitions, the peasants were not given due compensation and land was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act 1894. The compensation was very less.

The issue of rehabilitation and resettlement was first taken up by Himachal Kisan Sabha in Nathpa Jhakri 1500 MW hydropower project, which now is called Satluj Jal Nigam Limited. After a long and bitter struggle, the peasants were awarded an increased amount in compensation and employment to the displaced was ensured.

Later demand of sharing one per cent of the total income from the project in the project affected area became one of the important demands for development in the region.

This struggle caught the imagination of other kisans of the state and similar agitations started building up for relief and rehabilitation. In the meantime, the new Land Acquisition Act 2013(LAA) was passed. It was adopted in Himachal Pradesh from April 1, 2015. This act increased the hopes of farmers for better compensation packages.

In the state, especially in the last decade, the land was being acquired at a faster pace for the construction of four-lane highways and widening of existing roads. The farmers demanded the implementation of LAA 2013 and particularly one of the provisions of getting compensation at four times the circle rate in the region.

UNFULFILLED PROMISES

In 2017, the BJP made this a big election issue and stated that in case it wins the assembly the act will be implemented with all the provisions. This demand was also included in the election manifesto of the BJP.

After BJP won the state election in December 2017, it formed a three-member committee headed by Govind Thakur a cabinet minister to look into land acquisition issues. However, after three years nothing moved. The BJP was able to win over the president of the then Sangarsh Samiti, Sushil Thakur a retired brigadier of the Indian army and made him president of the Sainik Welfare Board. Thakur is now contesting a by-election from Mandi parliamentary seat as a BJP candidate.

The farmers refused to take two times compensation as finalised by the BJP government. The farmers attacked the BJP for hoodwinking and stabbing them at their backs.

The farmers decided to broaden the struggle and decided to fight against the BJP state government’s betrayal.

On August 5, 2021, a state-level joint convention was held in Mandi in which 18 organisations participated. A state-level ‘land acquisition affected manch’ was formed. Himachal Kisan Sabha was also one of the constituents of this committee.

The four-lane roads are mainly from Parwanoo to Shimla, Kiratpur to Mandi, Mataur to Shimla, Pathankot to Mandi, and Hamirpur to Mandi. In addition to these 63 national highway projects are declared and are being widened. Then the railways is also acquiring land.

In the convention 10-point demand charter was formed; the main demands were that the state government should implement Land Acquisition Act 2013, providing adequate resettlement and rehabilitation and four times compensation for land acquisition. The affected farmers submitted a memorandum to the state government and demanded that its demands should be considered up to September 30, 2021.

The government did not respond. A state-level rally was held against the state government in Mandi on October 27, 2021.  This rally was a big success and has also sent a political message. Since the Mandi by-election is being held the rally gave a call to defeat the BJP candidate who betrayed the farmers during the struggle.