“Ending The Deadlock”
(Deadlock: गतिरोध; a situation in which agreement in an argument cannot be reached)
Reforms, however necessary, cannot be done without consultations with all stakeholders (हितधारक; a person or group of people who own a share in a business)
Farmers protesting against three agriculture reform laws, and on related issues, have reached a partial agreement with the Centre on Wednesday, but the main points of contention (झगड़े की बिंदु; something that two people or groups cannot agree about) remain unresolved.
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The government has agreed to not penalise farmers for stubble (फसल के बाद का भूसा/पुआल का ठूंठी; the straw that remains after grains, like paddy, wheat, etc.) burning and to safeguard (रक्षा/बचाव; to protect something from harm) power subsidies. Farmers have decided to continue the agitation (आंदोलन; the situation in which people protest or argue, especially in public, to achieve a particular type of change) until the three laws are repealed (रद्द/खंडन करना; the act of removing the legal force of a law) and their demand for a legal guarantee for MSPs for farm produce is met.
Farmer leaders will meet with Central Ministers again on January 4. Flexibility by farmers and a reconciliatory approach (सुलह का दृष्टिकोण या संभावना; an approach to find a way in which two situations that are opposed to each other can agree and exist together) by the government led to the partial agreement, but the core concerns regarding the laws and MSP are not amenable (उत्तरदायी/जवाबदेही; willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion) to easy resolution.
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The government has continued to propagate (फैलाना/प्रचार-प्रसार करना; to spread opinions, lies, or beliefs among a lot of people) the laws — the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act — as measures that will enhance agriculture incomes.
The Centre is so sure of the promise of these reforms that it did not even attempt to build a political consensus (सर्वसम्मति; a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people) around them beforehand (पहले से; earlier than a particular time). Subsidised power and lopsided (एकतरफ़ा; with one side bigger, higher, etc. than the other; not equally balanced) incentive structures have built cropping patterns that are no longer sustainable (स्थायी/दीर्घकालिक; able to continue over a period of time). Large sections of farmers meanwhile continue to languish (कमज़ोर/शिथिल होना; to exist in an unpleasant or unwanted situation, often for a long time) in debt and fear.
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Farmer concerns are not uniform across India. The ongoing agitation is being spearheaded (नेतृत्व; to lead something such as an attack or a course of action) by farmers from Punjab and Haryana, who have been big beneficiaries of government procurement (प्राप्ति/उपलब्धि; the process of getting supplies or the action of obtaining something). The current agitation, its apparent (स्पष्ट; seeming to be true) energy and resolve notwithstanding (के बावजूद/ फिर भी; despite the fact), is geographically and programmatically limited.
It now faces the risk of losing steam or spinning out of control. At least some groups that are part of the agitation currently might favour more flexibility. The government is reluctant (अनिच्छुक; not willing to do something and therefore slow to do it) to agree to a legal guarantee of MSP because the demand is unrelated to the laws. The government is also hoping to tire out (थका देना; to make someone feel very tired) the agitators.
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Finding a way out will be better for both sides. Though a completely satisfactory resolution of all issues raised by the farmers is not possible immediately, the government must reassure them that honest efforts will continue to address them even if the protests are formally ended for now.
Reforms are necessary to ensure that India has a productive, sustainable and remunerative (लाभदायक; profitable; providing payment for work) agriculture sector. While all stakeholders appear to agree on this principle, they diverge (हट जाना/भिन्न होना; to be or become different) on questions of detail. The reports of the National Commission on Farmers, chaired (अध्यक्षता; the official position of a person in charge of a meeting or group) by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, and other government committees have suggested solutions.
The Centre must engage with the farmers, political parties and States on the economic and environmental issues at stake. That is the best route to effective reforms.
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