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A day after farmers' show of strength from against the proposed Mandal-Bechraji Special Investment Region (SIR), where Maruti Suzuki India (MSI's) new facility is coming up, a signature campaign opposing the state government notification began on Friday in 44 affected villages.
Group of farmers from each village are going door to door creating awareness about the adverse impact of SIR on agriculture and animal husbandry which is the main source of livelihood of people in the region.
The farmers are targeting to get an affidavit opposing the SIR from each of the 16,000 odd families of the 44 villages spread in three districts of Ahmedabad, Surendranagar and Mehsana.
"The villagers are planning to give copies of the affidavit and the resolutions passed by 36 gram panchayats demanding withdrawal of the SIR notification, to state industries and revenue minister. they also plan to give a memorandum to the chief minister Narendra Modi on June 7 when they plan to visit Gandhinagar," said Lalji Desai of Jamin Adhikar Andolan Gujarat (JAAG), a voluntary organisation supporting the farmers' agitation.
Farmers are meeting regularly to decide on their next course of action. Ajmalbhai Thakore, village chief of Hansalpur, the site where Maruti Suzuki India has been allotted 640 acres of land for its plant, said, "We have put up boards in all of the 44 villages protesting against the SIR and have also said that we do not wish to sell land to any body, be it the government or any private company."
There are around 2,500 people in Hansalpur village, and according to Thakore almost all families are into agriculture, or animal husbandry.
On Thursday, 36 out of 44 gram sabhas passed a resolution opposing the proposed Special Investment Region (SIR) status being given to the Mandal-Bechraji belt.
