Punjab To Give Rs. 2 Lakh Compensation To Families Of Farmers Who Committed Suicide

BATHINDA – The state government todayaccepted the protesting farmers’ demands for a Rs2 lakh compensation to the families of farmerswho committed suicide owing to debt.Compensation cheques will be handed over to thefamilies before February 23, said official sources.Compensation to landless labourers ofGobindpura village in Mansa will be given byFebruary 20. Eligible families allotted five-marlaplots by their village panchayats (if mutation isalready done) will be given possession of the plotsby February 25.Earlier in the day, more than 500farmers blocked the four entrances to the DistrictAdministrative Complex (DAC), forcing theauthorities to announce a holiday. Farmers underthe banner of BKU (Ekta-Ugraha) and the KhetMazdoor Union had been camping near the DACfor the past five days. State general secretaryof the BKU (Ekta-Ugraha)Sukhdev Kokri said compensation forGobindpura farmers was released twoyears ago but the money had notreached the landless labourers so far.The govt-BKU pact.The government has in principle agreedto bring the Private Moneylender ActTo discontinue the practice of impoundingfarmers’ land in tehsils and releasefoodgrain under Atta-Dal schemeTo reduce stamp duty on transfer ofland from father to son & brother to sisterto 1%.To pay pending MGNREGAdues and restore power connections tolandless labourers