Updated: December 9, 2020 6:58:25 pm
The sixth round of talks between the government and agricultural union leaders, which was scheduled for Wednesday morning, was also canceled.
With the farmers protests on the borders of Delhi showing no signs of abating, on Wednesday the central government tried to allay its concerns by proposing to give a “written guarantee” that the Minimum Existing Support Price (MSP) the procurement regime will continue.
The draft of the proposal, however, does not mention anything about the main demand of the farmers who were protesting the repeal of the laws. He mentioned that the government is willing to amend a total of seven issues in the troika of laws, including provisions that farmers believe are detrimental to the APMC (Agricultural Products Marketing Committee) mandi system.
Hours later, farmers’ unions rejected the proposal, saying they would intensify their agitation until the government accepts their demand to completely repeal the three laws.
Interior Minister Amit Shah at Tuesday night’s meeting with union leaders he had stated that the government would send a draft proposal on key issues raised by farmers regarding the three farm laws, even though the meeting had failed to defuse the situation with protesting farmers. The sixth round of talks between the government and agricultural union leaders, which was scheduled for Wednesday morning, was also canceled.
On farmers’ fears that mandis would weaken after the new laws, the government said an amendment can be made in which state governments can register traders operating outside of mandis. States can also impose taxes and royalties as they were used in APMC (Agricultural Products Market Committee) mandis, according to the Center’s proposal.
The draft of the proposal was sent to 13 farmers unions who are campaigning to repeal the three agricultural laws passed in Parliament in September.
In the proposal, submitted by Deputy Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry Vivek Aggarwal, the government said it is willing to consider with an open heart the objections that farmers have about the new agricultural laws. “The government has tried to address the concerns of farmers with an open heart and with respect for the country’s farming community. The government is calling on the Kisan unions to stop their agitation, ”he said.
The government has proposed seven amendments to the two new laws: the Agricultural Products Trade and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Act of 2020 and the Farmers’ Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services Agreement (Empowerment and Protection) Act of 2020 However, it has not. touched the Essential Products (Amendment) Act, 2020 at all.
These are the highlights of the draft proposal sent to farmers:
🔴 Concerned that farmers may be misled as anyone with a mere PAN card can trade outside of APMC mandis, the government said that to rule out such arrests, state governments may have the power to register such traders and establish rules taking into account the local situation of farmers.
🔴On the issue of farmers not having the right to appeal in civil courts for dispute resolution, the government said that it is open to make an amendment to provide an appeal in civil courts. Currently, dispute resolution is at the SDM level.
🔴In addressing concerns of large corporations taking over agricultural land, the government said that it has already been made clear in the laws, but still, for the sake of clarity, it can be written that no buyer can borrow against agricultural land nor any such condition will be made to farmers.
🔴By linking agricultural land to contract farming, the government said the existing provision is clear, but can still be further clarified if necessary.
🔴Fearing the elimination of the MSP regime and the shift from trading to private actors, the government said it is ready to give a written guarantee that the existing MSP will continue.
🔴As for the demands to remove the 2020 electricity amendment bill, the government said there will be no change to the existing system of paying electricity bills for farmers.
🔴In response to farmers’ demand to remove NCR’s Air Quality Management Ordinance 2020, which establishes a penalty for stubble burning, the government said it is ready to find a suitable solution .
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