Raghbir Singh Brar
Faridkot
Devi Wala village of Faridkot district has taken a unique initiative to compensate the farmers whose about 7 acres of standing wheat crop gutted into the fire on Friday night.
“I had Saturday requested Baba Kaka Singh to make an announcement to get together in the village Gurdwara Sahib so that some solution to compensate the affected farmers be found out. So We have taken this initiative so that our farmers could be compensated and be saved from the harsh conditions,” said Chamkaur Singh Sekhon, a retired lecturer from village Bir Sikhan wala.
“As we all know that farmers Bohar Singh,Kuldeep Singh and one farmer Meet Singh from village Panjgrain Kalan suffered huge loss because their standing wheat crop gutted into the fire on Friday night due to short circuit and now must find out some solution to compensate them, “said Baba Kaka Singh addressing the gathered farmers there.
Baba Kaka Singh is the Granthi of the village Gurdwara who actively participated in the work of extinguishing fire and exhorting the farmers for the cause.
The farmers assembled in the shrine calculated the loss of all to the tune of Rs. 3,85000.
Sukhmander Singh Brar, who had leased out his land to Meet Singh announced that he would not charge the rent of one acre of land Rs 35000 for six months.
Tejinder Singh alias Sarpanch , currently living in Australia said that he would extend financial help of Rs 700000,calculated Rs 20000 rebate for his 3.5 acres of land rented out to Kuldeep Singh.
Four NRIs, Ravinder Singh alias Ravi,Amandeep Singh,Gurbhagat Singh and Gurpreet Singh (all from Australia) on Saturday itself deposited into the bank account of Bohar Singh, whose whole crop on 2.5 acres of land was burnt.
“We wanted him not to lose heart as his whole crop was burnt,” said Ravi.
“We have now jointly decided that Rs 200 per acre fund would be collected from all the farmers of the village. The village has around 1200 of land and at 70 percent success, we expect to collect about Rs1,70000. Another NRI, Arshdeep Singh also called me up and assured me of Rs 50000 help from Canada,” announced Baba Kaka Singh.
“We have all joined hands to extend all possible help to the affected farmers. They would be fully compensated and we shall also strive our best to get some water pumps fitted on tanks by collecting funds so that we stay safe in future,” said Surjeet Singh, former Sarpanch of the village.
“We have taken this small step so that we can save the farmers from committing suicides in the state. We appeal to all the farmers in every village to help the affected farmers by making contributions. We appeal to the farmers from the villages which remain unaffected from any natural calamities to come forward with such contributions. We can not leave out poor farmers in the lurch and at the mercy of the government,” said Nirbhai Singh, Sarpanch.
Sukhmander Singh Brar said that he wanted to convey a message by not charging Rs 35000 to the other farmers who have rented out their lands to the small farmers that they should charge least possible rent from the affected farmer.
“The government compensation is very small. It provides the farmers only Rs 10000 per care for the complete loss while the farmers suffer the loss at Rs 55000 per acre.It is leading to the decay in agriculture and farmers are finally forced to commit suicides. We want the compensation amount to be increased upto Rs 50000 for the damage of completely mature crop of wheat,” said Bohar Singh Rupianwali,district president of Bharti Kisan union Sidhupur Ekta when contacted by this correspondent over phone.
