India: FarmersProtest2020: Hits at Corporatization of Agriculture & Rural India

The current crisis looming a country like India that has essentially been known as an agrarian economy is saddening and distressing. The mass protest by farmers from all over India and their march to Delhi and the way the current Government of India, is dealing and putting the police force in all its might to have it stopped is shameful and absolutely illegal. Article 19(1)(b) assures citizens the right to assemble peaceably and without arms. Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution includes that every person has right to express their personal opinions but subjected to reasonable restrictions. ... Thereby, right to peaceful protest is bestowed to Indian citizens by our Constitution.

There was a time when we had Prime Minister of the likes of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, who gave the slogan of “Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan” in 1965 at a public gathering at Ramlila Maidan and today all has been put to shame, reflecting where and to what we have progressed and developed into…!

The steady approach towards bringing in corporatization and consumerism into each and every area and now in agri in all its glory…and all eyes towards rural India by the high and mighty – the corporate(s) and so called literate/educated -bureaucratic and corporate class after creating a mess in the urban world-where all are running a ratvrace in which finally we are loosing oneself miserably –the addiction to maddening and mindless consumerism; The Farm Bill 2020 is nothing short of inviting a storm that will only usher in death of whatever of the real India is left ...the agriculture and lower and middle class.

There is enough of data and stats to analyze what kind of development has happened and finally whom it’s benefited - widening gap between the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer and lower and mid -middle class being finished. The people who work and slog and put in actual labour, be it at farms or at factories and offices, end up just managing their two meals whereas it's the other lot which is all about sitting in AC rooms, cutting deals behind board rooms and are the sophisticated literate and bureaucratic class from high and mighty institution’s who have their social economic status risen over the years and are decorated as strategists – the strategy being how to make the wealthy wealthier …!

The progress has been the introduction of an era of dealers; brokers that are being given more power and celebrated. Todays businesses that are being glorified, is all about trading and cut-offs in the name of …aren’t we facilitating … bringing in to you…investing in technology to give a platform! At what costs to environment and people -well shouldn't bother, as long as am growing and enjoying. ….or enouraging the culture of home delivery packaged in plastics and boxes and parallelly marathons driven to save nature and trees..and what not!  

The farmers have sensed the tsunami hitting them with The Farm Bill 2020, that refers to three agricultural bills passed by the Parliament in September 2020: Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill and the President Shri Ram Nath Kovind, giving his assent making the Bills a law on September 27th 2020. These bills as per the GOI collectively aim to provide farmers with multiple marketing channels, break the so-called monopolies including that of government regulated mandis (market yards), and provide a legal framework for farmers to enter into pre- arranged contracts among other things. As per Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar it assures that the Minimum Support Price mechanism will stay, and adequate protection of land ownership in place to protect farmer interests; however the farmers have sensed where this will lead too. They are openly stating how within two years they will be at the mercy of these corporate(s) and eventually be reduced to be bonded labourers, loosing hold over their lands too. Some of them have not shied away from stating the examples of the kind business monopoly that has come into existence in the recent years such as the JIO and what fate BSNL witnessed or the way these online companies are nothing but trading – no more than technology driven live broker /commission model reaching billions of valuation whereas the Farmer – the actual producer, tolling still and financially pushed to below poverty lines and the common middles class in cities exploited by these businesses and traders; farmer at one end, not even getting more than Rs 3 to Rs 5 for his produce and the consumer few miles and kilometers away being fleeced with as much as Rs 100 kg for the same produce…..so its evident where and who is growing and for whose betterment all these developments and growth is all about! This analysis is not coming from some Harvard returned PhD. experts but by the sons of the soil…who still hold the lifeline and GDP of economies like India and more importantly keep the humanness and universe, truly alive! 

The government maintains that Farm Bill 2020 will accelerate growth in the sector through private sector investment in building infrastructure and supply chains for farm produce in national and global markets. Will help small farmers who don’t have means to either bargain for their produce to get a better price or invest in technology to improve the productivity of farms. The Minister reiterates that The Farm Bill 2020 on Agri market seeks to allow farmers to sell their produce outside APMC 'mandis' to whomever they want. Farmers will get better prices through competition and cost cutting on transportation. However, this Bill also in all likelihood have States  lose 'commissions' and 'mandi fees'. The legislation on contract farming will allow farmers to enter into a contract with agri-business firms or large retailers on pre -agreed prices of their produce. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, seeks to remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes from the list of essential commodities. This will end the imposition of stock-holding limits except under extraordinary circumstances.

The demand to amend and add MSP by the farmers is to ensure that they will not be at the mercy of Private players down the line which remains still unattended by the much loved and voted to power for the second time Modi and BJP Government at Centre.

What has development and privatization and maddening consumerism led to is for each to confront with complete soul consciousness and finally whom it has benefited. Stats are also there to bring in the logical viewpoint wherein the rich is becoming richer and poor poorer. The middle class finished and pushed to the wall …so much so that today when it's the most hit ….we have no uprising or mass revolt to be seen anywhere. One of the Farmer, protesting at #Singhuborder went on to highlight how this is just not a fight by the #Farmers for the farmers alone ....its from each of the common man..who todays is buying átta'for Rs 30 a kg will soon be buying for Rs 300 a kg...

Historically, it’s always the middle class that has got to streets to bring in the revolution and change…however the systematic death of this class and areas like agriculture and many other rich and traditional cottage industry kinda of legacies….the glorification of technology driven “trading and broker model” in all areas of business and life coupled with reckless consumerism introduced, has and will deepen the life crisis…not only for marginalized and poor ….the farmers that have today come on to the streets but for all that are today sitting and watching from distance.....yet living a simple middle class life of struggle to meet both ends and save and make life for his /her family safe, comfortable and contended.

Times to recognize, accept and rectify … get back to realize the significance of our roots …the core sectors and bring in some sanity and purpose while using technology for betterment than making humans a slave to the same! Mindless aping of West needs to an END!