Shri Nitin Gadkari recently replied to a question that Indian farmers should depend either on the government or on God. I somehow overlooked this but our own Mr.Rahul Gandhi in his fantastic and hilarious speech in the Lok Sabha recently mentioned the same. He clearly stated that Mr.Gadkari had rightly spoken his heart out and somehow tried to use these words to his advantage.
Firstly, thank you Mr.Gandhi for getting this to my notice.
Our farmers are told to rely on monsoons for rains. What other option do they have? Our farmers assured of compensation when monsoons are bad (3 times in the previous decade!). Around election time, MSP is increased to make them feel happy and get votes. Obviously, this can never be decreased after that.
In most states, even now, a farmer is not allowed to sell his crops directly to consumers. They HAVE to go to mandis and sell to registered brokers (aka middlemen). Surprised? Don't be since that is the truth! FYI....you need to have "good contacts" etc etc to become a registered broker.
Result?
- Farmers, on who, even now, Indian economy is completely dependent are at the sole mercy of Lord Indra and his rains. If not, then maybe get some miserly compensation for lost crops.
- Government doles out millions and billions on buying grains which end up rotting. Lack of infrastructure is always blamed but nothing has been done by anyone to improve it. (and how? Money has gone to subsidies)
- There is not way to know if the so called "subsidies" meant to compensate the farmers actually reaches them or not. Congress has always been famous for cultivating middle men in anything. (middlemen to check weight of freight in Indian railways...!!!! Amazing stuff from today's papers)
- A bad monsoon leads to suicides, increase in bonded labor instead of entrepreneurial farmers and all the other social parameters can never be met....
If the government wants to focus on connecting rivers and ensuring that every farmland gets water irrespective of monsoons (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana aka Prime Minister's Farm Irrigation Project) to ensure that farmers need not depend on rains for getting a good harvest, is that wrong?
PM Modi recently visited Australia and ensured that he visited Queensland University because of the research being done in the field of Horticulture and Food Innovation. Research is being given extra focus and MOU's were signed in this regard. I am sure money will follow. Is focusing on increased productivity per hectare or improving immunization of farm animals wrong?
Mr.Gadkari himself is pioneering some exciting projects to improve infrastructure. Inland waterways (14,500 kms of NAVIGABLE waterways in the country) provide ready made "roads" for transport and cheap connectivity. NDA-1 had built up amazing roadways. NDA-2 is taking that forward. Will the farmers not benefit from better connectivity so they can sell directly to consumers? Or maybe the BJP will ensure that only corporates use the roads!
Now lets dream of what this government is trying to achieve for Indian farmers through the eyes of a farmer and what he requires:
- Water for Irrigation - available at all times even if the monsoons are bad
- Power - available at all times through numerous projects to ensure renewable power to all
- Technology - Available through government spending on R&D
- Consultancy - Available free through projects like Soil Card, ISRO satellite data (being given a major boost) etc
- Market - Open and near due to ready infrastructure availability
- Finance - Bank accounts connected with UID can be used not just to get direct subsidies (no middlemen) but also insurances, loans etc etc
And our government has clearly said and is standing by its statement - "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance"
