FATHER OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - GEORGE ELTON MAYO

After the fifth round of talks with the government ended in a deadlock, thousands of farmers protesting the Centre's new farm laws stayed put on the borders of Delhi with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, blocking key routes leading to the national capital that led to long traffic jams.

Many opposition parties have announced their support to the nationwide strike called on 8 December by farmers' union in various parts of the country to express solidarity with the agitators, who have stayed put on Delhi borders for 10 days

Farmers' leaders have said that they will carry on with the 'Bharat Bandh' (nationwide strike) on 8 December to mount pressure on the Central Government. The representatives of thousands of protesting farmers, who are sitting on various borders of Delhi since 26 November, have said their call for a 'Bharat Bandh' would be observed with full force.

After the fifth round of talks on Saturday between farmers' leaders and the Centre, the farmers' union stood firm on their demand against the new Agri-marketing laws and announced that the government should rollback the three farm laws.

Farmer leaders communicated that they will hold 'Bharat Bandh' on December 8 as their demands haven't been met.

The farmers are not ready to accept anything less than the withdrawal of the law. The government is looking a bit soft but the decision to rollback completely will be an embarrassment for him. The authorities are outraged over the main objections of the farmers' organizations that there is a middle path. But the farmers' organizations are finding its hope less and in such a situation, they want to increase pressure on the government by calling India off. On Saturday, effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be burnt in many places.

WHERE CAN THE IMPACT OF THE BHARAT BANDH BE SEEN?

Probably everywhere except essential services. Farmers' organizations have taken over the borders of Delhi. On December 8, the day of Bharat Bandh, there is preparation for Chakka Jam across the country. There will be an attempt to influence railway services as well. There may be widespread impact of the bandh in agro-based areas. There is every possibility of a bad impact from the market to normal life. The supply chains and transport services may break back due to roads being blocked. If political parties also come out in support of the Bharat Bandh, then the scope of its effect may increase further. Farmers' organizations have said that the emergency and essential services should be kept away from the bandh.

What are the farmers agitating for?

The farmers are opposed to the three recently enacted laws by the central government. These three bills directly affect the agricultural sector of the country. Let us understand what is in these laws and why they are being opposed.

1. LEGISLATION REGARDING AGRICULTURAL MARKETS:

Agricultural Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Simplification) Act - 2020

 

WHAT IS IN LAW?

·         To be an ecosystem where farmers and traders can get freedom to sell and buy 'Mandis' under state APMCs.

·         Promote barrier-free interstate and infra-state trade of crops.

·         Providing framework for electronic trading.

WHY THE PROTEST?

·         States will lose revenue as farmers will not have to pay 'mandi fee' if they sell crops outside the registered APMC mandis.

·         What will happen to the 'commission agents' in the states if all the farming trade goes out of 'mandis'?

·         This may end MSP-based procurement arrangements.

·         Electronic trading like e-NAM has the same system as mandi. What will happen to e-NAM if the mandis are closed due to lack of trading?

2. NEW LAW ON CONTRACT FORMING

Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Agricultural Services Act 2020

WHAT IS IN LAW?

·         Farmers will be able to contract the future crop directly from agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters and large retailers at a pre-determined price.

·         Farmers with less than five hectares of agricultural land will benefit through aggregation and contracting (86% of total farmers in India in this category)

·         Transferring the risk of market uncertainty from farmers to sponsors.

·         To provide better inputs to farmers through modern technology.

·         Reduce marketing costs and increase farmers' income.

·         To get the full price, farmers can sideline middlemen and deal directly.

WHY IS THERE OPPOSITION?

·         In contract farming, farmers will have less bargaining power.

·         The sponsors may not like deals with small farmers.

·         If there is a dispute, private companies, wholesalers and processors will have better legal options.

3. COMMODITIES LEGISLATION:

Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020

WHAT IS IN LAW?

·         Exclude crops like cereals, pulses, oil onions and potatoes from the list of essential commodities. This would leave them out of the stock holding limit (exceptions in exceptional circumstances).

·         This will give a boost to private sector / FDI in agriculture sector as the fear of interference from investors will be lessened.

·         Cold storage, investment will come to modernize the food supply chain.

·         Both farmers and consumers will be helped to stabilize prices.

WHY THE PROTEST?

·         The services of fixed prices for 'exceptional circumstances' are so much that they may never be implemented.

·         Large companies will be allowed to deposit stocks, that is, they can run the farmers as per their own.

·         Confusion on the onion by its recent ban on onion export ban.

HERE ARE MAJOR UPDATES:

1) 14 opposition parties, including Congress, AIUDF and the Left, in Assam announce their "full support" to 'Bharat Bandh.'

2)The NCP on Sunday joined other opposition parties in extending support to the call of Bharat Band. In addition to that, Maharashtra NCP unit president Jayant Patil said in a statement that the party workers will join the Tuesday shutdown in protest against passing of the Agri laws by Parliament without holding discussions.

3) Various opposition parties have announced support to the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called on 8 December by farmers in various parts of the country to express solidarity with the agitators, who have stayed put on Delhi borders for 10 days.

4) The Congress party has expressed its "whole-hearted" support to the nationwide strike called by the agitating farmers against the three farm laws and said that it will hold protests that day at all district and state headquarters in solidarity with the demands of the farmers. Addressing a press meet at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, "I would also like to announce that the Congress party extends its whole-hearted support to the Bharat Bandh on December 8."

5) On why govt is facing problems, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said, "When Bill was being passed, we'd requested govt that they shouldn't be in a hurry, it should be sent to Select Committee & a discussion is needed, but that didn't happen and the Bill was passed in haste. Now govt is facing problems because of that haste."

6) The Telangana Rashtra Samithi on Sunday extended support to the 8 December 'Bharat Bandh' call by various farmers' organizations and farmer leaders against the govt's new farm laws. TRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said the party rank and file would actively participate in the bandh to ensure it was a success. "We'd opposed the Bills in Parliament; we continue to do so. MSP hasn't been assured in any of these Bills. Also, if mandi structure is dismantled there's no alternative structure in this country, so farmer is insecure. TRS will support the farmer' Bandh call," said K Kavitha, TRS MLC.

 

7) The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has decided to extend its "moral support" to the 8 December nationwide strike and would stage sit-ins in various areas for three days.

8) The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Revolutionary Socialist Party and All India Forward Bloc, in a joint statement, announced their support to the countrywide strike.

9) Opposition parties led by RJD's Tejashwi Yadav in Patna were allowed to hold a brief protest against new farm laws at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Gandhi Maidan, where they pledged to support the agitating farmers. Tejashwi said, "I am standing with the Anndata (providers of food) in their fight against the Dhandata (people who own wealth)." "Is it a crime to raise voice in support of farmers demanding provision for Minimum Support Price (MSP) in the newly enacted laws. If it is a crime, then we will commit such crime every time," he said on Twitter.

10) The joint forum of trade unions that has supported the farmers’ protest includes Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) and Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC).

11) A number of bank unions have also expressed their solidarity with farmers protesting and requested the Centre to resolve the issue at the earliest. Officer unions All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA) and Indian National Bank Officers' Congress (INBOC) have also requested the govt to initiate meaningful dialogue to resolve the impasse by referring the bills to a select committee by a special Presidential Order.

12) The farmers are protesting against the Centre's new farm laws -- the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.