Title: Need to take immediate action regarding payment of compensation to the farmers whose lands were acquired in various parts of the country.
(MUVATTUPUZHA): Sir, it is a sad plight that whenever the lands of farmers are acquired, often possession of the land is taken in advance. But they are not paid the compensation in time. With the result, they cannot put forward the next yearâs cultivation and they cannot do any work in their farms. They are put to great loss which cannot be compensated by way of additional compensation or by way of simple interest.
Therefore, I would suggest that some policy should be made in this regard. Sir, I have seen that the farmers in Delhi had to vacate their land for the purpose of accommodating industries which were to be shifted from the main areas of Delhi to the sub-urban areas. But they were not paid compensation for three years. I know in my Constituency in Kerala, the Indian Oil Corporation has taken some land like this. But they have not paid compensation for quite long. They say that they are going to fight the case up to the Supreme Court. But these poor farmers cannot fight it up to the Supreme Court. So, there should be a policy. The Government of India should formulate a policy. I would suggest that all the State Governments should also do something in this regard and give the farmers their due at the earliest. If they have to go to court, at least, the admitted amount should be given in advance.
Sir, as regards farmers in Delhi, I would submit that an immediate action should be taken because 2000 of them were on hunger strike for quite some time.