Centre Disregarded Agriculture Sector in Budget: Farmers’ Union

Farmers affiliated with the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) burned figures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, accusing the Central Government of disregarding the agriculture sector in the Union Budget presented in the parliament on February 1.

Protests, according to KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher, took place in 40 locations across 13 state districts. The union stated that the Budget has cut funds for the agriculture sector which is a clear indicator that the government is giving the farming community step-motherly treatment.

Additionally, it stated that the government increased funding for loans for the agriculture sector in the Budget, for which farmers must pledge their land to banks.

It indicates that the government is prepared to provide loans to farmers with interest rates that would further trap them in a cycle of debt but are not prepared to improve their economic situation. The only option to give the farming sector what it deserves is to establish prices in accordance with the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, but it would force them to sell their land due to the debt trap's allure, it added.

The government has also cut back on funding for MGNREGA, which will have an impact on rural laborers and landless people, KMSC highlighted. It was stated that the decreased budget allocation would result in fewer workdays and have an impact on their livelihood.

It was further said that raising the threshold for those who earn less than Rs 7 lakh annually to be exempt from filing income taxes will only benefit a small portion of society. Since 95% of farmers own less than 5 acres of land, it would not aid the farming industry in any way. Theoretically, they are already exempt from paying taxes even if they earn Rs 1 lakh per acre. The situation is the same when most people work in the private sector.