Amit Shah hails cabinet decision of Rs 3,500 crore financial aid to Sugarcane Farmers

Amid ongoing impasse between protesting farm unions and Central government, latter has taken a decision on giving financial assistance to Sugarcane farmers. Union Government in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday approved financial aid of Rs 3,500 crore which will be directly deposited into bank account of farmers. Hailing "historic decision" Union Home Minister Amit Shah said it will help five crore sugarcane farmers as well as five lakh labourers in country. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has hailed 'historic cabinet decision on farmers.

'60 lakh metric tonnes of sugar export'

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, while addressing a press conference in this regard, said, " Government has decided to export 60 lakh metric tonnes of Sugar and also provide subsidy to sugarcane farmers, which will directly go to farmers' accounts."

"Good news for farmers is that value of export will also directly go to farmers' accounts which will be to tune of Rs 18,000 crore. Moreover, Rs 5,361 crore from already declared subsidy will be transferred in one week. So Rs 3,500 crore subsidy and Rs 18,000 crore revenue from export plus Rs 5,361 crore from already declared subsidy," Javadekar added.

Protests over farm laws continue

21 days into protest against three agrarian laws, farmers' unions have reiterated ir demands to withdraw three farm laws, while contending that laws are a threat to Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism and APMC Mandi system. Moreover, with freeing of farm sector, farmers think y will be left to mercy of private sector entities. As protests have been intensified, one side of  Delhi-ida Link Road has been blocked at Chilla border in ida while or Tikri and Singhu borders continue to remain chocked due to farmers' protests.

However, Supreme Court on Wednesday intervened in matter while hearing a petition of a law student who sought from Apex court to remove farmers protesting at several border points of Delhi for last 21 days. Hearing plea,  court directed that farmers unions be made a party to case and also to form a committee to resolve issue. SC impleaded 8 farmer unions as respondents in petitions seeking removal of protestors from borders at national capital SC monitored committee which will comprise of farmers unions and Government intermediaries.

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Some farmers' leaders support laws

However, in a breakthrough for Centre on Tuesday, UP-based Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kisan) decided to suspend ir agitation pertaining to farm laws for one month. While BKU (K) has t been part of farmers' stir at Delhi borders, it was holding protests at district level in Uttar Pradesh. On Tuesday, a delegation comprising members from this farmers' union met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in national capital and submitted a memo for backing farm laws, but with certain amendments.

Also on Monday, 10 farmer leaders associated with  All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC) backed three agrarian laws. se farm leaders n stated that some elements involved in farmers' stir were trying to spread misconceptions about agrarian laws among protesters. se farmers leaders who were from several states such as Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Bihar and Haryana met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday. In a differing stance from protesting farmers, se farmers' representatives warned that y would hit streets if agrarian laws are repealed by Centre.

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