From February 13th, 2024, protestors have started to gather at the borders of New Delhi.
There are thousands of protestors at the venue – Singhu Border to the north of Delhi.
The protestors belong to two large organised unions – Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). Most of these farmers are from Punjab. The next highest participation is from Haryana.
This article shares the major demands of the protestors.
There is a 12-point Charter of Demands that has been shared with the government. However, we could not find that document in the public domain. Therefore, this compilation is from various media sources and the statements made by the farmer leaders.
What are the demands?
All farmers and farm labourers above the age of 60 should get a pension of 10,000 rs. per month from the government. This pension should apply for the rest of their lives.
According to a reply in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Shri Arjun Munda, on 9th February, 2024:
In order to provide old age protection to unorganised sector workers, the Government of India had launched a pension scheme in 2019 namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) to provide a monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years to unorganized workers.
India needs to withdraw from WTO (World Trade Organisation) and end all FTAs (Free Trade Agreements).
This demand means that India needs to dishonour its international contractual agreements. This decision cannot be taken by India without being subject to international law.
The Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be fixed at 50% profit over the cost of production. All crops should be sold only at MSP.
MSP is the main issue of this protest.
The recommendation that MSP should be 150% of the cost of cultivation was first made by the Swaminathan Commission in 2006. It was implemented, for the first time, in 2018. Since then, consistently, the MSP has remained at 50% profit over the cost of production.
There is, however, a small difference in the cost of cultivation. The current formula is based on the actual cost of inputs, and a notional value for the work done by the farmer and its family. The C2+50% formula requires that the notional rent of that land and some other capital costs should also be added to the assumed cost of cultivation.
However, MSP is currently announced for only 23 crops. The farmers want MSP to be announced for all crops and that all mandi sales should happen only on MSP.
The protestors have also alleged that while MSP is announced for 23 crops, only two major crops are procured at this price – Wheat and paddy, for India’s PDS. They want all crops to be purchased under MSP.
In a related development, NAFED today has indicated that it will work with farmers to buy pulses at MSP. Currently only the Food Corporation of India (FCI) procures at MSP.
Since the government releases MSP, an assumption is that the government is expected to buy all the crop from the farmers. This is not possible for the government for two reasons:
1. The government simply does not have the money to buy.
2, The government buys foodcrops for India’s largest public distribution system. However, it has limited storage and purchase requirements.
So far, most of the procurement for the PDS used to happen from Haryana and Punjab – the two states that participated actively in the Green Revolution in the 1960s.
Therefore, the farmers and adhatis (middlemen) of Punjab and Haryana have usually made decent earnings on their produce.
This MSP price is not available to most farmers in other parts of the country.
A committee was set up by government in July 2022 under the leadership of Shri Sanjay Aggarwal, but this committee has not made any recommendation yet.
All cases filed against protestors in the earlier protests of 2020-2021 should be withdrawn.
These are cases filed for physical damage to property as the protestors remained on the Singhu border for 377 days – more than a year. This also included cases for violence against police personnel during the protest.
The government is open to withdrawing these cases and many cases have already been withdrawn.
The cases filed for the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri in UP should be prosecuted.
There was an incident of violence against the protestors. The demand is that prosecution and sentencing should happen in that case at the earliest.
Farm Loan Waivers
The protestors want farm laws to be waived off (written off without needing to repay them).
No increase in power tariff and free electricity up to 300 units. No smart meters.
In most states of India, farmers get fertiliser subsidy, free water, and electricity. This is necessary because inherently, farming is a high-risk, low-return occupation. It is subject to severe risk. Even a single hailstorm can completely annihilate an entire crop – which is months of hard work for the farmer and his team.
India tries to compensate farmers through state crop insurance. Crop insurance means that farmers will get money if their crop suffers because of an act of nature or for any other reason.
The protestors want that the government should provide free electricity up to 300 units, and should not insist on installation of smart meters. Smart meters are prepaid, while currently, electricity bills are postpaid.
Implementation of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act
This Act states that permission for acquisition must be taken in writing.
This Act also gives land owners right to legal redressal, appeal, and market compensation for their land. It also has a provision for interest at 12% on top of the market price.
Usually, there is a huge difference between the book value and the market price of a piece of land.
MNREGA wages should be increased to 700 rs per day and job guarantee of 200 days per year, against the current guarantee of 100 days per year
What is the current state of protests?
The protestors have camped at the Singhu border. The third round of discussions between the government and the protestors was held on the evening of 15th February. No progress was made.