Mamata doubles cash dole for farmers,labourers

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has enhanced the monthly financial assistance for unwilling farmers of Singur from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 in an apparent move to retain their support.

We had announced on May 19 that the unwilling farmers and agricultural labourers of Singur will be given monthly assistance of Rs 1,000. Since prices (of commodities) have gone up,we have decided to enhance the quantum of assistance to Rs 2,000 per month. They will get the enhanced financial assistance from July, Mamata said at Writers Buildings today.

Apart from monetary help,rice at the rate of Rs 2 per kilogram will be provided to each of the families, she added,leaving the podium before reporters could ask questions.

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The move comes after the government,which promised to return 400 acres to unwilling Singur farmers,faced a setback with a division bench of the Calcutta High Court declaring the Singur Land Development and Resettlement Act 2011 unconstitutional. The order left many farmers frustrated. Some said the government had blundered while preparing the law in haste.

The state government is now exploring alternative measures to return the land. The Trinamool chief held a meeting last Saturday with other political outfits and intellectuals. Apart from continuing the legal war,Mamata decided to launch a fresh stir in Singur. She,however,did not specify against whom the movement will be launched. The Trinamools student front will bring out a rally at Singur on Saturday.

The Left Front staged a walkout in the Assembly against the hike in farmer allowance. Leader of Opposition Suryakanta Mishra brought a motion of breach of privilege against the CM for making the anouncement outside the Assembly.

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