Commencing on February 13, 2024, the 2024 Indian farmers’ protest represents a notable revival of farmer agitation in India, mirroring the demands and sentiments of the 2020–2021 protests. Many farmer organizations around the country are part of the protest, which is mostly spearheaded by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and represents the concerns of the agrarian community. Tens of thousands of farmers have gathered at the borders with the intention of marching into New Delhi’s National Capital Region (NCR). To stop them from entering, nevertheless, the government have set up barricades and sent police officers to the borders. At some border crossings, especially the Shambu border between Punjab and Haryana, where rubber bullets and tear gas were used to disperse the restless mobs, violent altercations have broken out. Many Haryana districts have stopped offering internet connection, and Section 144 has been implemented, restricting public meetings.
KEY DEMANDS OF FARMER
1.Farmers who are over 58 years of age ask for a ₹10,000 monthly pension.
2. Farmers are demanding to legalize MSP as a guarantee for all crops based on the Swaminathan commission( MSP should be atleast 50% more than the weighted average cost of production, in 2010 the Swaminathan comission recommendation was rejected by UPA government).
3. They want Indian government to withdraw from the WTO( World Trade Organization). As WTO governs all trade related issues at international level and make rules and regulations. WTO’s agreement on agriculture has some predefined rules for support given to the farmers or agriculture producers in the form of subsidies or any other kind of support. These supports are categorized as AMBER BOX SUBSIDY (subsidies that can distort international trade. Example-MSP, subsidies on electricity, seed, fertilizers etc.) and GREEN BOX SUBSIDY (it does not include any price support like- disaster relief, research funds, farmers training programs etc. by the government. According to the de-minimus rule of WTO minimal amount of domestic support is allowed for countries even they distort the trade, it is 10% for developing nations and 5% for developed countries.
4.Farmers are demanding to withdraw the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2015 which is the amendment of land acquisition act of 2013.
5. Cancellation of criminal cases against farmers who were charged during 2020 farmers protests on Delhi borders.
6. Demand for the complete loan waiver for the farmers and farm labourers.
7.Compensation amount for family of deceased farmers during farmers protest of 2020 (in Lakhimpur Khiri ) including a job for the family member.
8.Crop insurance scheme according to Swaminathan comission.
9.Demand from the government to pledge to double farmers income which government made in 2016.
10. A fixed daily wages of Rs 700 under MGNREGA with 200 days of gauranteed annual work.