Punjab Government Forcibly Evicts Farmers after Year-Long Protest
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab on March 19 forcibly removed farmers who had been demonstrating at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab for more than a year, detained farmer leaders, and cleared the temporary shelters and trolleys that had housed farmers. On March 20, several demonstrations to condemn the government’s move, described as backstabbing, were held, leading to more detentions and arrests.
What’s the Farmer’s Share When Vegetables Reach Your Table?
When you buy vegetables from the market, have you ever wondered how much of the money you spend actually ends up in the pockets of the farmers who grow them? A study by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suggests that only about one-third of the money you spend on tomatoes, onions and potatoes, commonly referred to as TOP, ends up with the farmers.
The Worsening Plight of Farmers Over the Past Decade
The central government set a target to double farmers’ incomes by 2022, from 8,058 rupees a month to 22,610 rupees, necessitating an annual income growth rate of 10.4%. It also promised that agricultural produce would be procured at a “minimum support price” (MSP) of at least one and a half times the comprehensive cost of production. Despite these plans, the reality on the ground has been starkly different, according to an analysis by the Financial Accountability Network – India.
Can Farmers Afford Cost of Living in India?
India’s national average monthly farm income is 5,298 rupees and the average monthly total income is 10,695 rupees, according to data from the latest National Sample Survey. It’s scant, indeed, but more troubling is that this average fails to reflect the circumstances of the majority of farmers, as shown by The India Forum amid an ongoing farmers’ protest around Delhi.
Why Farmers Are Returning to Delhi for Protests
A significant resurgence of agricultural dissent is anticipated in Delhi. Preparations are underway for thousands of farmers, along with a convoy of 2,000 tractors, to converge on the borders of Delhi. It’s a part of a planned protest, with farmers preparing to make their way to the national capital. The farmers have set an ultimatum for the government until Feb. 12.