A JOINT meeting of organisations working among agricultural workers was held on November 18, at BKMU office, Ajoy Bhavan in New Delhi. It was attended by leaders of the All India Agricultural Workers Union, Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union, All India Agricultural and Rural Labour Association, Samyukt Kisan Sabha and All India Agragami  Krishi Shramik Union.

The grim situation of the agricultural and rural workers was discussed in detail and it was decided to take up and resist the anti-people policies of the central government and state governments.

The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) has given a call for observing September 25 as All India Protest Day against the three farm sector Bills. The Bills – the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill – were passed by parliament in utter disregard for established parliamentary procedures, federal principles, and rights of states and farmers.

IN a press release dated September 5, AIKS has stated that in the entire cotton-growing area of Haryana the standing crop that reached the stage of ball formation suffered massive losses due to Whitefly infestation. A total of 7.37 lakh hectares were sown with a cotton crop which is almost nine per cent more than last year. This is spread over half of the districts of the state out of which it is one of the major crops in at least five districts along with Paddy, Bajra, pulses etc., in the Kharif season.

THE Narendra Modi led BJP government has announced the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for the season 2020-21 as Rs 2850 per tonne for a recovery rate of 10 per cent. The government which did not make any increase in the sugarcane price last year has now declared only Rs 100 increase per tonne. This increase is pittance when compared to the huge increase in input costs and overall costs of cultivation.

THE All India Kisan Sabha has decided to send one lakh letters to the president, the prime minister and agriculture minister by email demanding to stop corporatisation of agriculture and ensure income support, health security, food, MSP, jobs and minimum wages. Letters were sent from the all India centre by Hannan Mollah, general secretary and Ashok Dhawale, president, on June 20. The online campaign also demands repeal of the three anti-farmer ordinances and amendment to Electricity Act.