Farmer's labour: who wants to use it for making profits

In India, the small time  farm markets provide the non-farming people with daily need of green produce(fruits and vegetables). There are many middlemen or small businessmen who procure the farm produce and bring it to markets for selling. Their livelihoods depends on the moving of produce from the farm to the table of the consumers(farm to fork) If a retail chain  take over this market, then the livelihoods of these middlemen are at stake. Right now, the government is trying to make a policy for direct foreign investment for the retail marketing.Foreign Investment in making of retail shops will bring more capital inflow, and make the economy function better. But other politicians have future election in their agenda and want votes of the middlemen/businessmen.The profits in farming sector will be reaped by the retail markets, and the small time businessmen would have lost their businesses if the new policy is allowed. Strong forces are not allowing the implementation of this policy.
We have not thought about how the farmer will benefit. He will be forced to produce more and in keeping up with the rising expectations. He does not have the technology to keep up as industrial mode of production is not here yet. If foreign investment goes into modernising the mode of production, while keeping the farmer’s role as the chief stake holder, we may become successful both ways. But all attention is on the questions of: big retail giants or small time shops? Who wants to profit from the labour of the farmer?who doesn't?The labour of the farmer is a resource which all want to grab for their own selfish benefit(profit).

Pre-industrial farmer in modern post-industrial Era

We moved on to post-industrial era when computer age commenced. And with coming of the mobile phones we move on to post post-industrial ultra modern Era. It is anachronistic to find the farmer tilling the soil with plough and driving a bullock cart to sell his produce. But it is happening here. When rich rural farmers log on to the net (AGMARNET) and see the demand for specific commodities, they purchase the poor farmers produce at very cheap price. The poor farmer cannot farm profitably and gives up. And the difference among the rich and poor rural India widens. Protests come from rural unrest--uprising against SEZ(Special Economic Zone), rail-blocks, road blocks, farmers led or misled by glib politicians, and they go on. No social welfare schemes work out well and address to the needs of the poor farmer from the older civilisation. By giving them rights over their fields, by making proper land records, their plight can be addressed. If he moves to cities, there is no place for an unskilled farmer in urban India. Where will he live?What will he do?These are the issues of the present era--dealing with an old civilisation while modernising. 

Importance of agrarian cooperatives

Rural people cooperate with one another and try to increase their farming areas. In 1981, 26% of cultivated land was held by cooperative farming and in 2004, it had increased to 46%  of all cultivated land. They had some help from cooperative banks. But now, that is mostly replaced by core banking facilities, by the proliferation of post offices and post office accounts, by mobile banking, and by the bank accounting opening schemes (facilitated by UIDAI). Previously, only cooperative banks were there as the source of credit loans for the small farmer;but now there are impersonal sources which give credit but are not aware of the fragility of the farming profession.Farmer should not get sunk in debts from these impersonal organisations.After the 10th five year plan, share of cooperative bank in marginal farmer's source of credit is only 25% than the previous period when it was 62%. The farmer with limited land  struggles to survive, as he is not able to step up production as he can manage only so much given the traditional technology. Unless industrialisation of farming techniques takes place, the precarious state of the farmer will not change. Those who merge their farms with others and are farming very large fields with industrial mode of production,can become successful.We can make appropriate land policies, make quick technology transfers and build the basic infrastructure for making of modern farms. Only then, farming will be profitable for the farmer.Till that is done, we will be paying higher and higher price for our fruits and vegetables.

In today's ultra modern net market, the farmer is caught with old world technology. Alienated in remote areas, the simple people are not aware of today's industrial farming and are totally isolated.We must rescue them and bring  them up to the standards of today's world. 
  

Cooperatives are needed for others also.Not just farmers, but artisans, crafts men, and weavers and so many are living in inaccessible places, and have not come into to the modern world's fold. They can use their creativity in manufacturing products because the era of simple artisans has ended.They should truly inherit the land and also participate in the making of modern India. They are the real Indians--those who have been practising a simple way of life of work and worship, those who symbolically share the harvests of the land, those who are one with the culture and religion of the land.We must help these people to survive and prosper.

Myth of "Common Man"--A Cunning Invention

The myth of the “common man” was invented by the ruling class to appeal  to the cause of the deprived or the poor. To rope in the votes of the deprived people,this convenient and myth was created. The truth is that we Indians never empathised with the ordinary poor man.Ruling class pretends to feel for the predicament of the poor.We did not allow people have any equality in any walks of life and always kept the poor man suppressed. Why was there no equality in India? Because there was always an upper class which wanted to retain its position of direct access to resources and deprive the ordinary people of important resources. In the past, there was a systematic suppression of the less privileged. Today, established aristocracy does does not want to let its power out of its grip. Name sake reforms, propagation of false claims of progress, and inculcation of ideology are ways by which the established class of upper strata of hierarchy maintains itself. But the truth is that power of the people will assert itself even when the upper class aristocracy defines its identity as “the superior people” with its privileged status. Changes will come violently in form of protests. Conservative mindsets have to be changed and new ideas have to be introduced for the established upper classes cannot maintain their statuses permanently. With its strong influence, upper class dominates in the maintenance of the power system—and that is to pay big money to elected persons and other persons in power. When this lucrative nexus of the conservative aristocracy and ruling elite is threatened, they resort to other methods of holding on to their power, for they know how to hold on to their status. There are definite limits to the equalising role of democracy. However we may try, the dominant behaviour of man will manifest itself in some or other form.The myth of the "common man" was their cunning invention to pretend to sympathise with the poor.The myth of the "common man" will work for a while and soon people will know how they are being fooled. We have to constantly to counter check the accumulation of power in hands of the more privileged.Otherwise existence of  governments themselves will be threatened; protests may overthrow them 
Inequality suppresses the free mind. There should there be a free mind and no constraints imposed on the mind, so that we can think about innovations. Indian mindsets will have to change so that they can think. Change can bring out intelligent and talented individuals amongst our population who can contribute to growth of the society, nation and humanity. Why is it that we Indians did not invent anything like the telephone, car, TV, air plane, Internet, or the mobile. We have had always a very large population but had no geniuses; we had forever  suppressed many people by allocating lower statuses by not allowing access to resources. We had always kept our people’s mind in bondage of caste, class  and creed and denied big mass of our population any opportunities to think. People who are in the low status cannot innovate as their thoughts are in day to day exigencies in which they have to survive.Poverty or “denied access to resources” does not allow the full development of the individual. That is why there were no geniuses, no inventors and there was no renaissance. Our older civilisation made sure that we were a docile people; we were vulnerable to foreign invaders (British).And we were prone to become a slave society which British made out of us. Even now, we are a docile timid people and live in a humble manner. This is the mindsets of the masses.And that is why they easily believe in the ruling elites' promises to the non existent "common man". In India we have the super rich and the super poor and there is no 'common man'. 

Winning Trust of people is a truly successful state

The state of Assam has won the trust of its people.The government in Assam is constantly modifying and changing meet  more new exigencies. The concept of people's government--"Raijor Podulit Rajior Sarkar" has worked out very  well here.The elected leaders make sure that the welfare schemes reach the ordinary people.Grievance redressal cells has been made in every government's department and lapses dealt with immediately.Surprise checks are made by leaders visiting government departments to make sure that there is transparency at all levels.The militant groups which had been active for decades are now having talks with the government and resolving all issues. And their problems are heard and solutions are arrived at. People are pacified when their needs are heard.There are fewer crimes and fewer missing people. People can trust police instead of being pushed around by them.Generally all are willing to vote for a government which would reduce crimes like riot, theft and kidnapping but people are not really concerned with overall petty crimes. People also vote for those leaders who can increase the wealth of their state, and be able to make infrastructures like roads.The ordinary people cannot envision larger infrastructural progress but can see only the day to day needs like power and water.  Electricity for all households, proper roads and drinking water are the bare necessities that people expect from their government.That can be delivered easily.When conditions are right, people make a way of living for themselves.Assam's good climate has ensured prosperity to tea estates here.And establishment of good schools has brought out a whole new generation of young people who want to work for the betterment of their state. Many who had studied outside the state also return to make positive changes here in their home state.The new generations love their state and have great empathy for their people.And most noteworthy of all is the fact that they are egalitarian in their outlook.It is this spirit and pride in their state and devoted commitment to their people that has brought success for Assam--the evergreen state of India.May it always be green.It is an ideal state and it would progress further in future India for it has the best and dedicated governance.

Fuel economic growth and development

We import 80% of our petroleum from foreign countries. We have to pay 40% tax on it also And state government levies more tax in addition to central government tax.LPG (used as cooking gas) diesel for tractors, and kerosene were not taxed.Two weeks ago petrol prices were increased by Rs.1.80 per litre. Allowing high fuel prices meant that oil companies charged as much they want and the price rise strangulated the people.The government allowed it. We cannot function without fuel, tractors have to plough,trucks have to deliver goods, people have to go to work, and children must travel by bus to school.We had to buy fuel at higher rate  than international price. The Indian public has been tolerating the raising of fuel prices.In 2011, it was raised six times. 
Government awakened when its future was at stake- questioning of the rise of cost of petrol.When the issue of increasing price of fuel was questioned repeatedly, new ways to deal with the crisis were explored.When there was small reduction of fuel prices in the world market, government passed on the new low price to the  the people. We are now relieved.The three oil companies will meet to make guidelines for reduction process under government's supervision. Government is the chief stake holder in these companies.The government 's oil ministry was noting the exchange rate of the Indian Rupee and bulk rates of crude oil.Brent North sea crude reduced 61 cents to a 113 Dollar barrel,reduced price 23 Cents in a 97 Dollar barrel and Singapore market dropped  to 115 Dollar barrel from 125 Dollar a barrel. This made us realise that our oil companies are making big profits while pretending that there is an international price rise of crude oil. Activities of oil companies have to be constantly checked to see if they are doing correct changes.We have to depoliticise the oil companies and government has to be counter-checked also.Only uniform mindset is the "pretending or show of concern for the common man" for only then votes can be obtained.
Who will pay for the lapses? Always,its the people who pay for mismanagement of the government.Any change in the economy of the world, and the poor class in India are the worst affected.Fuel makes a major part of our incomes(12%); next to expenditure on food.We cannot cut down the cost of transport as we have to travel for work.Although only 1% of India owns cars, one  percent of a big population like ours is a big number. And 5% depend on two wheelers which need fuel too.  
Cost of fuel must be monitored and monopolies must be checked. If economy has to grow and industrialization has to take place basic needs should be fulfilled and fuel has become our basic need.International fuel prices were very low six months ago but we have no facility to store it. Private oil companies dealings have to be tracked. Raising fuel prices and decontrol  of market prices and fooling the public will not be tolerated by the educated public. The politics of petrol price rise would be the cost of progress, making of the infrastructural projects would be delayed and the ordinary people will become more impoverished.This would be the result of faulty fuel policy.

Birth of a Great Saint is celebrated

Today is celebrated as birthday of our saint Guru Nanak Guru Devji. He was the first of the ten Holy Saints in  India, he showed people how to live. Sikhs pray only their Holy Book, "the Granth Sahib Ji".The Sikhs are a courageous people who had mainly lived  in the state of Punjab.Now they have migrated to other parts of India and to other countries.Today,there are 26 million Sikhs all over the world. They firmly believe in equality and unity; they pray together in their "Gurudwara" which is their temple. They celebrate the birth anniversaries of their Holy Saints.And after prayer they share meals at a community dining place called the "langar".Their view of God is different from Hindus. They call their God,"Vahiguru" and their God is represented by their holy book.They believe that God is shapeless, timeless and unseen(no idol worship).The only way to see God is by seeing with the inner eye by deep meditation.That does not mean one has to renounce the world and take up asceticism.The religion  teaches its people the need to live simple life of a householder.One of the Sikh Gurus, Guru Teg Bahadur decided to make his followers  who were 'Sikh',meaning learners, into a community of 'fighters'. In their baptizing ceremony, boys are named as 'Singh' or lions.And girls are given last name as 'Kaur' or princess.They are a brave and valiant people, they had defended India against foreign invaders and saved the timid people of India from cruelty. Even today they show preference to military service. They excel in all fields and show perseverance, skill and hard work in any profession they choose.Their 'Gurubani' or the holy songs are highly inspirational, and elates listener to a higher spiritual sphere. They remember all their ten Gurus and learn from their life stories in their Holy Book.They make their livelihood honestly  and always work very hard to succeed. Long live the Sikhs, may they continue protecting us all as they had through the centuries..