Patna, Aug. 19: Hundreds of farmers from various districts today protested against the Railway Board for not providing jobs and compensation in return of their lands for projects.

The farmers claim that according to National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 the board is bound to give a job to a member of a family and compensation in return of land.

“The Indian Railway Board has taken our land for their projects but they have not given adequate compensation which we deserve. The National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 clearly says one family member is supposed to get the job and the compensation. But after the railway took the land of many of our farmers, they have turned a blind eye,” said Avdesh Kumar Singh, president of Nai Rail Line Purnnivas Sangharsh Samiti (New Rail Line Resettlement Struggle Committee).

Sing added: “This is conspiracy of the Railway Board against farmers and many of the farmers have become jobless as their only source of livelihood was taken by the railway and they must take the responsibility of all these farmers who are on the verge of committing suicide. Earlier, they were at least getting some money from farming but now they do not have anything.”

The farmers staged a dharna at JP roundabout and shouted slogans against the board. A lady farmer from Digha said: “The Railway Board has taken my land for the purpose of constructing a rail line between Digha and Sonepur in 2008. It is more than three years but forget compensation, they have not even given a job to any of my family member according to the policy. At least the state government shall make a list of farmers whose lands have been acquired by the Railway Board and send it to the railway ministry. This may help us get compensation.”

Another farmer from Hajipur, Narendra Yadav, said: “The board has taken three acres of land from me in 2009 for some projects but it has been two years that they have not given any compensation to me. At the time of acquiring the land, they said that we will get a job or compensation but nothing has worked out till now.”

Former RJD MLA Shiv Chandra Ram said: “I would ask the state government to become a little bit sensitive towards farmers. The railway board is cheating the tillers and the state government is not showing any interest. We support the new projects of the railway but it shall not be at the cost of the farmers’ lives.”