The truth about the repealed farm laws.

The Supreme Court-appointed experts committee, tasked with studying the controversial farm laws and submitting its recommendations after talking with various groups, has revealed that the majority - 85.7% - stakeholders are in favour of the laws while only 13.3% are against them.

The committee appointed in Jan 2020 comprised policy experts such as Pramod Joshi, Shetkari Sangathan leader Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economist, Ashok Gulati. The committee studied the farm laws and had one-on-one discussions with various stakeholders. It submitted a 92-page report to the Supreme Court. However, the court did not make the report public but farmer leader Anil Ghanwat decided to make it public for the "larger interest of the farmers". Prime Minister Narendra Modi repealed these laws in November last year after a year long protest by farmers in Delhi.

The expert committee held 11 meetings with various stakeholders, including farmer unions, industry bodies, private markets, state agriculture marketing boards, state governments, professionals and academics.

"The feedback received on an online portal establishes that two-thirds of the farmers support the farm laws while one-third did not support the laws. The feedback through emails indicates that a majority supports the farm laws", reads the report adding the "repeal or long suspensions of these farm laws would be unfair to the silent majority who support the farm laws".

The report says the farm laws can serve as overreaching architecture for agriculture marketing. Therefore, the states should allow some flexibility in implementing the laws with prior approval of the central government. The report also suggests that the district revenue authority is full of workload, so they will not address the farmer's grievances effectively/

And the perpetual "aandolan jeevi", Yogendra Yadav has confessed to the fact that the farmers' agitation was kept alive to upset the BJP's election prospects in UP. "Dakait Tikait', the multi-crore, humble (?) farmer has become quiet as western UP taught him a hard lesson during the Assembly elections in UP. 

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. After a quick breakfast, went by Hameed's auto-rickshaw for the following :-

     * Fetch our fruit basket

     * Buy grocery from the Harisree Supermarket and

     * Fish for Kittu.

Went across to the ophthalmologist, Rani Menon to report the irritation in my eyes. She has put me on antibiotics for five days, hot water fomentation of the eyes and eye drops!

Helped Lekha in watering the plants.