Punjab farmers want complete debt waiver, implementation of Swaminathan report

BATHINDA: The Modi government’s proposals for agriculture in its last interim Budget has not enthused the Punjab farmers, who have termed the direct transfer of Rs 6,000 per annum to small farmers as too meagre. They claim that two major issues of complete debt waiver and implementation of Swaminathan report recommendations for fixing prices of crops by adding 50% profit over the entire input cost have not been incorporated in the Budget.

While presenting the interim Budget on Friday, the Union finance minister announced a special scheme for farmers of direct benefit of Rs 6,000 per annum with Rs 75,000 crore to 12 crore farmers of the country. Punjab has 10.5 lakh small and marginal farmers and they will get an annual benefit of Rs 630 crore only.

The Punjab farmers also rue the fact that there is no mention of any special package, which both Congress government in the state and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which is an alliance partner in the NDA government, were seeking. The SAD’s farmer wing has also termed the Budget proposals as highly insufficient for farmers.

Farmer organisations claim that according to National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), average income of farmers across the country is less than the expenditure incurred in growing crops, which is pushing farmers to commit suicide and the government has failed to address this problem. They claim that the direct benefit of Rs 6,000 per annum (Rs 500 per month) is far too insufficient to provide solace to the farming community. They assert that the UPA government in 2008 had provided a loan waiver of Rs 71,000 crore, out of which Punjab farmers had got a little over Rs 1,000 crore, which failed to provide much benefit.