Exempting Farming Activities

Why in News? ­­

The government has exempted all agricultural, horticultural activities and those relating to harvesting, transportation, etc from the lockdown.

What is the issued order?

• The order has exempted the agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations and mandis.
• It also exempted the farmers and farm workers in the field.
• It exempted the custom hiring centres related to farm machinery.
• It also allowed the intra- state and inter-state movement of machines.
• The functioning of manufacturing and packaging units of fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, etc is allowed now.

Why was this order made?

• This order was made so that harvesting would continue uninterrupted.
• This decision has been taken to facilitate unhindered farming activities to ensure essential supplies.
• It was also taken so that the farmers and common people do not face any difficulty.

What is AIKSCC’s current concern?

• All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordinating Committee’s (AIKSCC) concern is about all farmers/workers being shut behind the doors.
• The AIKSCC is concerned about this because now is the peak time to harvest winter crops (wheat, barley, pulses).
• It is worried about the fate of vegetables/fruit growers, milk producers, the landless labourers and their families.
• Everything can wait but not farming as a season lost means a year lost.
• It will lead to a major crisis in food availability and may result in large numbers of hunger deaths.

What does the AIKSCC want?

• The AIKSCC, in a representation to the government, had asked the police not to stop peasants, farmers, vendors and transporters.
• It demanded that all harvested crops, milk, poultry, meat and eggs should be procured.
• It demanded that the regulated markets should operate at requisite strength.

What were the activities that stopped abruptly?

• The lockdown was introduced without ensuring the continuation of provisions mandated under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
• Consequently, the anganwadis were closed.
• Therefore, supplementary nutrition for children below age six, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers came to a stop.
• Mid-day meal, which reaches millions of school-going students, discontinued abruptly.
• The provision of Rs. 6,000 to every pregnant & lactating woman, mandated under the Maternity Benefit Act, also virtually ended.
• Officials have hindered with the collection of non-timber forest produce by the forest dwellers (allowed by the Forest Rights Act).
• This has caused hunger and distress to many tribal people.

What could the judiciary do?

• There is a harshness, arbitrariness and lack of thought and preparation in the execution of the lockdown.
• Starvation deaths on account of hunger and merciless police beatings have been reported from across the country.

• With the crisis spreading to agriculture, the judiciary must abandon this hands-off approach.
• It must carefully review its approach of modestly following the executive.

Source: The Hindu