Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait demands Separate budget for the agricultural sector

Indian Farmers Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday demanded the government to bring a separate budget for the agriculture sector.

On the day of the budget,speaking from the Ghazipur border, where farmers have been protesting against newly created agricultural laws for the past two months, Tikait said that there should be a separate budget for the agricultural sector.
He said, at a time when farmers are going through difficult times, the government should also forgive the farmers’ debt.He said that there should also be a plan to provide free electricity to farmers.
Ticket further said that there should be a declaration of regular payment for laborers working under MGNREGA.
Referring to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KSAN) scheme, which aims to provide income support to all land holding farmer families across the country, Tikait said that the assistance amount under this scheme should be increased. Under the scheme, income assistance of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments is provided to small and marginal farmer families, who own 2 hectares of land.

The farmer leader further said that the increase in the price of crops will not pave the way for the upliftment of the agricultural sector and farmers, the government needs to make more efforts in this area and work on the availability of electricity and water to the farmers.
He said also that farmers in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are paying different bills for water and electricity, but the crops are getting the same price.
The Indian Farmers Union leader requested the Center to exempt agricultural machinery from tax.