In 70’s a farmer could buy 15 grams of gold by selling 1 quintal of cotton. During 90s obscene subsidies given to cotton growers from USA and European traders, Indian farmers were made to pull down the prices of cotton. By 2005 he need to sell 5 quintals of cotton in order to buy 15 gm of gold. By 2008, he need to sell 9 quintals of cotton to buy 15 gm of gold. Within a span of 3 years the gap widened by almost 2 folds. The cotton prices were plummeting further. The standard of living of the cotton farmers was depreciating further. Vidarbha is the region where most of cotton is grown. During Maharastra Assembly Polls, Congress promised of increasing the price of Cotton from Rs.2200 to Rs.2700 per quintal. Congress had betrayed after elections by not keeping their promises.
The input costs were exploding. In 1991 Local seed cost was Rs.9 per kg. By 2004 the price went up to Rs.1650-1800 for just 450 gm of seeds. Because of introduction of BT Cotton into the market, the prices were reduced. Today, it is about 650-800 rupees per less than 0.5 kg which is many times higher than Rs.9 per kg. Govt did nothing to stopping the subsidized cotton coming from USA. There were no import duties. In 2006 farmers were killing themselves at the rate of one in every 6 hrs average.
From 1997-2007, about 180,000 farmers committed suicides. This is reminding me the plight of the farmers during British rule in the 19th century. In the UPA regime, the Govt waived the loans of farmers of 71, 000 crores worth. But most of them waived in the Marathwada region where the power base of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar exists.
Coming to the Power loom Industry, there were many people who committed suicide in 2008. Many people committed suicide between 2001- 2008.Sircilla is the place famous for Handloom and Power loom Industry. About 8 Lakh families are dependent on weaving. There are about 20, 000 Looms. 8000 looms stopped completely. Government is encouraging weavers to use Technology Up gradation Fund (TUF) but without capital. A textile park was built with Rs.7.73 crores far from being of any use for the weavers. It seeks to produce using High power jet looms which further reduces the work of the weavers. Most of them are committing suicide or else falling ill due to lack of proper nutrition. Weavers are unable to support their families even for chaaval and end up in debts and finally committing suicides. According to guidelines of Asian Development Bank for rural finance restructuring minimum lending balance is Rs. 25000. But most weavers need less than this and hence are unable to get loans.
There is not much difference between British rule and democratically elected Govt. It was because of the peasant movements’ actual struggle for independence started. Even today after 150 years there is not much improvement in the lives of peasants. Let us hope that at least the coming Govt does some good to the peasants
Source: The Hindu
- Optimistic Indian
The input costs were exploding. In 1991 Local seed cost was Rs.9 per kg. By 2004 the price went up to Rs.1650-1800 for just 450 gm of seeds. Because of introduction of BT Cotton into the market, the prices were reduced. Today, it is about 650-800 rupees per less than 0.5 kg which is many times higher than Rs.9 per kg. Govt did nothing to stopping the subsidized cotton coming from USA. There were no import duties. In 2006 farmers were killing themselves at the rate of one in every 6 hrs average.
From 1997-2007, about 180,000 farmers committed suicides. This is reminding me the plight of the farmers during British rule in the 19th century. In the UPA regime, the Govt waived the loans of farmers of 71, 000 crores worth. But most of them waived in the Marathwada region where the power base of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar exists.
Coming to the Power loom Industry, there were many people who committed suicide in 2008. Many people committed suicide between 2001- 2008.Sircilla is the place famous for Handloom and Power loom Industry. About 8 Lakh families are dependent on weaving. There are about 20, 000 Looms. 8000 looms stopped completely. Government is encouraging weavers to use Technology Up gradation Fund (TUF) but without capital. A textile park was built with Rs.7.73 crores far from being of any use for the weavers. It seeks to produce using High power jet looms which further reduces the work of the weavers. Most of them are committing suicide or else falling ill due to lack of proper nutrition. Weavers are unable to support their families even for chaaval and end up in debts and finally committing suicides. According to guidelines of Asian Development Bank for rural finance restructuring minimum lending balance is Rs. 25000. But most weavers need less than this and hence are unable to get loans.
There is not much difference between British rule and democratically elected Govt. It was because of the peasant movements’ actual struggle for independence started. Even today after 150 years there is not much improvement in the lives of peasants. Let us hope that at least the coming Govt does some good to the peasants
Source: The Hindu
- Optimistic Indian
Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.
ReplyDelete- Nikita Khrushchev