The Aryavarth News
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], January 19: Farmers and orchardists from across Himachal Pradesh on Monday staged a large-scale protest and gheraoed the state Secretariat, demanding the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions to frame and enforce a clear policy for land regularisation.
The protesters also called for protection of farmers’ land and urged the state government to take up with the Centre the issue of keeping apples and other agricultural produce out of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The agitation was jointly organised by the Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha, the Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers’ Association and several other farmers’ and fruit growers’ organisations.
A large number of farmers and orchardists from different districts participated in the demonstration, warning that the agitation would be intensified if their demands were not addressed.
Addressing the gathering, Sanjay Chauhan, convener of the joint forum of apple farmers’ organisations, said the primary demand was that the state government must immediately frame and implement a policy as directed by the Supreme Court, instead of continuing evictions and cutting of orchards by citing earlier High Court orders.
“For a long time, the Revenue and Forest departments have been evicting poor and marginal farmers and cutting apple orchards in the name of High Court orders. This must stop immediately,” Chauhan told.
He said that in an order dated December 18, a Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice of India set aside the High Court’s directions related to evictions and felling of apple trees. “The Supreme Court clearly stated that framing policy is the responsibility of the government, not the High Court, and directed that a policy be made to provide land to small, poor and marginal farmers,” he added.
Chauhan alleged that despite the clear directions, the state government had failed to implement the order on the ground. “Earlier, the government said it was bound by High Court orders. Those orders have now been rejected by the Supreme Court. Our main demand today is that the policy be framed and implemented immediately,” he said.
Raising concerns over trade agreements, Chauhan said farmers were worried about FTAs under which import duties on fruits were being reduced. “Under recent FTAs, including with New Zealand, import duties on apples, pears and kiwi have reportedly been reduced from around 50 per cent to 25 per cent. There are also discussions on reducing tariffs under trade talks with the US,” he said.
“If apple imports are liberalised, the livelihoods of nearly 15 lakh apple-producing families in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir will be at risk. We demand that agricultural produce be kept completely out of FTAs and that at least 100 per cent import duty be imposed on apples,” he added.
Chauhan noted that apple cultivation contributes around 13.5 per cent to Himachal Pradesh’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), but current policies were pushing agriculture and horticulture into crisis.
The protesters also demanded the immediate release of pending payments under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). “Around Rs 140 crore is still pending under MIS. Farmers need cash, not products. The amount should be released immediately and transferred directly into farmers’ bank accounts,” Chauhan said.
Other demands included timely payment to milk producers, an increase in milk procurement prices, strict action against illegal mining in Kangra and other districts, repair of irrigation systems damaged by mining, channelisation of the Beas river, and full implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
“The Forest Rights Act was passed in 2006 but has still not been properly implemented in Himachal Pradesh. Instead, action is being taken against those who have filed claims. This is unacceptable,” Chauhan said.
The farmers also opposed privatisation in the power sector and the installation of smart meters, claiming it would lead to job losses and consumer exploitation in a power-producing state.
Another farmer, Deepak Chauhan, said the dispute between farmers and the government had persisted for years. “Now the Supreme Court has given clear directions to frame a policy. If the government does so, the issue can be resolved,” he said.
He also highlighted the delay in MIS payments over the past two years and expressed concern over foreign apple imports. “If import duties are reduced, local farmers will not be able to compete. These agreements must be reviewed as they will cause huge losses to apple growers,” he said.
The protesting farmers warned that if the state government fails to implement the Supreme Court’s order and effectively take up their demands with the Centre, they would escalate their agitation and take the protest to Delhi in the coming days.
