Report by Mazdoor Ekta Committee correspondent
On 3 December 2024, farmers were peacefully protesting for their demands inside the National Dalit Memorial in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The farmers were forcibly arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police in the afternoon. The police also arrested elderly women participating in the protest.
Farmers demand that as per the new land acquisition law, 10 percent of the acquired land should be developed and given to farmers for housing. As per the new land acquisition law, the authority should give four times compensation on the basis of circle rate. Farmers’ children should be given employment.
Farmers said that since 1997, at different times, the Greater Noida Authority had taken their land from farmers in the name of setting up new industries. The authority had promised them that 40 percent of the farmers’ children would be given employment in those new industries. But the Greater Noida Authority sold the farmers’ lands to private real estate companies for building commercial and residential areas. Farmers’ children were not provided any employment.
Farmers said that they have been struggling since the last several years to draw the attention of the state government towards their demands. Apart from assurances, no steps are being taken by the government. He said that the government is not taking any concrete steps on the recommendations of the High Power Committee, which was formed in February 2024 to solve the problems of the farmers of Noida and Greater Noida.
It is worth noting that the farmers held a four-day mahapadav at the headquarters of the Greater Noida Authority 25-28 November. On 2 December, about 5 thousand farmers led by the United Kisan Morcha marched peacefully towards Delhi. The police erected several barriers to prevent the farmers from going towards Delhi. The farmers removed the barriers erected by the police to protect their right to enter Delhi peacefully. When the farmers did this, the police attacked the farmers. The government representative assured the farmers that the authorities would hold talks with them and the farmers were allowed to sit on dharna inside the National Dalit Memorial till such talks would be held.
The arrest of the farmers sitting on dharna inside the National Dalit Memorial increased the anger among the villagers of Noida. After the announcement of the leaders of the United Kisan Morcha to hold a mahapanchayat in Noida, the police had to release the arrested farmers unconditionally the next day, on 4 December 2024.