SATISH HANDA
The economic condition of most of the states in the country has been adversely affected due to KOVID-19. Farmers protest against three ordinances approved by the government has made situation further grim especially in Punjab and Haryana states where farmers are seen blocking road and rail traffic and making situation bad to worst. It was an unfortunate incident when a political leader of opposition during recent two days Haryana Vidhan Sabha session torn copies of ordinance in pieces. The heat of farmers protest has started damaging the financial condition of Punjab state already under heavy debt, now suffers further losses worth over Rs 15000 crore also adversely affecting farmers left with no money even to purchase fertilizers for sowing new ‘Rabi’ crops.
Although, farmers protest in Haryana is not swear as compared to Punjab due to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter made assurances to farmers that he would leave politics in case minimum support prices of crops are not received by farmers, which cooled down protesting farmers to large extent. According to experts, clashes between government and the farmers going on since past about one and half month at the time when country is facing severe epidemic outbreak as such government should sort out the matter immediately to satisfy farmers under heavy debts unable to meat both ends meal for their families and save states from further economic crisis.
Information reveals, railways has suffered losses worth Rs 415 crore in Punjab due to carriage of goods in trains since most of the railway tracks in Punjab has been blocked by protesting farmers. According to an officer of divisional officer, loss worth Rs 415 crore has been estimated due to farmers protest in Punjab and Haryana not permitting even goods trains on the railway tracks as such despatch of nearly 4000 tractors from Hoshiarpur railway station in Punjab to U.P, M.P, and Andhra Pradesh was made from Dhulkot railway station near Ambala where tractors were brought by road for loading in goods train for dispatch to different destinations. Similarly, cement bags from Kiratpur in Punjab are being despatched from Ambala in goods trains as such Ferozpur rail division suffered loss worth Rs 200 crore in recent past due to farmer agitation. Information reveals, income of Ambala rail division witnessed drop in past one year from Rs 154.96 crore in 2019 to Rs 64.23 crore in 2020.
‘Rail Roko’ agitation adversely affected trade and industry resulting nearly 5.4% drop in export business in past one year due to shortage of containers mostly trapped on the routes due to farmer agitation. According to Sharad Kumar Saraf of Federation of India Export Organization (FIEO), nearly 3000 containers are held up on rail tracks due to farmer protests. He disclosed that in past one year nearly 6% growth in exports and nearly 11.56% fall in imports have been recorded. According to exports information by the government 21.80% growth in case of Pharmaceuticals, 112.15% growth in case of rice, 73.89% growth in case of organic and non-organic chemicals sectors has been recorded in past one year. Similarly, in case of gold 35% increase, in case o pearls 50.04% increase and in case of electronic products 16.12% increase in import was recorded. Saraf said, much improvement in getting export orders has been seen since past about a month, which is a good sign for manufacturers in the country.
