“On trying to compile an endless suffering that farmers need to bear, one is left wondering if there exists a magic pill that can solve their problems,” says Mr. Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj, New Delhi.
The biggest bane of the farmers according to him, “is that they vote on caste or religious lines, nudged by political leaders and later expect the government to deliver their needs as a community of farmers. Unfortunately, today, dearth of farmer leaders exists in all-political parties. Leaders represent their own individual communities and castes to win their elections,” he says.
Need for awareness
Surprisingly, more than a farmer, it is the policy makers who need to be educated - especially on marketing - because their decisions determine a farmer's future.
“Over the years, a number of farmers' organizations are becoming either offshoots of political parties or politically aligned. As a consequence, these become mouthpieces of political groups,” adds Mr. Ajay.
Being dependent on one party or the other, (as is usually the case), an organisation becomes more active during opposition rule.
Because of this, several groups are becoming inherently seasonal, agitating, channelising pent up frustration and anger against the government of the day,” he says and adds “at no point should this be mistaken to represent absence of good organisations.”
There are several organisations doing a good job, but are less known, as they work for the welfare of farmers and are not in the business of publicity. These groups are nearly lost in the vast ocean of namesake farmers' welfare organisations, according to Mr. Ajay.
Self propagation
“Everyone criticises aloud to get noticed,” he stresses. No doubt, criticism being valuable, gets public attention in the society, increases TV ratings, garners support, and eventually money and position.
At most seminars, farmer meets, and debates on agriculture, we find people projecting themselves, highlighting faults in sight. Positive discussions are a rarity, seems to be his view.
More influence
“Even though most agitations that hold up the roads and block traffic are for a farmer related cause, they do not achieve much. The farmers in the U.S. wield more influence on the government policy because they are better organised to look after their own interests,” he says.
Though 70 per cent of the farmers in India are women, very few admit women members, and even fewer shoulder constitutional responsibilities in their respective setups.
Farmers' organisations can play a vital role on two fronts: First enlighten the farmers' about wrong policies affecting them; and two, dissect information of best available agriculture practices so that the farmer can make an informed decision for adoption.
Communication value
The value of good communication, pressurising policymakers, awareness and information access to farmers cannot be underestimated, according to Mr. Ajay.
“It becomes difficult to evaluate resultant gains or quantify the benefits. Funding obviously remains a major hurdle for those doing good work,” he adds.
The Panchayati Raj today acts like a double edged sword — providing much needed empowerment and benefits to the rural community on the one hand, and on the other destroying the social harmony in the villages .
“It acts to divide farmers on political lines by pitting one against the other in every street, to the point that farmer solidarity may be lost for ever,” regrets Mr. Ajay
Several possibilities
The possibilities of various positive roles that an organisation can play today to ease the farmers' suffering are endless if we vote on issues that benefit us irrespective of political affiliations, rather than on our vested ideologies, local and sectarian interests, according to him.
For more details contact Mr. Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj, A-1 Nizamuddin West, New Delhi-110013, email:aj@bks.org.in, phones: 011– 46121708 and 65650384.
