-SATISH HANDA
104 days long farmers’ agitation has adversely affected entrepreneurs of trade and industry in Haryana, workers employed in the industry and even small farmers working hard in agriculture fields amidst hot sun in summer and shivering cold in winter to get meals for their families. According to majority of residents in Haryana, protesting farmers have ruined industry in the state for their self-vested interest and under the influence of leaders of political parties in opposition.
Among worst affected industry in Haryana state in past about a year include textile sector at Panipat providing employment to more tan 30000 persons due to lock down declared by the government, KOVID-19 epidemic outbreak and farmer s protest. Bhim Rana of manufacturers association told that buyers failed to visit Panipat for procurements of goods and the manufacturers could not supply material timely against their orders due to lack of production, inadequate transport facilities. shortage of raw material and non-availability of workers left for their home places during lock down period when all manufacturing units including nearly 500 water jet loom in Panipat were closed down.
According to Jagdeep Jain President of Blanket Manufacturing Association, Panipat is famous for manufacturing Mink and Polar blankets in the world having more than 100 manufacturing units having 10 lakh kilogram production daily failed to undertake production due to shortage of raw material as well as most of the skilled labourers already left the town and there was acute shortage of transport service as such most of the orders procured from indigenous buyers were cancelled and large number of export orders were shifted to manufacturers in China.
Narinder Chhikara Senior Vice Chairman of Footwear Park Association Bahadurgarh told that nearly 2000 micro and small industrial units manufacturing footwear faced extremely dull winter season this year and suffered loss worth Rs 5000 crore due to farmers agitation in the absence of supply of raw material as well as despatch of finished goods. Chhikara said, labour problem was another major factor for drop in production. He said, nearly 1600 manufacturing units situated in Industrial Area Part-II remained closed due to traffic block at the border by agitators and most of the workers failed to join duty severely affecting production. There are large number of small scale units manufacturing food products and involved in plastic moulding work forced to close down their shutters.
Kundli industrial area in Sonepat district was also worst affected due to farmers agitation where more than 5000 workers employed in nearly1500 manufacturing units became unemployed due to farmers protest and left the town in search of alternate jobs since it was difficult for them to reach at the work place due to traffic block at the border. Subhash Gupta President of Kundli Industrial Association told that only few industrial units at Kundli were able to produce goods hardly up to 30-40% of their production capacity thus incurred loss worth Rs 2000 crores in three months.
Even small farmers in the area dependent on agriculture could not be spared by agitators. Most of small farmers in the area involved in growing seasonal vegetables to meet both ends meal for their families were unable to make supplies of vegetables in adjoining residential colonies near Haryana-Delhi border as well as in vegetable market Delhi and most of the time had to destroy old vegetables or sell the produce at throw-away prices in adjoining rural area. The vegetable growers of village Jharoda near Haryana-Delhi border expressed deep concern over protesting farmers as a result they are unable to earn their livelihood. Small farmers in the area told that farmers agitation caused them loss worth lakhs of rupees when failed to sell seasonal vegetables cultivated in over 2500 acres area due to closure of border and non-availability of transport. As such they are compelled to sell vegetables in adjoining villages at throw way prices or .
Tourism industry in Haryana state too was badly affected in past about a year.Anubhav Mehta CEO of Kurukshetra Vikas Board told that pilgrims from all over in the country could not visit religious holy town this year due to KOVID 19 as well as farmers agitation.The holy places Shri Krishna Museum, Science Panorama centre and Krishan Library and Brahm Sarowar where lakhs of people used to come for holy dip in water failed to attract visitors this year and had hardly 30-35 per cent visitors.
