INDIA'S FARMERS MOVEMENT
The current farmers' agitation in India against the new agricultural laws is unprecedented.
It has been going on for almost three months. Mainly concentrated in the northwestern region, its
participants have shown an unusual amount of resilience and solidarity. That it has been peaceful is its
redeeming feature. It is not led by any political parties. Rakesh Tiket has proven to be its most loved
and formidable leader. The three new laws, promoted by the ruling majority as needed reforms, were
passed thru the parliament hurriedly without due deliberation, and without consultation with farmers.
This has created in farmers feelings of mistrust toward the government. They feel that their livelihood
is in danger. Most farmers in India are poor, hold only small amount of land, and do not earn enough
income to support their families beyond bare survival. As a shocking consequence, there have been a
large number of farmer suicides in India over the last couple of decades. Foremost priority is for the
government to take steps to ensure that the farmers get respectable economic return for their crops, or
to guarantee a decent amount of cash subsidy to the nonrich among them. Following this, any needed
reform laws can be introduced after taking farmers into consultation.
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