New Delhi, January 9

Despite their rock-hard determination to sustain the over 40-day-old agitation against the new farm laws, many protesting farmers at Delhi borders are falling prey to anxiety and depression, with a few having allegedly claimed their lives fighting this prolonged battle in biting cold.

Braving the elements and the odds stacked up against them, an overwhelming number of farmers have been protesting at Singhu Border and two other sites since November 26 but their “sedentary lifestyle” at present and “psychological sedimentation” is taking a toll on their physical and mental well-being.

According to NGOs running medical camps at the Singhu Border, the nerve centre of the massive agitation, these farmers are brave in their spirit but some have become vulnerable, facing extreme weather and may be a “sense of waning hope” that have translated into suicides at times.

However, to ease their psychological burden, US-based NGO United Sikhs has started carrying out counselling sessions for farmers at their camp set up on the Haryana side of the protest site at Singhu Border.

“So many farmers have died during this agitation, some of them claimed their own lives. While they may have a strong determination but the extreme cold and pent-up emotions, coupled with sedentary lifestyle at present as they are not going to fields, is making them psychologically vulnerable,” said Sanya Kataria, a clinical psychologist and a volunteer at the camp.

A student of Doctorate in Psychology at a private university in Noida, she has been offering services via the United Sikhs camp in the last few days.

“These farmers have been sitting for over 40 days on a national highway as part of this agitation. While most can withstand the physical rigour and biting cold as they are used to working hard, some of them have fallen prey to anxiety, depression and also hopelessness coupled with lack of self-esteem and feeling of frustration. It is a dangerous combination,” she told PTI.

So problems such as attention deficiency, restlessness, headaches were common symptoms being seen in those who have chosen to visit the camp for counselling, Kataria said.

In some cases, there is an emotional burnout from extreme stress and that is what “we attempt to detect early” through sessions, so that they won’t attempt or even contemplate taking any extreme step, she said.

Asked what kind of activities are done during a counselling session, the medical volunteer said the idea basically was to make them stop thinking about one “negative thought continuously”.

“So we engage them in activities to distract their minds, and create greater mindful awareness, or what we call ‘grounding’. We ask them to name five things they can see around, four things they can touch, three things they can hear, two things they can smell and one thing they can taste,” Kataria said.

Lt Gen SR Ghosh (retd)

Soon after the January 2003 surprise visit to the Indian embassy in Washington DC by three US Presidents and Laura Bush to sign the tsunami condolence book, I received a buzz from the receptionist that some Americans had arrived at the lobby in connection with the tsunami and that they wanted to meet me. The receptionist said they were insistent on only meeting the Military Attache, and no one else. A little annoyed but intrigued too, I walked down from my third floor office to meet the visitors. Two elderly gentlemen got up to shake hands, supporting themselves on their sticks. And what followed were some remarkable stories from the past.

April 1942. America had just entered World War II. China was under tremendous pressure from the invading Japanese forces. Chiang Kai-shek’s military critically needed supplies but there were no viable land or sea supply routes. Burma was also occupied by the Japanese and Allied Forces were hard-pressed to stop this war machine. Aid for the Chinese military would have to go by air from India and it was the Americans who would have to do that. With the threat of interception by Japanese fighter aircraft, there was no other option but to fly a treacherous route over the eastern Himalayan uplift, nicknamed the ‘Hump’ by the American pilots of the Flying Tigers and the Tenth Air Force. This was the China-Burma-India Theatre, also called the “Forgotten Theatre”.

And these two gentlemen, then dashing 25-year-old pilots, became part of this gallant band of brothers who volunteered and flew and saw many comrades never come back.

Flying over the ‘Hump’ through such inhospitable terrain and climate was extremely dangerous, compounded by acute shortages of trained personnel and support equipment. A large number of overloaded planes crashed on takeoff. Exhausted pilots often flew as many as three roundtrips every day. The ‘Hump’ route became known as the “Aluminum Trail” from the number of aircraft that crashed en route. More than 1,000 men and 600 planes were lost during these missions.

I listened in fascinated silence as the two recounted their stories about their daredevil missions, of being attacked by Japanese planes, about India and short leaves at Calcutta and the warmth of the Indian people. So strong were their memories that on return to America, the surviving veterans formed a China-Burma-India Veterans Association to meet every year in various parts of the US and reminisce about their days in India, flying the ‘Hump’ and to honour their dead comrades. With sorrow in their voice, they told me that 2003 would probably be the last time that the Association would meet as those few still alive, now in their late eighties, did not have the health or energy to continue any longer.

As they got up to go, with trembling hands, they took out a cheque for $1,500 — “General, this is all that we have. India has suffered due to the tsunami. We love your country and we want you to send this back for the people of India as a token of our love.”

Emotion overcame me as instead of the wrinkled, weather-beaten faces of these two veterans, I suddenly saw the smiling faces of two young boys in leather jackets, flying helmets and goggles, giving a thumbs-up before climbing into their flying machines. It saddened me immensely. The last of the ‘Hump’ aviators would soon be gone forever.

Tribune News Service

Hisar, January 9

As the farmers’ protest is gaining strength in the region, the farmers’ body here today announced that they would hold a tractor march and celebrate Republic Day at the Mahavir Stadium in Hisar.

The farmer leaders said that they would reach Mahavir Stadium on January 26 after conducting a tractor march that will see the participation of farmers of the district.

Mahavir Stadium is the venue of the official function of the government. Farmer leader Sube Singh Boora maintained that the agitation would continue until the Centre agrees to the demands of farmers to repeal the three farm laws and make MSP and state procurement of crops a legal right.

Tribune News Service

Sonepat, January 9

The farmers’ protest against the three farm laws at Singhu and Tikri borders continued for the 45th day on Saturday. Thousands of people from Punjab and Haryana joined the protest on Saturday.

Artistes — Harbhajan Mann, Jazzy Bains, Kanwar Grewal, Rabbi Shergill, Swara Bhaskar, Aarya Babbar, Harf Cheema, Gurpreet Saini, Jass Bajwa, Noor Chahal, Gurshabad Kular — reached Tikri border to solidarity with the protesting farmers. Punjabi singers and theatre artistes appealed to the protesting farmers to stay peaceful and the victory of the farmers would be for sure.

The farmers paid tribute to Sir Chhotu Ram on his death anniversary and took oath to fight till their last breath for their rights.

Amid bone-chilling cold wave, Singhu border witnessed heavy rush of the farmers today. As per intelligence reports, more than 55,000 farmers were at Singhu border on Saturday.

Firm on their demand of repealing of the three farm laws, the farmers said that they were ready to face all odd situations but would return only after the repealing of these laws.

Sukhbeer Singh of Fatehgarh Singh said that he, along with his friends, came here to support the farmers. He brought his bicycle in his car to roam about freely in the farmers’ camps. Every day, farmers were dying at the Delhi borders. So, the government must accept their demands as soon as possible so that they could go home happily and safely, he added.

Balwinder Singh alias Vicky of Moga, who reached Singhu border along with six friends on bicycles, said that they have come here to support farmers. Earlier, he and his friends had come to Singhu border on motorcycles.

Jogender Singh of Ludhiana said that we have come to Delhi for a decisive battle against the three farm laws and for legal guarantee of MSP. We won’t step back till our demands are fulfilled.

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 9

Agitating farmers today said they would not back down from legitimate protests against the farm laws, even if the court tells them to. After a meeting with their legal representatives here, farm union representatives said they would only implead in the Supreme Court in the pending petitions seeking removal of protesters from Delhi borders and not in any matter regarding the constitutionality of the farm laws.

Another suicide at Tikri

New Delhi: A young farmer from Fatehgarh Sahib Amrinder Singh died by consuming poison at the Singhu border on Saturday. Paramjit Singh of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha said Amrinder was a resident of Machrain Kalan in Fatehgarh Sahib district. He died at FIMS, Bahalgarh, Sonepat. TNS

The Supreme Court had in mid-December allowed eight farm unions to implead in the petition challenging their protests on grounds of Covid-related issues. The farm unions said these unions would go to the court on Monday in the pending case.

“The eight farm unions which are already part of the case and have been impleaded in the matter of protests by farmers will go to the SC on January 11. The issue of constitutionality is not even before the SC and we will not become party to it. We have consulted our lawyers,” Darshan Pal, one of the union leaders said on a day the Congress threw its weight behind the protesters, daring the PM to quit if he could not rescind the laws.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala urged the SC to introspect. “The Modi government was elected by the people, not the SC. It is answerable to the people for its decisions and not to the Supreme Court. The responsibility of making and annulling the laws is that of Parliament. I would urge the SC to ask itself why the farmers are so unwilling to approach it? Why does the government want the SC to solve all contentious issues, from the CAA and the National Register of Citizens to farm laws,” he asked. Announcing protests on January 15 in solidarity with the farmers, Surjewala said “Jan Andolans” would be held at all state headquarters and the day observed as Kisan Adhikar Diwas. Swaraj Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav also slammed the government for suggesting that the farmers should go to the SC.

“The SC has said earlier that it will not intervene… The government is dodging dialogue,” he claimed. “Bring whatever orders you wish. We are not going anywhere until you repeal the laws,” said a resolute BKU leader Rakesh Tikait.

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 9

After several rounds of fruitless negotiations with farmers, while the Centre appears to be waiting for the outcome of the January 11 Supreme Court hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the three farm laws, it also seems to have a “Plan B” ready.

Sources indicate if nothing works out by January 15, the government may consider bringing amendments (as proposed to the farmers) to the three laws and the ordinance on air quality management in the Budget session. “But it is certain that there will be no repeal (of the three Acts),” the sources say.

The ongoing agitation is an “undesirable” situation for any popular dispensation, but the government believes it will be able to “tide it over”. If laws are amended, it will be a proof of the BJP’s intent towards the farmers.

The government is also willing to have a joint 10-member panel to “discuss and make changes in the farm laws”.

Having relented on the proposed power Act, stubble burning ordinance and amendments to Acts, this is about as far the government is willing to bend. Any further concessions will end uo in “opening possibilities of more protests.”

Aunindyo Chakravarty

Senior Economic Analyst

Have you ever wondered why India’s big businesses are suddenly so keen on farming? The answer is very simple. They have already exhausted all other options of making mega profits. After all, we know that farm income in India has not kept pace with inflation for at least the past two decades now. So, in real terms, farmers earn less now than they did in the previous millennium. Yet, big corporates find the agriculture sector attractive enough to have lobbied for these new farm laws.

Darbari economists with their fairytale theories will tell you that corporates entering the farm is a win-win for all. Two banal concepts that they like to use here are ‘economies of scale’ and ‘backward and forward integration’.

The fable of the free market goes something like this: Big companies will bring low-cost finance, they will be able to procure seeds, fertilisers and pesticides at discounted prices because they’ll order it in bulk, they will bring new farming technologies to improve yields, they will reduce wastage at harvest, they will set up cold-chain systems to quickly transport grains, vegetables and fruits and they will even sell the produce at lower prices to the final consumer, in their own retail chains, by removing the villainous middlemen.

Such balderdash is forgivable if spouted by your retired uncle in the family WhatsApp group. When mainstream economists and celebrated commentators regurgitate it, one has to wonder about their real intentions. That’s because it is impossible to believe that they are unaware of the facts of corporatisation of agriculture in other parts of the world. Everywhere, without exception, it has created a few agri-giants who have made massive profits, while farmers have become poorer and food has become more expensive.

The real reason why corporates want to enter the farm sector and why their handmaidens in academia and the media are batting for the new farm laws lies in the recent history of our economy. India has always had monopolies, where a few business houses controlled all organised industries. It even entered the popular lexicon where someone who had the airs of being rich would be ridiculed as one “who thinks they are some Tata-Birla.”

From the late 1960s, this came under restrictions by the state when Indira Gandhi decided that the only way she could take on the ‘syndicate’ of entrenched Congress leaders, was to take a left turn. From the mid-1980s, especially after Rajiv Gandhi became PM, many hurdles placed on big corporate houses were gradually removed. The Rao-Manmohan reforms of the 90s lifted what little remained.

The liberalisation years did give some opportunity for new entrepreneurs to compete with established business houses. This was especially true in export-oriented industries and in the new ‘sunrise’ sectors like IT and telecom. Things looked even better for new businesses in the mid-2000s. Easy finance during UPA-1, new political alignments, policy focus on big-ticket infrastructure projects, and the real estate boom opened the door for the emergence of new companies.

All of these credit-fuelled businesses collapsed when the global financial bubble burst in 2008. Many companies, which had investors chasing them in the mid-2000s, became bankrupt, their market capitalisation dropping to a fraction of what it was in 2007.

Every industry witnessed a process of consolidation, where a few big companies, usually those that were already entrenched, gradually bought over others. Some sectors, such as power, were entirely abandoned, leaving it to the government and public sector banks to deal with the mess created by private capital.

Since the Modi government has come to power, monopolies have become even more entrenched. This was partly a legacy of what UPA-2 had left behind. When a credit bubble bursts, it crushes everyone except businesses that have deep pockets, cash reserves and political heft. The Modi government’s initial attempt to clean up the bad loan mess only made things worse for those with big loans, and ended up strengthening big businesses.

However, the slowdown in the rest of the economy and the government’s terrible performance on jobs has caused the mother of all demand problems. So, corporates are making money by cutting costs, sacking people and reducing investments. They are selling less, but spending even lesser. The result is that big companies are spending their profits on buying back shares and rewarding shareholders with bigger dividends. This is the exact opposite of what growing economies need. It is also a vicious cycle which can only lead to increasing contraction. At some point, there will be no buyers left to sell things to and there will be no profits to be made.

In such a situation, monopoly capital has only one place to turn to. And that is agriculture, which is the only sector that is entirely run by small ‘private entrepreneurs’. After all, that is exactly what farmers are. There is a lot of money to be made here through consolidation. Big businesses can indeed take over the share of income made by intermediaries — traders, transporters, wholesalers and retailers.

There are literally millions of small private entrepreneurs in agriculture who can be pushed aside and replaced by big agricultural monopolies. It is also one sector where demand is permanent, especially if your aim is to sell mostly to the urban middle classes. Urban consumers already pay for margins earned by the entire chain of intermediaries who stand between the farm and their kitchen. It is of no consequence to them whether the profits are being made by a million people or one big company.

For big business, agriculture is the last big sector that offers the opportunity for consolidation. It is also the only space where there is a possibility of growth. That is why they are so keen to see the farm laws stay. And that is what India’s farmers have to fight.