Skip to main content

Delhi farmers' rally seeks complete loan waiver law from Lok Sabha; leaders agree, farm incomes have nosedived

By A Representative
A Kisan Mukti Sansad (Farmers' Freedom Parliament), held in New Delhi after completing Kisan Mukti Yatra of more than 10,000 kilometers under the leadership of the All-India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) in 19 states, saw its leaders introducing a draft Farmer’s Freedom From Debt Bill, 2017, seeking it's approval in the winter session of Parliament.
Held on November 20, since morning, thousands of farmers started marching with flags and sloganeering from Ramlila ground, Ambedkar Bhavan, Gurudwara Rakabganj and different railway stations to reach the Sansad venue at Parliament Street, carrying red, green, yellow and blue flags.
The Sansad started with paying tribute to the farmers martyred in Mandsaur and other police firings, to farmers who have committed suicide, and to farmers of Yavatmal, who died due to pesticide poisoning. VM Singh, convener of AIKSCC, welcoming the farmers who arrived for the Sansad, said that farming has become a loss making activity. Ironically, his views echoed the government view that, as farm incomes were declining, more and more people should shift from agriculture to industry.
Singh, however, said, the solution lay in farm loan waiver and doubling farmers' income. "All the previous farm loans must be waived off", he insisted.
Kavita Kurungati, a woman farmer, and convener of the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), put forward the issues of women farmers in detail and emphasized on the need of passing the bill for loan waiver and ensuring that the price of farm produce is raised at least by 1.5 times of the input cost.
Several women related shocking stories of the families of farmers who have committed suicide. They felt for the first time someone is listening to their grievances and were hopeful that in future other families would not commit suicide but would resist for their demands.
While addressing the Sansad, Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan said that this was a historic moment, as women from all over the country had gathered there to discuss their issues, supporting the bill aimed at bettering the lives of farmers, peasants, farm workers, adivasis, landless, tenant farmers, fishworkers. She added, the government has displaced more than 10 crore farmers from all over the country, including farmers of the Narmada Valley, without complete rehabilitation.
Hannan Mollah, president of the All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), reading out the Farmer’s Freedom From Debt Bill, 2017, said that the government has looted farmers by paying them less continuously, and forced them into debt. This in turn has caused the suicide of more than 5 lakh farmers in the country.
"Farmers will not allow the exploitation now", he said, adding, "Farmers' organizations from all over the country have consistently demanded loan waiver. Here we have a draft bill, which Parliament must discuss and approve. Small loan waivers cannot work for farmers, we need a comprehensive bill to ensure freedom from debt cycle."
Raju Shetty, MP, said, "We will not spare anyone found cheating farmers. We have the capability to overturn the ruling government. It is only because of farmers' faith that Narendra Modi was able to come with clear majority on the promises of raising farmer’s income to minimum 1.5 times of the cost."
Yogendra Yadav, of the Jai Kisan Andolan and Swaraj Abhiyan, said that the Sansad was a milestone in the history of farmers’ movements. "This is the first time when farmers bearing red and green flags have come together. And with yellow and blue flag bearers also joining in, it has become a rainbow."
Atul Kumar Anjan of the AIKS said that corporates are looking towards corporatization of farming looking at the need for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc., adding, the narrative propagated by the government and a few economists about less production due to small and medium farm size is totally false, as 54% of wheat production and 57% rice are being produced from these small and medium farms only.
Butta Singh Burjgil of the Bhartiya Kisan Union said that the Congress in Punjab had promised to waive off farmers' loan in its manifesto, "and following our struggle, it waived off crop loan of farmers having land less than 5 acres, but put a cap of aggregated crop loan, including principal amount and interest, of Rs 2 lakh. Even here, the waiver is only for those farmers who have taken loan from cooperatives. This comes to less than 10% of farmers indebted in Punjab."
V Venkat Ramiyaa, a senior organiser of the Sansad, said that the government had promised to double the income of farmers, but in reality it is keeping the support prices lower than the actual cost in the case of nine out of 17 crops, for which the scheme is offered. "This is pushing the farmers into debt trap. Hence the demand for comprehensive loan waiver."
Dr Sunilam, national convener of the National Alliance of People’s Movements, said, "Due to GST and demonetization, already, the farmer’s income are on decline. In the last three years, public sector loans have increased to Rs 10.65 crore from 8.11 lakh crore. This is happening when farmers have raised the production of fruits, vegetables, and crops by 1.5 times to 534 crore tons in the last decade".
During the Sansad, speakers demanded unconditional and immediate release of Akhil Gogoi, leader of Assam's Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, who is imprisoned for the last year under sedition charges and National Security Act. Speakers called it murder of democracy and dissent, deciding to form committees in states to fight for the release of Gogoi.
In all, representatives from 184 farmer’s organizations from 25 states participated in the Sansad.

Comments

TRENDING

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative   At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar  For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative   Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

A matter of deep concern: The silent struggles of India's visually impaired women

By N.S. Venkataraman  Visual impairment is one of the most severe forms of physical disability that afflicts humanity, and its impact is even more acute when it affects women. The burden becomes overwhelming when visually impaired women also belong to economically weaker sections of society, with little or no financial or institutional support. Their struggle for dignity, survival, and identity is often invisible—hidden in plain sight across cities and rural corners alike. And yet, these women form a large, neglected segment of society not just in India, but around the world. In India, governmental assistance to visually impaired persons exists but remains minimal. While policies are framed with good intent, they often fall short in implementation. More importantly, no real distinction is made between the unique challenges faced by visually impaired men and women. This gender-blind approach to disability support overlooks the compounded social vulnerabilities that women face due to...