Cutting across party lines, Rajya Sabha members on Friday supported a resolution that seeks to set up a National Farmers' Commission with constitutional status, to deal with farmers' issues.
Besides, the resolution moved by BJP member Vijay Pal Singh Tomar also sought hike in funds provided to the farmers as Kisan Samman Nidhi from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 per year and Bharat Ratna for farmers for their contribution to the society.
Initiating the debate on the private member resolution, Tomar said, "India is primarily an agrarian based economy with more than 55 per cent population engaged in farming. Besides there are 15 per cent people who are engaged in allied sectors. Thus there are 70 per cent population dependent on farm sector."
He said the country will only be prosperous when farmers progress and get remunerative price for crops grown by them.
Highlighting the issues related to farmers he said,"India has the capacity to produce three crops in a year but suicide cases still occur among farmers. If appropriate steps are taken to prevent farmers' suicide in India then precious lives of farmers could be saved thereby ensuring further development in the agriculture sector."
He suggested that saving a farmer is not just saving a life but also means saving agriculture and our tradition.
He asked the government to educate farmers about the latest technologies and techniques to make the agriculture process simple and fast, besides ensuring proper implementation of Fasal Bima Yojna (Crop Insurance Scheme) so that farmers benefit from the scheme.
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He also urged the government to provide internet and wi- fi facility for all Government services at village/Gram Panchayat level to help the farmers to gain latest information of the world.
He asked the government to ensure that crops are not purchased or sold at prices lower than the Minimum Support Price announced by the Government and penal action is taken against the violations.
He said that government should fix a limit for the crop loan disbursed at 4 per cent interest on Kisan Credit Cards as per the paying capacity of the farmers, as is in vogue in the case of industries.
This is to enable farmers carry on his transactions for 5 years and is safeguarded against exploitation by banks, he said.
He suggested the government keep agriculture equipments outside good and service tax (GST).
The resolution also seeks to provide small and marginalised farmers, who constitute more than 85 per cent of the farmers in the country, with all those facilities that are being provided for setting up big food parks and cold chains.
It also calls for setting up storage and processing units by forming 'Krishak Samiti' in clusters so that there is participation of farmers in these activities and facilitates an increase in their income.
Supporting the resolution, S S Roy (TMC)said that violent attempts by capitalists to grab farmers land should be dealt with strictly and government should issue advisory to such states.
Participating in the debate Congress leader Chhaya Verma, Harnath Singh (BJP) and Ravi Prakash Verma (SP) also supported the resolution.
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