ITANAGAR, Oct 1 (PTI): Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday launched a scathing attack on opposition parties for opposing the farm reform bills, saying that the legislations will rid farmers and the farm sector of middlemen and other bottlenecks.
The new farm legislations brought by the BJP-led NDA government will benefit the farmers throughout the country and after independence, the Modi government took a big step to improve the agri and allied sectors in the country, the Union minister of state (independent charge) for sports and youth affairs told reporters in the sideline of an official function.
"The protests against the legislations by the opposition parties represent political dishonesty and the influence of middlemen," Rijiju said. He said that many forces are trying to 'mislead' farmers without going through the clauses of the farm reform bill.
 Both the houses of the Parliament last month passed the three bills namely - Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.
Rijiju added that the new farm reform Acts assured the farming community that minimum support price (MSP) and government procurement of their produce will continue along with a lot of other options for them.
“The Congress in its election manifesto promised to bring succour to the farming community through certain legislations, but they never implemented practically. They (Congress) should be happy that their promises to the farmers have been fulfilled by our government through agriculture reform legislations and instead they are protesting and instigating farmers to protest,” Rijiju said.
The Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal West parliamentary constituency asserted that through the new act, the government would provide all sort of support including technical to the farmers to double their income by 2022.
“This legislation will benefit the farmers of all the states. The agriculture reforms legislations will make free the farmers from the grip of the middleman, and they will be able to sell their produce to buyers from across the country at a price they deem to be fair and at a time of their choosing,” the minister said.
“Freedom to sell at the farm gate will do away with transportation expenses, and thus boost incomes. This is a giant stride towards the fulfilment of the dream of ‘One Nation, One Market’ after Independence,” Rijiju added.
“No government will frame laws which will be detrimental to the farming community,” he said.
Rijiju said that Arunachal Pradesh with suitable climatic conditions could be a major producer of agro produces. He said that the new agriculture reforms will herald a new era of development in the states agri and allied sectors.
“Most of our youths will be able to create a position for themselves in these sectors and government will provide all necessary support. Once we define the progressive farming sector, where our youths can come and join, then the capacity will increase,” he added.
The Union minister also appreciated chief minister Pema Khandu for giving more attention to the agri and allied sectors in the state saying, this would be the foundation for Arunachal Pradesh to acquire the ‘progressive’ status.
Earlier, addressing an interactive session with the MLAs at Sidhartha Hall here on Agriculture Reforms Act 2020, Rijiju called upon the elected members to work with ‘team Arunachal’ spirit and to create awareness among the farming communities in their respective constituency on the new legislations.
He also urged upon the people to shun the dependency syndrome on the government and to take farming as an alternative for self reliance.
“Turn Arunachal Pradesh into a productive state by taking farming as a way of life,” he appealed to the people pointing out that every Arunachalees have inherited land capital where they can start farming.

BJP-Cong have “conveniently forgotten” state’s farmers’ woes: AAPSU

Seeks immediate relief package, insurance coverage 

ITANAGAR,: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) while blaming both the ruling BJP government and the principal opposition party Congress in the state for “conveniently forgetting” the on-ground problems faced by the state’s farming community and engaging instead in an endless tussle over the recently enacted farm bills, has suggested a slew of mitigating measures in this regard.
Highlighting the plight of the state’s farmers, AAPSU through a press release issued on Thursday drew the attention of the state government regarding large-scale crop damages across the state that have occurred due to pest infestation, excessive rainfall, natural calamities like landslides, floods etc. “Standing crops including those on WRC fields in districts like East Siang, Siang, Upper Siang, parts of Namsai, Changlang and Papum Pare have been affected due to pest epidemic and the districts like Lepa Rada, West Siang etc. have been badly affected due to floods and landslides. There are reports also that agri-horti productions are likely to be affected in various parts due to sudden cloud-bursts and continuous rainfall,” the release pointed out. 
While observing that there are no separate relief and rehabilitation packages for the state’s farmers and are too meagre, if any, the union has suggested a number of remedial steps to the state government. Asking for a comprehensive state survey to ascertain the quantum of damages incurred by those engaged in farming and allied activities due to natural calamities and pest invasion, AAPSU has sought separate relief and rehab packages for the state’s farmers, immediate insurance coverage under the PM Fasal BimaYojana along with rolling out of a new crop insurance specific to the state’s farming needs.
Expressing condolence over the tragic demise of Desu Pertin and her two unborn twins, the union observed it as a reflection of the state’s failing healthcare system. “The state government and more particularly the health department’s repeated and boisterous claims that it is fully prepared for any eventuality stand exposed through the tragic incident. The health department cannot run away from its deemed responsibilities attributing everything to Covid-19 pandemic and should come up with concrete working regulations so that medical emergencies like maternity cases and those requiring immediate attention are not hampered,” the release read.
Meanwhile, AAPSU has welcomed the prompt initiative taken up by the APSCW through suo motu cognizance of the case. AAPSU PR

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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