Farmers' Protest 2020

          

   The most recent topic in news is the farmers' protest against the three farm acts passed by the Indian parliament in September 2020.It is said to have become the largest protest ever recorded in human history .So, What exactly are these acts? Who is protesting and why? What is the government role? What can be the way forward? these are some basic questions which I hope would get cleared after reading this blog.
   The three farm acts namely the farmers' produce trade and Commerce act 2020, The farmers agreement on price Assurance and farm services act 2020, and essential commodities act 2020 were passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in September 2020 and finally were passed with the president's asset on 28 September thus converting them into acts.
   The First Act the farmers produce trade and Commerce act 2020 is meant to allow intrastate and interstate trade of farmers' produce beyond the physical premises of APMC Market. The Second Act the farmers' agreement act 2020 creates a Framework for contract farming through an agreement between a farmer and a buyer prior to the production or rearing of any farm product. The Third Act namely the essential commodities act allows the central government to regulate the supply of certain food items only under extraordinary circumstances like war or famine.
   These acts were introduced by the government with the initiative to improve the farm sector. The provisions made allow the farmers to trade freely and sell their produce beyond the APMC or the so-called Mandi. It prohibits the State Government from imposing any fee outside APMC. It promotes contract farming which means an agreement between the farmer and a buyer even before actual production and also ensures dispute settlement. This act would promote private sectors and foreign direct investments in agriculture sector and would ultimately benefit the sector.
  The farmers from various states especially Punjab and Haryana at protesting against these acts as they believe these bills to be anti-farmer. Farmers' unions are on a lead to the protest. The protesters are on a march to the national capital Delhi in order to pressurise the central government to listen to the demands. This protest is widely known as "Dilli Chalo".
   The farmers Union believe that these act would affect the system of APMCs. The open trade would mean no regulated transactions and would often result in to farmers' exploitation it would also take away the Mandi fees from the state government which would be a great loss in revenue. They demand to continue the APMCs. They also demand to guarantee the MSP that is the minimum support price. Their is a fear that the MSP wouldn't be guaranteed outside the APMC premises and the MSP would be gradually taken away by the government. It is believed that the small farmers would be exploited by the corporate and would gradually lose their lands. They also believe that the agricultural sector would be corporatized and the farmers would be at mercy of the private industries and corporate. Additionally they also demand for the abolition of the act meant to punish and fine farmers for the stubble burning.
   The farmers continue their protest wanting government to her on the demands and few unions demanding the government to repeal the three farm laws. The protesters have blocked several borders and road to the national capital Delhi, also called out the All India Bandh on 8th December which was quite successful. While The Food Processing Industries Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur resigned from her post just after the bills were passed, several sportsman decided to return their awards to support farmers protest. Indian constitution provide right to protest peacefully. The farmers protest are the first of its kind where lakhs and lakhs of farmers are marching who are self equipped with all the necessities and carried the daily essentials that would last for almost seven months. They organise camps where langars are arranged to support farmers, this includes langars of food, almonds langar, pizza langars to foot massaging langars.
These farmers are receiving support throughout the country. This protest is being made peacefully I wish it shouldn't take a violent turn and ultimately the democracy should win.
    The government and the agricultural department called out certain meetings with  farmers' Unions trying to convey and console them. The government heard the farmers demands and is trying to work upon it.
   Agriculture is the most prominent sector in India where more than 50% of population still  depends on farming for earning their livelihood. It contributes about 14 to 18% of the total GDP. Thus any reforms whether good or bad in this sector paves the way for economic growth and development of the sector and ultimately affect the entire country. Farmers are the rulers of the country and their opinion matters and should be taken into account for the smooth functioning of the democracy in our country.