Modi's Farm Relief Package needs Larger Stake Holder's Discussion -Kishore Tiwari
Dated -29 December 2018
Kishore Tiwari, chairman of Vasantrao Naik Swavalamban Mission (state task force for addressing agricultural distress in 14 farmer suicide-hit districts),today welcome proposed bell-out package being considered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government of giving incentives to overcome the agrarian crisis in which the new set of measures for farmers before the end of the winter session of Parliament on 5th January but he has urged prime minister to have larger discussion with farmers and farm activist of farmers suicide prone region as team who are drafting the expected farm relief program including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, BJP chief Amit Shah and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh neither these leaders are having any knowledge existing rural distress or any of the babus of Niti Aayog .
Kishore Tiwari recently suggested urgent measures to win back the confidence of rural Maharashtra before the next elections.In a statement on saturday, Tiwari said election results of five states this month should serve as a wake-up call for BJP . “Voters in rural pockets of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have expressed their anger and thrown the BJP out of power, on the other hand in Telangana, it is the pro-farmer policies of ruling Telangana Rajya Samiti government that ensured a fluent win for chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao,” he said.
He suggested the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ government should take following five steps to resolve the problem of farm distress and appoint immediately a knowledgeable Agriculture Minister .on the lines of Jharkhand and Telangana, a direct, cash subsidy of Rs 5000 an acre be given in a crop season to every farmer in rain fed areas of crisis driven India and despite efforts like unconditional loan waiver, protected irrigation facility , subsidized food-grains, free healthcare, and a monthly pension be given to old farmers fulfilling promise made by prime minister Narendra Modi in 2014.
All crop loans be given a one-time blanket waiver so farmers make a fresh start with a clean account. Also fresh crop loan to the tune of 50% of the land price be given to the farmer.
Micro finance companies and private lenders’ loans should also be wiped out as farmers and women’s self-help groups are reeling under usurious rates charged by these private agencies. TIwari also urged universal reforms in existing crop insurance scheme whch should be made on village level and damage assessments has done by Gramsabha .