Congress Adopts Resolution to Make MSP a Legally Enforceable Right of Farmers

Congress stated that no criminal proceedings will be initiated against farmers who are in debt, and that no land will be auctioned off to recover outstanding loans. The party also resolved to provide one-time immediate relief to farmers from indebtedness by bringing a debt waiver scheme to waive up to Rs 6 lakh per farmer in a resolution on farmers and agriculture adopted at its 85th plenary session.

The Indian National Congress resolves that "MSP (minimum support price) should be a legally enforceable right of the farmers."

The purchase of agricultural produce below the MSP should be made a punishable offence, according to the party. "MSP should be calculated based on C-2 cost plus 50% profit, as suggested by the Swaminathan Commission and later recommended in the report of the Group of Chief Ministers headed by then Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in 2010," the party said. Hooda was also the chairman of the committee that presented the agriculture resolution at the plenary session.

The Congress also said that it aspires to provide farmers at least 50 per cent of what the consumer is paying for the agriculture commodity. "The Congress resolves that the National Farmer Debt Relief Commission will be set up to suggest ways and means to resolve debt-related grievances of farmers through conciliation and negotiation as is done in case of industrial loans. No criminal proceedings will be initiated, and no farmers' land will be auctioned to recover outstanding loans, according to the party's 63-point resolution."

It stated that the party intends to make farmers debt-free from the point of loan waiver and has pledged to provide one-time immediate relief through a debt waiver scheme that will waive up to Rs 6 lakh per farmer. The Congress also resolved to offer small and marginal farmers and agricultural labourers life and health insurance for up to Rs 10 lakh at a low premium.

Noting that the BJP government's much-touted crop insurance scheme is neither farmer-friendly nor realistic, it said the scheme has turned out to be one to enrich private insurance companies. "We resolve to redesign and revise the scheme to correct all deficiencies and make the insurance universal, i.e. the entire area under cultivation would be insured," the resolution stated, adding that it will be operated by public sector companies charging a premium based on the "no profit-no loss" principle.

The Congress stated that it will establish a revolving fund to compensate farmers' losses, and crop losses will be assessed by the government rather than insurance companies to ensure adequate and timely payment of compensation. The Chhattisgarh government, according to the party, launched the Rajiv Gandhi NYAY Scheme, which has supplemented income up to Rs 10,000 per acre and has resolved to extend it to all farmers across the country. The Congress resolved to expand and redesign MGNREGA, increasing wages and guaranteed days of employment, and linking the scheme to agricultural activities such as minor irrigation, water body restoration, and waste land reclamation.

The party stated that it will consider instituting a separate pension scheme for farmers and farm workers, as well as enacting the National Farmers Protection and Rights Act in tandem with the Consumer Protection Act to protect farmers' rights. According to the party, the Congress will form a commission on marginal farmers and agricultural labourers to advise on policies and programmes that will help them increase their income through dairying, poultry, and other similar activities.