Farmers Movement Archive

Bathinda: Look at prices, PM kisan scheme of Rs 6,000 a year miniscule, says Farmers

BATHINDA: Farmers protesting for over seven months to demand the repeal of agriculture marketing laws have asked farmers from across the country to compare the miniscule monetary benefit of Rs 6,000 a year under PM Kisan Nidhi Yojana to the rising prices of diesel, fertilisers and pesticides in the recent past. Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, which is spearheading the protest, described the Centre’s much-touted scheme as one that did not dignify farmers, whatever spin the government might want to give to it and its name. “What farmers need is a legal guarantee to a remunerative MSP for all commodities that they produce. That will give them dignity for their efforts,” stated SKM in reply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the time of disbursing direct benefit transfer on Friday. Protesters also termed the move to highlight the scheme by the government as just an effort to deflect attention from real issues, mainly the sustained struggle. They have stated if PM Narendra Modi government was so concerned for the welfare of farmers, why had it not agreed to repeal farm laws. They said the increase in minimum support price (MSP) for paddy had been recommended at Rs 72 per quintal Under PM Kisan, Rs 6,000 per annum os directly transferred into the bank accounts of farmers in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each. Nearly 10 crore farmers benefit from the scheme. The eigthth instalment was credited to the accounts of beneficiary farmers on Friday. “See where the prices of diesel, fertilisers and pesticides are heading and the benefit under PM Kisan will be seen standing nowhere to provide any solace. Even the increase in minimum support price (MSP) for paddy has been recommended by only Rs 72 per quintal, which again pushes the farmers of getting no benefit in reality,” said farm organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan. “The increase in the input cost of crops has severely affected the earning of small and marginal farmers. Under such circumstances, the meagre amount of Rs 500 a month failed to provide any relief. Farmers will be happier if prices of farm-related items are kept under check or cash assistance to farmers is considerably enhanced, only then farmers could reap the benefits. Otherwise, the scheme under prevailing circumstances does not have much relevance,” said farm organisation BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) vice-president Manjit Singh Dhaner. SKM added: “It is very ironical to see the PM have a scripted and orchestrated conversation with some farmers while shying away from re-initiating a dialogue with the large farmers’ movement. The last round of talks was held nearly 4 months ago on January 22. The PM did not have the courage to even allude to the current protests in his show today.”

The Times of India

2021-05-15

Amritsar