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#FarmersBill: THREAD
For the first time in India there’s a real reform in agriculture, for decades, the farmer was bound by various constraints & bullied by middlemen. The bills passed by Parliament liberate farmers from such adversities.
Why is the opposition furious?
1/n
For the first time in India there’s a real reform in agriculture, for decades, the farmer was bound by various constraints & bullied by middlemen. The bills passed by Parliament liberate farmers from such adversities.
Why is the opposition furious?
1/n
1. Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce Bill, 2020:
This bill prohibits state govts from collecting the market fee, cess for trade outside notified APMC mandis, removes inter-state trade barriers & provides framework for electronic trading directly between a buyer and a farme
This bill prohibits state govts from collecting the market fee, cess for trade outside notified APMC mandis, removes inter-state trade barriers & provides framework for electronic trading directly between a buyer and a farme
In simple words, it breaks state's control over farmers, enabling them to choose who they want to sell to. And dries up money laundering practices. No wonder they're fuming.
2. The Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020
This bill allows farmers to get into contract with private corporates at a mutually agreed price. The concern was that this would do away with minimum selling price, leading to exploitation of farmers.
This bill allows farmers to get into contract with private corporates at a mutually agreed price. The concern was that this would do away with minimum selling price, leading to exploitation of farmers.
Govt has confirmed, that is not true, and MSP will continue. So the "mutually agreed price" will always be greater or equal to MSP. Problem solved. But would the opposition or SAD tell that to the farmers? Nope.
3. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020:
This removes cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions, and potatoes from the list of essential commodities and provides for deregulation of production, storage, movement and distribution of these food commodities.
This removes cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions, and potatoes from the list of essential commodities and provides for deregulation of production, storage, movement and distribution of these food commodities.
Will this undermines food security? No. Govts still hold power to regularize in case of famine,wars etc. Meaning, when actually needed, they will regularize. In normal times, they won't. So now, the hoarders are in a big problem. They cannot dictate terms anymore. Hence, protest.
In a nutshell, govt is trying to open up the agriculture market, ensuring minimum price and food security. Opposition, hoarders, and middlemen are protesting, because they will no longer be able to control things, nor siphon out money.
Some farmer organisations are also protesting, because they are being misled on the MSP. Our job would be to pass the right info to them, get them out of the protest chain. And then let the opposition do whatever f*ck they want to.
© Niladri Bose
@MODIfiedVikas ...
