Shubhojeet Dey
THE All India Kisan Sabha has been leading a continuous struggle of farmers from Greater Noida for a just compensation for the land acquired by the Greater Noida Development Authority (GNDA) since April 25. On May 15, on the 21st day of the indefinite mahapadav under the aegis of the Gautam Buddha Nagar committee of AIKS, a 5000 strong rally of farmers was taken out to the GNDA premises and a symbolic gherao of the office was undertaken. This rally was led by a large contingent of women farmers, who have consistently been part of the protests against unjust eviction by GNDA.
The gherao at the gates of the ivory tower of GNDA was addressed by Party Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, AIKS vice president Hannan Mollah and AIDWA general secretary Mariam Dhawale, among others. The leaders extended their support to the struggling land evicted farmers and assured complete support till the demands are accepted by the GNDA and the UP government. Apart from them AIKS finance secretary P Krishnaprasad was present at the gherao. AIKS local leadership comprising Rupesh Verma, Veer Singh Nagar, Harinder Khari, Bijender and Narender Bhati, and AIKS CKC member Pushpendra Tyagi and Manoj Kumar among others have been elemental in organising the farmers who were hitherto not within the AIKS fold. The movement is being supported by Azad Samaj Party, Berojgar Kisan Sangathan, Samajwadi Party and BKU.
The farmers have placed the following demands to the Greater Noida Authority:
1. 10 per cent of plots should be allotted to the farmers as per the agreement.
2. Revise the circle rate of the village to four times the circle rate as per the new law. Compensation should be declared at Rs 24,000 per square metre.
3. Rejected cases and pending cases of the residents should be heard and the action of the lease bank should be taken immediately.
4. 17.5 per cent kisan quota should be provided in all the residential schemes of the authority.
5. As per the 1997 agreement with the farmers, the policy of giving plots to 10 per cent of the population should be restored immediately.
6. The policy of minimum plot size of 120 square meters should be restored immediately.
7. Landless families should be given 40 square metre plots as per the agreement of the patwari.
8. As per the acquisition law and administrative orders, mandatory employment policy should be implemented.
9. Free education and treatment facility should be provided in the authority area to affected families.
