The Farmers’ Freedom from Indebtedness Bill, 2018 and the Farmers’ Right to Guaranteed Remunerative Minimum Support Prices for Agricultural Commodities Bill, 2018 have already been placed in the Parliament. The parliamentary session should ensure the passage of these bills. The focus needs to put on the issues of women farmers, Adivasi and Dalit farmers in the country, JNUSU said in a statement.
New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) expressed their solidarity with the Kisan Mukti March, November 29-30, Delhi.
In a press note, they stated that “Over 300,000 farmer suicides in the past twenty years and increased migrations driven by the collapse of livelihoods are reflective of the deep crises of declining productivity, ascending poverty and increased dispossession that plagues the rural economy.”
They wrote that the Swaminathan Commission had identified the issues affecting farmers in the country including issues of institutional credit, unfinished agenda of land reforms and water crisis. Over a decade has passed and the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission are yet to be implemented. Successive central and state governments have failed to address the issues concerning farmers in the country. Consistent anti-farmer policies are reflected in the collapse of the village society and agrarian economy. The current government also cannot shy away from its responsibilities towards those engaged in one of the largest sectors in terms of employment in the country.
The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), representing over 200 organisations, has given a call for the Kisan Mukti March to the Parliament demanding a special session of the Parliament on farmer’s issues in the country. This demand for the special parliament session has arisen after continuous protests, petitions, demands from distressed farmers, labourers, several other sections of the population that derive their livelihood from agriculture and related activities. The march will provide a broad platform for the peasants, working class as well as the middle classes to come together and demand the rights of the agricultural workers, farmers, peasants affected by the policies of successive neoliberal governments, JNUSU said.
“The Farmers’ Freedom from Indebtedness Bill, 2018 and the Farmers’ Right to Guaranteed Remunerative Minimum Support Prices for Agricultural Commodities Bill, 2018 have already been placed in the Parliament and seeking approval. The parliamentary session should ensure the passage of these bills. The focus needs to put on the issues of women farmers, Adivasi and Dalit farmers in the country,” they said.
“The JNUSU gives its complete solidarity to the Kisan Mukti March and vouches to participate in all the struggles seeking redressal of farmers’ concerns in the country,” they stated.
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