Agrarian Issues

BJP Govt Betrays Farmers in Distress Yet Again

THE BJP-led NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have yet again betrayed the farmers in distress by going back on their promise of fixing remunerative minimum support prices (MSP) at least 50 percent above the cost of production. The MSP announced for Kharif crops 2015-16 does not meet even the cost of production and in most cases the increase is ranging merely from Rs15 to Rs 50 per quintal. In a press statement issued on June 17, the All India Kisan Sabha said that this does not reflect the actual costs of production and increasing input costs.

AIKS Condemns Exclusion of Rubber Farmers from Subsidies

THE All India Kisan Sabha has condemned the BJP-led NDA government’s decision to exclude rubber farmers in Kerala and Tamilnadu from the subsidies they were entitled to for new planting and replanting. In a statement issued on June 15, it said that this move comes at a time when the rubber farmers are in an acute crisis due to fall in price of rubber. Farmers in Kerala alone are yet to be paid subsidy arrears of over Rs 30 crore for trees already planted. The Rubber Board’s own estimate recommends replanting on 2 lakh hectares in Kerala.

AIAWU Calls for Nationwide Stir on Demand of Housing for All

THE All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) has chalked out a nationwide agitation programme on the demand of housing for all. As part of the two-month long campaign, conventions of houseless and landless will be held in 25,000 villages across the country in July. These will be preceded by a state-level convention of houseless and landless, where the charter of demands will be presented, and district level conventions in 300 districts.

Modi’s Report Card from Haryana

PUNJAB and Haryana were the poster-twins of the Green Revolution. The states were in the forefront of the transformation of India from a perpetually food deficit “Ship-To-Mouth” existence to a situation of food self-sufficiency. They were showcased as the land of prosperity and the farmers were credited with feeding the hungry millions through their toil and resilience. The farmers soon came to epitomise the “Annadata” or provider of food security and their penchant for joining the armed forces also led to the much romanticised slogan of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.

Water Crisis in Rayalaseema: Promise, Corruption Everywhere but There Is No Drop to Drink

Four districts of Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh – Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapura and Kurnool – have been under severe draught for the past few years. The situation in Chittoor and Kadapa is the worst. In Chittoor, 42 out of 66 mandals and in Kadapa, 48 out of 51 mandals are most affected.

Jharkhand Observe Historic Strike against Land Acquisition Bill

THE one-day Jharkhand bandh against the anti-people Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill of the Centre on May 4 was a historic success. The strike was unprecedented and total with participation of people from all sections of the state, despite promulgation of prohibitory orders and imposition of Section 144 of the CrPC by the government. Defeating all disruptive designs of the ruling class, people in their large numbers came out on the streets spontaneously.

Historic Solidarity Action to Protect Land Rights & Resist Land Grab

THOUSANDS of peasants and agricultural workers converged in Bangalore on April 28, 2015 in an unprecedented solidarity action to convey a resounding “No” to the draconian Land Acquisition Ordinance brought by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government and assert their rights over land and water. A unique issue-based unity comprising of 12 organisations of peasants, agricultural workers, devadasi women, dalits, adivasis and small planters was built, described by some as a trend-setter for future politics in Karnataka.

Massive Rally against Land Acquisition Ordinance

THE Bhoomi Adhikar Sangharsh Rally on May 5, 2015 saw thousands of peasants, agricultural workers, adivasis and toiling masses marching to the parliament with the demand that the Land Acquisition Ordinance 2015 be fully scrapped and warned the BJP-led government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they will not allow the loot of land and deliberate destruction of peasant agriculture.

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