Land pooling policy: SAD stages demonstration; AAP govt tweaks policy
SAD leaders and workers demonstrated in Ludhiana against the policy. Addressing a gathering, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal termed the policy as 'anti-farmers' and appealed to village panchayats affected by the policy to pass resolutions against it.
He said the SAD would intensify its agitation against the land pooling policy across the State by holding demonstrations (dharnas). 'On July 28, we will hold 'dharna' in Mohali and on August 4 in Bathinda,' he said.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in its amendments approved that farmers will now receive an annual livelihood allowance of ₹1 lakh until their land is developed — a fivefold increase compared to the ₹20,000 given by previous governments, said an official statement.
'The government has also assured long-term support by announcing a 10% annual increment in this ₹1 lakh amount. To ensure faster and more transparent processes, the government will now issue a Letter of Intent (LOI) to farmers within 21 days. For the convenience of farmers, the LOI can be sold or used to obtain loans. Furthermore, until development work actually begins, farmers can continue cultivating their land and will receive an additional ₹50,000 per year from the government,' the statement added.
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