From ploughing to protesting

The whole nation is at unrest since 26November 2020 when the farmers of North India especially Punjab and Haryana walked to encompass Delhi as they were against the new Farm Bill 2020.Mostly among us wouldn't have understood as to what troubled farmers so badly that they left their fields and are on streets in the chilling cold.But it's a difficult task for those sitting in AC rooms to understand the plight of those tillers.

 The farmers are protesting against 2 Farm Bills:

 (1) the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020

 This Bill allows the farmers to sell their produce outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) regulated markets. The APMCs are government-controlled marketing yards or mandis. So, the farmers clearly have more choice on who they want to sell.

 (2) the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.

This Bill makes provisions for the setting up of a framework for contract farming. The farmer and a buyer can strike a deal before the production happens.

But then why are farmers at unrest?Why are they so badly agitated?

The farmers of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana are furious with the arrangements of these Bills as they are worried about the possibility that that these Bills might be the stage that the public authority (at the Center) is setting up for the substitution or rejecting of the generally powerful emotionally supportive network predominant in their states for the acquisition of their yields. They fear that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) ensure that was their security net since the Green Revolution of the 1960s was introduced.

As a citizen my take is bit different from what media and our government is propagating regarding those poor souls who are facing water canons and lathis amid this winter.

Farmers belong to that class of our country that is less aware and educated.They are those who participate less in protest or some other demonstration.Their interest remains confined to their fields and their earning.But if they find their earnings threatened then they have right to protest.

The government is propagating that these people on the streets are mislead by the opposition parties.If it was so then why government supporting parties are also against the bill?Media is identifying them as traitors, few others as khalistani but they're the common people of India.Also if farmers have misunderstood the bill then it's the responsibility of the government to come forward and explain them their objectives.

We are a part of democracy where everyone has right to express.When the Bill was passed the tillers were not consulted.The government introduced in the Parliament and somehow the bill was passed.But if farmers are dissatisfied they have right to protest.Even the government should understand that whatever they find beneficial for the people couldn't be imposed on them.Until unless it is not accepted by the people it's of no use to implement the bill.Their protest,their movement is maintaining the true spirit if democracy.Opposition is an integral part of functioning of our government.This is not dictatorship where we are forced to accept the laws.

It's better to stand with those poor farmers who work for providing food for the whole nation.If they're at unrest it's government responsibility to negotiate with them.The farmers constitute the biggest voter bank for the government so their interest should be taken care of.Rather than calling them with different names and judging them it's better to understand their plight.We are not in their shoes and thus can't imagine what fears this Farm Bill has implanted in their minds.A fearless farmer can only farm food for the nation.So let them be a free and fearless soul.

©Dr.Shweta Prakash Kukreja