A small story.
It was post 1962.
The Chinese had hammered the Indians. Our political pundits were in a huddle. The armed forces were bleeding from the nose.
There was no food. The begging bowl was being passed. Many nations took pity on starving Indians. PL 480 was enacted by the US govt so that Indians don't starve to death. Other countries gave soft loans, milk products, farming machinery, and technology-- most of it for free.
So was raised a slogan --
Jai Jawan Jai Kissan
Slowly the Indian military reorganised, restructured, and rebuilt itself.
The kissans worked hard, tilled and reclaimed barren and stony lands, new farming techniques were introduced and accepted.The fields were lush and green. A revolution took place.
Soon there was plenty of food. The kissan became the respected 'अन्न दाता'.
And the Indian Army was winning wars and keeping the nation united. And the military became a respected saviour of a nation otherwise mired in graft, corruption, sloth and bad governance (thanks to our political leaders).
Suddenly there was a problem of plenty-- huge buffer stocks.
And India could hold its own in the international stage. We had a credible military might and a fine army - no thanx to our politicians.
Its a factor of simple demand and supply. Enough food and a strong army.
Now, who the hell needs a kissan ? Who the hell bothers about the soldier ??
Its back to-- ' oh you silly leftist, disgruntled, anti-national people-- we know what is best for you'!!
A Tianamen repeat.
'If we give in now-- our political standing will be threatened each and every time. Raw force is the answer. Dont give an inch or a precedent of listening to vox populi will be formed'
So are we a democracy--- or are we a democracy??
Farming practices are education by themselves and it is not strange that many are not able to comprehend the reason for this hula-Baloo.
Because there was no organized lobby as such. At least it was not apparent nationwide, till now.
Decades back Tikiat had managed to choke Delhi but only farmers from
Haryana was involved and it was more of a political show.
Incentives and a positive govt approach is required. We forget institutions like PSU's, railways and Air India in perpetual losses with crores being given in bailout packages. Because it is in the interest of the govt, the sansads and that unseen mysterious govt 'lobby' which makes people like
Harshad, Mallya and Choksi.
An apolitical organised farmer lobby was missing here all this time. Now we can no longer blame 'rustic and mis-lead farmers' from Punjab and Haryana alone or separatists and foreign funding. The national pressure cooker is steaming. Time to let off the steam. In a democracy, there is no ego and loss of face by the govt -- because it is for and by the people unlike a dictatorship where 'danda' is the order and people are secondary.
For the govt and the farmer imbroglio to end you have to have the stakeholders involved. Not pass ordinances and bills without debating the practicalities and obtaining views of the *affected parties* .
And definitely not by sansads who are worried about Rs 25/- a plate of chicken massla in the parliamentary canteen and their double pensions and pass their own 'wage revisions' unanimously, with no party lines and no opposition'.
Recollect how Army crib that the govt, pay commission, IAS lobby/bureaucrats, MoD all decide what pay and equipment is good enough for the military!!
Because they say- _' you fools, we know what is best for you'._
And Army in their heart says-- _inko salon ko Jara do din ke liye Siachin bhejo. Phir pata chalega kitni mushkil naukri hai!!_
😇
And farmer say- _kabhi khet mien ja ke dekho mere bhai !__
Agreed, diversification of crops (and cropping pattern) is another important factor. For this, perhaps the farmer is more to be blamed than the govt -- but it is the govt which again has to give incentive and impetus to overcome this inertia. The farmers will hardly oppose diversification. The govt wanted rice and wheat- the farmers gave it to them.
The reason, as I said, goes back to the 60's early 70's when the green revolution was ushered in.
After years of passing the begging bowl for food aid, suddenly we were growing enough food to feed our teeming millions. The govt encouraged 'more wheat' and even our postal stamps, coins, and banknotes had wheat bushels imprinted.
Now a systemic change is required in our farming policies as different from the acquisition and disposal of agricultural produce for which the protest is on.
We all want progressive reforms-- but if you fail in convincing the stakeholders and push ordinances down their throat, then the best of intentions will fail.
The govt of the day will fail.
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