Farmers protesting over 12 demands

Farmers protesting over 12 demands

1. Minimum Support Price (MSP) Guarantee:
   • The farmers are demanding the enactment of a law that ensures a guaranteed minimum price for all crops. This legal assurance would protect their income and provide stability in agricultural markets.
2. Debt Waiver:
   • The implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations is sought to provide debt waivers to farmers. All debts of the farmers above Rs. 10,000 to be waived, worth ₹18.4 lakh crore.
3. Land Acquisition Compensation:
   • Farmers demand more compensation for land acquired by various authorities for developmental projects. They also seek to reserve 10% of residential plots on developed lands for the families affected by land acquisition.
4. Withdrawal from World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreements:
   • Some farmers express concerns about the impact of international trade agreements on their livelihoods.
   • They call for India’s withdrawal from the WTO and the imposition of a ban on all Free Trade Agreements (FTA).
5. Justice for Lakhimpur Kheri violence:
   • The farmers demand punishment for the perpetrators of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre, where several farmers lost their lives.
   • Ensuring justice for the victims and their families is a critical aspect of their protest.
6. Pension for Farmers and Farm Labourers:
   • Allocation of pensions to farmers and farm labourers.
7. Scrapping the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020:
   • Farmers fear the growing privatisation of electricity and lack trust in state governments to pay subsidies on time.
   • They call for the removal of the bill to safeguard their interests.
8. Compensation for Lives Lost During the 2020–2021 Agitation:
   • Families of farmers who died during the 2020–2021 agitation seek monetary compensation.
   • The demand also includes providing employment opportunities for one family member.
9. MGNREGA Employment:
   • The farmers advocate for 200 days of employment per year under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for farming.
   • They emphasise a daily wage of Rs 700 to support rural workers.
10. National Commission for Spices:
    • The formation of a commission specifically for different spices is requested to address the unique challenges faced by spice growers.
11. Protection of Indigenous People’s Rights:
    • The farmers seek protection for land, forests, and water sources belonging to tribal communities.
    • Ensuring the rights of indigenous people is a priority.
12. Improving Seed Quality:
    • Farmers call for measures to enhance seed quality.
    • They propose penalising companies that produce fake seeds, pesticides, and fertilisers to safeguard agricultural productivity.