Sugarcane Crushing Season Clashes With Polls, 10 Lakh Workers May Miss Voting
Sugarcane Crushing Season Clashes With Polls, 10 Lakh Workers May Miss Voting
The sugarcane crushing season in Maharashtra is set to begin on November 15, coinciding with the state assembly elections, potentially disenfranchising over 10 lakh sugarcane cutters from districts such as Nandurbar, Dhule, Beed, Parbhani, and Jalgaon. These workers travel extensively, sometimes up to 1,200 km, to neighboring states in search of better opportunities.
As the crushing season commences, tractor-trolleys filled with people, clothes, utensils, and basic essentials will make their way to various destinations. However, this year’s timing poses a significant concern, as many workers will likely miss exercising their franchise due to the clash with the poll date . A ministerial committee had previously decided to start the crushing season on November 15, without considering the poll schedule.
The government has urged the Election Commission (EC) to postpone the cane cutting schedule by 10 days, but no decision has been made yet. The Maharashtra Association of Sugarcane Cutters and Transport Workers has filed a petition with the High Court, seeking arrangements for transporting workers to their homes on polling day or allowing them to vote in booths near their workplace. The High Court has scheduled the hearing after four weeks.
Jeevan Haribhau Rathod, president of the association, expressed concerns about potential bogus voting due to the large number of voters being away from their villages. “Their entire economy depends on this harvest season,” said a sugarcane cutter, highlighting the priority of earning a livelihood over exercising their franchise.
The sugarcane crushing season is a critical period for the workers, and the clash with the polls has raised concerns about their voting rights. With the season’s start date looming, the EC’s decision will be crucial in ensuring that these workers can participate in the democratic process.
