15 farmers on hunger strike sent to hospital

Noida: As many as 15 farmers who have been on a hunger strike outside the Noida Authority’s office for the past nine days have been hospitalised since Monday night. Among them is Sukhvir Khalifa, who has been spearheading the protest over various demands.
While 13 of the protesters were sent to the hospital on Monday, Khalifa and another farmer were taken to the District Hospital in Sector 30 on Tuesday by a police team that cited doctors’ advice.
Khalifa told TOI the police team did not listen to him despite telling them repeatedly that he was fine. “I am fine and I didn’t need hospitalisation. But the police team that arrived in the morning said doctors had referred me for hospitalisation. They picked me up and brought me here. But our dharna will continue. Six persons are already on hunger strike there,” he added.
Officials in the Noida Authority, meanwhile, said they were drafting a proposal on some of the farmers’ demands. The farmers have been asking for the size of abadi plots to be increased from 450 to 1,000 sqmt for each family. They also want 10% of the plots to be disbursed.
“The Authority is not ready to approve our demands for 10% of the plots. It has, however, agreed on some of the other demands, like increasing the allotment of abadi land from 450 to 1,000 sqmt for each beneficiary family. The only concern is that if an adult girl gets married, her piece of land should not go back to the Authority,” a farmer said. “The Authority has also agreed to start the disbursal of the original 5% plots. Further, on the issue of map policy, the Authority has said that apart from the height bar, no other rules will be applicable on farmers’ properties. However, we need to see the draft proposal and have sought clarity,” he added.
Praveen Mishra, additional CEO at the Authority, said they were still drafting the proposal and the exact details could be known only on Wednesday.
“There is positive movement on the major demands. As far as the demand for the 450 sq mt of land is concerned, it will not go back to the Authority after an adult girl beneficiary gets married. The details will be out in written form tomorrow,” he added.