Latur, Nov 10 (PTI) Members of the Shetkari Sanghatana on Tuesday staged a protest outside the residence of Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil at Shirur Tajband in the district, demanding a complete farm loan waiver and compensation of Rs 1 lakh per hectare for crop losses caused by natural calamities.
The protest, titled 'Tumchi Diwali, Aamcha Shimga' (your Diwali, our mourning), was organised on the occasion of Balipratipada to highlight the financial distress faced by farmers.
The organisation said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had promised to clear farmers' loans during the Assembly election campaign, but the assurance remained unfulfilled. It also criticised the government's announcement of Rs 5,000 in aid for farmers for Diwali, terming it inadequate.
The protesters also sought the inclusion of excluded crop loss categories under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Their other demands included a price of Rs 5,000 per tonne for sugarcane, withdrawal of duty-free imports of cotton and soybean meal, and a complete waiver of loans taken by women's self help groups and agricultural labourers.
They also demanded an end to harassment by private moneylenders and microfinance companies, and restoration of the conventional electricity meters.
The protest was attended by Shetkari Sanghatana national president Anil Ghanwat, women's wing president Seematai Narode, district president Ashok Patil and others.
