Report by Mazdoor Ekta Committee correspondent
On 20 March 2025, during the budget session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, thousands of farmers and horticulturists from across the state took out a procession and demonstrated under the leadership of the Himachal Kisan Sabha and Apple Producers Association. They raised slogans – ‘Janata Ki Ekta Zindabad’, ‘Kisan Ekta Zindabad’, ‘Yeh Zameen Hamari Hai’.
The farmers were protesting in support of their demands for making appropriate amendments in the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, for giving five bighas of agricultural land to landless farmers, against eviction from land, for regularization of land and other demands. They gathered at the Panchayat Bhawan and marched towards the Vidhan Sabha in a procession and protested outside the Vidhan Sabha. A memorandum was then given to the Chief Minister.
Many leaders of the farmers addressed the meeting. The speakers said that the livelihood of poor farmers in the state is in danger. Farmers are being evicted from their land under the guise of court orders. They issued a clear warning that farmers will now protect their land themselves.
The speakers pointed out that the evictions are being carried out in violation of the rules. This eviction is still going on. Residential houses are being sealed in various parts of the state.
The speakers said that the government is acquiring land for the construction of hydroelectric projects, national highways, expressways, airports and other developmental activities. But compensation is not being given to the farmers as per the rules. The land is being acquired without implementing the provisions of the Right to Rehabilitation and Resettlement and Transparency Act, 2013.
The co-convener of the Apple Producers Association said that the state assembly had amended the Land Revenue Act 1953 in the year 2000. Under this, 1,67339 farmers, who were farming on government land, were assured of regularization. But now notices are being given to vacate this land under the Public Premises Act. Farmers will protest against this at the sub-division, block and tehsil level on 28 April.