SKM urges CM Siddaramaiah to press Centre on MSP law, loan waiver
Bengaluru (PTI): The SKM on Thursday urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to press the Centre to fulfill what it termed the "most important demands of farmers".
It flagged issues ranging from a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) to a farm loan waiver and a climate compensation policy.
A delegation led by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha convener Jagjit Singh Dallewal and co-convener Kurubara Shanta Kumar called on Siddaramaiah at his office and held a meeting with him.
They later submitted a memorandum to him, which the CMO shared with the media.
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In the memorandum, the Morcha raised concerns over agrarian distress and called for immediate policy interventions at the national level.
The farmers’ body claimed, "We, the farmers of India, would like to inform you that the agricultural sector has been neglected by consecutive governments for a long time, forcing more than 400,000 farmers to die by suicide."
It added, "The agricultural sector is the backbone of India’s economic development."
It further pointed out that even during the Covid-19 pandemic, when most sectors were shut, agriculture continued to grow at a rate of 3.6 per cent.
Urging the CM to intervene with the union government, the organisation wrote, "We would like to request you to press the Central Government to fulfill the following demands to improve the agricultural sector and secure the future of farmers."
Among its key demands, the Morcha called for the enactment of a law guaranteeing MSP for all crops and full procurement from all farmers.
Citing a past recommendation, it noted that to protect farmers’ interests, statutory provisions should be made to ensure that any transactions between farmers and buyers related to crop purchases do not fall below the MSP declared by the government.
The SKM also demanded the implementation of the MS Swaminathan Commission’s formula, under which the MSP should be fixed at 1.5 times the cost of production incurred by farmers.
It further sought a complete waiver of farm loans, the re-enactment of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act provisions ensuring farmers’ consent and enhanced compensation, and a higher Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of at least Rs 600 per quintal for sugarcane with time-bound payments.
On climate-related distress, the Morcha said the government must compensate farmers for losses due to increasing droughts and floods and undertake comprehensive reforms of the crop insurance scheme to make it more farmer-friendly.
It also demanded fair compensation for land affected by high-tension transmission lines and insisted that no provisions concerning farmers in the Seed Bill and the Electricity Amendment Bill be implemented without broad consent.
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Min. Priyank Kharge to expresses concern over implementation of VB-G Ram G
Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the proposed VB-G Ram G scheme, stating that the MNREGA programme, which has been a lifeline for rural India for nearly two decades, appears to be facing an uncertain future.
Speaking to media, Kharge said that as March 31 draws to a close, there is no clarity on the rollout of the new scheme from April 1. He pointed out that the central government has not yet issued the necessary guidelines for implementing the scheme for rural workers and villages.
He criticised the Centre for its lack of preparedness, stating that there is no clarity on fund allocation, no final parameters for classifying gram panchayats, and key processes such as social audits have not been defined.
Kharge said the situation comes at a critical time, as summer marks a peak period for rural employment demand, when many people depend heavily on wage employment for their livelihood.
He added that reports have emerged of delays in approvals and families not receiving work despite demand.
He further alleged that the Centre’s move to shift from a statutory employment guarantee to a rule-based allocation system is already showing negative consequences.
Kharge also raised concerns over provisions such as a mandatory 60-day halt during agricultural seasons, which he said would further limit employment opportunities for rural workers.
The BJP-led central government had claimed that the new scheme would transform rural India, but in reality it is turning out to be detrimental to people’s livelihoods, he said.
“The crisis in rural India due to the stalling of MNREGA is beginning to unfold. Given the Centre’s past record in handling such situations, there is growing concern over the impact on rural livelihoods,” Kharge said.
