The Rajasthan government has implemented a steep rise in electricity rates for the agricultural sector and for domestic consumers. The electricity rates for connections to wells used for agricultural purposes have been increased by 30% and this additional burden has become an insufferable burden for the farmers already reeling under debt due to losses in agricultural production. The All India Kisan Mahasabha and CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha jointly with two local Sangharsh Samitis (Malsisar and Surajgarh blocks) have formed the Electricity Consumers Sangharsh Samiti and have launched a struggle. Symbolic ‘Holi’ was burnt at villages against the rise in electricity rates. Dharnas were held in front of all Assistant Engineer offices on 16 January 2017. Dharnas were held at Khetdinagar, Chanana, Bisahu and Buhana blocks, and at Badagaon, Sulana and Chidawa blocks.
Thousands of farmers gathered at a protest meeting in front of the Jhunjhunu Collectorate on 3 February. Addressing the meeting, Kisan Mahasabha National President Ruldu Singh said that farmers are committing suicide under severe pressure of debt burdens and crop losses. In Punjab, famed for the Green Revolution, 3 farmers are committing suicide daily on an average. They should have been given free electricity long ago; instead, the government has put this additional burden of increased rates on them. He warned the Vasundhara Raje and Modi governments that the farmers have now awakened, and if the injustice against them is not stopped they will agitate on such a scale that the governments would not be able to stand. Kisan Sabha President Com. Amara Ram appealed to the farmers to march to Jaipur during the Assembly session. The meeting was also addressed by Ramchand Kulhari, Pemaram, Vidyadhar Gill, Phulchand Barbar and Phulchand Dhewa. A memorandum to the Chief Minister was submitted through the Collector. The Collector also arranged talks with the Chief Engineer and Supervising Engineer of the Electricity Distribution Corporation who agreed to fulfill all the regional demands.
