X: @the_news_21
Tens of thousands of farmers have once again taken to the streets across India, reigniting a movement that achieved a significant victory in 2021 with the repeal of the Centre’s contentious agricultural laws. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), a prominent farmers’ organization within the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), has orchestrated a Gramin Bharat Bandh on Friday, February 16, to amplify their demands which they claim remain unaddressed.
Pawan Khatana, a leader of BKU, emphasized the significance of the “Bharat bandh,” urging farmers to halt their usual activities for a day to pressure the government into action. The call includes refraining from farm work, avoiding market transactions, and encouraging traders and transporters to join the strike.
Why are Farmers Protesting?
Despite the repeal of the contentious laws in 2021, farmers argue that the government has failed to meet several crucial demands. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to revoke the laws was hailed as a victory by the protesting farmers, who had expressed concerns over the legislation’s potential negative impact on their livelihoods.
However, farmers’ unions assert that the government’s progress on other critical demands, such as guaranteed crop prices, doubling farmers’ income, and loan waivers, has been lacking. Central to their protests is the demand for legislation ensuring a minimum support price (MSP), which serves as a safety net for farmers, safeguarding their incomes.
Key Demands
The farmers’ demands encompass a spectrum of issues crucial to their livelihoods and well-being. They are advocating for legal guarantees of MSP to protect farmers’ margins and seeking the withdrawal of cases filed against protesters during previous agitations.
Additionally, farmers are calling for pensions, loan waivers, and a withdrawal from the World Trade Organization (WTO). They highlight the government’s unfulfilled promise to double their incomes, expressing dismay over rising cultivation costs and stagnant earnings, rendering farming financially unsustainable.
Moreover, farmers insist on the government ensuring a minimum of 50 percent profit over the overall cost of production, underscoring the need for policies that prioritize their welfare and economic security.
Recap of 2021 Protests
The farmers’ protests of 2021 garnered widespread attention and support, culminating in the government’s decision to repeal the controversial laws. Originating in northern India, the demonstrations snowballed into a nationwide movement, drawing international solidarity.
The government’s repeal announcement was perceived as a significant victory for the farmers, signaling a triumph of their persistent advocacy efforts. However, concerns persist regarding the government’s commitment to ensuring support prices for all agricultural produce, with farmers accusing authorities of sluggish progress in fulfilling their promises.
As farmers across India continue to assert their demands, the renewed protests underscore the enduring challenges faced by the agricultural community and the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to safeguard their interests and livelihoods.
