Governance issues: Farmers dissatisfied with gunny bag distribution
They said there was no shade and drinking water as promised by the government
BAHAWALPUR:
Scores of farmers of village Ahmad Ali Laad on Sunday staged a demonstration near Rahim Yar Khan Press Club to protest favouritism in distribution of gunny bags. Some farmers at Jamaldinwali Food Centre also protested and police had to be called to disperse the crowd. Talking to The Express Tribune, Iqbal Khan, one of the farmers, said the officials were giving gunny bags to other than farmers. He said landlords who did not belong to the area were also being given gunny bags at the cost of local small farmers. He said the chief minister should take notice of the situation and take action against them. At Jamaldinwali Food Centre, farmers said they were made to stand in long lines for submission of their files to get gunny bags. They said there was no shade and drinking water as promised by the government. Later, they argued with some officials there. When the argument became heated, police were called to control the situation. Talking to The Express Tribune, the Sadiqabad assistant commissioner said some farmers had broken the queue and caused a commotion. He said gunny bags were being distributed on merit.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2015.
Scores of farmers of village Ahmad Ali Laad on Sunday staged a demonstration near Rahim Yar Khan Press Club to protest favouritism in distribution of gunny bags. Some farmers at Jamaldinwali Food Centre also protested and police had to be called to disperse the crowd. Talking to The Express Tribune, Iqbal Khan, one of the farmers, said the officials were giving gunny bags to other than farmers. He said landlords who did not belong to the area were also being given gunny bags at the cost of local small farmers. He said the chief minister should take notice of the situation and take action against them. At Jamaldinwali Food Centre, farmers said they were made to stand in long lines for submission of their files to get gunny bags. They said there was no shade and drinking water as promised by the government. Later, they argued with some officials there. When the argument became heated, police were called to control the situation. Talking to The Express Tribune, the Sadiqabad assistant commissioner said some farmers had broken the queue and caused a commotion. He said gunny bags were being distributed on merit.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2015.