Punjab: Ahead of the election of village sarpanches on October 15, candidates are openly lending their support to farmers who resort to stubble burning and illegal electricity connections. In villages like Kherhi Malla, sarpanch candidate Sher Singh, himself a farmer, has vowed to protect farmers from any government action. “If officials come to the village, I will stand with the farmers,” Singh said, stressing the lack of economic viability for alternative stubble management.
In Raungla, a relative of another sarpanch candidate assured farmers that they need not fear any police or official intervention after the election, promising no interference in illegal activities like stubble burning or using illegal electricity connections (known as “kundi”). Farmers claim that managing crop residue without burning is very expensive, estimated at between Rs 4,000 and Rs 4,500 per acre. However, government officials have warned that farmers who continue to burn stubble could face penalties, including having their revenue records marked in red. Despite the warnings, candidates are assuring farmers that no action will be taken against them if they support them in the elections.
