By Lt Col (Retd)
Khalid Taimur Akram
THE economy is one of the significant pillars for the state’s progress. The economy of South Asian countries heavily dependents on their agricultural production. Undermining this sector would cause a massive setback to the economy. In the book “Why Nations Fail”, the authors have examined those factors by which nations or societies failed to get prosperity.
The keynotes of the book amid that the economy is a major element for any society to grow internationally and to be secure. In this context, countries differ in their economic structures and success because of their different institutions and statesmanship. Moreover, it highlights that the role of institutions is very necessary to analyze in order to run the economic rules and incentives that motivate people. It was concluded that in a failure of any state the role of “extractive and inclusive political institutions” is vital.
This situation influences mainly the small and bourgeois class of the society. Inclusive economic institutions create inclusive markets, which give people the freedom to pursue their desire job and also raise the living standard of the society. Under this analysis, the case study of India’s internal economic and political condition is pertinent.
The exclusive political institution remains one of the reasons and hurdles, that the political economy in India, already grappling with the severe impacts of Covid-19, is witnessing a catalyst change in present times.
The ongoing farmer’s protest has grabbed the attention of the whole world now. Narendra Modi’s leadership has long made big pledges to the farmers to double their incomes by 2022 but all these fake illusions were just to fill their bags with votes.
The dichotomy of understating the tale of the agriculture economy in India is chaotic. Farmers who are feeding the country are living miserable and painful lives. The ongoing farmer’s disapproval of new agriculture laws has again unveiled the fascist face of Modi/BJP’s regime and policies.
The rhetoric that abrupted violence: In 2014, Modi was elected as the prime minister of India. With a promise that he would bring a comprehensive economic model of high growth rates driven by private-sector-led manufacturing to the national level. This also had the projection and facilitation of the vicious right-wing populist politics. Which envisaged to create and uplift the Hindu majority of Hindus out of the economic and socially polarized population to become a strong voting block for the BJP.
This brutal strategy was used in those communities (mainly in Muslims populated areas), where the BJP faced tough electoral competition. It was reflected that Modi had adopted a policy of technocratic focus, in the leadership and government development process during the campaign. However, after BJP came into power, more polarization and disintegration have been witnessed in many Indian regions. Muslims, Sikhs, students, Politian’s or anyone who holds the narrative against the government, have become charged with sedition and victim violence. Abrogation of Article 370, atrocities in Kashmir, border skirmishes at Ladakh region, citizen amendment act, marginalizing the majority in India, and recently the farms bill have resulted in internal peace disturbance in India and also unveiled the extremist cover of Modi’s reign.
India’s New Farms Rules: In June 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic surged up, the latest laws were enforced as emergency ordinance laws by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, later in September, they passed them in parliament as well. The unilateral act was done without consulting the farmers and that has resulted in igniting a massive belligerent protest in various regions of India.
The latest farm bill simply that the farmers would be restricted to sell their products only at regulated wholesale markets. It further accounts that food processors and retailers (if large traders) can purchase directly from the producers. This will lead them to detour the established local wholesale markets. The three laws were perceived as ‘liberal’ laws by the government but what happened was the irony. The opposition parties and farmer unions have termed it as an ‘anti-farmer’ bill as they benefit the big corporates. The laws would enable big farmers to sell their products (wheat or rice) to any desired buyer. It will curtail the dependency on the commission agents at state-controlled markets. Moreover, the new regulations will also allow traders to accumulate and store food supplies.
This would facilitate the trader and would be a boon for them to take advantage of soaring prices, for example during the pandemic. This strategy is away from prohibitions against hoarding. Practices like these were considered criminal offenses under traditional regulations.
The Indian farmers have genuine reservations that the overhaul would lead to lower prices and pave the way for large corporations to take control over their small farms, which on average are less than three acres in size.
– The author is an Executive Director at Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad
