Tauseef Ahmad
Patiala: ‘If my sacrifice can prevent the suicides of more farmers, I am ready to give my life,’ says Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a 70-year-old farmer from Punjab, lying on a stretcher in the town of Khanauri where he has been on hunger strike for more than five months.
Dallewal is a key figure in India’s farmers’ movements. He leads a farmers’ group allied with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a coalition of unions that coordinated massive protests in 2020 against three farm laws that enabled corporate takeover of the agricultural industry.
Over the years, he has advocated for land acquisition reforms, farm debt waivers, and pensions for agricultural workers. After a year of intense protests in which hundreds of farmers were injured and several killed, Prime Minister Narendra repealed the 2020 farmer laws.
But farmers argue that without substantial policy changes, their livelihoods remain at risk due to market volatility.Dallewal wants the government to enact a Minimum Support Price (MSP) law to protect farmers from market forces by procuring produce at a guaranteed price.
He is also demanding loan waivers, and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives in clashes with security forces during previous protests.‘If the government meets our demands, I will end my fast,’ says Dallewal who, despite having cancer, has refused medical aid since he began his hunger strike on 26 November.
While a committee has been set up to address the crisis, some farmers’ unions have criticized the process as ineffective.In a letter dated 24 December to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dallewall urged the government to uphold recommendations made by a Parliamentary Committee, including the MSP guarantee. Attempts to march to Delhi have been blocked by security forces at the borders.
The Punjab region is often referred to as India’s breadbasket. Research shows that more than 9,200 farmers across Punjab died by suicide between 2000 and 2018, with nearly 88 percent of those suicides due to farm-related debts.‘Their families continue to suffer. This cycle of suicides must end,’ says Dallewal.India’s top court has criticized the Punjab government for not ensuring Dallewal receives medical care.
The court directed that he be provided with medical aid without ending his fast.The union government of India has invited farmers to talks on 14 February but the order has been criticized by farmer leaders who believe setting a long date could affect the farmer leaders health as his fast enters a third month.
Around 260 million people of India are employed in the agriculture sector which accounts for over 45 percent of the country’s workforce.
