Farmers Movement Archive

Govt. should bring in another Bill or amend current one: SJM

Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), which is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has termed the three farm Bills cleared by both Houses of Parliament as good in intent, but that certain changes should be made to the Bills in order to offer protection to Indian farmers. Both Houses of Parliament cleared the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020; and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, but the Bills have evoked protest from the Opposition and farmers’ groups. Speaking to The Hindu , SJM national co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan said that the organisation overall supported the Bills but there were certain issues that could be finessed upon. “There is a good system of calculating Minimum Support Price (MSP) for certain crops, which is cost plus 50%, and is enforced in government procurement and also dictates price levels in mandi s. When corporates have been allowed to buy crops outside the m andi s and sell at the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), then why not get them to buy at MSP? For this, the government should bring in another Bill or amend the current one,” he said. He added that the dispute redressal forum being the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) will discourage farmers from seeking restitution.

The Hindu

2020-09-23

NEW DELH