As a large state like India with huge diversity where approx, 58% of the
population depends on primary sector, agriculture is among the one way for
their livelihood and their survival. India is an agrarian economy and
agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. Its contribution to the total
India Gross Domestic Price (GDP) is 19.9% this is vast percentage.
On the 5th of June 2020, the government of India introduced a "New Farm
Bill"2020 which was passed in the lower house ( Lok sabha) on 17 September 2020
and in the upper house (Rajya sabha) on 20 September 2020. It was duly signed by
the Honourable President of India Shri Ram Nath Govind on 27 sep 2020.
As these bills also provide an opportunity to the farmers, as they can sell
their production by using method of Intrastate or Interstate without any
barriers as stated in Farmers produce trade and commerce act 2020, They have the
option to sell their crops by using the method of Online Method also. These
bills also provide farmers with option of farming on Contractual Basis as
described in the Farmers agreement on price assurance and farm services act
2020.
According to Ministry of Agriculture, these bills provides an opportunity for
farmers to use modern techniques for farming,use of High yielding seeds and
advances, better platform for selling of their production. But the farmers of
India were against the decision of the Central Government as there point of view
is that these bills are thrust upon the farmers and which are only made to
exploit them and they are made without the consent of any farmer community
Whereas Government assures that these bills are mainly amended for the benfit of
farmers only and mainly these bills help small and Marginal Farmers most as it
help them to bring a rise in their income and it also play an vital role as
previously the Marginal Farmers do disguised sale of crops to middlemen but now
they can sell their crops by using online way or they can go for Contractual
farming.
Overviews of the Bill
As on 5th of june 2020 the Government of India introduced NEW FARM BILL 2020 as
it was passed in the lower house and upper house with a majority and on 27th sep
2020 the honourable president of India duly signed these bill and this has
become the government main aim for amending these bills is to doubled the income
of the farmers by the end of the 2022 and these bills are:
- Farmers produce trade and commerce act 2020
Farmers produce trade and commerce act 2020 provides that farmers will have
the option of selling their produce in the Agiculture produce market
committee (APMC) Mandias or to private companies that are within their state
(INTRA STATE) or outside their state (INTERSTATE).They have an option of
selling crops using online platform like Enam. It make things easier for
farmers to sell their production as they get good price for their production
and they get payment withinh 2 workimg days. It will also remove the role of
middlemen as they charge 1-2% commission. And Central Government also
prohibit state Government to charge cess, market fee or transportation fee
etc from the Farmers.
- Farmers agreement on price assurance and farm services act 2020
Farmers agreement on price assurance and farm service act 2020 provides
freedom to farmers to do their farming on contractual basis as CONTRACT
FARMING. As farmers can contract with the private companies as they can
determined the price of their production before the sowing of their crops as
they also support them with latest technology and good variety of seeds for
good production but the biggest loophole is that MSP is not guaranteed in
these bill.
- Essential commodities act 2020
The Essential commodities act 2020 removes restrictions on stocking of
certain essential commodities.It allows the Government of India to regulate
the supply of certain food items. Only under extraordinary circumstances
such as WAR, FAMINE, PRICE RISE AND NATURAL CALAMITY.It also remove the
fears of private investors of excessive regulatory interference in their
business operations.The commodities that are supposed to be exempted are
cereals, pulses, potatoes, onion, edible oilseeds and all the oil.
Main concern of the farmers
Then bill was passed in lower and upper house and then comes to president for
further enactment. The bill was duly signed by the President on 27th of sep 2020
and when the farmers get to know about it these bills the farmer of some States
like as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttrakhand started
protesting over it. when the state government did not respond over them so all
the kisan union of India decided to march towards the National Capital Delhi
with the motto "DILLI CHALO".
They raise a demand that Central Government will listen over on to them but they
got disappointed from the Government also,so the farmers had started their
protest on 26th november 2020. Some of the who lead the protest are Shri Gurnam
singh Chaduni, Shri Rakesh Tikait, Dr.Darshan Pal, Shri Yogendra Yadav, Smt
harinder bindu and Smt jasbeer kaur natt. They act as Foundation pillars for
further course of actions.
And all the kisan union and farmers mutually decided neither they take any step
back and nor they will return to their homes until all the 3 black bills get
repealed. The Protest started at a same time on various joints. People per
their accessibility come together on different places like Singhu Border, Kundli
Border, Ghazipur Border and etc. Various steps are taken by the Government to
stop the protest couldn't Succeed farmers were really worried of these bills
and wanted that all 3 bills should get repealed.
- Abolished Mandi Tax
There are about 7000 APMC Mandis currently existing in India and they
provides a great platform for farmers to sell their crops.According to the
Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce Act 2020 that will abolish cess or fees
but if the Central Government stops charging cess or tax from the Government
then it will be their Own loss.
No Mandi = No Tax = No Revenue
As per the reports the APMC Mandis of Punjab charge heavy taxes from the
farmers near about 8.5% and in 2019-20 the APMC Mandias collect itself
generated a huge amount tax of 3600 crores. It is a handsome amount of tax.
If the government stop collecting cess it will affect yheir revnue
generating source and create a huge gap as tax collection is among one of
the major sources of Government income further it too affects country
economy and Government under dept sections as well.
- No mentioning on MSP
MSP stands for minimum support price. It is minimum price at which
Government suppose to purchases the crops from the farmers. The Government
cannot purchase any food grains or crops below these prices.
Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) recommends 23 crops that
falls under Minimum Support Price (MSP).
- 7 Cereals ( Paddy, Wheat, Maize, Bajra, Jowar, Ragi And Barley)
- 5 Pulses ( Chana Arhar, Urad, Moong And Masoor)
- 7 Oilseeds ( Rapeseed, Groundnut, Soybean,Sunflower, Sesamum, Niger Seed
And Safflower)
- 4 Commercial Crops ( Jute, Sugarcane, Copra (Milling), Copra (Ball)
Reality is that Government actually did not provide the MSP on all 23 crops
Government is providing MSP on only 3-4 crops which are Wheat, paddy and
sugarcane. The Government states they have to pay 17000 lakh crores for
providing MSP on all 23 crops.Sukhpal Singh Principal Economist of India's top
agricultural university states that it is the fault of the Government. India
only needsapprox Rs 9 lakh crores.As per Government need not have to give it in
free, rather they are providing the food grains in return against the same
amount.
The Government of India encourage farmers to sow maize instead of paddy but on
reality grounds the MSP of maize is Rs 1850 and they pay farmers on Rs
1350-1100. Farmers are facing heavy loss from it.The farmers are demanding that
there should be law for the MSP and all the production have to be purchased on
MSP price not below that. Irony of these bill are that they did not mention any
written sstatement or commintment promising to provide MSP against crops.
- Indirectly Destroying APMC Mandias
In states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand the APMC
Mandias
play an major role for the growth of primary sector.The Government should twice
before passing these laws as it directly hits indication of disclosure of APMC
Mandias as the first bill of farm laws is farmers produce trade and commerce act
2020 that cess are to be reduced or taxes are to be abolished if the taxes are
been abolished then there will be no revenue generation and there will be no
income of government so automatically the working of Mandias will be closed and
soon the Mandias will be get closed.
The same happpenend in 2006 Bihar CM Nitish kumar has abolished APMC Mandias and
that had made great impact in Bihar Agricultural Sector,they thought private
investors will create great reform in this sector but things changed as MSP of
wheat was 1850-2000 but farmers were getting 1000 rs only for that they can't
able to cover their cost of investment that had used for their production of
crops.
They had to do distress sale as they have to manage their own houses expenses.These factors had demolished the bihar farmers and majority of the
farmers migrate and worked as labourers in state like Punjab and Haryana.
- No civil jurisdiction
This bill does not provide any power to the farmers to file a civil suit in the
court in case of any dispute that may take place in between the farmers and
second party. Sub-Divisional Magistrates(SDM) and Additional District Magistrate
(ADM) have to establish the conciliation boards for settlement of dispute and
Sec 15 of farmers produce trade and commerce act 2020 states that "No civil
court shall have jurisdiction and entertain any suit under these act
If we consider history and facts that bureaucracy has to face, pressure from
the central government, it is possible that small and marginal farmers get
justice against big corporations as these bills increase corruption and decrease
the morale of bureaucrats to work independently.
Conclusion
Central Government of India introduced 3 new farm bill on 27 sep 2020 for the
benefit of farmers to make their income doubled but the farmers of India were
not happy as they take them as a punishment on them and no consent of farmers
was considered as State Government were not even consulted by the Central
Government. farmers started their protest on different places at Delhi NCR on
the 26th November 2020.
Farmers wanted to repeal all 3 black laws and make bill on MSP and compensate
all the farmers families who lost their near and dear ones get martyr in these
protest. At around 700-750 farmers got soul departed in these protest. It lasted
more than a year for 378 days and on 19th nov 2021 on the auspicious occasion of
Guru Nanak Jayanti Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi decided to roll
back all the 3 farm bills and to make bill on MSP and.All the kisan unions
announced 'Ghar Wapsi' after the repulsion of all 3 farm bills on 19 November
2021.
Award Winning Article Is Written By: Mr.Sahajpal Singh
Authentication No: JL219659826061-15-0722
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