Mysore/Mysuru: All India Kisan Khet Majdoor Sangathan (AIKKMS) has organised a mammoth protest of Bagair Hukum land cultivators at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Oct. 18. This was disclosed by AIKKMS State Convenor M. Shashidhar at press a meet at Patrakartara Bhavan on Tuesday.

“There are more than 24 lakh Bagair Hukum cultivators in the State and they are solely dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. We are organising this protest to demand Title Deed for Bagair Hukum cultivators,” he said. “Bagair Hukum cultivators have worked hard day and night to convert lands lying as useless near the borders of the State forests into lands suitable for agriculture. The Governments which ruled the State so far have not shown any concern to recognise and authorise their rights. They have only constituted Land Allotment Committees in some Districts and given temporary Cultivation Letters,” added AIKKMS State Convenor.

“Most of Bagair Hukum cultivators have no other source of income apart from 2-3 acres of land. The Government which was assuring them of Title Deeds is now saying that permanent Title Deeds cannot be given. Revenue Minister has stated that instead, the Government intends to collect fee for the cultivated land and give them on lease for a specific period of time, which is deplorable. This decision of the State Government is totally anti-farmer,” alleged Shashidhar.

AIKKMS State Vice-President Shivaprakash, District Convenor H.M. Basavaraju, farmers Harohalli Papegowda and others were present at the press meet.