As the stand off between the farmers and the government continues, the RSS frontal organisation Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has joined in the farmers’ demand for ensuring the minimum support price (MSP) for crops under a law. This is a key demand of several farmers bodies.
In its annual conference, the SJM passed a resolution asking the government to remove the loopholes in the three farm laws. The SJM, however, lauded the NDA government's intention in bringing these laws.
"Though many political parties and farmers' organizations are opposing new farm legislations, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch believes that the government's intention in bringing new agricultural acts is good. There are some amendments needed to overcome the drawbacks in the acts, plug the shortcomings and allay the fears and doubts about the new bills," the resolution said.
The intention of the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 is seemingly that farmers get the right price for their produce in the absence of intermediaries, the resolution added.
Looking at the farmers concerns, the SJM said that there was a doubt in the absence of “mandi fee” buyers will be naturally encouraged to buy outside of the APMC markets. In such a situation, the APMC mandis will no longer be generally preferred by private players; and thus farmers will also be forced to sell outside the APMC mandis.
"Swadeshi Jagaran Manch feels that in such a situation, big procurement companies may exploit the farmers. In such a situation, it would be appropriate that when laws are being made and purchases are being allowed outside the APMC markets, minimum support price is guaranteed to the farmer and purchases below the MSP are declared illegal. Not only the government, private parties should also be barred [from buying at prices] less than MSP," the SJM said in its key suggestion.
The RSS body argued that though it was good for the farmers to have more options to sell their produce, in reality if one large company or a few companies dominate, the bargaining power of the poor farmers will be badly affected. The government had earlier said that 22,000 agriculture mandis would be established. This task should be completed on fast track.
The SJM pointed out another feature of the new law which it says is not appropriate. "‘The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation), 2020 Act defines a farmer as a person "who engages in the production of farmers' produce by himself or by a hired labour". This definition of farmer in the Bill is such that companies will also be included in the definition of farmer. It will not be appropriate."
Swadeshi Jagaran Manch firmly believes that the a definition of farmer should include only the farmer who engages himself in farming—and not companies.
The SJM also proposed the establishment of Farmers Courts on the lines of Consumer Courts as a plausible solution for dispute resolution. Under the current laws the disputes have to be settled by a SDM.
The SJM passed another resolution calling for the government to change FDI norms to block the entry of MNCs in the new retail format.
In its suggestions to the government, the SJM said also said that the sale of medicines through e-commerce should not be permitted keeping in view the law of the land and its likely impact on health safety of the population.
"FDI norms should be suitable amended to block the entry of MNCs in multi brand retail trade in India in any format directly or indirectly."
