Onkar Shad
THOUSANDS of apple growers and farmers staged a dharna and demonstration on July 29, outside the state secretariat to protest against evictions, sealing of homes and felling of apple-laden trees. Organised under the banners of the Himachal Kisan Sabha and the Seb Utpadak Sangh, affected farmers from every district of the state gathered in protest. United in their struggle, both farmers and orchardists made an urgent appeal to the government: allocate five bighas of land to poor and landless farmers, so they can live with dignity, not despair.
The farmers argued that if the government cannot provide employment to the youth, then at the very least, those making a living through agriculture should not be displaced. “The government is taking back the land of our forefathers, and we are protesting against this injustice,” said Krishna Devi from Paonta Sahib. “We are simply demanding five bighas of land – just enough to survive.” “The government is targeting poor farmers,” added Kundal Lal from Rohru. “Why would I be here protesting if the government had given me five bighas of land? I’m unemployed and completely dependent on a small piece of land to support my family.”
Mohan Pal, a dalit farmer from a remote village Tirmli under Birala Gram Panchayat in Sirmour district poured out his anguish and despair as he recounted the brutal eviction from his rightful land. As he watched his turmeric and maize crops – his only source of food and income – being trampled and destroyed, so too was the fragile thread of hope for his family. This act of injustice has pushed the family further into the margins, stripping them of both dignity and the means to secure education and a future for their children. Despite being a poor farmer himself, Mohan Lal, a dedicated Kisan Sabha activist, spent Rs 5,000 of his own money to arrange a vehicle and bring eight other affected farmers to the rally on the 29th. His sacrifice is a stark reflection of the deep desperation and marginalisation felt by countless others like him, who are fighting not just for land, but for dignity, survival, and voice.
The land issue in Himachal Pradesh is complex and serious because about 66.5 per cent of the state’s total land is controlled by the Forest Department, and in some areas like Kullu, this figure rises to nearly 90 per cent. Only around 17.1 per cent of the land is occupied by farming families, with just about 11.17 per cent usable for cultivation. Many poor and marginalised communities were given land under policies like the 1968 Nautor Policy, but in many cases, their ownership was never officially recorded, causing disputes and loss of rights. At the same time, large areas are being acquired for large infrastructure projects, private institutions and industries, often at the cost of agricultural land. With such limited cultivable land available and most land under forest or government control, farmers are being pushed to the edges, making the land issue a critical and focal problem that goes beyond simple cases of occupation.
Sanjay Chauhan, co-convenor of the Samyukt Kisan Manch, said that many families have already been rendered homeless and are forced to live under tarpaulin sheets during heavy rains. He questioned the government’s motives, asking what it hopes to prove by cutting down apple trees belonging to the poor, dalits, and widows – and whose benefit this serves. He called on farmers to organise and resist wherever sealing and tree cutting is taking place.
Rakesh Singha, state secretary of the Himachal Kisan Sabha, cited the Supreme Court order and criticised the ongoing evictions in Himachal, stating that illegal and unjust methods are being used bypassing legal protocols. He accused the government of failing to properly represent farmers’ interests in the High Court. He added that many families had been given land in “Nautor” and others had been allotted land before 1980, but for various reasons, these lands were never officially registered in their names, and now these families are being displaced as well.
During the farmers’ protest, the chief minister invited leaders from the Kisan Sabha and Apple Growers Association for talks. In the meeting, farmer representatives, including Rakesh Singha, Sanjay Chauhan, and Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, submitted a list of demands, calling for an immediate stop to evictions. They asked the government to halt illegal actions by officers and file an affidavit in the High Court promising no further eviction until a clear policy on land occupation is made.
The chief minister and revenue minister assured full support to farmers in both High Court and Supreme Court, promised to stop tree cutting and home sealing, enforce the Forest Rights Act strictly, and act against non-compliant officers. A committee will be formed to create a farmer-friendly land policy, with inputs from farmer groups. After the meeting, it was decided that the government will be given 15 days to act; if not, the protests will grow stronger, with block-level demonstrations planned for August 13.
