VASUNDRA , MODI KISSAN VIRODI Lakhs of farmers all over India have committed suicides and it is a continum but they have just gone unnoticed. There was huge loan waiver scheme during UPA, but they are not sustained measures The incident of Gajenrda Singh at AAP convention became a focal point for parties to vie with one another for political gains to be seen as farmers friends. Singh used to attend farmers rallies and was also nursing political ambitions .He was not a marginal farmer .His theatrics at the rally climbing a tree did not bode suicide inclinations. The crowd just cheered him with no particular utterances.he He had not carried anything that remotely predicted disposition of suicide, except symbol of AAP
The subsequent suicide note disowned by the family and falsehood therein is under scrutiny. The drama was unfolded in the presence of all and was not suspected of anything adverse, Nobody obstructed police in the footage in an attempt to bring him down, In fact police is seen laughing and calling for help. When bomb exploded at Modis meeting, he carried on ignoring seriouness and deaths just to avoid stampede and which is a more serious matter in comparisons It was not so at AAP meeting to have accused them of insensitivity and to impute motives. The initial reaction of AAP was ridiculous. But later the apology, course correction and tears cannot be dismissed as gimmicks. The inquiries and blame game will continue ad nausea um without plausible determinants But the incident did high light the National malaise affecting farmers The political capital with the land bill is sure hogwash to divert attention Whatever happened to crop insurance and Krishi cards for easy finance. The distress caused by natural calamities and unseasonal rains ,Lack of power , irrigation and fertilizer subsidy, need serious reflections Procurement promised at 50% above the price fixed is nowhere in place,on the contrary moisture content has been a roadblock for Govt procurement The burden of loans crushes the poor farmer, forcing them to commit suicides in utter desperations and yet such suicides are labeled as criminal acts. Industrialization by taking farmers land will further accentuate their plights, Not all 70% in the agriculture can be gainfully employed in Industry, Then who will feed the industrial workers? Will food grains etc will have to be imported instead of make and grow in India? Farmers who do not keep strict check of expenditure and income are exploited by middle men considering perishable nature of products and resort to distress sales .Encouraging farmers co operatives, food storage and packing, alternative crops,and incomes can make it sustainable and hence will not be judged or abandoned as non remunerative activity. Dispossessing coercibly farmers of fertile land is no solution .The allocation for agriculture has shown a downward trend and is not conducive to agrarians reforms. The pittance of Rs 100 plus cheques distributed per acreage under cultivation for damaged crops is adding salt to wounds on the contrary in Harayana the legislators are handsomely rewading themselves to freebies under present circumstances Both agriculture and industry must progress with equal priority thus avoiding lopsided development Loan waiver alone is no solution, but crop insurance, meaningful subsidy, procurement, market and storage, packing and strong farmer`s co operatives are need of the hour Nelson Lopes Chinchinim