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A million reasons to march
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December 17, 2020 14:02 IST
The farmers’ movement is now a battle not just for the peasantry, but also for justice and dignity
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The farmers’ movement is now a battle not just for the peasantry, but also for justice and dignity
“The people of Punjab not only know how to farm, they also know how to protect their fields,” said farm leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan from the Tikri border, Delhi, where farmers are camping in protest against the Centre’s new farm laws. Punjab farmers’ unions are at the forefront in the fight, which have, for over two months, inspired protests in large parts of the country. The convoy of tractor trolleys and trucks thousands of them made its way into Delhi on November 25-26, equipped with food, blankets, stoves, utensils and all essentials, to last the farmers for months. “We are here to stay,” they said.
Opposition s support to farmers protest flies in the face of having previously backed similar reforms There are several examples where those who promised freedom to farmers earlier are today protesting against the new farm laws Gunja Kapoor December 15, 2020 10:59:49 IST Rahul Gandhi at a tractor rally against the new farm laws in Punjab. PTI
There is little point in taking pride about agriculture being India’s largest employer when the sector accounts for 17 percent of the country s GDP while engaging 57 percent of the population. The glaring inefficiency in the sector has been acknowledged by politicians, policymakers and stakeholders alike. However, the reluctance to remove the hurdles that drag the sector has been consistent too.
A Night at the Farmer’s Protest
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Thousands of protesting farmers are camping on different highways leading to New Delhi and demanding a rollback of the new farm laws passed by the Narendra Modi government, which they fear benefit corporations at their expense. I have been on road protesting against the law. Government should tell us how it would benefit us. They haven t been able to convince us, Parminder Singh, a farmer from Ludhiana told The Citizen.
The government had passed three bills - The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020- saying it would collectively provide farmers with better marketing options and break the monopoly of commission agents and government regulated market yards.
11-MIN READ
Perception vs Performance: Farm Bills Visionary But Their Execution May Require Improvisation
Police stop member of various farmer organisations during a protest march in Hisar district on Wednesday. (PTI)
The wisdom of these bills is visionary in its intent. As part of its implementation strategies, it may be improvised with certain other augmentations so that the purpose of these legislations would not be defeated both in letter and spirit.
Last Updated:December 15, 2020, 14:17 IST
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