The Tripura Pradesh Kisan Congress submitted a nine-point charter demanding wage reforms, timely farm inputs, border gate access, floodlight damage inquiry, and compensation for farmers. Leaders warned of larger protests if the government fails to act promptly.
The Tripura Pradesh Kisan Congress on Saturday organized a major deputation program aimed at highlighting the persistent struggles faced by farmers, especially those residing in remote and border-adjacent regions. The campaign saw widespread participation from Kisan Congress units across districts, underlining the growing frustration among cultivators over unaddressed grievances and declining agricultural support systems.
A key highlight of the day’s events was the action taken by the North District Kisan Congress Committee, which formally submitted a comprehensive nine-point memorandum to the Additional District Magistrate. The document, addressed to the Chief Secretary of Tripura, paints a stark picture of the daily hardships experienced by farmers and stresses the urgent need for sustainable policy intervention.
According to Kisan Congress representatives, farmers in Tripura continue to battle multiple layers of challenges — from inadequate rural employment opportunities to disruptions in agricultural activities caused by security infrastructure along the India–Bangladesh border. The memorandum calls for immediate remedial steps to ensure both livelihood security and agricultural stability across the state.
Among the most pressing demands is the enhancement of wages under the rural employment guarantee scheme, a crucial source of supplemental income for large numbers of small and marginal farmers. Kisan Congress leaders argued that current wage rates are insufficient to counter rising living costs, leaving rural households financially vulnerable.
Another significant demand centers on the extension of gate-opening hours along the India–Bangladesh border, particularly in agricultural zones where fencing restricts timely access to farmland. Farmers in these areas often report losing valuable working hours due to limited operational timeframes at border gates. During peak sowing and harvesting seasons, these restrictions can result in substantial productivity losses.
The memorandum also emphasizes the need for timely supply of essential agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, high-quality seeds, and pesticides. Delayed distribution, Kisan Congress officials noted, forces farmers into compromised agricultural cycles, reducing crop yield and increasing dependence on high-interest private loans.
A particularly distressing issue raised during the deputation concerns crop damage caused by high-intensity floodlights installed near the international border. According to affected farmers, excessive heat from these lights has repeatedly resulted in wilting and destruction of standing crops, directly impacting livelihoods. The Kisan Congress demanded an impartial and transparent investigation into the matter, along with adequate compensation for affected cultivators.
In another key point, the organization pressed for provision of subsidies proportional to the actual financial losses endured by farmers due to climatic impacts, infrastructural barriers, or administrative delays. Representatives reiterated that relief measures must be realistic, prompt, and commensurate with the scale of damage documented in the field.
Senior Congress leaders participating in the deputation alleged that farmers across Tripura have been struggling under the weight of systemic neglect. They claimed that despite numerous appeals made over the past several years, the state government has not implemented meaningful reforms to improve agricultural support mechanisms. Border-area farmers, they added, remain particularly vulnerable due to geographic constraints and limited policy attention.
Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee member Chayan Bhattacharjee, along with several district-level leaders and activists from the North District Kisan Congress, spearheaded the submission of the memorandum. Addressing media after the deputation, Bhattacharjee stated that the demands represent the collective voice of the state’s agricultural community and must be taken seriously if the government intends to protect rural livelihoods.
He further warned that if the administration fails to respond constructively or delays action on the nine-point charter, the Kisan Congress will be compelled to launch larger statewide movements. Such mobilizations, he added, aim not at confrontation but at securing justice, dignity, and sustainable development for Tripura’s farming population.
The deputation program marks one of the most organized farmer-focused political activities in the state in recent months. As cultivation becomes increasingly challenging amidst economic pressures and environmental uncertainty, the response of the Tripura government in the coming days will likely determine the trajectory of farmer-led activism in the region.
