Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s stories of bravery, courage will inspire countrymen for years: PM Modi

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September 28, 2020

The stories of bravery and courage of Shaheed Bhagat Singh will inspire the people of the country for centuries, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday remembering the freedom fighter and revolutionary on his 113th birth anniversary.

The Prime Minister also shared a clip from the 69th episode of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, broadcast a day ago, in which he had recounted tales from the life of the revolutionary.

“I bow down to Maa Bharati’s brave son, Amar Shaheed Bhagat Singh, on his (birth) anniversary. His tales of bravery and courage will motivate the countrymen for many many years,” the Prime Minister’s tweet read (roughly translated from Hindi). Earlier yesterday, in his 69th ‘Mann ki Baat’ address, PM Modi had highlighted some key attributes of the freedom fighter’s personality.

मां भारती के वीर सपूत अमर शहीद भगत सिंह की जयंती पर उन्हें कोटि-कोटि नमन। वीरता और पराक्रम की उनकी गाथा देशवासियों को युगों-युगों तक प्रेरित करती रहेगी। pic.twitter.com/LMy2Mlpkol

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2020

“Shaheed Bhagat Singh was not only brave but also knowledgeable and a thinker. Without caring about their lives Bhagat Singh and his friends accomplished such acts of bravery that contributed greatly to the country’s freedom,” PM Modi said and also called him a “great team player”.

Bhagat Singh was born in Banga village of Faisalabad district (previously called Lyallpur), now in Pakistan’s Punjab province, in 1907.

The revolutionary freedom fighter was a charismatic Indian socialist revolutionary whose two acts of dramatic violence against the British in India and execution at the age of 23 made him a folk hero of the Indian Independence movement.

Singh, who was hanged in the Lahore jail along with Shivaram Hari Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar on March 23, 1931, left a strong impact during his lifetime.

Indian Men are more vulnerable than women (मर्द को भी दर्द होता है)

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 25, 2020

vulnerable, indian men, men, man's rights, harassment, sexual, rape — Image Courtesy: Internet Source

In the era of equality, most of the time we falsely stand by so-called feminism. In today’s society male emotion is extremely undermined because machismo doesn’t allow men to actually admit when you’ve been hurt. Men are supposed to be tough and pretend to be strong in every adversity. In spite of following these informal conditioning between being emotionally available but not so available that someone mistakes you for being what you are. We ridicule a man who cries, we insult if he stands on his ground, we expect him to bring sky’s to woman’s feet, we expect him to be slogger and all-time money fetcher but we don’t grant him basic emotional support just because he is masculine and we assume that the male needs no such things because they are strongest. Have we ever thought they too are human and at times they are much more vulnerable than anyone? Believe it or not men cry. With each day they become increasingly torn between two sides, one side of them would love to have a family, wife, kids, etc. and another side of them is so hurt and angry that they’ll never let someone that close to them again. From 498a to rape laws all are against men and are in favor of female. The misuse of law begins here.

If one attacks a cow, he is lynched. If a woman is killed, especially if she is the wife, a million excuses are mouthed. If a woman says she is subjected to cruelty the society stands by her shaming a man with all sorts of public trials. Section 498A literally swept aside a fundamental right. True, the accused had to be produced before a first class magistrate where he, or she-relative, could plead for bail. But smart women would ensure that the complaint was made on a Friday, assuring a weekend behind the bars for the so-called accused. That leaves enough time to reach a ‘settlement’, usually with the aid of a police-recommended interlocutor, who paints a grim picture for the accused if a settlement is not reached. As cases kept on increasing, and usually with the charge of ‘cruelty’ being without any visible physical evidence, the courts had misgivings. Where does this lead a man? Nothing but a nightmare, he spends all that he earned, sometimes he land up giving the only shelter he has for himself, and most of the time even he loses the custody of his beloved children whom he might have loved more than the mother, and even in some cases where children are more comfortable with father but denied custody. Shattered marriage, cruel circumstances and leading life alone with so many challenges ahead leads him to suicide. Remember, men too get hurt, they break and crack just as often as women do; however, they aren’t allowed to show it. In some cases you might see a man who’s been hurt or taken for granted and never has an outlet to express any of those emotions, he takes help of drugs, drinks or even more but we still don’t want to be kind, the society tags him with various adjectives. In such circumstances we say, he has money to drink-drug himself he can pay for his wife. The extortion goes to such an extent that the man stops living his life. We forget the fact that they need their loved ones, particularly their children or friends, whatever the circumstances are. It is not because they are being extra or anything but because they can’t stand to watch the latter suffer. Often we become more caring than expected without realizing that women are stronger these days. Of course we do it to shower and wrap our loved ones with warmth and care to pick them up from whatever they are suffering in. This is, without a doubt, the backbone of maintaining a good relationship. But all these take a turn when they do not receive something in return. That is when the pain starts to kick in and he gets hurt, begins to regret and take back everything he’s done. Yes people may argue that guys should do anything and everything without expecting anything in return. But the question is for how long?

No matter what they will at a point feel depressed for doing something but not getting anything in return even after a very long time. It’s in human nature and it’s normal for them to feel that way. Men do not ask for anything extravagant or fancy in return from his wife or the lady he loves. All they ask for is the slightest of respect, loyalty and care, but don’t get me wrong; caring as in not overly caring, just the slightest. When that does not happen, that is when the backbone starts to break because the relationship becomes one sided. And this one-sided story ends with one side judgment.

According to WHO data, the age standardized suicide rate in India is 16.4 per 100,000 for women (6th highest in the world) and 25.8 for men (ranking 22nd). Men commit suicide at a higher rate across the world, but India has not been able to lower the suicide rate among men. India now accounts for over a fourth of male suicides, a significant increase in its global share from 1990. The suicide rates for men were much higher than the global averages. Who is at higher risk of suicide? The latest health statistics paint a grim picture of India’s mental health revealing that one person commits suicide every four minutes, maximum mental health and depression cases registered is of male patients. The National Health Profile 2018 raises alarm over the increasing numbers of suicide deaths–a whopping 1,33,623 in a year. This translates into 366 suicide deaths every day and 15 an hour. The data also show increasing vulnerability of Indian men,

Nearly 70 per cent of all suicide deaths in India involve males. Of the 1,33,623 people who killed themselves, 68.49 per cent (91,528) were men as against 42,088 women. The number of suicides by men has risen from 66,032 in 2000 and 80,544 in 2008 to 91,528 now. The number of male deaths from suicides is nearly double than that of females. According to the latest data, the highest suicide burden is in Maharashtra (16,970 deaths), followed by Tamil Nadu (15,777) and Bengal (14,602). Health data also reveal that suicides are the highest in the productive age group of 30 to 45. Vulnerable men of India too need attention, during abuse from his spouse. High Expectations from him to give a luxury life to his family, threat of committing Suicide from spouse, blackmail and hazard of misusing Laws against him. Greed for Money from his so called wife or woman in relation.

There is an urgent need of setting up of a National commission for Men in line with the National Commission for Women to register complaints filed by men and take necessary action against women who misuse laws or harass husbands or male partners. There should be a dedicated 24/7 helpline for men in distress at the police commissioner’s office in every city. More than a commission, what men need is a humble approach to society, where they should believe the fact that “men too get hurt and they too are human”.

Sam Bombay should break silence – Men’s Rights Association

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Afternoon Voice

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September 24, 2020

Men’s right organizations want Actor-Model Poonam Pandey’s husband to break the silence on ongoing abuse allegations on him. The organization believes that the equations made by Poonam are staged drama, in most of the cases women take advantage of law in her favor and men have hardly any standing.

Prakash J Sahani, the member of Men’s right organization told Afternoon Voice, “In a way, woman misuses all kinds of legal weapons against man to brutalize his life, its sort of Legal Terrorism”. When a man earns money, he wants to bring the world for his female, but when a woman earns more, she needs no man; this is the imbalance right now. Women will get sympathy, alimony, hard earned house of man. And at the end Man remains devastated”.

Vikas Kumar Gunjan, an IT professional said, “as the actress went to media and smartly secured her side, even her husband should approach the media and spill his side”. Every tragic story has two sides; we should stop believing on one side and accuse a man”.

Recently Poonam has broken her silence after filing a police complaint against her husband, film producer Sam Bombay. Poonam, who married Sam earlier this month in a private ceremony, was on her honeymoon in Goa when she filed a complaint of assault against Sam. Poonam has said that her relationship with Sam has always been violent but she had hoped that getting married would change things. She said Sam would get very possessive about her and lose his temper. She has made the decision not to go back to him. Speaking to a Newspaper, Poonam revealed all about what happened in Goa. “Sam and I had an argument, which escalated, and he began hitting me. He choked me and I thought I was going to die. He punched me in my face, pulled me by my hair and banged my head against the corner of the bed. He knelt on my body, pinned me down and assaulted me. Somehow, I managed to break free and bolted out of the room. The hotel staff called the cops, who took him away. I filed a complaint against him,” she said.

Poonam said that her relationship with her boyfriend Sam has always been violent but she thought after getting married to him, he would change. However, things worsened as she said Sam would get very possessive about her and lose his temper.

Mr Suresh Misty, a social thinker, told Afternoon Voice, “when Poonam was going through an abusive relationship with Sam for years what was the need of getting married to him? How did she expect that the man will change if her love has not changed him? Is this a revenge that she planned against him?’

Sam Bombay was booked under Sections 353 (causing hurt), 353 (insult) 506 (criminal intimidation) and 354 (outraging modesty) of the Indian Penal Code, has been directed by the court to report before the investigating officer at the Canacona police station in South Goa for four days and cooperate with the investigation.

Poonam says she will end her marriage with Sam after he beats her ‘like an animal’. “This time, I don’t plan to go back to him. I don’t think it’s a smart idea to return to a person, who has beaten you up like an animal, without even thinking of the consequence. In a bid to save our relationship, I have suffered a lot. I prefer being single than in an abusive relationship. I have decided to end our marriage. It’s about time I moved on.” Sam was granted bail on Wednesday which was set at Rs 20,000. The couple are in Canacona village of South Goa for a film shoot. Sam has been asked to report to Canacona police station for four days starting Wednesday and also not to interfere with witnesses.

Private schools – Less of education and more of commercial aspect

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 23, 2020

India is going through its worst economic crisis in a century. Over 12 crore Indians have lost their jobs. According to a survey, nearly 84% of households have suffered a loss in monthly income. For a family with a single earning member, the average expenditure on private schooling (for two children), constitutes 20% of household income. At a time when parents are reeling from salary cuts or job loss, the pressure to pay hiked school fees has made things worse. These days especially after long lockdown, parents have approached various state governments to regulate the fees hike by private schools. These schools will not be allowed to increase fees during the coronavirus lockdown without government approval and only the tuition fee can be charged till the time schools reopen. For instance, in Maharashtra, fee hikes have to be approved by the Parent-Teacher Association. Even once approved by the PTA, if (at least) 25% of parents oppose the hike, they can approach the Fee Revision Committee. There is a need for parents to have a greater voice in fixing fees and regulating fee hikes.

However, issues with fees are just the tip of the iceberg. Private schools openly hold screening processes such as interviews and admissions, which is forbidden by the Right to Education Act. It is also commonplace for parents in private schools to be coerced into buying supplies such as textbooks and uniforms from a specified vendor despite the fact that private school regulations in multiple states make it a punishable offense. There is always an argument that the private schools in India charge unreasonable fees as they provide extra facilities and services to the students. Some of the private schools teach swimming, horse riding, computers, music, and much more to primary school students. The private schools also prepare their students to face challenges in life. There is an all-round development of the students in the private schools, hence the fees charged by them are high. But how much excessive the fees should be for such facilities is yet oblivious.

India has 100 million students enrolled as compared to the US or the UK that have 5.1million and 504,000 private school students respectively.

Evidence of increasing enrolment in private schools in rural India- from 18.7% in 2006 to 25.6% in 2011 and declining enrolment in government schools.

The share of private schools enrolment at the primary level is 30.6% and 37.1% in upper primary levels. Secondary education accounts for 54.4% at the junior secondary level and 60.3% at the senior/higher secondary level.

69 million students study in 247,843 private schools at the elementary level making the average number of students per school at 280. India has more than 339,000 private K-12 schools, growing in the last five years at a CAGR of 4%.

Around 130,000 additional private schools will be required by 2022 given the current trends. Private schools enrolment in the top 20 states accounts for nearly 55% share of enrolment at the secondary/higher secondary level. Still, education and educational institutes are given less priority by the BJP government. India needs many government schools that can match to private schools; these schools need good teachers and infrastructure. Private schools are not affordable to many middle-class families. Even if they somehow manage to get admission in these schools; they fail to cope up with fees and other curricular activities that need constant funding. And those students who are failing to pay the fees on time are being dropped from even online classes. Several parents have been approaching the government with requests for fee waivers during the lockdown period.

Besides many schools have deficits in their balance sheets for multiple years. Schools have already been drawing on development fees and annual charges to pay salaries to their teachers. This will put several schools in jeopardy and it may become very difficult to revive these institutions that are already in critical care. While taking such measures the government also needs to come with a slew of measures to save private schools.

As per laws, private organizations cannot open schools in India. The schools have to be operated by a society that has been created in accordance with the Societies Act of 1860 or by a trust that has been organized as per the Public Trust Act of individual states. A private entity willing to set up a school in India can also set up a company as prescribed by Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956. All these legislations ensure that a school is set up as a non-profit making body. Making a profit from private schools in India is illegal. The sad part of it is, there are so many private schools, which are funded by private organizational/Individual and mostly the black money gets converted to white. A lot of profit is being generated from it. The government provides concession at many levels for private schools when private schools provide free education for physically challenged students/economically backward students. This is one way where the private school uses it to there advantage and get this thing done. Private schools get loans at very low interest, due to the fact that it has to be a non-profit organization (but at the end profit is generated).

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Four private schools under the scanner of the Maharashtra education department

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Afternoon Voice

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September 23, 2020

Over the fee hike private schools in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai to be inspected by the education department. Nearly twenty schools are probed are one by one government would order the inspections. The state education department formed committees to address complaints concerning fee hikes in private schools.

Last week, several parents of students from different schools in the city met Bacchu Kadu, state minister for school education. Jayant Jain, president of the Forum for Fairness in Education coordinated with the delegation of parents from around 35 schools. In the days to come, the department plans to inspect more schools. “We are doing it in phases as we are short-staffed due to Covid-19 restrictions,” added the official.

Officials appointed by the department will inspect the documents of St Josephs’ School in Panvel, Euro school in Thane, Universal School in Ghatkopar, and Bright Start Fellowship International School in Grant Road pertaining to the last seven years. In a circular issued by the office of the deputy director on September 16, two committees of the department officials have been formed to look into the complaints of parents from different schools.

A spokesperson from the Xaviers’ Group that runs St Joseph School said, “The concerned education official has issued a letter to the school on September 10 and the same has been replied to.” Officials at Bright Start Fellowship School office-bearer said “they have answered the queries raised by the education department and also parents’ student’s association”. Euro School has advised by their legal team to refrain issuing statements to media, Universal School sources said “they are yet to understand and analyze the issue, they would respond after “taking legal view”.

“Private schools have the power to fix their own fees as per the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Act, 2011. However, the Act has set some rules regarding a cap on the percentage fee hike, duration after which it can be imposed, and has also laid down the procedure for its approval by the Parent Teachers Association. Though, some parents have alleged that schools are not following these norms. We have thus asked for an inspection of such schools to verify their documents,” said a senior official from the department.

The dark sides of Media and glamour industry exposed time and again

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 23, 2020

These days some media houses and celebrities are reaching their orgasm with their kind of breaking news. Day by day Indian media is losing credibility in its rush for broadcast. Is it trying to play the role of intelligence authorities, detectives, prosecutor, jury, judge, and everything? Is self-regulation in the media the need of the hour? Seasoned politicians and journalists engaged themselves in a shabby debate on prime time. They talk similarly and they are given the opportunity to speak just because they pick the agenda of a news anchor. Those who oppose his point of view are either humiliated or ignored. The media goes too deep without going far enough. Right now, some celebrities and professionals, making their constant presence in prime-time debates, these channels are stalled on two topics: Bollywood and Maharashtra politics. From Sushant Singh Rajpoot’s suicide to drugs, and name-calling the Thackeray family. Media missing the narrative. They became creepy voices supported by social media celebs. Media regulated by politicians and political funders is the last thing that should happen.

These days it is in the debate that Jaya Saha is being questioned by NCB in the Sushant-Rhea drug angle probe. Notably, in connection with the narcotics angle, Jaya Saha’s name had also surfaced in some text messages with Rhea Chakraborty in which a discussion about putting “four drops” of some substance in somebody’s drink had taken place. The message, allegedly sent in late 2019 reads, “Use 4 drops in tea, let him sip it …. Give it 30-40 mins to kick in”. It was later found out that the duo was discussing banned drugs– CBD Oil. The central anti-drugs agency so far arrested more than a dozen persons, including Sushant Singh Rajput’s girlfriend actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty. As part of its investigation, the NCB had conducted raids at multiple locations in Mumbai and Goa to unearth the drugs supply network. NCB is doing its job, but there is too much leak in the news and the media is making mountains out of a mole. How healthy journalism is this? There are attacks on various people, one example is Deepika Padukone, just because she has expressed her solidarity to the students in JNU by making her presence known for film promotions, she has been dragged in every controversy. Let the investigative agencies find the truth and prove them guilty. Why run media trials?? NCB’s probe into Bollywood and Drugs is not yet completed. Let the agencies do their job. There are at least two angles running in tandem in terms of the NCB’s investigation into the link between Bollywood and drugs – regarding the Sushant Singh Rajput-Rhea Chakraborty and associated angle and regarding Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s complaint about a 2019 Bollywood party video that had emerged earlier in which a lot of Bollywood stars were present. Actors Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan are likely to be summoned by the agency at some point this week. Sara Ali Khan’s name had come up in the questioning of Rhea Chakraborty, NCB had confirmed, whereas Shraddha Kapoor’s prospective summoning is a new development. In 2008, Shradh Kapoor’s brother Siddhant Kapoor was among 240 youths, including 38 women, detained after the police raided a rave party. He was released soon after medical examination and after their blood samples were collected and sent for forensic analysis. But that time also the media went wild in publishing this news and declaring him a druggist. The same is happening with his sister too. Drugs are not a new syndrome in Mumbai’s elite class. Drugs and alcohol addiction is one of the dark as well as pretty open truths of Bollywood, without naming some of the most loving stars that we see today on-screen are drug addicts. Everyone knows about this but nobody cares.

Links to the underworld as well Black money laundering is also an open as well as the dark side of Bollywood, many well-famed stars have underworld connection with some well-known mafia-don. Money laundering is also a well-known process that happens in Bollywood, think you must have seen many nonsense movies which you think that why these are even made, Money laundering can be a reason, making black money to white. Casual sex and sexual fetish are one of the dark secrets that stars are often exposed to, regular link-ups breakups, sex parties, and all sorts of fun that can be achieved with money and fame can be seen with stars. Depression and social anxiety are common in the film industry. Here, nobody is a friend- nobody is Foe. These days some actresses and actors with their political inclinations and motives have created undue controversy against successful actresses and actors. Movies are considered as one of the most influential methods to affect people’s mentality, today we see abusive language, excess use of drugs, alcohol, vulgarity, violence inside movies, invoking the inner darkness of human personality just to make money. Something similar is happening in their personal lives too.

Besides Underworld, Bollywood celebrities have close connections with many political parties, they’re allies with several politicians & policemen who help them in getting out of troubles during distressing times. Many celebrities are fearless due to backing from powerful parties in the respective governments. Political parties like BJP and Congress have several allies in Bollywood who promote these parties in return of favors from them and seat in the parliament when they venture into politics after retiring from movies.

These days Indian media is stuck to sensational updates in the ongoing Bollywood-Drug probe by the Narcotics Control Bureau. Justice for Sushant has taken a back seat and somewhat forgotten these days, Drugs is not the main reason for Sushant’s murder. I think soon people will forget Sushant’s death and they will focus more on drugs because Rhea Chakravarty’s arrest somehow got managed in a drug probe but not in connection with the abetment of suicide. Sushant Singh Rajpoot’s sisters were getting probed for the last-minute developments in his death, so the family went in mute state. Sushant’s family, lawyer, Bihar police, and section of media all are silent on justice for Sushant because they know their voices were foul. Now the new chapters have opened up for TRP and that is nothing but Drugs, let see how long this topic remains in the news.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Maratha quota: Maharashtra govt files plea before larger bench of SC

By

Afternoon Voice

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September 21, 2020

The Maharashtra government has filed an application before a larger bench of the Supreme Court seeking vacation of the apex court’s stay on implementation of Maratha quota in jobs and education, an official statement said on Monday. The Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s move comes amidst protests by various pro-quota Maratha bodies in the state.

PWD Minister Ashok Chavan later told reporters that the application was filed on Monday morning and added the counsels representing the government will try to see that the hearing on the application takes place soon. Asked about the protest by Marathas, Chavan said, “..It is a judicial process. We will have to find a solution through judicial process only. Hence, the government has filed the application before the Supreme Court following the process”.

The senior Congress leader, who heads the state cabinet sub-committee on Maratha quota, said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray might make a detailed statement on issues such as admissions, jobs etc. concerning the Maratha community in a day or two. “Our senior counsels will try to see that the hearing (on the vacation application) takes place soon,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Chavan met NCP president Sharad Pawar and held discussion about the steps the MVA dispensation is planning to take in view of the stay order. The Supreme Court earlier this month stayed the implementation of the 2018 Maharashtra law granting reservation to Marathas in education and jobs, but made it clear that the status of those who have availed of the benefits will not be disturbed.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice L N Rao had referred to a larger constitution bench, to be set up by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, the batch of pleas challenging the validity of the law granting reservation to Marathas in education and jobs. The apex court had said the status of those who have already taken benefits of the 2018 law shall not be disturbed.

The Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018 was enacted to grant reservation to people of Maratha community in Maharashtra in jobs and admissions. The Bombay High Court, while upholding the law in June last year, held that 16 per cent reservation was not justifiable, and said quota should not exceed 12 per cent in employment and 13 per cent in admissions.

#FarmBill2020 – Country needs to go forward in the 21st Century: PM

By

Afternoon Voice

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September 21, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the farm bills at the centre of a huge controversy are “historic and necessary” if the country needs to go forward in the 21st Century. Eight opposition members were suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the session over unprecedented chaos in the house during the passing of controversial farm bills on Sunday, but they refused to leave. The members, including Trinamool Congress’s Derek O’Brien, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Sanjay singh, Congress’s Rajeev Satav and CPM’s KK Ragesh, were told they had displayed “unruly behavior especially with the Chair and gross disorderly conduct”.

The government hopes competitive markets and higher private investments in the food supply chain will improve farm-gate prices. Here are five indicators to watch out to understand the near-term impact of these reforms. Firstly, over the next few weeks, freshly harvested kharif crops will start arriving in the markets. The number to watch out for, is by what extent arrivals in existing mandis drop. For instance, if arrivals drop significantly by say, over 25% compared to last October (the peak arrival month), this would mean trade is shifting out of APMC yards to take advantage of the zero taxes and fees provision of the new regime. But without regulatory oversight and monitoring of transactions outside APMC mandis it remains unclear how the welfare impact on farmers will be quantified. If arrivals show no change year on year, that would mean a status quo for now.

Ramling Shere the farmer from Latur told Afternoon Voice, “People, including farmers, elected BJP with such numbers that opposition cannot stop them from passing the anti-farmer’s bill. Farmers can protest, take out marches for their political interest and influences. But the fact is that earlier the farmers had to sell their crops at APMC (Regulated Mandis), but now they have a parallel system where they can sell their crops outside mandis as well.”

The new legislations that look to rejig India’s vast and fragmented agriculture markets together with amendments to the Essential Commodities Act are significant structural changes brought in by the Narendra Modi government. So far protests by farmers have largely concentrated in north-western India, in Punjab and Haryana, but the legislations are likely to have far reaching impact over the next few years across states.

Secondly, data on wholesale prices have to be closely monitored to understand the immediate impact of the bills on farm gate prices. As crop production is expected to touch record highs following ample rains and higher plantings, a slide in wholesale prices could lead to unrest among farmers. More so, since the Prime Minister has assured that farmers won’t be denied procurement at minimum support prices (MSP). It is likely that farmers will hold the government accountable if prices drop and state procurement remains limited for pulses and oilseeds.

The third indicator is how government procurement of food grains will change, especially in states like Punjab and Haryana. Will the Food Corporation of India use the services of commission agents and procure from mandis by paying over 8% in taxes? Or will the government procure from outside mandis while undertaking MSP operations? Any disruption to the usual procurement regime may lead to further unrest in these states.

Fourthly, policy makers and the central bank may need to closely monitor how changes in the Essential Commodities act will impact retail food inflation. With the government allowing private players to stock agri commodities freely, chances of hoarding to manipulate retail prices cannot be ruled out. The government needs to closely track privately held stocks, else the current trend of high food inflation may not ease despite record harvests. A transparent regime on privately held stocks is also required for trade policy decisions.

Lastly, farmer groups need to closely monitor corporate interventions in agriculture markets. It is unlikely that private firms will immediately invest in value chains or set up private markets if state governments are not aligned to the reform agenda. A politically volatile situation will deter them from investing. However, it could well be the case that food companies use services of the much-vilified middlemen while procuring directly from farmers. But farmers are unlikely to benefit from such transactions.

Farm Bill 2020 – ‘Free Markets Vs Regulated Markets’

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 21, 2020

Farm Bill, Farmers, Agriculture, Regulated Market, Modi, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, Farmers Bill — Image Courtesy: Reuters

We all are familiar with the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan’ but let us analyze how much we care about our farmers or the so called ‘Kisaan’. A wide variety of taxes used to be imposed on farmers, if they sell their crops and vegetables in Mandis. The most common example is Arthiyas (middleman). They used to help farmers in loading, unloading, cleaning and setting up the Mandi, in return they used to take 2.5% commission. An estimate says more than 2,000 crore rupees were given to such middlemen out of farmers’ pockets. The State Government also imposes tax on such farmers. Punjab government earns more than 3,500 crore rupees from such taxes. Unions also have a stronghold on such a Mandi system and earn a good amount of money from the farmers’ pocket. The Government is giving farmers a chance to sell their crops outside APMCs as well. Those who wish to sell in APMC can continue to do so, while those who wish to sell in other states or other traders can do so. If the farmers chose the parallel system, extra costs that incur to them, like taxes, won’t be no longer bothering them. Obviously if the farmers chose the parallel system, it will be a blow to the earnings of middlemen and unions.

Two of the government’s three farm bills, which have led to massive protests by opposition parties and farmers, were passed amid an uproar in the Rajya Sabha. During the discussion on the bills, the government said the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce Bill and the Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill will bring major reforms in the lives of the farmers. After the bills were passed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “For decades, the Indian farmer was bound by various constraints and bullied by middlemen. The bills passed by Parliament liberate the farmers from such adversities. These bills will add impetus to the efforts to double income of farmers and ensure greater prosperity for them. The opposition alleges that the proposed laws will give power in the hands of corporates and farmers will be deprived of a fair price for their produce.

The Modi government has come up with three ordinances related to agriculture. But these ordinances have turned the farmers of the nation against the government. Especially that of Punjab and Haryana. They have started to protest by blocking the roads and highways. As per the government, the three bills will help small and marginal farms by allowing them to sell produce outside mandis; allowing them to sign agreements with agri-business firms; and doing away with stock-holding limits on key commodities. According to the government these ordinances favour the ideology of ‘One Nation One Market’. It will give freedom of choice to the farmers. They can sell it freely across the nation and no need to bring them into APMCS. But if we see overall there are only 6% of farmers who receive MSP’s in our nation. Because MSP’s are only granted when a farmer comes and sells his goods in APMC. In a report of 2012-13 conducted by the government they found that the majority of the trade was being sold by the farmers to the traders outside the APMCS and not in the APMC. So, MSP was inoperable here. On this decision the farmers feel that if the government will make the nearby area tax free then it will be a heavy loss for them. Because in APMCS everything is regulated, transactions are transparent and are kept in account. On the other hand, places outside these mandis are not registered. Nor is there any MSP outside the mandi or APMC. The farmers who are protesting are saying that these ordinances will ‘Corporatize’ the agriculture. This will lead to the monopoly of big companies and MNC and will exploit the farmers even more. A recent example of this is, a few days back Pepsi Corporation sued the farmers in Gujarat. The farmers of our country are not that much literate who can read and understand these fluffy contracts made by these big MNCS. Many experts have also raised the concern that the government is just making fools of the people by saying that these ordinances will give freedom of choice to the farmers because freedom of choice already exists to them. They can sell freely wherever they want. Because freedom of choice hardly matters for the farmers. In a country like India farmers usually don’t travel miles to sell their goods. At the most what they do is sell in their own state or the nearby states. To sum up this whole issue is of ‘Free Markets Vs Regulated Markets’. Free Market basically means that there should be zero interference of the government in the business sector.

Before going to question the merits of the government’s claims, let us see what the farmer wants. He only wants a fair price for his produce, without affecting the interests of the consumer because he is also a consumer, consumer of his own produce. He believes a portion of what a consumer pays legally belongs to him. This portion actually goes to the middlemen. So, if middlemen are kept away at some level, the farmer will get his share without affecting the interest of other consumers. Therefore, what is needed is to reduce the number of middlemen, if not eliminate them. What one of the Bills has done is to introduce another middleman in the form of trade, in addition to the mandis. Can the government give an assurance that the farmer will get a higher price for his produce, henceforth? Would the purchaser sell the produce at the existing price, without affecting the customer? My answer is ‘No’, for the simple reason that the traders are not philanthropists. The farmer wants money immediately for the next crop and to repay the existing loans. The government says the farmer can sell his produce anywhere, outside mandis. Well, does he have the transport, time and patience for this? Does he have adequate storage for the produce? Is he in a position to bargain? No, and the government knows this.Now, the contract farming. What is the guarantee that the farmer will get a higher price for his produce, without affecting the consumer? The contract farming will go mechanized, causing more unemployment. What is the guarantee the farmer gets to work on the farm, his own land? The contractor will bring more migrant workers to save money at the cost of local workers. What is the guarantee, a farmer would get back his land if he wanted to come out of the contract? In case of any dispute he has to approach a magistrate. Does the government want a farmer to become a litigant or what? A farmer could become landless after giving his land for contract farming.

10 killed, dozens feared trapped as building collapses in Bhiwandi; rescue operation underway

By

Hema Singh

-

September 21, 2020

At least ten people were killed and around 25 were feared trapped after a multi-storey building collapsed in Bhiwandi near Mumbai on Monday.

According to the latest report, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has rescued around 31 people from the rubble of the building in Patel Compound area. Also, the NDRF rescued a four-year-old boy from under the debris at the site of building collapse. The building collapse incident took place around 3:40 am.

The building located at Narpoli’s Patel Compound near Dhamankar Naka, collapsed while the residents were asleep.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushed to the spot. NDRF DG S N Pradhan said the teams were using a canine squad to search persons trapped in the debris.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoles loss of lives in the collapse.

“Saddened by the building collapse in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for a quick recovery of those injured. Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to the affected,” tweeted Modi.

Saddened by the building collapse in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for a quick recovery of those injured. Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to the affected.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 21, 2020

The portion of the building collapsed and many occupants were trapped in the debris of the collapsed building, a Thane Municipal Corporation official said.

The building was not in the list of dilapidated structures of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation, he said.