'Form 'Kisaan Aayog' to improve farmers' plight'

Rashtriya Kisan Manch, a forum working for farmers' welfare in Uttar Pradesh, today said that formation of 'Kisaan Aayog' is the only answer to avoid Mandsaur-like situation in future.
"The plight of farmers would remain unchanged unless a 'Kisan Ayog' with constitutional powers is set up," Shekhar Dixit, National President of Rastriya Kisan Manch, told reporters here today.
He said there is an urgent need to set up the Aayog as soon as possible in a bid to save the agriculture sector as well as farmers. Otherwise, Mandasaur-type situation may occur elsewhere in the country.
So far, seven pay commissions have been established for the revision of pay scale of central government employees. But, no such arrangement has been made to improve the plight of farmers, Dixit lamented.

He said that minimum salary was Rs 35 per month in 1946 when first pay commission was set up and then minimum support price for wheat was around Rs 1.30per ser (roughly equal to one kg). However, now after implementation of seventh pay commission, the minimum pay is Rs 27,000 per month but the minimum support price of wheat is Rs 16 per kg only.
It shows contradictory formulae is applied, while selecting pay of central employees and declaring MSP of farmers' crops, he alleged.

Dixit said while price rise becomes a barometer for fixing the salary, it is overlooked when minimum support price of produce offarmers is considered.

"Had constitutional Kisaan Aayog been formed, there would have been no incident of suicide by farmers, since MSP of wheat now would have been Rs 84 per kgand the farmer would have been better placed for purchasing seed, fertilisers etc, Dixit said.
"It is unfortunate," he said adding that farmers have become a vote machine for political parties who succeed in alluring them during elections on the false pretext every five years.
Only wheat cannot become nutritive food for cattle, citing example, he said adding that it requires gram, Bajra etc.
He also expected that the central government will look into the issue and take step in the direction of setting up a "National Kisan Ayog", with full constitutional powers.

Rashtriya Kisaan Manch is a forum of various organisations working for the welfare of farmers and their families in UP.