Latest news with #MinimumSupportPrices
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
CPI flays govt for sidelining people's issues
Alur (Kurnool district): Addressinga massive public gathering on Friday during the 12th State conference of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Alur constituency, CPI State Secretary K Ramakrishna strongly criticised the ruling dispensation for sidelining people's basic needs in pursuit of political gains. He lamented that several key irrigation projects in the region, such as Vedavathi, Nagaradam reservoir and Gundrevula remain incomplete, causing severe drinking and irrigation water shortages. Despite these pressing issues, the administration continues to focus on power politics, he said. Highlighting the deteriorating infrastructure, Ramakrishna pointed out the pathetic condition of roads in Madugula that get damaged even after a minor rainfall. He demanded lasting solutions to such civic problems. He also criticised the much-hyped 'Super Six' welfare schemes, calling them mere publicity stunts with major lapses in execution. Referring to the neglect of essential initiatives like the Jinkala Park wildlife project, he stated that the government's priorities were misplaced. He condemned the infighting within the TDP and the ruling party's failure to address people's issues, warning that the BJP-led government's support for corporate giants like Ambani and Adani poses a serious threat to democracy. Speaking at the same event, CPI-affiliated Ryuthu Sangham (Farmers' Association) State president Ramachandraiah and district secretary Giddaiah expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of farmers. They stated that the commercialisation of agriculture has pushed the farming community into a dark future. Due to lack of fair prices for their produce, mounting debts and insufficient access to fertilisers, seeds and irrigation, many farmers are forced into committing suicide, they said. They also pointed out the government's failure to ensure proper implementation of Minimum Support Prices (MSPs), which further adds to the financial stress on farmers. The leaders emphasised that farmers were being pushed into a debt trap as input costs continue to rise while yields remain low and market prices plummet. Instead of supporting farmers, they alleged, the government was backing corporate interests, which is deeply distressing. Criticising the BJP government for allegedly trying to privatise the agricultural sector for the benefit of Ambani and Adani, they called it a dangerous ploy against the rural economy. The leaders urged farmer unions to engage in intellectual resistance and continue their movements in support of farmers' rights.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Thousands protest labour codes in a massive rally
Vijayawada: Vijayawada witnessed a massive protest rally on Wednesday, with thousands of workers, employees, trade union leaders, and farmers marching from Canal Road to Lenin Centre. The rally was organised in response to a nationwide strike call by trade unions and farmers' associations, demanding the repeal of the controversial Labour Codes introduced by the Central government. Holding banners, trade union flags, and flexes, protesters raised slogans condemning the policies undermining workers' rights. Prominent leaders, including AITUC state president Ravulapalli Ravindranath, deputy general secretary S Venkatasubbaiah, CITU state president A V Nageswara Rao, and farmer leader Vadde Shobhanadreeswara Rao, participated alongside IFTU state president P Prasad, AIUTUC state Secretary K Sudhir Babu and CPI Vijayawada assistant secretary Nakka Veerabhadra Rao. Workers from both organised and unorganised sectors joined the rally, with AITUC city general secretary Mule Sambasiva Rao and CITU vice-president Durgarao presiding over the public meeting at Lenin Centre. Addressing the gathering, Ravulapalli Ravindranath accused the Narendra Modi-led NDA government of prioritising corporate interests over workers' rights. He criticised the replacement of 44 vital labour laws with four Labour Codes, which he claimed erode protections for workers. Ravindranath highlighted that nearly 50 crore workers, employees, teachers, rural poor, and farmers protested nationwide, declaring the strike a resounding success. Leaders from the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), IFTU, and other unions condemned the Labour Codes for repealing 29 protective laws, extending workdays from 8 to 10 hours, and mandating night shifts for women. They demanded the immediate repeal of the codes, a minimum wage of Rs 26,000, the formation of the 8th Pay Commission nationally and the 12th PRC at the state level, and an end to outsourcing, contractual work, and privatisation. They also called for filling vacant government posts and establishing welfare boards for workers in construction, beedi, auto, porter, and transport sectors. Farmer leader Vadde Shobhanadreeswara Rao denounced the government's anti-farmer and anti-worker policies, urging a united front to oppose them. He demanded the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices (MSP), identity cards and loans for tenant farmers, and the repeal of the Electricity Amendment Act, while opposing smart meter installations. The rally saw strong participation from CITU, IFTU, YSR Trade Union, and AIUTUC members, with leaders like Jasti Kishore and Ramakrishna addressing the crowd, reinforcing the call for policy reversal.
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Central team evaluates execution of schemes in Andhra Pradesh
VISAKHAPATNAM: A seven-member delegation from the Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Government of India, visited various villages in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district on Saturday to assess the implementation of government schemes and the functioning of Grama Sabhas. The team, led by Joint Secretary Mukta Sekhar, visited Paderu and Araku Valley mandals. During their field inspection, the officials evaluated the delivery of public services, village-level planning through Grama Sabhas, and the availability of basic infrastructure. At Minumuluru village in Paderu mandal, the team met local coffee and pepper farmers to understand their economic conditions, challenges in cultivation, and concerns related to Minimum Support Prices (MSP). On the occasion, Mukta Shekhar emphasised the role of village resolutions (Grama Sanhas) in formulating effective development plans tailored to local needs. The team also visited a camp organised by the Women and Child Welfare Department in the village, where they observed traditional community programmes such as Seemantham and Annaprasana. They reviewed the process of pension distribution and enquired about the practice of cash disbursement. ASR Joint Collector Dr MJ Abhishek Gowda explained that due to limited banking facilities in the region and the remote location of many beneficiaries, pensions are being provided in cash to ensure accessibility. He added that the process is monitored through the IVRS system to maintain transparency and prevent irregularities. The team also visited Sunkarametta village in Araku mandal, where they held interactions with residents and gathered feedback on local governance.
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BRS sought BJP merger before Kavitha's arrest: Minister Bandi
KARIMNAGAR: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar claimed that the BRS had explored a merger with the BJP even before the arrest of BRS MLC K Kavitha in the Delhi liquor scam. But the BJP refused to entertain the proposal, he added. Addressing a gathering at the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation on Saturday, Sanjay accused the Congress of stoking controversies around Kavitha and BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) to deflect attention from its failure to implement the promised six guarantees. He criticised Congress leaders as ineffective and accused the party of failing to fulfill its commitments. Later, he inaugurated development projects worth Rs 2.63 crore under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Gangadhara mandal and laid the foundation stone for a Rs 2.33 crore high-level bridge in Venkatraopalle, Rajanna Sircilla district. Sanjay praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) but noted that farmers still aren't receiving fair prices. He blamed both the KCR-led and Congress-led governments for betraying the farming community. He also condemned Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's remarks as "seditious," alleging they undermined the confidence of the Army. He said the Congress lacks faith in the armed forces and questioned why Pakistan-occupied Kashmir wasn't reclaimed during Indira Gandhi's tenure if her leadership was truly strong.
Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Punjab Agriculture Policy 2023: Stuck in govt red tape, policy that pushes for farm reforms, offers urgent solutions to agrarian crisis
As he presented Punjab's case in the 10th governing council of the NITI Aayog in Delhi, Chief Minister batted for crop diversification, urging the Centre to grant an incentive of Rs 17,500 per hectare for maize to replace paddy — the crop that over the years has turned into a bane for state and its aquifers. Incidentally, promotion of crop diversification is among several bold reforms recommended as urgent solutions to Punjab's deep-rooted agrarian crisis in Punjab Agriculture Policy-2023, a 200-page document that has got thumbs up from even the farmers unions — Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan), one of the largest farm bodies in state — had even staged a dharna to bring it in the public domain. Now, 20 months after it was crafted by the 11-member Agriculture Formulation Committee, led by Dr Sukhpal Singh, chairperson of the Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission, the policy — Punjab's first — remains on paper with hardly any meaningful steps taken toward its implementation. The policy was submitted to the government on October 13, 2023 and was put in public domain in September 2024 and was almost accepted by all the stakeholders. The policy offers a robust framework to tackle state's long-standing agricultural challenges, and proposes reforms such as a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices (MSP), a pension plan for small farmers and farm workers, one-time debt settlements, special debt waivers for marginal farmers, and crop insurance, among other critical measures. Despite the policy's potential to address pressing issues such as economic distress among farmers and the unsustainable farming practices currently plaguing the state, the government's continued inaction leaves many questioning the AAP dispensation's commitment to agricultural reforms. Why is its implementation delayed Senior officials in the Agricultural Department says that major obstacles in the policy's implementation is funding requirements and its 'cooperative nature' while the government's preference is for 'corporative nature'. To effectively address the agricultural crisis, significant investment is needed — something that the fund-starved and debt-burdened state lacks. The stakeholders, however, argue that delaying its implementation will only prolong the crisis, aggravating the suffering of the farmers. 'The policy lays out clear and practical solutions. What we need now is the political will to fund and implement these reforms,' said a member of the Agriculture Formulation Committee requesting anonymity. A senior official in the Agriculture Department, said that the key questions remain. 'How will these recommendations be implemented, especially when past proposals from various committees, including renowned agricultural scientist Dr MS Swaminathan's MSP recommendations and economist Sardara Singh Johl's 'Johl Plan' for diversification and crop rotation, have failed to materialise despite numerous farmer protests? While the policy outlines a roadmap, but how will the necessary funds be sourced?'. The policy records several things — from the farm suicide data (up till 2018) to farm debt, including Rs 73,673 crore in institutional debt. It, however, is silent on suicides from 2018 till 2023 and on the issue of non-institutional debt of farmers. It suggests establishing a State Agricultural Costs and Prices Commission to ensure fair prices for all non-MSP crops, dairy products, and eggs. It further suggests that legal guarantee of procurement at MSP is essential. It suggests that the MSP should be fixed according as per the Swami-nathan Report — at a minimum of C2 + 50 per cent with additional costs outlined in the Ramesh Chand Committee Report. For instance, it state that the MSP for wheat should have been Rs 2,787 per quintal rather than the Rs 1,925 per quintal set by the Government of India and should have reached around Rs 3,200 per quintal as against the current Rs 2,425 per quintal. 'Such suggestions do not suit the governments,' said an Agriculture Department official. The policy proposes a 'one-time debt settlement scheme' through cooperative banks. It also proposes a pension plan for farm workers and small farmers (with up to 5 acres of land), starting at the age of 60. A special debt waiver and debt swapping schemes for small farmers are also outlined, alongside the registration of money lenders to regulate non-institutional credit system. It suggests creating state's own crop insurance scheme and crop insurance fund and leasing one-third of Panchayati land and other common lands to farm workers under cooperative farming. It proposes a similar livestock insurance scheme through Milkfed and the Dairy Development Department. To address water scarcity, it recommends growing crops in their natural growing areas (NGA) to improve quality and reduce production costs. It proposes banning paddy cultivation in 31 dark blocks, where water extraction exceeds the recharge rate by 201 to over 301 per cent, and promoting alternative crops like cotton, maize, sugarcane, and vegetables in a phased manner. The policy also advocates for timely canal water supply in the cotton belt, discouraging paddy cultivation, incentivizing cotton in designated zones. Water-saving technologies, such as alternate wetting and drying, are recommended to improve paddy yield while using 30-40 per cent less water. Additionally, it focuses on micro-irrigation methods for several crops and advocates for the ongoing 'Pani Bachao, Paisa Kamao' (PBPK) scheme. It further advocates immediate payment to sugarcane farmers by the sugar mills, promoting ethanol production, and providing maize dryers to farmers. The policy also calls for intervention in basmati pricing through Markfed's price stabilisation fund and supports organic farming initiatives. The policy proposes establishing 13 Centres of Excellence (CoE) for different crops and and a hub for seed production with region-specific crops like potato seeds in Doaba. It further advocates for strengthening agricultural research and extension services and establishing an Agricultural Marketing Research Institute (AMRII) to balance supply and demand. The policy acknowledges the heavy burden of the free power subsidy (Rs 8,000-9,000 crore annually), noting how the increasing number of tube wells over the past 15 years has driven this cost to over Rs 80,000 crore. It suggests reducing the subsidy through water-efficient farming practices. It also recommends doubling the mandatory workdays under MGNREGA to 200 and providing Rs 10 lakh in compensation to the families of farmers, farm workers, and rural artisans who have died by suicide. Free healthcare should also be extended to these groups. The policy discusses forming Progressive Farmers' Societies (PFS) linked to crop CoEs and establishing an Agricultural Marketing Research and Intelligence Institute (AMRII) to balance demand and supply. An Innovative Agricultural Marketing Society (IAMS) would serve as the apex marketing body for these societies, ensuring advanced planning for high-quality produce, it says. For horticulture, the policy recommends improving nurseries to provide high-quality planting material and upgrading kinnow value addition infrastructure, including cold chains. Lastly, the policy proposes building Punjab into a hub for innovative farm machinery manufacturing and strengthening agricultural research and extension services by filling vacant posts and updating land tenancy laws.
