Ranchi: On a day the agriculture sector was chuffed about the budget proposals, around 500 krishak mitras launched an indefinite strike and held demonstration at the official residence of state agriculture minister Randhir Kumar Singh at Nepal House in Doranda, demanding a monthly honorarium for their services.
The demonstration was held under the banner of Jharkhand Pradesh Krishak Mitra Mahasangh, which represents 11,800 krishak mitras who were hired in 2010 through Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), to act as a key link between farmers and the agriculture department.
Krishak mitras have been demanding Rs 550 daily on a par with skilled labourer against an annual payment of Rs 6,000 now. Initially, there were 13,000 krishak mitras across the state, but many have left the job over the years.
On Thursday, the demonstration started around 9 in the morning. The krishak mitras refused to withdraw even when Singh assured them that their demand would be considered.
"We will not withdraw our agitation till the agriculture minister officially announces a monthly honorarium for us," president of the outfit Shashi Kumar Bhagat said.
In May last year, they had observed a 20-day strike. That time, agriculture, animal husbandry and cooperatives department secretary Pooja Singhal had promised to take up the issue with the chief minister.
Their agitation gathered steam after Singh, at a programme in his Sarath Assembly constituency in November, announced that krishak mitras would start getting monthly payments from December.
"The government had on four occasions in two years promised to fulfil our demand. Initially, we were asked to concentrate on programmes related with ATMA only. Over the years, we have been given all kinds of responsibility, including election-related work, toilet survey and seed distribution. We are working for the promotion of agriculture and investing our time and energy," Manoj Mehta from Palamau said.
The demonstrators claimed that their efforts helped the state government bring 16 lakh farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. "But nobody is going to give us the credit," Ram Prasad Mahto from West Singhbhum said.
Neither Singh nor the agriculture department secretary responded to phone calls.
