From childhood we have been listening to the clichéd narrative that the real Bharat lives in rural parts and we have an agrarian economy. But the reality is that the farmers and farming sector is the most neglected lot ever since Independence. The rural distress, agrarian crisis and mindless migration are looming over for a long time and, like other groups, farmers are treated merely as a vote-bank by political parties, especially the Congress and regional parties. The recent incidents of farmers’ agitation in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra reveals the worst side of this politicking in the name of farmers. No one can justify the killing of agitators, real or fake, in police firing; but the core question is whether such politicised agitation and waivers without economic prudence would help the real distressed group of farmers.
The facts and series of events in the farrago of agitations in both the BJP ruled states indicate the political intent of fuelling it. In case of Maharashtra, in Nashik region Dilip Bankar of Nationalist Congress Party with support from some local Shiv Sena leaders executed the strike and employed ‘throwing vegetables on roads’ as mode of agitation. Even after the Government getting into negotiations quickly and accepting 70 per cent demands of the farmers, the agitation continued, pointing political game behind the protest. The agitation in high land hoarding areas, yielding cash crops, also allegedly linked with the demonetisation and inability of rich farmers to recirculate their money through cooperative banks is dominated by the Congress-NCP leaders.
In Madhya Pradesh, the State known for highest agricultural growth and reincentivisation of the sector, the legitimate demands were immediately addressed, still the agitation continued and anti-social elements cropped in to vitiate the atmosphere. The naming of people like Shyam Gurjar, D P Dhakkad, Rajesh Bharawa and Bhagwati Patidar etc who are declared as absconding, are closely associated with the Congress Party. Another heroic by the Gandhi scion to come forward and stand with the farmers confirms this as a last ditch effort by the Opposition to stay relevant.
Such politically motivated agitation will not help the farmers; on the contrary will open up new faultlines in the rural society. As per the official data, between 1961 and 2010-11, there was a decline of 34 percentage points in the share of agriculture in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while the decline in share of agriculture in employment was of only 19.5 percentage points. As a result, the gap between labour productivity in agriculture and non-agriculture increased rapidly.
When it comes to credit, contrary to expectation, credit disbursement to small and marginal farmers has not been encouraging. The 67 per cent farmers constitute this group and around 57 per cent credit of this section comes from
non-institutional lenders. In other words, the loan waivers and agitations are not for the sections who are really distressed but for the groups having strong economic and political clout.
Pt. Deendayalji identified this problem way back in 1961 while commenting on the 3rd Five Year Plan. Unfortunately, we have neither created efficient and
organised credit flow for the sector nor could sustain the traditional mechanisms. Though agriculture is a ‘State subject’ under the Constitution of India, the Union
Government plays a crucial role in shaping agricultural policies. The present Government has played a key role in bringing the financial inclusion through the Jan Dhan Yojna and schemes like MUDRA. The fruits of the same will bear in near future. Strengthening social participation through cooperative and self-help-groups with credible and
financial flows is equally important. Till then, we should not to allow the petty political interest to use these faultlines for political gains, is the real challenge.
@PrafullaKetkar
