BY APURVA RAI
FOR a long time there has been a raging debate on
Land Acquisition Bill. Earlier it was the UPA, under command of the Congress
Party, that wanted to bring changes through land reforms and now it is the NDA
government, under BJP command that wants to bring Land Acquisition Bill.
Whatever the government-- either dominated by the
Congress or by the BJP, each wants to bring changes in land bill saying they
are working in the benefit of farmers. If every government is working for the
benefit of farmers then why are they still poor, neglected, dependent and
living on the mercy of others? It is sad that almost every party politicises
the issue and every politician wants to bargain a vote in the name of farmers
of the country. It is, indeed, a sorry story.
I wish to talk about the farmers only as I believe
that all politicians are standing on the same platform and are just another
side of the same coin. I feel ashamed of the politicians that when in power
they seem to be talking and working in the benefit of farmers and the moment
they are out of power they are seen opposing the ruling government and use
farmers to prove their point. However, the only community that loses every time
is that of farmers as neither the ruling government does anything nor the
opposition comes up with positive ideas or support.
No doubt the farmers of India are poor and
ironically this financially poor community is feeding the entire nation
including those who are rich, prosperous and powerful. Farmers of India are the
ones who work day and night to reap rich harvests so that the rich can eat to
their contentment. What is even more tragic is that the rich want to buy the
land of these farmers and use this land to reap bigger profits by doing
anything other than harvesting. Does it all not sound strange?
I would have felt happier had the government framed
such laws on land acquisition that would have helped the farmers besides giving
a boost to the agriculture of the country. The governments are keen to bring
land reforms or pass land acquisition bill but nobody is crystal clear on the
way acquisitions will be made. Unclear and complex bye-laws and hidden ideas
behind the rules have only added fire to the fuel.
I see only two-types of land-- one that can be
harvested and the other that is totally infertile. It is not difficult to
classify these two categories as well. Then what is the problem in defining the
land acquisition bill?
As far as fertile land is concerned the government will have to come up with clear strategy and schemes to boost farming activity. Agriculture has been grossly neglected and nothing concrete has been done to help the farmers. this is perhaps the major reason why many farmers are running away from villages and have become unskilled or skilled labours in metropolitan cities where large-scale construction activity is in progress for the 'welfare of wealthy' citizens of India.
Now comes up the question of fertile land. I feel
there would be least protest if the land is leased to corporates who may use
the land only for farming activity. The farmers can be given good lease rent
and share in harvest. With lease contract the farmer will remain the owner of
his land, get financial benefits and share in yield besides getting employment
as farmer for which he specialises. On the hand the corporates will invest
money in buying seeds, fertilisers, hiring agriculture specialists and bring in
all tools and equipment that is necessary to yield rich harvest. Since the
farmer will have nothing to invest from his pocket he does not stand to lose
anything and he continues to remain owner of the land as well.
So far we have only known industrialists but a now
it is very important to rope in richer people and develop a new class to be
known as Agriculturinsts. The agriculturists will in the long run come as
saviours to the farmers of the country.
Land acquisition for
the benefit of farmers will hardly face protest from rural India and that is
what is my Second Opinion.
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NOTE
To read another related article please copy/paste the given link.
1) Will Onion Ever Make a Farmer Smile?
https://apurvaopinion.blogspot.com/2015/09/will-onion-ever-make-farmer-smile.html