A programme has been organised on Tuesday to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the farmers’ agitation at Bahiram on January 24, 1975. Many farmers had attained martyrdom during the agitation.

A big battle was fought by the cotton growers against Monopoly Cotton Procurement Scheme (MCPS) at Bahiram in Amravati district on 24 January 1975. In 1970, the Maharashtra Government introduced MCPS . Since the scheme was not benefiting the farmers, they launched massive agitation. On January 24, 1975, large number of farmers participated in this struggle with hundreds of bullocks carts at Bahiram. Vitthal Dotonde, Dadasaheb Haware, Bhausaheb Sable, Dr Shankar Bobade, Mamraj Khandelwal and Waman Khalokar led the agitation.

The government was shocked to see the fierce agitation of the farmers. Police had to resort to lathi charge and later fired at the farmers. Vitthalrao Dotonde, a farmer from Pathrot, died in the police firing. Dadasaheb Haware, Bhausaheb Sable, Dr Shankarao Bobde along with many farmers were injured and their bullock carts were damaged. The entire district was shaken by the farmers’ movement.

Surendra Patil Chaudhary of Karanja Bahiram had then served food to farmers and fodder to the bullocks. Prakash Sable, Amravati ZP member, took initiative to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the farmers’ battle at Bahiram on January 24. Farmer leader Prakash Sable informed that the programme has been organised to keep the farmers’ movement alive.