Trust Deficit | Fresh Amendments for MSP |

Apart from the fresh amendments (संशोधन; a change to a law that is not yet in operation and is still being discussed), the Centre must consider a legal guarantee for MSP 

(Deficit: कमी/घाटा; the amount by which someone/something is losing/falling)

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The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a federation (संघ; a group of organizations, regions, etc. that have joined together to form a larger organization) of around 500 farmer organisations, has resolved to intensify (तेज/सशक्त करना; to make/become something stronger or more extreme) its agitation (आंदोलन; the situation in which people protest or argue, especially in public, to achieve a particular type of change) against three farm laws hurriedly enacted (नियम बनाना; to put something into action or to make a law) by the Centre. 

After dismissing the protests as ill-­informed (अनजान; knowing less than you should about a particular subject) and motivated initially, the Centre has offered to make some changes to the laws, but the farmers have now called for a Bharat Bandh on December 8.

Thousands of farmers camping on the outskirts (सरहद; the outer parts of a town or city; borders, suburbs) of the national capital are sceptical (अविश्वासपूर्ण; doubting that something is true or useful) of the government claim that these laws would make agriculture more lucrative and secure by allowing market forces to play.

The fear that the new regime (शासन पध्दति या व्यवस्था; a particular way of operating or organizing a system, an economy, etc.) will dismantle (खत्म कर देना; to get rid of a system, usually over a period of time) the system of procurement (प्राप्ति/उपलब्धि; the process of getting supplies or the action of obtaining something) under Minimum Support Price (MSP) and leave farmers at the mercy (दया/रहम; kindness that makes you forgive someone) of corporations is real.

Responding to concerns, the Centre has suggested safeguards (सुरक्षा उपायों; laws/rules to protect someone or something from harm or destruction) to prevent land alienation (अलगाव/अन्यसंक्रामण; the feeling that you have no connection with the people around you) via contract farming; strengthening the State­run mandi system and ensuring its equal footing (आधार; base; a position or condition on which something exists) with private buyers through equalising taxes; allowing grievance (शिकायत/व्‍यथा ; a complaint or a strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly) redress (निवारण; solution; remedy) in civil courts rather than just in the offices of Sub­-Divisional Magistrates; and ensuring proper verification of private traders.

It has not, however, offered a legal guarantee of MSP and the question of power subsidies also remains contentious (विवादपूर्ण; to cause disagreement and argument).

The Narendra Modi government has a declared policy of ensuring farm prices that are at least 50% more than the input costs. This has remained more an intent than reality, and the discussion has also been muddled (अव्यवस्थित; badly organized or confusing) by the government’s refusal to include rental value of the land in input costs.

Agriculture has to remain environmentally sustainable and remunerative (लाभदायक; profitable; providing payment for work) for farmers.

Significant challenges have emerged with regard to these benchmarks, though India has ensured substantial food stock and a robust (मजबूत/ज़बरदस्त; strong and healthy) distribution mechanism that covers the entire country.

There is a strong case for reworking the incentive structures and cropping pattern in order to account for changes in water availability and changing dietary requirements.

The problems faced by farmers are by no means the same across India. But a sense of hostility (दुर्भावना/शत्रुता; hostile behaviour; unfriendliness or opposition) from the state and market is now pervasive (व्‍यापक; present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place).

Changes in land acquisition laws and the general thrust (दबाव/जोर; to push suddenly and strongly) towards industrialisation together with the pressure on agriculture subsidies have increased the feeling of vulnerability (असुरक्षा; the quality or state of being harmed or attacked, either physically or emotionally) of farmers in recent years.

The abrupt (आकस्मिक; sudden and unexpected) changes in the sector brought in through the three laws have aggravated (बिगाड़ देना; to make a bad situation worse) the trust deficit of the government.

The combative (जुझारू/लड़ाकू; ready or eager to fight or argue) attitude of the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party towards criticism worsened it further.

Food security is considered a component of national security by all countries. The Union Agriculture Minister has said the government has no ego. The Centre must strive (प्रयास; to try very hard to make something happen) for reaching an agreement with the farmers that addresses their concerns. 

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