Imphal: The COCOMI Farmers’ Wing is threatening to launch an intensified agitation if lawmakers ignore the plight of farmers during the current Assembly session. Farmers in peripheral regions have been locked out of their fields since May 3, 2023, due to ongoing violence. This access gap has forced them off their land for four consecutive seasons.
The group claims the government has failed to act. While some 2023 compensation went out, owners from the Ekou-Yenkhoman area of Imphal East who are currently living as internally displaced persons have seen nothing. The organization stressed that paddy production pays for education and basic household costs. The loss of this income has pushed many into extreme financial distress.
Protesters recently delayed their plans to respect a public movement demanding the National Register of Citizens be implemented before any census. Now, patience is wearing thin. The wing urged both ruling and opposition parties to act quickly to secure compensation for 2024 and 2025. They want the government to clear a path so farmers can finally return to work.
Describing the situation as a fight for survival, the group noted that agricultural land is the "lifeblood" of farmers. Officials must intervene now before the crisis deepens further.
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