Angry Farmers Start Protest in Front of SDM Office in Haryana

Sugarcane farmers in Naraingarh, Haryana have started an indefinite dharna today in front of the SDM office. They were upset about delayed payments by Naraingarh Sugarmills Limited. 

The farmers, in a panchayat held last week, had given an ultimatum to clear payments as per the 14-day rule by February 13 or else they will start a dharna from February 14.

Farmers who were upset stated they had to wait for months for their payments every year. The payment must be cleared within 14 days after the sugarcane purchase, according to the norms. 

The farmers said they would continue to stage the dharna from 10 am to 4 pm until their demands were not met. On November 23, the mill began operations for the current season. Payments had been cleared up until December 11th. Payments totaling more than Rs.70 crore were running late. 

"Payments up to December 11 have been processed," said SDM Naraingarh Niraj, who also serves as the mill's CEO. In addition, payments totaling around Rs1.50 crore were made ahead of schedule for farmers who needed money in a rush. The mill has been paying the farmers' dues on a regular basis, but the farmers have demanded that the mill should clear all outstanding dues and follow the 14-day norm.

As present, the mill is not in a position to clear all outstanding dues.” 

"Payments worth around Rs.72 crore was running late," claimed Rajiv Sharma, general secretary and spokesman for the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni). Every year, payments get delayed, forcing farmers to take post-dated cheques (PDC) or wait for months, often after the crushing season, to receive cash payments. The previous season's cash payment of Rs.27.59 crore, which concluded in April, was cleared in December last year, and farmers do not want a repeat situation this year." 

"The mill started operations for the current season on November 23 and so far, payments up to December 8 have been processed," said Vinod Rana, president of Ganna Kisan Sangharsh Samiti. The mill has not been able to pay its bills in accordance with the rules." 

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) chief Amarjeet Singh said, “As per norms, the payment has to be cleared within 14 days of purchase of sugarcane, but here the payment is running late by almost two months. The farmers are not happy with the situation hence it has been decided to start a dharna in front of the SDM office from February 14, if the payment as per norms are not cleared by February 13.”