The farmers are staging a comeback with ‘Delhi Chalo 2.0’, aiming for the celebrities of their calls for from the federal government. Despite the federal government persistently rising the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the 22 crops, these farmers need extra, seemingly unaware of the continued increments. Hold on tight, there’s a hefty wishlist! They are after a whole debt waiver, a month-to-month pension for farmers above 60, and a throwback to the Land Acquisition Act of 2013. It’s like asking for a windfall whereas overlooking the monetary actuality.
And it doesn’t cease there – they’re suggesting axing all present free commerce agreements and bidding farewell to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Because who wants world collaboration when you possibly can slam the door on progress?
In this ironic farmyard story, we’ll delve into the amusing intricacies of why these calls for is likely to be a bit an excessive amount of. From pushing for a legislation to ensure MSP, regardless of constant will increase, to proposing a whole withdrawal from the WTO and scrapping present FTAs – these farmers appear to be on a quest for calls for that defy each logic and financial sense. Welcome to “Farmers Protest 2.0: Demanding the Unattainable”, the place the sequel may depart you scratching your head greater than applauding.
In the continued collection of negotiations between the Central authorities and farmers’ unions, the fourth spherical befell in Chandigarh on Sunday evening. Amidst the persistent ‘Delhi Chalo’ march and the urgent calls for for unmet guarantees, farmers determined to momentarily halt their march after the assembly. The saga continues, with every assembly feeling like a chapter in a narrative with an unsure ending.
Now, let’s delve into the federal government’s proposals:
- Long-Term Crop Commitment: The Central authorities offered a five-year plan for the procurement of pulses, maize, and cotton crops by means of authorities businesses at minimal assist costs. A strategic transfer to supply stability in an in any other case tumultuous agricultural panorama.
- Structured Agricultural Contracts: Piyush Goyal outlined a cooperative strategy. The NCCF and NAFED will enter into contracts with farmers cultivating tur dal, urad dal, masoor dal, or maize, assuring them a minimal assist value for his or her produce over the following 5 years. It’s a severe try at bringing construction to the uncertainty looming over agricultural incomes.
This assembly, the fourth within the collection held on February 8, 12, and 15, goals to seek out frequent floor amid the complexities of the farmers’ calls for and the federal government’s coverage proposals. Amidst the sealed borders, fuming farmers, chaotic rallies, attacking journalists, disruptions, and visitors jams courtesy of the so-called farm protests, one may marvel: is that this a real outcry or only a well-timed theatrical efficiency aimed toward garnering social media buzz earlier than the Lok Sabha elections? The farmers main the cost hail from the politically essential states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh – a strategic transfer given their significance within the Hindi heartland.
Could or not it’s that these protests are extra about creating hashtags than addressing agricultural issues? The opposition INDIA bloc, sensing its final likelihood to make a splash earlier than the 97 crore voters hit the polls within the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, may simply be orchestrating a political symphony disguised as a farmers’ protest.
Facing an existential disaster with exits from the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and the RLD, the INDI alliance can be coping with companions like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal declaring their solo election plans. Now, the items of the puzzle appear to fall into place – it’s not nearly crop costs and farm legal guidelines, it’s about political survival and manoeuvring. Is this their response to ‘Abki Baar, 400 Paar’? Well, time will inform.
Let’s return to a time when the consultants thought the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in bother in Rajasthan and simply hanging on in Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan’s voters had been fairly fed up with the ruling social gathering for 20 years, however this time, farmers took centre stage, making their voices heard by means of votes.
Fast ahead to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and regardless of worries about farmers’ issues, the BJP pulled off a political magic trick within the Hindi heartland, profitable over farm voters. Turns out, the political fortune tellers didn’t see that coming. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections noticed comparable patterns. A June 2019 transient printed by the Institute of South Asian Studies of the National University of Singapore, concluded that “despite distress in the farming community”, the BJP efficiently manoeuvred to get the assist of farm voters throughout the Hindi heartland, defying all its doomsayers.
But let’s not sugarcoat issues – farmers outdoors Punjab are struggling. On common, an Indian farming family earns a modest Rs 10,218 monthly. Now, Punjab is a little bit of an outlier, with an revenue exceeding Rs 26,000 – the best amongst massive farming states. In the agrarian panorama of Punjab, farmers get pleasure from a major benefit – they obtain a Minimum Support Price (MSP) exceeding Rs 60,000 crore yearly. This beneficiant assist is ready at about 50 per cent greater than the weighted common value of manufacturing, aligning with MS Swaminathan’s C2+50 per cent formulation. The particular remedy doesn’t finish there – the Centre not solely pays promptly but in addition lifts all of the wheat and paddy the farmer needs to promote.
However, it’s essential to notice that this C2+50 value and open-ended procurement are unique to wheat and paddy, making it a privilege reserved for Punjab and, to some extent, Haryana. In comparability, farmers cultivating different crops or these in several states miss out on this beneficial association. Consequently, the typical month-to-month revenue per agricultural family in Punjab stands at two-and-a-half occasions larger than the Indian common. This distinctive financial panorama sheds gentle on the distinctive agricultural dynamics at play in Punjab.
In this monetary puzzle, authorities assist like loans and insurance coverage principally reaches the educated, greater farmers. The smaller ones? Well, they’re caught coping with moneylenders, satisfied that authorities insurance policies are a little bit of a multitude.
It’s clear that farmers’ discontent can sway elections, making even the neatest political minds scratch their heads. Why then, are farmers not expressing their discontent by means of the poll field? Disruption on the streets grabs consideration, however the energy to vote can communicate volumes. It’s a puzzle: farmers are vocal about their points, but bridging the hole between voicing issues and trusting the poll stays a problem. In a democracy, the vote holds immense potential to reshape narratives and handle grievances. It’s time for farmers to leverage this energy to make their voices heard the place it counts most.
Also, the principle purpose why the so-called farmers from Punjab are clamouring for MSP on all the pieces is that their crops are sometimes laden with pesticides and dangerous chemical compounds, making them unsuitable for human consumption. It’s a stark actuality mirrored within the existence of a particular prepare generally known as the most cancers prepare, shuttling sufferers from Punjab to Rajasthan for most cancers remedy – a poignant consequence of the poisonous surroundings.
Ironically, these people advocating for MSP appear to have a double customary. While pushing to promote doubtlessly dangerous meals grains, they themselves favor to purchase grains from states like MP and UP. It raises questions concerning the sincerity of their trigger, portray them as hypocrites of the best order. The demand for MSP turns into a handy protect, masking the potential well being hazards their very own produce may pose. It’s a twist within the story, revealing a posh internet of pursuits beneath the floor of the farmers’ protest narrative.
Dr Ashok Gulati, a revered agricultural economist, cautions in opposition to the blanket implementation of MSP for all crops. He factors out the potential imbalance between manufacturing and demand, highlighting the impracticality of extending MSP to 23 commodities, which characterize solely 28 per cent of India’s complete agricultural output. Dr Gulati stresses the success of thriving sectors like poultry, fisheries, and milk, working with out MSP. He suggests alternate options like crop insurance coverage and a value stabilisation fund for market crises.
Expressing concern for Punjab, he underscores the urgency of diversification to guard future generations, as they’re approach behind. However, the management’s delay on this regard raises purple flags, particularly contemplating the declining water desk.
In conclusion, the farmers’ protest demand for common MSP seems myopic and should not align with the dynamic nature of India’s agriculture. Even consultants’ perspective emphasises the necessity for nuanced options, and the protest’s insistence on a one-size-fits-all strategy may doubtlessly hurt each farmers and the bigger pursuits of the nation. The demand, on this gentle, appears extra anti-progress, anti-economic sensibility, and anti-India, posing a danger to the welfare of each farmers and the nation.
The writer is a practising advocate. She writes articles on ladies’s rights, politics and legislation. Views expressed within the above piece are private and solely that of the writer. They don’t essentially mirror News18’s views.
