Government & Farmers Group Meeting scheduled today, What could be the Outcome of the meeting?

The government and the farmers could not reach at any conclusive decision during the meeting held on Thursday. Over 500 Farmers organization and nearly 2 Lakh farmers have joined the Delhi Chalo march and the protests have been going on for the last two months by farmers across the country, especially from Punjab and Haryana, after the government introduced the farm bills. 

Farmers on Friday have called for nationwide protests against the new farm bills and announced a Bharat Bandh on December 8, after talks between three union ministers and a representative group of the distressed farmers failed to arrive at any conclusive outcome on Thursday. 

The representative group comprised 35 farmers group. Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chadoni had stated that they will intensify their agitation and also occupy the toll plazas today if the Centre does not accept their demands to modify the laws during Saturday’s talks. The fifth round of meeting between government and the farmers is scheduled at 2 pm today. All eyes will be keen for knowing the outcome of the meeting.  

Till now there exists confusion amongst farming community in context to the MSP applications because there is not specification made by the government whether there is a guarantee for farmers to receive at least the MSP, in case they sell to the private entities. There is a need for the government to address the issue of legalizing the MSP issue. Another point needing clarity will about SDM court being the final authority.  

Farmers are demanding that SDM court should not be the final authority for matters, related to the case of resentment. Since SDM is relatively a lower rank court, therefore its final decision may not be that influential in providing justice to the farmers in case of major disputes. As verbal promises cannot be legally binding, hence there is a need for the government to assure the legal status for MSP because Mandis are regulated by State government. The farmers have demanded an executive order in this matter. All these will be the discussion points for today’s meeting.  

One positive aspect is that the Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar has assured that the farmers that MSP (Minimum Support Price) will not be touched, and the government is open to consider and discuss issues raised by farmers. The government wants to make amendments to the three laws, and farmers want the laws to be modified completely. So what can be the results of the meeting - understanding from media and government official talks, there are indications that the Bills will continue but there may be amendments in the act, with the incorporations of the key points demanded by the farmers groups. Therefore let us keep our fingers crossed and wait and watch for fresh updates in context to the Meeting outcome.