KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 29

A sugarcane farmer died this morning before implementation of the agreement reached between farmers and the government.

Sugarcane farmer Narayan Raya Yadav of Ramnagar, Sarlahi, died of heart attack at 11:00am in Shahid Gangalal Hospital today.

The government had reached agreement to provide Rs 2.463 million dues to Yadav at 12 noon today.

Around 50 million rupees owed to sugarcane farmers was said to be distributed today. But Yadav’s demise postponed the clearance of dues.

A deal was struck between the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the Sugarcane Farmer Struggle Committee on December 28.

However, sugarcane farmers have been arguing that they had to receive Rs 950 million in dues. The government has formed a probe committee comprising representatives of Industry, Home, Finance and Agriculture and Livestock ministries to study the issue.

Saying that late Yadav had Rs 1.4 million to pay back in loan, patron of the Sugarcane Farmer Struggle Committee Rakesh Mishra said Yadav’s final rites would not be performed until the government provided compensation to Yadav’s family.

Sugarcane farmers have been staging sit-in at Maitighar Mandala of Kathmandu from December 13, saying they will not return home until their dues are cleared.

Feature image: File