PONDA: The distressed jasmine (jayo) farmers of Mardol have submitted a memorandum to Veling-Priol-Cuncoliem Village Panchayat Sarpanch Harsha Gaude asking for financial assistance to help restore their jasmine plantation that was gutted in an act of arson two-and-a-half months ago.
The plantation, which is their only source of income, has been producing the fragrant flowers for several generations. These flowers are largely used during the popular ‘Jayanchi Puja’ that is held at Mardol’s famed Mahalsa Temple.
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But now, with the plantation entirely gutted, the beleaguered farmers have, in a last-ditch effort, approached the government for help.
“The business of growing and selling these flowers has been going on since the time of our ancestors. It takes around four years to grow a ‘jai’ tree, but it took just minutes for someone to burn down our entire plantation. We want justice and assistance,” Gauresh Gaude, one of the affected farmers, said.
