BJP Member of Parliament Varun Gandhi, who supported farmers’ agitation against the now-scrapped three controversial Central farm laws, has piloted a private member's Bill seeking legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the agriculture produce, one of the key demands of the farmers.
The Bill is called the Farmers' Right to Guaranteed Minimum Support Price Realization of Agri-Produce Bill 2021
The Bill, which is awaiting admission, seeks 50% assured return for farmers on the comprehensive cost of production of a crop, and a Rs 1 lakh crore fund to compensate them in case they are forced to sell the produce below the Minimum Support Price .
Presently, MSP is available on 22 agricultural commodities, apart from sugarcane for which the government promises a fair and remunerative price.
The Bill envisages legally guaranteed MSP for the 22, with an annual financial outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore for it. It also proposes a separate department to implement the legal guarantee of MSP and six months’ imprisonment for traders who fail to comply.
On the payment of the MSP, the Bill seeks it to be timely and made directly to a bank account within two days of a transaction.
In 2017, varun had moved another private member bill that envisaged that MPs and MLAs be recalled within two years from being elected if 75% of those who voted for them are not satisfied with their performance.
The Private member bill mostly doesn't get passage in the parliament .
The Central Government has accepted farmers' demands and repealed the three farm laws last month that intended to deregulate the agriculture sector making farmers apprehensive that the MSP and 'Mandi-System' may soon be shown the door by the Government.