The Crossbill News Desk
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has submitted a charter of demands to President Droupadi Murmu, calling for urgent action on minimum support price (MSP), farm debt, labour rights, rural employment and other issues ahead of its nationwide Jail Bharo and other protest programmes on August 10.
The memorandum has been submitted in connection with the August 10 protests, which are being organised on the occasion of the 84th anniversary of Quit India Day following a call by the SKM and with the support of the Central Trade Unions (CTUs).
The SKM said the nationwide protests will be held across villages, panchayats, blocks, districts, towns and cities, bringing together farmers, agricultural workers, industrial workers, rural labourers, adivasis, employees, youth, women and other working sections.
The collective of farmers unions said the protests seek to highlight the “deep agrarian, economic and social distress confronting the people of our country.” It also expressed anger over what it described as the non-implementation of the Union government's written assurance of December 9, 2021, on MSP, loan waiver, electricity privatisation and withdrawal of cases against farmers following the farmers' movement at Delhi's borders.
In its memorandum, the SKM urged the President, as the Constitutional Head of the Republic, to intervene and ensure that the Union government addresses its demands “without delay.”
Among its principal demands, the farmers' organisation has called for legislation guaranteeing MSP at C2+50% for all crops, along with assured government procurement. It has also sought a comprehensive loan waiver to end rural indebtedness and prevent suicides among peasants and daily wage workers.
The SKM has demanded Rs 25 lakh compensation for the family of every peasant suicide victim, along with complete rehabilitation.
The organisation has opposed an India-US Free Trade Agreement and called for the repeal of existing free trade agreements that, it says, were adopted without parliamentary discussion and adversely affect Indian agriculture, industry, workers and national interests. It has also demanded an end to the free import of agricultural produce.
The SKM has rejected the implementation of the National Policy Framework for Agricultural Marketing, describing it as a “back door entry of repealed farm laws.”
On labour issues, the SKM has demanded the scrapping of the Four Labour Codes and a statutory minimum wage of Rs 42,000 per month for all workers. It has also called for the restoration and strengthening of MGNREGA, seeking a guarantee of 200 days of employment per year at a minimum wage of Rs 700 per day.
The memorandum also calls for withdrawal of the Electricity Privatisation Bill, 2025, Seed Bill, 2025, and proposed amendments to the National Food Security Act. On land rights, the SKM has demanded an end to forceful land acquisition and “pro-corporate land pooling”, while calling for the protection of rights under the LARR Act, Forest Rights Act and PESA.
Among its supplementary demands, the SKM has called for protecting and strengthening the Food Corporation of India (FCI), stopping the privatisation of silos and ending what it describes as the “duopoly of Adani and Leap India in FCI silo operations.”
It has also demanded an end to fertilizer scarcity and black marketing, open-market supply of fertilizers without land records, and measures to control fertilizer, fuel, petrol and diesel prices by restoring subsidies.
The SKM has further sought a comprehensive public-sector crop and livestock insurance scheme, irrigation for every field through effective watershed management and public investment, and a Rs 10,000 monthly universal social security pension for farmers above 60 years of age. It has also demanded transparent, timely and adequately funded relief for flood and drought victims.
On education and research, the organisation has demanded allocation of 6% of the Union Budget and 3% of GDP for research and development, and 6% of GDP for education. It has also called for protection of cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from corporate capture and their democratisation.
In its concluding appeal, the SKM said its demands represent the “aspirations and urgent needs of millions of farmers, workers and ordinary citizens across the country.”
It urged the President to use her good offices to impress upon the Union government the need for “immediate and meaningful action” to safeguard livelihoods, ensure social justice and protect the constitutional rights of the people.
The memorandum has been submitted in connection with the August 10 protests, which are being organised on the occasion of the 84th anniversary of Quit India Day following a call by the SKM and with the support of the Central Trade Unions (CTUs).
The SKM said the nationwide protests will be held across villages, panchayats, blocks, districts, towns and cities, bringing together farmers, agricultural workers, industrial workers, rural labourers, adivasis, employees, youth, women and other working sections.
The collective of farmers unions said the protests seek to highlight the “deep agrarian, economic and social distress confronting the people of our country.” It also expressed anger over what it described as the non-implementation of the Union government's written assurance of December 9, 2021, on MSP, loan waiver, electricity privatisation and withdrawal of cases against farmers following the farmers' movement at Delhi's borders.
In its memorandum, the SKM urged the President, as the Constitutional Head of the Republic, to intervene and ensure that the Union government addresses its demands “without delay.”
Among its principal demands, the farmers' organisation has called for legislation guaranteeing MSP at C2+50% for all crops, along with assured government procurement. It has also sought a comprehensive loan waiver to end rural indebtedness and prevent suicides among peasants and daily wage workers.
The SKM has demanded Rs 25 lakh compensation for the family of every peasant suicide victim, along with complete rehabilitation.
The organisation has opposed an India-US Free Trade Agreement and called for the repeal of existing free trade agreements that, it says, were adopted without parliamentary discussion and adversely affect Indian agriculture, industry, workers and national interests. It has also demanded an end to the free import of agricultural produce.
The SKM has rejected the implementation of the National Policy Framework for Agricultural Marketing, describing it as a “back door entry of repealed farm laws.”
On labour issues, the SKM has demanded the scrapping of the Four Labour Codes and a statutory minimum wage of Rs 42,000 per month for all workers. It has also called for the restoration and strengthening of MGNREGA, seeking a guarantee of 200 days of employment per year at a minimum wage of Rs 700 per day.
The memorandum also calls for withdrawal of the Electricity Privatisation Bill, 2025, Seed Bill, 2025, and proposed amendments to the National Food Security Act. On land rights, the SKM has demanded an end to forceful land acquisition and “pro-corporate land pooling”, while calling for the protection of rights under the LARR Act, Forest Rights Act and PESA.
Among its supplementary demands, the SKM has called for protecting and strengthening the Food Corporation of India (FCI), stopping the privatisation of silos and ending what it describes as the “duopoly of Adani and Leap India in FCI silo operations.”
It has also demanded an end to fertilizer scarcity and black marketing, open-market supply of fertilizers without land records, and measures to control fertilizer, fuel, petrol and diesel prices by restoring subsidies.
The SKM has further sought a comprehensive public-sector crop and livestock insurance scheme, irrigation for every field through effective watershed management and public investment, and a Rs 10,000 monthly universal social security pension for farmers above 60 years of age. It has also demanded transparent, timely and adequately funded relief for flood and drought victims.
On education and research, the organisation has demanded allocation of 6% of the Union Budget and 3% of GDP for research and development, and 6% of GDP for education. It has also called for protection of cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from corporate capture and their democratisation.
In its concluding appeal, the SKM said its demands represent the “aspirations and urgent needs of millions of farmers, workers and ordinary citizens across the country.”
It urged the President to use her good offices to impress upon the Union government the need for “immediate and meaningful action” to safeguard livelihoods, ensure social justice and protect the constitutional rights of the people.
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