Karnal: Thousands of cane harvesting labourers that were busy harvesting cane are facing the heat of the ongoing farmers’ agitation for a hike in State Advised Price (SAP), reports Hindustan Times. Their agitation entered the fifth day on Tuesday.
The agitation has impacted the labourers, contractual workers of the sugar mill and cane transporters. Along with the hundreds of drivers that were busy transporting cane from fields to the mills are also suffering.
Around 30,000 labourers are affected due to the agitation, said farmer leader Satpal Kaushik.
“Most of these labourers are from Bihar and they are returning to their hometown. Apart from them, there are around 10,000 workers that are engaged in unloading and loading of cane at the purchase centres,” he said.
Farmers stated that along with labourers they are also facing difficulties if the labourers leave the state at the peak of the season.
The agitation is likely to continue further as the farmers have planned a series of protests till January 29 and the next meeting with the government officials is on January 30.