Will not allow tenants association polls to go ahead: Carambolim farmers

OLD GOA
A large number of Carambolim farmers gathered at Carambolim panchayat hall and resolved that they would not allow the election of the Dhado Khazan Tenants Association to be held till their demands are met.

Addressing a media conference on Saturday, the farmers said the members’ list of the tenants association has not been updated for several years and in such scenario, holding election would be doing grave injustice to the farmers.

Incidentally, the election of the Dhado Khazan tenants association is scheduled on October 12 in the Carambolim panchayat hall at 10.30 am.

Opposing the conduct of the polls, a farmer, Sadhu Kholkar, stated that around 300 farmers are registered with the association.

“Of these, around 90% members have expired, but the name of the heirs have still not been included despite making several representations to authorities concerned,” Kholkar claimed.

Activist Tara Kerkar demanded that the government should take cognisance of demands of the affected farmers and update the members’ list first before holding the election. “The government should not wait for farmers to hit the streets to get their demands fulfilled,” Kerkar stated.

Dhaku Madkaikar also demanded that affected farmers should get their rightful place in the tenants association, so that they can work for the upliftment of the farmers.

“Therefore it is important that the members’ list be updated first before any election is held,” said Madkaikar, adding that the message should go to the revenue minister, collector and mamlatdar so that justice is done to the real farmers.