Kissan package: ‘Why were we left out?’

BAHAWALPUR: Scores of farmers from Chak 13-BC staged a demonstration in front of the DCO’s office in Bahawalpur on Wednesday demanding that they be selected for benefits disbursed under the Kissan Package. The protesters also demanded legal action against the patwari in their village. Nadeem, one of the protesters, said Patwari Muhammad Shabbir Ghuloo had only prepared farming records for some of the major landowners in their village who did not even qualify for funds under the Kissan Package. He said that Ghuloo had, on purpose, left out some of the most destitute farmers in their village including Waseem, Asmatullah, Tariq, Jan Muhammad, Muhammad Ramazan and Muhammad Idrees who were also present at the protest. The protesters said it was possible that Ghuloo had taken bribes from some farmers to declare them eligible for funds. They requested Bahawalpur DCO Imran Sikandar Balouch to investigate the matter and to ensure that only deserving and eligible farmers benefitted from the Kissan Package.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th,  2016.