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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Malwa Farmers and Farm Labourers Continue to Fight Multiple Battles -Tripta Narang

Malwa Farmers and Farm Labourers Continue to Fight Multiple Battles -Tripta Narang

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published Published on Nov 21, 2021   modified Modified on Nov 22, 2021

-Newsclick.in

The cheer and celebrations all around following the PM's announcement, however, do not improve the farmers’ situation or ease their struggles.

On the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, Prime Minister Modi announced his government’s decision to repeal the three farm laws that were to impact the lives and livelihoods of people -- especially the very small and marginal farmers and the common people i.e. the consumers of farm produce.  This is a big victory for the farmers protesting at the Delhi borders for a year now, braving the harsh winter,  intense heat, and heavy rains as well as the deadly second wave of COVID-19 that wreaked havoc in the country. It is a victory of their perseverance and tenacity. 

The cheer and celebrations all around following the announcement, however, do not improve the farmers’ situation or help with their struggles to survive.

Punjab, like the rest of the country, is not immune to the agriculture crisis in the country. Dr Gian Singh, agriculture economist and former professor at the Punjabi University, explains that the agriculture crisis refers to crisis faced by the farmers and agricultural labourers, health of the soil, challenges of the rapidly depleting water table, increasing pollution, and impact of climate change -- be it erratic rainfall or droughts. 

Punjab is divided into three regions – Malwa, Manjha, and Doaba – based on the positioning of the districts around the three rivers Sutlej, Beas and Ravi.  NewsClick traveled to the Malwa region, which is the biggest geographical region in the state, comprising 11 districts. The region is important politically as well because it has 69 Assembly seats out of the total of 117 in the state and has been home of two former chief ministers: Prakash Singh Badal and Amarinder Singh.

Dera Sacha Sauda (an Indian non-governmental organisation described as a "religious cult" and "non-profit social welfare dera") also has a strong base in this region. These deras (gatherings) like the one recently held in Salabatpura in Bhatinda, also play a crucial role in influencing voters during the elections and therefore, attract support and `shelter’ from political parties. The region is also known as the cotton belt of Punjab. It is unfortunately also called the ‘cancer belt’ of the state.  

Despite the strong political, socio-religious clout, the region remains socially and economically backward, grappling with farmers’ suicides, drug abuse, and ever-increasing incidence of cancer usually ascribed to excessive use of pesticides and contamination of water.

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Newsclick.in, 21 November, 2021, https://www.newsclick.in/malwa-farmers-and-farm-labourers-continue-fight-multiple-battles


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