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IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW
On Sept 20th, the Indian government essentially signed the death warrant for millions of farmers.
Recently, they passed 3 "market-friendly" bills that put the livelihood of these farmers in jeopardy.
On Sept 20th, the Indian government essentially signed the death warrant for millions of farmers.
Recently, they passed 3 "market-friendly" bills that put the livelihood of these farmers in jeopardy.
Before I start going off, I should warn ya'll that I mention SA and bring up some stats in regards to people dying by suicide.
Also, apologies if the thoughts/tweets are weirdly ordered. My mind won't stop racing
Also, apologies if the thoughts/tweets are weirdly ordered. My mind won't stop racing
Seeing as 40% of the Indian pop is in farming, that's 552,001,754 lives that will now be affected by these three bills.
What are these bills trying to do? I'm glad you asked :)
Long story short, they're removing the minimum wage.
What are these bills trying to do? I'm glad you asked :)
Long story short, they're removing the minimum wage.
Imagine going to work and being told that your $15 an hour minimum wage is gone and that you're now being paid whatever the fuck the company wants to pay you.
How would you provide for yourself, your family, get out of the massive debt you're under?
How would you provide for yourself, your family, get out of the massive debt you're under?
Farming is a massive gamble.
Farmers take out loans for seeds, equipment, fuel, fertilizer, pesticides etc. It's a gamble because these farmers don't know if the weather conditions &/or pest control will be favourable to the crop's yield; if not, it leads to crop failure.
Farmers take out loans for seeds, equipment, fuel, fertilizer, pesticides etc. It's a gamble because these farmers don't know if the weather conditions &/or pest control will be favourable to the crop's yield; if not, it leads to crop failure.
Much like any business, if this crop fails, they cannot pay their massive loans back.
Because of this, we see far too many people dying by suicide. A study commissioned by the state govt discovered that there were 16,606 agrarian suicides (9,243 farmers & 7,363 labourers).
Because of this, we see far too many people dying by suicide. A study commissioned by the state govt discovered that there were 16,606 agrarian suicides (9,243 farmers & 7,363 labourers).
Factoring the fact that there are so many that are unreported, the number is likely a lot higher.
It's been reported that there were 10,281 people that died by suicide in 2019 alone.
Imagine how the pandemic + these three bills impacted the numbers in 2020.
It's been reported that there were 10,281 people that died by suicide in 2019 alone.
Imagine how the pandemic + these three bills impacted the numbers in 2020.
These bills will only increase the insanely high poverty rate (25%) in rural areas which accounts for 95% of Punjab (urban areas see 14%).
For a frame of reference, Canada's poverty rate as of 2020 is 8.7%.
For a frame of reference, Canada's poverty rate as of 2020 is 8.7%.
The increase in poverty also means children will have less access to education, tap water, fuel, food etc.
What I didn't know before reading about everything was that 80% of farm work is undertaken by women.
EIGHTY FREAKING PERCENT.
These bills will only add to the already existing economic turmoil for these women.
EIGHTY FREAKING PERCENT.
These bills will only add to the already existing economic turmoil for these women.
In a series of public hearings, it was discovered that deepening the economic vulnerability of women makes them more vulnerable to all forms of violence, including sexual assault.
This isn't just a farming issue, it's a women's rights issue too.
This isn't just a farming issue, it's a women's rights issue too.
I know some will argue that these bills were put in place to help increase the income of farmers, but they were poorly conceived.
What's wild to me is that parts of India actually have great & sustainable practice in place and yet there's such a massive divide.
What's wild to me is that parts of India actually have great & sustainable practice in place and yet there's such a massive divide.
