ASHWINI A. writes from Bangalore: When told that the peasantry did not have enough bread to eat, Marie Antoinette, the queen of Louis XVI leading up to the French Revolution, is reported to have haughtily said: “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche (Let them eat cake).”
Historians now say that it wasn’t the much-maligned queen who said so; that it was Marie-Therese, the wife of Louis XIV, 100 years before. And that “let them eat cake” wasn’t as cold a sentiment as it seems, because French law required bakers to sell fancy breads (like cake) at the same low price as the plain breads if they ran out of the latter.
Only a similar confusion over who proposed it, and what it means, can rescue the latest disgrace heaped upon the peasantry of India by the elected kings of our democratic, socialist, secular republic—namely, the Members of Parliament: That selling liquor high in the air can prevent our farmers from committing suicide down below.
Was it Rajiv Shukla, a former journalist who is now a Rajya Sabha member, BCCI vice-president and television mogul, who proposed the move, as this NDTV report suggests. Or did others like M.S. Gill, the former chief election commissioner, pipe in at the meeting of the 12-member consultative committee attached to the civil aviation ministry, as a Times of India report suggests.
The NDTV report says that it was Shukla who proposed the move to allow alcohol on flights, and that he was supported by Gill, Tarlochan Singh and the newspaper baron Vijay Darda. Hmmm. Two Sardars and two journos. It stands to order they should have played a part in a matter concerning booze.
According to Gill,
“Members from Maharashtra raised the issue saying the government should consider allowing Indian wine on domestic flights in the interests of horticulture farmers.”
Thankfully, the chief of United Breweries and Kingfisher Airlines Vijay Mallya, who had earlier proposed the move, was not present. But Rahul Gandhi, son of the president of the Congress and the chairperson of the UPA, which came to power on the shoulders of the aam admi, was.
This roll-call is necessary because the suggestion exposes the priorities of our modern-day MPs like nothing before.
This is the week when a study by Prof. K. Nagaraj of the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) of official data of farmers suicides between 1997 and 2005, collated the National Crime Records Bureau, has been made public. Each number telling its own horrific story.
Close to 150,000 farmers have killed themselves. Nearly 100,000 of these deaths were in five States—Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala. Three of the five have been at the vanguard of “reforms”. There has been a 105-127 per cent in farmers suicides in the first two States since 1997.
There is a farmer suicide every 30 minutes somewhere in the country.
Maharashtra with 29,000 suicides has been described as the “graveyard of farmers” by P. Sainath, the Magsaysay Award winning rural affairs editor of The Hindu, reporting the findings. While general suicides fell in that State, farmer suicides rose. In worst-hit Vidarbha, one in every four families was in trouble.
And yet, all that our MPs can think of is selling alcohol in the air to allieviate their ills!
The discussion that took place on the subject at yesterday’s meeting is not included in the PIB press release. Which means the ground is being readied for a fait accompli. An earlier ploy by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to get wine classified as a food item to encourage wine consumption to help grape farmers has not met fruition yet, but, boy, will this move be allowed to suffer any delays?
Is there any study to back the claims that farmers will be helped? Precisely how many farmers will be helped by the move to allow in-flight alcohol? Will the airlines buy directly from the affected farmers or will some corporate rake in the moolah while the farmers fumble around for the hagga?
And does anybody really suspect that the welfare of grape farmers is all that is on the MPs’ minds and that this backdoor entry of alcohol will it stop at wine?
Certainly, it is debatable whether alcohol should be allowed in flights. Certainly, the whole country cannot eternally moan the farmers suicides. Certainly, airline passengers are entitled to a good time. But whether alcohol should be allowed or not is a decision that should be arrived at without any hint of conflict of interest. Sadly, our MPs are allowing their good offices to promote the business interests of a colleague by standing on the shoulders of farmers bent double by debts and worse.
Farmers may have a small chance fighting the vagaries of nature, the merciless lender, the funny seeds. But can they ever survive politicians and businessmen-cum-politicians intent on taking them for a ride in the high skies?
What can an MP do if a farmer commits suicide for he cannot clear his gambling debts, daughter’s marriage debts or alcohol addiction?
We need less not more of government. They have screwed up enough already.
Well said Ms Urs. And let us also consider what drove the farmer to drink and debt in the first place; perhaps a vicious circle that has its roots in govt inaction. This debate can keep going till Kingdom come as they say, but really, what is the point beyond analyzing the inevitable, I ask of you?
I have seen so many arguments covering several acres on this website and others on the inefficiency of the government and politicians. This has been going on since the formation of adminstrative authorities was agreed upon by citizens and its objectives upheld by elected representatives. Ever since that happened, which government in the world governs with common sense and integrity? I can’t think of any. There are too many cooks spoiling the broth. The modern age is unlike the days of yore when a region had one ruler who focused on a few areas that he felt need a raise in standard. Thus, if the King of one region encouraged farmers, that region was the agrigultural epicentre of ancient India. Another region where performing arts was given extra prominence was a haven for those wanting to associate with it. Gold was the local and international form of currency, trade practices were fairer than they are now and there was more accountability and less politics.
Of course, we realize that those days are long gone with the demise of Ashoka and Krishnadevaraya – just two examples of Kings from the days of yore who were revered for their administrative deeds and handling of different classes and industries.
One must decide, then, how long are we going to vent. Or those who raise their voices more than others like me who occasionally drop in – wouldn’t it be better if they take the good fight to the hole of the rats that trash democracy?
Wow Aruna,
Farmers kill themselves because of gambling, marriage debts or alcohol addiction? Brilliant. The same sense of derision that is so characteristic of middle class India’s notion of rural Bharat.
How come people in cities who do one or all of these do not kill themselves? May be people in cities are not as bad as the halli haida, right?
Lets open up things to the market. So they create a continuous cycle of dependency. And the market is such a marvelous things. It doesnt just give you seeds but when you have nothing to pay back, it also supplies pesticides so you can kick the bucket.
Liked your logic.
Go read
http://www.indianexpress.com/iep/sunday/story/213985.html
GK & AU,
sometime ago, i read an article about a farmer in a NoBa village with small holdings, who was making good by doing a lot of bits and pieces stuff, bees, flowers, vegetables, went organic, tapped his market better and so on. this was part of a UAS programme which was experimenting to see if it is possible to increase the incomes of farmers by increasing efficiency and sustain those levels for a few years. (i cannot give you references but all this i read in papers and there must be online links.)
#2. did you hear about a bunch of people from a village in MH who pooled individual small holdings and gave it for a SEZ? its not a one time give away but they will continue to be shareholders in the development.
perhaps similar things they can try with agri business itself? is there an amul for agri? storage, distribution and so on for the entire business cycle?
perhaps mixing social problems with agri problems is a bad idea? solve each on its own merit?
just some thoughts
1. Rajiv Shukla – Vice President – BCCI
2. Vijay Mallaya – BCCI Marketing committe member
3. Kingfisher Airlines :- Flying bill board for booze
4. Kingfisher :- UB groups main brand
5. Kingfisher airlines :- Loosing money
6. Serve booze onboard :- Make more money
Gatekeeper,
thanks for atleast upgrading me to middle class. If farming is in utter distress, assuming that there are 400 million farmers, why only 150,000 have died? Why and how are others still alive?
TS
I totally agree, economic and social problems cannot be mixed as any solution will be a round peg for a square hole. Not only every loves a good drought but the author and his ilk are also quite enjoying farmer suicides.
Just for your info (hope it helps) please check out
http://www.sristi.org/honeybee.html
Aruna,
By your logic, 150,000 of the 400 million farmers have died. So that is not enough to point to an agrarian crisis.
In what situation are the rest of the farmers? Are they doing well? Are they making enough money? Are they breaking even? Or are they also silently suffering, waiting to cross the threshold anytime?
We will not ask those questions. Since the majority is still to kill itself, we will sleep over it until the problem escalates.
TS,
Like I have always argued, the social, the economic, the political and the like are not mutually exclusive spheres. In fact, they heavily overlap. Agrarian crisis should not be detached from the social milieu that saturates it.
And haven’t we heard of the great examples that you mentioned, of farmers turning their adversity into fortune. But market-based solutions are always short-lived. On the other hand, markets are never free of social influences; rather, they always capitalize on social resources.
If ragi is not working, grow vanilla or roses. Even if you manage to find the water to do that, these markets are highly fluctuating. International players will merely move over to other places where vanilla will be sold at a cheaper price. Remember how coffee crashed after Vietnam entered the market. Wonder what would be your solution of coffee growers and at what price will it come…
it is excellent