On Wednesday ,The Central government has agreed on farmers' demands giving its nod on key issuesraised by them, including amendments in the three contentious farms laws thatwere the first and biggest issue driving the ongoing farmers' protest.
The government communicated its stand through a written draft proposal to thefarmers in which it agreed to two main amendments regarding the Minimum SupportPrice (MSP) and Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) but rejected theirdemand to repeal three farm laws enacted in September during the MonsoonSession of Parliament-- a move to break the impasse which has been going on forthe last 14 days on the national capital's borders with thousands of farmerssitting on roads crippling the supply chain.
In the proposal, the Centre has agreed to a written Minimum Support Price (MSP)assurance and uniform tax for private market yard and APMC -- a marketing boardestablished by state governments to ensure that farmers are safeguarded fromexploitation by large retailers, as well as ensuring the farm to retail pricedoes not touch excessively high levels.
There will be a provision for registration for private traders dealing intrade, the proposal says.
On the issue of scrapping farm laws, the government said it is ready toconsider the provisions of the laws on which the farmers have raisedobjections.
On the issue regarding registration of traders, the government has givenassurance to frame new rules under which state governments will be given powersto come up with new rules for the welfare of farmers.
Clearing the apprehension among farmers that their fields will be attached, thegovernment ensured not to take any such action. The government's proposalclarified that the provisions in the new laws are very clear and it willrelease them and publicise them in a clearer manner if there is any confusionon the issue.
The government cleared the misconception on the APMC Act that farmers will becaught in the clutches of private mandis and mandis' established by mandisamiti will weaken. The government
proposedan amendment in which there will be a provision that state governments canimpose the registration rule for private mandis. There will also be a provisionthat the state governments ensure similar rate of "cess fee" inprivate as well as APMC mandis.
On the issue that big industrialists will take over farmers' land and thefarmer will be landless, the government's proposal said it is already clear inthe new law that neither can any loan be availed by the buyer on the structureto be built on the farmer's land nor such can such as structure be held hostageby him.
On the issue that there is no system of registration on agricultural contracts,the government said if the trader is not registered, he has to file a copywithin 30 days regarding the deal with the farmers.
The government also said that those approaching the civil courts would now beallowed. Earlier, farmers had sought a rollback of this law.
On the Electricity Amendment Act 2020, the government has assured that the Actwould not be implemented and the earlier process would be maintained as statusquo.
On the farmers demand' to take back the law on stubble burning, the governmentsaid it will come up with a proper arrangement on the subject.
The proposal was sent to the farmers after their meeting with Union HomeMinister Amit Shah last night remained inconclusive. Five rounds ofgovernment-farmer talks held so far have also been inconclusive due to bothsides staying adamant on their issues.