Disclaimer: The following is my perspective, which is based on the macro picture of agriculture in India, as I see it. I am not a farmer, and have no stake in agriculture and thus am not feeling emotionally attached to any position, but am viewing it as an ordinary citizen. I am looking at it clinically, in a detached & logical manner.
I don't understand much on the nitty gritty of the farm bills, but do understand that the present model of agriculture in India is inefficient and is thus unsustainable in the medium to long term. Why? The UN body, FAO's report states that ...
"Agriculture, with its allied sectors, is the largest source of livelihoods in India. 70 percent of its
rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood, with 82 percent of
farmers being small and marginal."
With land holdings of less than 3 acres with marginal farmers, who constitute the bulk of those dependent on agriculture, things will only worsen with every successive generation, due divisions on account of inheritance.
In the present system, there are issues of wastage, storage, mandis, sale, supply chain, investments, etc.
Only consolidation of land holdings can help make agriculture a viable and sustainable industry. Corporatisation/ co-operatives (Amul diary is an example) is the only way forward, I believe. Short term pain for those who are attached to land/ dependent on land with no other source of income is inevitable. Much as I would like to, I am not too sure as to how they can be rehabilitated, though.
However, one thing I am sure is that henceforth it cannot be business as usual in agriculture; the reforms have already been delayed for too long.
Most of what I hear in the debates on TV are emotional outbursts by the farmers, or political grand standing by vested groups (be they opposition parties/ splinter groups/ anti-national elements), or agenda driven journalists/ intellectuals. The truth is somewhere in between the govt position and the farmers position, which can only be reached through talks. Positions are being held rigidly; hardened positions will only lead to a stalemate/ worsen the climate for talks, I feel. This issue needs to be resolved; the protests cannot drag on much longer, in view of the weather/ COVID/ external powers getting involved. It is an issue that needs urgent resolution, with all stakeholders coming together to keep it as an internal matter to be discussed between the govt and the citizenry.
One thing is certain; change has to come about in our agricultural practices, which are becoming more & more outdated, looking at individual aspirations. We want to live in a democracy with complete freedom, sometimes even archaic freedom; our aspirations can only be met through capitalism, but we want socialism. No socialist country can guarantee freedoms and yet satisfy people's growing aspirations. China has done well on human prosperity, but the citizens have very limited freedom. We are at cross roads. It is a difficult time. All of us have to re-think on what we want from life, as a nation. Resolution of grievances should be under rule of law, or else anti national elements will take over. Govt & some farmer reps have had three rounds of talks. Fourth is scheduled, I hopeful that genuine demands like MSP will be accepted.
The macro picture of the future of the marginal farmers, who are the bulk, is very scary, if we do not do something, I feel. I am only looking at the big picture. Agriculture cannot provide the desired lifestyle to about 70% of our population, most of who are marginal farmers/ agricultural labour. MS Swaminathan had told us in 1995 in staff college, "one acre of land may not be able to agriculturally sustain even one family, but a factory built on one acre can help sustain over 100 families". Lots of truth in the statement.
Rising aspirations of individuals, socialism/capitalism, freedoms, rule of law, fifth generation warfare, vote banks - both within and outside the country, etc are all intertwined in this protest. The only solution is talks; hardened positions are not the answer.
The sticking point , as I understand is, MSP.
I am looking at the issue as a citizen, not as an involved party - for whom this is a life and death matter. Agriculture in India has to change, if India has to cater to the rising aspirations of 1.3 billion people. Only capitalism, well regulated by laws, can meet the aspirations/freedoms; socialism has not succeeded anywhere, so far. We humans are selfish; most of us do not do anything in which there is no self interest involved.
January 20th, 2021
The above blog was written on 02 Dec 2020. 10 rounds of talks have been held with no results. The SC has intervened; put the laws on hold, and constituted an expert committee to hear both sides and report back to the SC in 2 months. The farmers do not wish to meet with the committee, opining that the committee members are biased. One member of the 4-member committee has recused himself.
ANI has reported that the govt has put forward a proposal of putting the laws on hold for 1 to 1.5 years; the farmers have asked the govt for a day or two to discuss amongst themselves.
The farmers have planned a tractor march in the capital on 26th January.
26th January is an important national event and has to be understandably held with elaborate security arrangements, by the intelligence agencies and police forces. Any untoward incident can lead to serious consequences.
The Indian state is dealing with an external aggression and our armed forces are operationally deployed for the past over 7 months.
This is not a time for grand standing from any person/ organisation, if we value our nation and our democracy.
I do hope that better sense prevails all around, and we can resolve issues amicably much before they go out of hand.
The citizens are supreme, but the elected govt too has been chosen by the citizens. Both have to come together for the betterment of our country as a whole, and of each citizen, individually.
State violence on citizens is not acceptable, just as much as state inaction on law and order issues.
The US Capitol was stormed by rioting citizens, on Jan 06th; people who felt that President Trump had been wronged. President Trump was the sitting President; the state enforced the law and the Capitol building was sanitised and cleared of all protestors by early morning hours of Jan 07th. President Biden's inauguration took place at the US Capitol this morning, under heavy security provided by about 25000 National Guards, in addition to the regular police.
Democracy is all about institutions of state. No one is above the law. A citizen is supreme in a democracy, but the state cannot be weak, or seen to be weak, in-front of law breakers. A weak state is an open invitation to forces inimical to the nation. Do we Indians want that?
This grand standing has to end NOW.
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