my space: Farmers satyagrah starts from November 1, 2017 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

Farmers satyagrah starts from November 1, 2017 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

Farmers and farming both are in grave crisis. In 70 years of independence, corporate led development model, govt’s anti-agriculture policies, second grade status granted to farming and an economic system espoused under globalisation and liberalisation, all have together broken the backbone of farmers and by squeezing agriculture fully have made it collapsing.

Today, our agriculture which is supporting livelihood of 60-65 percent of the population is having only 11 percent share in GDP. 56 percent farmers are reeling under heavy debt, more than 80 percent farmers are malnourished, hungry and poverty ridden and 174 farmers, on an average, are committing suicide daily. After their bullock plough sold, grain fields, ponds and water tanks dried, mutual brotherhood, dignity and respect sacrificed at the altar of development, villages deserted, they becoming poor and destitute, more than 20 crores farmers are till date displaced and forced to live in inhuman and undignified life in Jhuggi colonies, on the roadsides and in dirty sub-urban areas of big cities.

Farmers are deprived of fair prices of their crops and just value of their labour. They are being robbed through exploitation of their labour value, costly inputs used in agriculture production, and cheap sale of their produce. Instead of making improvement in traditional system of natural farming, a system of loot is put in place by encouraging chemical and mechanised farming. People’s rights over water, land, forest and minerals are snatched away giving the whole benefits to domestic and foreign companies.

Initially, local swadeshi system of agro based handicrafts, cottage, small industries was wilfully destroyed and village self sufficient system brought to naught. Now farmers’ land and all other means of employment are being grabbed and stolen away. This loot has pushed farmers to another mode of loot, i.e., indebtedness. Farmers are compelled to take loan every year for regular farming and in this way their small incomes are taken away in the name of servicing that loan. Their names are made public by the banks, and the loans are recovered by coercion. Crop insurance and other schemes meant to benefit farmers are actually meant to benefit insurance companies.

It is not our fate or luck, but it is in fact the consequence of anti farmer policies. It is a clear result of anti-farmer policies adopted by the governments under the dictates of multinational corporations and global bankers. The policies being followed by the government currently are the same and even more dangerous. The governments are silently working to oust the farmers from farming and establish in their place the agro-business companies. The government wishes to hand over farming to 20 percent corporate farmers who could do modern chemical and mechanised agriculture. To meet this goal corporate farming and contract farming have been started by making laws. Millions of hectares of land is being seized from farmers in the name of industrial zones, freight corridors and smart cities, and given to non-agriculture work. Farmers face catastrophic prospects.

Country’s farmers, if come together and unite to face the challenge, can change the situation. Farmers can fight it out by their unity only if it is above caste, creed and party lines. To achieve farmers unity and prepare them for an united struggle to solve their problems National Farmers Coordination Committee (NFCC) / Rashtriya Kisan Samanvay Samiti (RKSS) is established in a convention of 100 farmers organisations from 21 states in Sewagram, Maharashtra on 8-10 March 2015. After long deliberations among organizations, NFCC prepared a Farmers Agriculture Policy and adopted a 26 point resolution and sent it to the central and state governments. If this is implemented fully farmers’ life will radically change and they will get a respectful life. But the governments have yet not given a positive response. It is now decided by the NFCC in its Kota meeting (19-21 July 2017) that it will launch a national farmers movement ‘TOTAL FARMERS REVOLUTION’ by first holding an indefinite satyagrah at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on November 1, 2017. Farmers in large numbers will have to reach Jantar Mantar at 9 O’clock on November 1, 2017. This satyagrah will continue till the government takes a favourable decision.

So you come to satyagrah with a good preparation. Along with satyagrah, meetings will also be held at village and district levels. This movement is not merely a farmers movement but it is a movement of all those who are sensitive to and concerned with farmers problems, believe that this system is unjust and want to change it completely. These all are invited to join us.

Second Freedom Movement for Farmers’ Economic and Social Liberation.

“ TOTAL FARMERS REVOLUTION ”

To ensure permanent emancipation from debt trap and to ensured justified income,

adopt 26 points resolution.

To implement 26 point resolution

Indefinite satyagrah from Nov 1, 2017 at Jantar-Mantar in New Delhi.

From November 1 to 10 -- Dharna (sit in) satyagrah.

From November 11 indefinite fast- satyagrah.

Nationwide movement on November 21 the farmers front will open in villages and districts and in Delhi.

On November, 22, the multinational corporations, which are destroying the agriculture and looting the farmers, will be gheraoed.

Brother and sisters come, join and fight for

‘ Total Farmers Revolutions ’