Dehradun : Sameer Raturi, leader of the Himalaya Bachao Andolan , sat on 24-hour fast outside Gandhi Park on Sunday after finishing a 275-km march from Gopeshwar in Chamoli district to Dehradun in 13 days to protest the state government policy of allowing farming of cannabis (bhang).

Raturi had conducted the march along with other young activists from across the state. The marchers finished their 275-km walk on Friday, meeting several villagers along the way.

“Villagers think of bhang as an addictive substance. By allowing its cultivation, the state government, villagers think, is abusing the people and destroying fertility of the land. Bhang farming is a tool the government uses to favour those behind this mafia. There are products like Bhimal, whose fibre is much better than that of bhang. It is also good for the land, and could be promoted. In a state already ruined by liquor, bhang cultivation will only cause even more hardship,” Raturi said. Bhimal, a plant that grows easily in the hills, is useful as fodder, fuel and fibre. Clothes and ropes can be made from the fibre.

Raturi said the state government should ideally promote the manufacturing of products using raw material that is widely available locally. There is also need to promote markets for these products, he said, adding that the state should step in to ensure that villagers find good prices for what they sell. He said such measures would stem migration from the state’s villages and generate employment.

He said he had met several villagers during his march and there was resentment against the poor quality of education and health services. He said the people of the state felt they were not provided proper civic services.

“People want change in education and health services. They are demanding better civic amenities. Prolonged negligence has meant that civic amenities are now in poor shape. People want a change in the political system, which has become unresponsive to them. They now want to participate in decision-making to better their lives. State governments seldom seek inputs of the people in the hills while planning projects. That is why there is distress, and there are now several movements across the state,” Raturi said.

