The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked for a copy of the Swaminathan Commission report on farmers reform and asked the petitioner to file a fresh plea.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Hemant Patil, national president of Bharat Against Corruption. The PIL said a national commission under the chairmanship of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan was appointed for the welfare of farmers.
Bringing change
The commission was given the task of working out a comprehensive medium-term strategy for food and nutrition security, propose methods of enhancing productivity, profitability, stability and sustainability of the major farming system. It was also expected to bring about synergy between technology and public policy, suggest measures to attract and retain educated youth in farming, propose policy reforms designed to enhance investment in agri-research, increase flow of rural credit to farmers, and formulate special programs for dryland farming.
The plea has urged the government to accept and implement the report’s recommendations such as fixing the minimum support price (MSP) for grains at 50% more than the production cost, safeguarding interests of small farmers and reducing the risk posed by climate change to agriculture. The PIL mentions a recent government panel that has recommended a minimum support price for grains at only 10% more than the cost of production.
Government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani told the court that several measures have been implemented such as waiving loans of farmers and sending a delegation from the State and the farming community to the Centre to consider various welfare schemes. The court has asked the State to file an affidavit with respect to the implementation of the Swaminathan report and adjourned the matter.