Up ahead, restoring trust

Context: The perseverance of the farmer unions has forced the repeal of the three farm laws.

Issues related to farm laws and their withdrawal

• Misdiagnosing of issues: The three farm laws were a consequence of the establishment’s misconception that it knows what is best for the farmers.
• Vote bank politics: Rolling back the farm laws before the UP-assembly elections.
• Improper handling of issue: The government agencies for back-channel talks and attempts to drive a wedge between farmer unions should have been the government’s chosen route to resolve the issue.
• Violation of Parliamentary conventions: The laws were passed by a hurried voice vote and the PM announced a repeal without the Cabinet approving it.
• Supreme Court constituted committee to study the farm laws did not forward the report to the government.
• Lack of clarity/depth in initiatives: Most government initiatives, if assessed independently by intended beneficiaries, would reveal the glaring extent of lapses, missed opportunities and not-so-positive outcomes.
• Failure to convince stakeholders: Government unable to convince farmers about the benefits of the farm laws, even in its own cadre in villages.
• Urban de-population: A reverse migration from urban centres to the villages, opposite to idea of depressed farm sector leading people from rural areas to migrate to urban spaces in search of livelihood opportunities, is the latest setbacks are to be viewed alongside a host of other challenges that the government faces.
• Bureaucratic apathy: It has driven the farmers to a point where they are resorting to looting fertilisers in broad daylight. 
• Ineffective opposition: It allows the party in office to rule without checks and balances. The government has lost control of the fiscal, administrative and governance space.

Way forward

• Revamp bureaucracy: Bureaucracy should have the capacity to design a food-systems approach that considers human health and that of the planet as one.
• Social Inclusion: Government should allow everyone to pitch in - especially those opposed to the government’s ideas by presenting detailed proposals with guidelines for implementation as well as their financial and social implications.