Farmers Movement Archive

Mandis in various states on way to collapsing: SKM

Bathinda: Taking on the Narendra Modi government on promises about the mandi system, remaining intact even after the enactment of the farm laws, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has said the reality of the state of mandis in different states is pointing to an opposite direction. Instead of true reforms in the mandi system, so that more farmers are brought under the protective coverage of regulated markets or mandis and with competition increased inside the mandi architecture for better prices to be realised by farmers, the so-called reforms that were initiated by successive governments have led to a weakening and collapse of regulated agricultural markets. The APMC Act thrust by the Modi government to create two unequal markets, where the unregulated trade areas were beset with advantages for corporates and traders, became the proverbial last straw to break the back of the mandi system. Data from the prime minister's home state Gujarat and agriculture minister's home state Madhya Pradesh is damning, stated the SKM. Data published in Gujarat reports that around 114 out of the 224 APMCs in the state are about to close, 15 have already closed down. Twenty two of these APMCs will be unable to pay salaries to their staff soon; in 10 APMCs, salaries have been slashed, according to reports. Given this state of affairs, there is no reason for farmers to believe the assurances of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments that APMC mandis will remain and will be protected. SKM also stated that in Narendra Singh Tomar’s home state of Madhya Pradesh, it is reported that 62% of the APMCs have asked the government to help them pay salaries to their staff. In 49 mandis out of 259 agricultural markets in the state of MP, income reported is zero. In 143 mandis, the income this year is less than 50% of previous years. It is clear that the party does not want to acknowledge the reality that was predicted accurately by protesting farmers, said SKM. Talking about pan India efforts towards the movement, SKM said in Uttarakhand, cabinet minister Banshidhar Bhagat faced a black flag protest when farmers stopped his convoy in Nainital district and started shouting slogans against BJP's anti-farmer attitude. The cycle yatra of 38 farmers of Prahar Kisan Sangathan, which began on September 9 in Arvi in Wardha district of Maharashtra, reached Ghazipur border on Saturday after covering 1200km. SKM has condemned views being presented by the Haryana government in its affidavit related to the Karnal incidents in the Punjab and Haryana high court. “It is shameful that the state government is blaming the peacefully-protesting farmers despite the fact that senior officials, ostensibly with the blessings of senior leaders of the state government, have encouraged brutal violence from the police in Karnal,” said SKM.

The Times of India

2021-09-19

Chandigarh