In its proposal, which comes a day after peasant leaders met with Union Interior Minister Amit Shah, the government has said it is ready to make necessary amendments on at least seven issues and address their key concern. that the mandi system will collapse.
The government also said that it is willing to provide all necessary clarifications on its concerns about the new agricultural laws enacted in September. However, the proposal did not mention anything about the main demand of Protestant farmers for the repeal of the laws.
The government has proposed amendments such as registering private traders to trade outside regulated mandis, equal taxation for APMC mandis, and private markets to provide a level playing field and allow higher courts of appeal in contract farming disputes.
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The proposal, submitted by the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Vivek Aggarwal, says that the government 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 agricultural community. The government calls on the Kisan unions to end their agitation,” he said.
Fearing the mandis will weaken after the new laws, the government said an amendment can be made in which state governments can register traders operating outside the mandis. States can also impose taxes and fees as is done in the APMC (Agricultural Products Market Committee) mandis.
To address concerns that farmers may be misled as anyone with just a PAN card can trade outside of APMC mandis, the proposal says states may have the power to register such traders and set 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 it is open to making an amendment to provide an appeal in civil courts. Currently, dispute resolution is at the SDM level.
On the fear of large corporations seizing agricultural land, the government said that it has already been clarified in the laws, but still, for the sake of clarity, it can be written that no buyer can take loans against agricultural land or no such condition will be made to farmers.
On awarding agricultural land to contract farming, the government said the existing provision is clear, but can still be further clarified if necessary.
Fearing the removal of the MSP regime and the transfer of the trade to private actors, the government said it is ready to give a written guarantee that the existing MSP will continue.
On 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.
On farmers’ demand to remove NCR’s Air Quality Management Ordinance 2020, under which a penalty for stubble burning is established, the government said it is ready to find a suitable solution.
In Tuesday night’s meeting with 13 union leaders, Shah had said the government would submit a draft proposal on key issues raised by farmers regarding the three farm laws. The meeting failed to break the ice with agricultural union leaders who insist on repealing these laws.
The next round of talks between the government and agricultural union leaders, which was scheduled for Wednesday morning, has also been canceled.
(With PTI inputs)
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