PM instructs to address demands of farmer in hunger strike

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 30: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has directed the concerned ministries to fulfill the genuine demands raised by Shriram Ghimire, a farmer of Nuwakot, who has been in a fast-unto-death at Basantpur, Kathmandu since April 18, demanding to address the problems farmers have been facing.

Prime Minister Prachanda directed the concerned ministries to address the demands raised by Ghimire while receiving information about his health condition from Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Govinda Sharma on Friday evening.

Earlier, the Prime Minister had instructed for addressing the demands through Chief Secretary Bairagi after knowing that farmer Ghimire was on hunger strike for the fifth day.

According to a press statement of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, secretary Sharma informed the Prime Minister that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had responded by reaching the hunger strike site within half an hour after receiving information about it.

He also said that a negotiation team was formed with the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and they were continuously negotiating and discussing things.

However, he informed that even though the proposal to fulfill all demands was put forth on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture to farmer Ghimire, no agreement had been reached so far.

Prime Minister Prachanda has instructed to make maximum efforts to resolve the issues raised by Ghimire and also to pay attention to his health, as the government is very sensitive to the issues of public concern and is active to ensure that no one has to resort to protest raising the issues of people’s livelihood.

The government has promised to address his genuine demands as per the instructions of the Prime Minister.  

Farmer Ghimire has demanded for implementing only 2 per cent bank interest rate in agriculture, providing chemical fertiliser, seeds and agricultural inputs in full subsidy, allocate at least 10 per cent of total fiscal budget for agriculture sector and provide project loan of up to Rs. 5 million at 1 per cent interest rate.

Similarly, he has demanded to provide discount on transportation by issuing farmer identity card.