Farmers: Vote Bank to Headlines

India’s Farmer suicides have become an item of discussion for both opposition parties and those in media houses. Sometimes the numbers can be under-reported and sometimes it is mere profession based categorization of death. Though I have my own doubts when it comes to what gets reported, but I don’t disregard human life.

Bad press

Is profession the only identity a human carries or is it simply irresponsible journalism to attract readership? From a techie being shot dead in Australia, from another techie jumping off a building in Chennai because of a broken heart, to another newly married one shot dead in Delhi – the usage of the word Techie in the headline seems to cast a shadow on the current sunrise sector of India. Farmers may be exempt from tax, but not from bad press.

Do Governments care?

Honestly, does the Government care about these murders and suicides despite techies being one of the most prompt tax-payers in the country? So why should the Government care about farmers? Most of them hold a small piece of land, consume and demand a lot of subsidies and never pay taxes. But have the media and opposition have made this into a political issue ahead of the upcoming elections in Bihar and U.P.?

Ploughing the same field

We can draw a comparison between farmer suicides and student suicides which are often precipitated by fear and failure. And there is no use taking one’s life; suicide is just a way to temporarily escape the situation and leave rest of the family in severe distress. Remember short-term compensation for farmers and moderation of marks for students are just temporary fixes and doesn’t address the systematic failure and fundamental human behavior and support system needed to wean them out of this behavior. 

Is it a sustainable profession?

Farming has been the oldest profession, though some may claim prostitution is, but I am going to debate on that. Though “Make in India” manufacturing may look like an attractive option to power-up the slowing economy and trade deficit, but being able to protect our farmers who feed the nation and addresses future trade deficit.

Every generation of farmers has experienced the vagaries of monsoon, political neglect and the associated stress, distress and financial loss. See how drought is affecting farmlands in California (contributes 70% to US food production) and in Rio de Janeiro. Today, 75% of farmers in India hold less than a hectare of land and with increasing cost of agriculture (Read a well-researched TOI article) it is not possible for farming to be a sustainable profession. 

Are subsidies awards?

As pointed out by Mr. Sharad Yadav, JDU President none from the farming community has ever received any awards (Padma awards) apart from subsidies. If Governments want to fix the problem and provide a long-term solution to making farming a lucrative, sustainable respectable profession, and turning them into responsible tax-payers they must look beyond free power, low-cost seeds, free water, and fertilizer subsidies. 

Hold up the mirror

The opposition parties and media houses own the responsibility of raising their voices and holding up the mirror to the ruling party and showing them their blind-spots. They must also push for addressing the systemic failures and look for long-term fixes if they were genuinely concerned about those headlines and protests organized on behalf of farmers. The opening of MUDRA Bank, millions of bank accounts and urging public and private banks to loan more to farmer and rich to give away subsidies is just the beginning and there is a long way to go...

End vote bank politics and irresponsible headlines

Political parties and press needs start respecting farmers like other professionals and not see them as a mere vote bank and or sensational headlines or front page stories. Political parties must carry their representatives in Parliament and Press must make them look  proud, positive, respected and valuedprofessionally. By not doing so they are killing the Golden Goose and we all know how suicidal it is to them and to the food production network that feeds the nation. Let’s respect human life, learn to be symbiotic and not emulate the life of a parasite.