I am still a proud Farmer.
The farming has always been a third grade work in our Indian society’s eye, Not talking about apple growers of Himachal. The lock down 2020, taught almost all communities that we can’t survive without farmers, they are our integral part but yes society thinks, still a community does not require respect and dignity. Born and brought up in Himachal, served the people through banking. Motivated thousand of Himachali, Kashmiri and Uttarakhandi farmers of the modern techniques of apple farming. Converted entire Karsog area into a fruit, vegetable and Exotic vegetable bowl. My entire family, restlessly , for last seventeen years, working to support farmers. Not a single farmer was allowed to leave our farm without food, tea snacks etc, just for the sake of more interaction and understanding with each other, so was reciprocated by all of you.
I also think it to be my responsibility to let you know that the pain in farmer is increasing in this prolonged lock down. There are several reasons for the pains. They were not even given time to reach a place of their choice preferably with their family so that the lockdown period in spite of all kinds of restrictions ( which was necessary and required ) could create feeling of unity at least amongst family members under difficult conditions against this dangerous virus.
That time- I was working with Uttarakhand Government at Patelia. We were supposed to close the work of developing an apple orchard and Nursery for state Government by next ten days i.e 5th April 2020. Lockdown extended and we left with no option but to stay here in a rest house with my entire Team of five people Mahender Verma and Amar Thakur from Anni Area in Kullu and Achal Negi and Vikas Thakur from Kalasan Nursery in Karsog, for few more days. On 9th ,we finally decided to move Mukteshwar to help Saurabh Vinayak to develop his farm in state of art apple orchard. Had very nice time there but still all were away from our कर्मभूमि ( apple farms) and of course from families.
It was almost 40 days, I was away from my farm, Kalasan Nursery farm where few operations were pending and my presence was required to accomplish them. On 15th of April, Ministry of Home Affairs gave liberty to farmers to carry their farm operations and activity. Consequently, Applied for E-pass from District Magistrate Pauri, which was granted generously for my entire team for our farm operation in Himachal. On 21st MHA guidelines further gave relaxation and inter, intra state farming operations and transportation of planting material were allowed. The same day ,I called ADM Mandi for issuance of e pass from Mandi District, but I was told that the pass from our originating place is required to reach the place from where we belongs to. And he ended his words with “no issue, you can come”
Our story starts now:
We reached back home on 22nd April 2020. we abided by all the protocol and guidelines of COVID-19 as laid down for those traveling from one place to another. we also gave prior information to the Panchyat Pardhan, and SDM before entering the jurisdiction of Karsog Tehsil. On reaching home we were put to Home quarantine by the Pardhan and asha workers on the same day i.e.22nd April.
On 23rd April we were summoned by SDM Karsog through the local Police and we were informed in case we did not abide by the orders of the government we would be arrested. On arrival, the SDM informed us that we had choice of either being arrested or returning back to Pauri Garhwal. No logic was accepted by the SDM . All the hardcopies of guidelines by MHA were thrown away and conditional arrest was ordered in case we did not leave Karsog immediately . Under such adverse and painful circumstances we decided to leave for Pauri Garhwal. The SDM refused to trust us and asked the police to ensure our deportation from the jurisdiction of the Karsog Sub Division which was done past midnight and early hours of 24 April 2020. Police escorted us to the boundary of Mandi District , where I with my family has created models of modern farming.
There cannot be a more humiliating and painful situation for farmers of this state than what has taken place with me and my colleagues .
I also think it to be my responsibility to let you know that the pain in farmer is increasing in this prolonged lock down. There are several reasons for the pains. They were not even given time to reach a place of their choice preferably with their family so that the lockdown period in spite of all kinds of restrictions ( which was necessary and required ) could create feeling of unity at least amongst family members under difficult conditions against this dangerous virus.
That time- I was working with Uttarakhand Government at Patelia. We were supposed to close the work of developing an apple orchard and Nursery for state Government by next ten days i.e 5th April 2020. Lockdown extended and we left with no option but to stay here in a rest house with my entire Team of five people Mahender Verma and Amar Thakur from Anni Area in Kullu and Achal Negi and Vikas Thakur from Kalasan Nursery in Karsog, for few more days. On 9th ,we finally decided to move Mukteshwar to help Saurabh Vinayak to develop his farm in state of art apple orchard. Had very nice time there but still all were away from our कर्मभूमि ( apple farms) and of course from families.
It was almost 40 days, I was away from my farm, Kalasan Nursery farm where few operations were pending and my presence was required to accomplish them. On 15th of April, Ministry of Home Affairs gave liberty to farmers to carry their farm operations and activity. Consequently, Applied for E-pass from District Magistrate Pauri, which was granted generously for my entire team for our farm operation in Himachal. On 21st MHA guidelines further gave relaxation and inter, intra state farming operations and transportation of planting material were allowed. The same day ,I called ADM Mandi for issuance of e pass from Mandi District, but I was told that the pass from our originating place is required to reach the place from where we belongs to. And he ended his words with “no issue, you can come”
Our story starts now:
We reached back home on 22nd April 2020. we abided by all the protocol and guidelines of COVID-19 as laid down for those traveling from one place to another. we also gave prior information to the Panchyat Pardhan, and SDM before entering the jurisdiction of Karsog Tehsil. On reaching home we were put to Home quarantine by the Pardhan and asha workers on the same day i.e.22nd April.
On 23rd April we were summoned by SDM Karsog through the local Police and we were informed in case we did not abide by the orders of the government we would be arrested. On arrival, the SDM informed us that we had choice of either being arrested or returning back to Pauri Garhwal. No logic was accepted by the SDM . All the hardcopies of guidelines by MHA were thrown away and conditional arrest was ordered in case we did not leave Karsog immediately . Under such adverse and painful circumstances we decided to leave for Pauri Garhwal. The SDM refused to trust us and asked the police to ensure our deportation from the jurisdiction of the Karsog Sub Division which was done past midnight and early hours of 24 April 2020. Police escorted us to the boundary of Mandi District , where I with my family has created models of modern farming.
There cannot be a more humiliating and painful situation for farmers of this state than what has taken place with me and my colleagues .
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