The Supreme Court-appointed committee on Thursday virtually met with farmers’ unions and associations from eight States and sought their viewpoints on all the three farm legislations. These associations are not part of the protesting unions. This was the first meeting of the committee after its formation.
“We had sent the invitation to 18 but 15 accepted. Of this 15, five could not attend the meeting. We are expecting that they will be joining in the next meeting which is scheduled for January 27,” said a committee member. Only one farmer’s organisation came in person to join the meeting while the rest of them joined virtually. During discussions, these unions not only gave their frank views about the farm laws but also gave suggestions to improve the implementation of the laws.
“Some expressed reservations over the farm laws while some have supported,” said the farmer organisation which attended the meeting virtually. The committee will talk to all stakeholders, including dairies, fisheries, arthiyas and farmers cooperatives. The website will be ready by early next week and it will have a questionnaire for farmers on the three laws.
According to the committee, 10 different organizations which held the discussions were from eight States which include Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
The participating farmer organizations’ were asked to give their views on the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Currently, there are three members in the panel - president of Maharashtra-based Shetkari Sanghatana Anil Ghanwat and agri-economists Ashok Gulati and Pramod Kumar Joshi. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann has recused himself from the committee. The committee will have to submit its report within two months and until that time the implementation of the farm laws will be stayed, the Supreme Court had ordered.
“The committee is keen to understand the opinion of all concerned on the subject so that it can give suggestions which will definitely be in the interests of the farmers of India,” said a committee member Anil Ghanwat earlier.
In its previous meeting on Tuesday, the panel discussed the roadmap of activities for two months to prepare their recommendations after discussion with farmers, their unions and other stakeholders. The committee will also set-up a portal for farmers where they can share their views about the contentious farm laws.
In the 10th round of talks with farmers unions, the Government has offered that three bills will be kept in abeyance for the 18 months and formation of a joint committee involving farmers unions to resolve the pending issues including the MSP if the protest is lifted.
Farmers are agitating against Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.