Q. What are the methods used by the Farmers organizations to influence the policy- makers in India and how effective are these methods?(10)
The farming community forms the majority in India with agriculture making up to 16 % of our GDP. This also the sector with numerous issues and grievances. Farmers’ organizations work as pressure groups to influence policy makers that impact this crucial sector.
Methods used by farmers to influence policy makers
- March and rallies
This method has been extensively used by the farmers to storm the cities in large groups and force the government to take notice of their situation.
Ex: The rally from rural Maharashtra to Mumbai helped in gaining attention of the state government.
- Lobbying: it is a method through which a special interest group makes request for orders or legislation be done in their favor. This is used by powerful farmers’ groups such as sugar cane growers of Maharashtra and UP. Demands they make include getting favorable MSP and irrigation facilities.
- Protest: these protests take place demanding to resolve issue such as loan waiver, higher MSP, free electricity, removal of agricultural distress etc. Recent farmers march to Delhi under the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh banner is such example.
- Activism: this method includes increasing awareness, publicizing important issues, petitioning courts and gaining public interest in matters related to farmers. Their aims mostly include fight against GM crops, promoting organic agriculture etc.
- Demonstrations
This method has been gaining attention too because of the media coverage it gets. This can be considered a bit violent due the clashes it had with the authorities.
Ex: The farmers of Tamil Nadu held demonstrations in New Delhi and displayed skeletal remains to show the severity of drought in their state.
- Political participation
Farmer organisations are increasingly participating in politics so as to act as decision maker and influence various policies regarding their welfare.
Ex: Swabhimani Shetkari sanghatan in Maharashtra has been politically active.
The rate of success of these organizations is determined by their capacity to arrange for major investments and a continuous flow of raw materials. This requires the competent and convincing management of both enterprise-related and member-related aspects. The profits generated are used to provide supplementary and supportive services at reduced cost to encourage members to use them. To do this requires a high calibre of representative and enlightened leadership from among the grower members. It is a challenging and demanding task to conceive, design, build, and nurture this type of FO.
Though farming constitutes the backbone of our economy, farmers’ associations have not yet been powerful enough in India to gain for themselves. They could only get concessional benefits like loan waivers and higher MSPs- but structural reforms that go in a long way in improving farmers’ lives are long overdue.