Profession wise Suicide Reporting in India for 2014 opens Pandora's Box

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India has now come up with its annual publication for 2014 on Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI). There have been 1,31,666 suicidal deaths in 2014 that is less than that of 2013 when there were 1,34,799 suicidal deaths. It needs to be mentioned that these deaths are as per police records and, as indicated by the Global Burden of Disease following a study on Suicide Mortality in India in the Lancet by Vikram Patel et al, would be underestimates.

There have been some important changes in profession wise suicide reportage for 2014 and some of the professions are not comparable. For instance, in the earlier profession wise classification, the self-employed were indicated under four sub-categories (business, professionals, agriculture/farming, and others). In 2013, more than 21 per cent of the total suicidal deaths were self-employed [others] and any exercise to improve clarity would be welcome. 

In 2014, we have self-employed indicated under three broad sub-categories (business, agriculture, and others). Further, the first two sub-categories were further bifurcated such that for agriculture we have a category called self-employed [agriculture (agricultural labour)] and self-employed [agriculture (farmers)] with the latter being further sub-divided to those who own land and those who are on contract/lease. Instead of increasing the clarity, the new categorisation has added to the confusion. 

At the outset, one should feel that the category of self-employed [agriculture] of 2014 is comparable. to self-employed [agriculture/farming] of 2013 and earlier. But, a closer look indicates that they are not. This is so because the former also includes a category called self-employed [agriculture (agricultural labour)]. To an outsider it would give the impression that this category was included in the earlier reporting, but this should not be the case for the simple reason that agricultural labourers are not self-employed. This also means that this category should not be there in the 2014 classification under self-employed. Thus, raising the question about who they are.

In revenue terms, in some places, a person is not considered a farmer if the land is not in his/her name and this problem holds even if some other member of the household owns land. In some other places where land leasing is illegal, any reporting by the police could exclude tenancy. In places where tenancy was made legal (like West Bengal) this would not include sub-tenants. Thus, it is quite likely that a large proportion of the self-employed [agriculture (agricultural labourers)] are likely to be farmers who may not be considered as such in the police records. Thus, indicating that this exercise of new classification was done without a proper understanding.

One gets the impression that the purpose of the new classification was to provide a relatively lower number of farmers' suicides (5,650 in 2014 compared to 11,772 in 2013). However, if one takes the entire category under self-employed [agriculture] then the total number of suicides turn out to be 12,360. Even if one goes by the classification and interpretation taken by the Bureau then they should be worried about a relatively higher suicides among agricultural labourers (with 6,710 suicidal deaths).

One observes that the profession wise suicides have not been given for cities in 2014. This would have been important from the perspective of understanding the categories with relatively higher suicides and whether there has been a rural-urban divide for some of the non-agricultural professions.

The report gives additional information on farmers' suicides by causes and by their land holding status, which is also welcome. But, one fails to get the merit of providing causes as mutually exclusive when the various factors are interrelated, as discussed with regard to Farmers' Suicides in Maharashtra and elsewhere. To illustrate, an immediate cause because of family problems is likely to be inherently linked to livelihood failure. One also fails to understand its relevance because one of the disclaimers of the report is that "(t)he causative factors ... are not being captured by the Bureau." In addition, the rare event that suicides are, a classification by land size has to be carefully interpreted from a statistical perspective.

[Added on 24 July 2015: Today the Minister of Agriculture in a reply in the Rajya Sabha to a question on farmers' suicides indicated that impotency and love affairs are some of the causes. This ignores the disclaimer by NCRB. This also made me add a sentence from Suicide of Farmers in Maharashtra (footnote 24, page 37) quoting AA Leenaars that causative factors are complex because of the following example: “A 16-year-old was found dead in a car, having died of carbon monoxide poisoning. People were perplexed: “Why did this young person from an upper-middle-class family kill himself?” The parents found out that his girlfriend had rejected him the day of his suicide. That was the reason: … A few friends and his teachers knew that he had been having problems in school. That was the reason. A few others knew that his father was an alcoholic and abusive. That was the reason. His physician knew that he had been adopted and had been recently upset about that. She knew the real reason. And others knew…”]

Outside agriculture, some professions with relatively higher incidence of suicides are students (8,068 suicidal deaths and largely around the time when results are declared in the final examinations), unemployed (9,918),  or that among daily wage earners (a new category with 15,735 suicidal deaths). Of course, it would help if one could noramlise with appropriate population numbers before comparing.

Another welcome addition in the new report for 2014 is a discussion on suicides among Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). An obvious question on this is why was this restricted to the central forces alone and not extended to the state forces as also the army or was that collected and deliberately being withheld. The suspicion arises because suicides by those in the state police forces would be the easiest to collect by the Bureau and obtaining such data from the armed forces should also not be difficult.

   

The gender wise classification provides data for transgenders for the first time and the Bureau needs to be appreciated for this. However, it would also help in the larger understanding if the Bureau could consider providing unit level data. Of course, they should take care to not reveal the identity of the individuals, but this should not prevent putting in place cross-checks by independent organisations and scholars to improve data validity.

What is more, despite the new classification, there are 41,216 suicidal deaths (that is, more than 31 per cent of suicidal deaths) that are categorised under the profession 'Others'.  This needs to be improved. In any further exercise to improve classification, the Bureau could benefit from an earlier note on Suicide Mortality Rates across States in India or the more recent exercise on appropriate reporting and measurement of Farmers' Suicides in India.

To sum up, the latest reportage of suicides in ADSI 2014 by the Bureau is an underestimate. In addition,  the new profession wise reporting reduces comparability and lacks clarity.

Kisan Swaraj Yatra in North India

Kisan Swaraj Yatra (Farmers Freedom Tour) traveled through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,  Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan in north India during 25 November-10 December 2010. This last leg of the Yatra is gaining momentum as the yatris and the farmers they meet on the way inspire each other.

Logo of Kisan Swaraj Yatra. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

The current write-up being the fourth in a series of write-ups, the earlier ones were on the 28th day of the Yatra and then on the 35th day of the Yatra coinciding with President Obama's visit and then the travels of the Yatra in eastern India and all these have been based on the blogs maintained by the yatris. To put it in perspective, the Yatra started on 2nd October 2010, the 141st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and ended on 11 December 2010 at his samadhi (memorial), Rajghat, New Delhi.

Yatris entered Uttar Pradesh through the Valmiki reserve forest bordering Bihar and Nepal and their first stop on 25 November 2010 was in Kushinagar, where Buddha attained nirvana (final deathless state with the soul abandoning the body). In the meeting with farmers there were discussions on 750 acres of  being lost to some project. Later in the day the yatris reached Gorakhpur where there was a rally with active participation from Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Poorvanchal Gramin Seva Samiti, Gramin and Development Services and Farmers Club, Mahirajgunj that ended with a public meeting at Subhas Bose Chowk . The meeting raised issues of Genetically Modified food (particularly Bt Brinjal), the forthcoming legislation's on biotechnology and seeds, experimental research for private companies by publicly funded institutions, and trials of such crops in fields without informing the  farmers and their neighbours. The yatris moved to Durain village, Varaniasi, and stayed for the night in a school, which is slightly different as the children are taught to critically question the text book knowledge and are very much aware of the political system and social issues.

Govindacharya addressing at Subhas Bose Chowk, Gorakhpur, UP, 25 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

There was convergence with BKU farmers who have been traveling from village to village in three districts in and around Varanasi. The day (26 November 2010) began with an interaction with the villagers in the school who like the students were apprehensive of the Yatra thinking it to be a political exercise, but appreciated it as they came to know that the Yatra is genuine about its concern for farmers and farming. Journey to Sultanpur was slow because of the traffic jam in each and every small town on the way, but the farmers there were eagerly waiting who welcomed the yatris by rendering slogans to save Indian agriculture. In the meeting, the need for a second freedom to stop the takeover of our land, water and seed by transnational corporates, which is unforrtunately  being mediated through the Indian government, was raised. There was a candle light march. The yatris left for Lucknow where they spent the next day (27 November 2010).

Candle light march at Sultanpur, UP, 26 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

In  a meeting at Shaheed Smarak, BKU members vowed to stop all trials of Genetically Modified (GM) crops. More importantly, women farmers vowed to fight seed sovereignty.

Women farmers vow to fight for seed sovreignity at Shahid Smarak, Lucknow, 27 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Travel from Lucknow to Moradabad was slow because of long delays at the number of railway crossings and a distance of 350 kilometers took 16 hours. The delay and had thinned down the farmers presence but there were informal discussions in smaller groups on 28 November 2010. Later, in a meeting at Kisan Bhawan, Chajlet  (a  building built by funds from BKU members) there was discussion about how farmers have always been at the receiving end and how there are a lot of restrictions on the pricing of primary produce, as against the processed goods.

Meeting and Kisan Bhawan, Chajlet, 28 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

A dip at the Ganges and the scenic beauty of Uttarakhand rejuvenated the yatris in the land of Chipko movement and Beej bachao andolon on 29 November 2010. Entry to the bathing ghat for VIPs (Very Important Persons) was a symbolic protest to convey that farmers' are important for the nation. Discussion with BKU members and farmers at Haridwar as also the meeting  at Dehradun later in the day brought about the immediate concerns of pricing, marketing, damage to crops by wild life, compensation for this year's crop loss due to unprecedented drought followed by heave rains subsequently,  settlement of payments to sugarcane farmers that has been pending for the last three years as also the medium-to-long term concerns of  regularization of land title including land title for women, seed sovereignty, environmental sustainability, state should promote wisdom of local communities that has emerged through years of experience, and state policies on organic farming should be connected with livelihood and culture of people and not be equated with market-based organic farming and cannot go hand-in-hand with the propagation of chemical-fertilizer based agriculture.

Slogan shouting reverberating the air, Haridwar, 29 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

The Yatra moves to Himachal Pradesh where they stay overnight at Gurudwara Paonta Sahib and begin the next day (30 November 2010) with an early morning breakfast of gajar ka halwa. The collapse of a bridge in the area, harvest activities and the marriage season kept the yatris in a relaxed mood. An interaction with the Himachal Kisan Sabha a non-political party affiliated outfit brought about the issues of appropriate pricing for farmers, state facilitation for life and health insurance policies for all farmer households, the difficulties with hybrid seeds as the farmers cannot use them for further reproduction.

Farmers at Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, 30 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

On the same day the yatris leave for Haryana and were welcomed by the waiting farmers into the state at Yamunanagar and then the Yatra moved into Pipli village in Kurukshetra where there was a meeting in which the state's BKU leader, Gurnam Singh, welcomed the yatris and the ensuing discussion the high cost of water for irrigation (`6,000 per acre), non-implementation of the recommendations by the National Commission on Farmers (particularly the price support), soil degradation and the need to conserve resources for a sustainable agriculture came up. The yatris moved on to Mohra village in Ambala where they were welcomed by slogan shouting farmers who also donated generously for the Yatra.

Farmers welcome the Yatra at Mohara, Haryana, 30 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

After spending the night at Gurudwara Bhattha Sahib the yatris start the day (2 December 2010) with a meeting in Rupnagar (Ropar), Punjab attended by farmers, teachers, journalists and environmentalists. On the current agrarian crisis there was serious discussion and the way forward was to look up to ecological farming with active participation from farmers and facilitating policies by the government. The Yatra moved on the the Students' Centre, Punjab Unviersity, Chandigarh, where they interacted with students drawn from human rights, social work, botany and environmental sciences among others and were also joined by the singer Rabbi Shergill who urged the youth to save the fertile lands of Punjab. The police tried to prevent the final event of the day at Sector 17 Plaza with this the yatris rented the air with impromptu slogan “Kitna dum hai daman mein tere, dekh liya aur dekhenge; kitni jagah hai jail mein tere, dekh liya aur dekhenge, Badi sharm ki baat hai, police unke saath hai, Hamaare haath mein jhande hai, police ke haath mein dande hai.” (How much power is there in your suppression, we have seen and we will see; how much space is there in your prison, we have seen and we will see; It is a matter of shame, that police is with them; We have in our hands a flag,  The policy have in their hands a staff.)

Street play, Students Centre (StuC), Punjab University, Chandigarh.  © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

On 3 December 2010 the yatris started with a demonstration against the Punjab Agricultural University  (PAU). Ludhiana because of its anti-farmer, anti-nature and pro-Monsanto agenda and were joined by past employees, social activists and also some students. A question mark was raised against technology that destroys environment, makes food toxic and puts farmers at the receiving end. Rajbir Singh of All India Pingalwara Charitable Society challenged the scientists to match his crops.The next event of the day at Khanna mandi was addressed by a retired senior entomologist of PAU who advised against using toxic chemical pesticides. The last event of the day at Dhudike, the historical village which was the birth place of Lala Lajpat Rai had interactions with farmers and discussed about farmer indebtedness, crop pricing, problems of tenant farmers and agricultural labourers.

Protest at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 3 December 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

The next morning (4 December 2010) started in Bhotna village, Barnala where many farmer households are getting back to millet-based food and women-folk are also growing pesticide-free vegetables in their kitchen garden. In the meeting that followed, Punjabi songs by Jagdeesh Papra and his team pointed out the plight of  sone da desh (land of gold), about poison being harvested from the lands and a message of hope to farmers feeling suicidal and also provided support to a spontaneous Telegu song by Ramesh on how our land is being mortaged by our rulers thus, giving a pan-Indian feeling to the Yatra. The yatris moved on and were welcomed as they passed by Bajakhana, Jalal and other villages. In the final meeting of the day at Jaitu,  organic farmers were felicitated and a former agriculture minister of the state government Sardar Sukhdev Singh Badal was asked questions on environmental health issues, indebtedness of farmers, water contamination, depletion of ground water and soil degradation.

Organic farmers felicitation at Jaitu, 4 December 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Last day in Punjab (5 December 2010) started at the Goniyana Gurudwara where the need for urban consumers to connect with farmers and food was emphasized. The discussion also focused on how the farmer needs to think beyond single season specific focus on yield maximization. The Yatra stopped at the seventh annual Virasat mela, Bathinda, that showcases the cultural heritage of the Malwa region, and subsequently moved on through the villages of Mehta, Jaisinghwala and Kheoyali.

The Yatra at Virasat Mela, Bathinda, 5 December 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

The Yatra has now reached Rajasthan (6 December 2010) and the day began with cold water bath at 3.00am during winter at the Dharmasala in Sangaria, but was made up by the hot tea served by Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal, a New Zealand returned engineer-turned-natural farmer.  Yatris reached Dhaban at 5.00am to join the villagers in the prabhat pheri, a one and a half hour long procession singing shabad kirtans and bhajans. Despite the cold winter, this communal event gave the yatris a warm glowing feeling. A visit to the natural farm of Kishan Jakhar, who follows the zero-budget principle of Subhas Palekar,  invigorated the yatris further. There was a meeting with media persons and others at Hanumangarh followed by an interaction with representatives from Khet Kalyan Morcha and Nature Human Centric Peoples Movement at Sri Ganganagar. The issue of local communities’ rights over their resources, atrocities by the Indian defense services in the area, non-payment of compensation to tenant farmers and agricultural workers for the landmines placed in agricultural fields, non-supply of irrigation water and police firing a few years back where seven farmers had to lay down their lives were discussed. Some of these issues also came up in Gharsana, after which the yatris left for Urmul Setu where they were severed hot piping food for dinner at midnight.

Another morning of biting cold started with the team splitting into two (7 December 2010). A public meeting at Ambedkar Chowk, Nokha where some of the contemporary burning issues are the following There has been no procurement of Bajra even after the announcement of a support price, the operation of a land mafia that sells of farmers' lands without the latter's knowledge, younger generation have little attachment with land, compound interests charged by banks on agricultural loans, purchased seeds that did not germinate and that the farmers have to wait for about 15 days in the market yard to sell grain. Interaction with farmer at a village named Sri Balaji brought out a demand/endorsement for a farmers income commission and a meeting with  95 year old freedom fighter, Mahavir Gahlot, brought out the reminiscences of Mahatma Gandhi.

One team of yatris had reached Jodhpur (8 December 2010) and had interactions with agricultural scientists from Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) and put forth to them four points - income security for all farming households; environmental sustainability in Indian agriculture; securing rights of farmers over their resources like land, seed and water; and ensuring safe, diverse, nutritious and adequate food for all. Director of CAZRI agreed that these are relevant issues and these need to be balanced with the prime concern of the government of bringing about 4 per cent growth in agriculture. The Director also pointed out that one of the objectives of the institute is to reduce costs to the farmers and come up with environment-friendly technologies.

Meeting at Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, 8 December 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Some other issues that came up are the relevance of adequate price support and their relationship with agricultural share in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), small holdings being productive and efficient but are not being sustainable because of high costs, some of the pro-farmer initiative in seed research are very minuscule and do not stand a chance against the corporatization of the seed market and this not only bring in a case for farmers' rights but also on researchers' rights, import of exotic varieties in a mass scale is eroding local diversity,  the rellevance of varietal diversity to address temperature and rainfall variation, one should neither import nor oppose technology blindly, and that technology should be build on the existing local culture and livelihood practices. Later in the day the yatris were accompanied by Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) members from Jawaja village and then moved on to Madkochra village where the Yatra witnessed one of the best interactions and discussions.

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) member with yatris, Madkochar, 8 December 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

On the last day in Rajasthan (9 December 2010) the yatris first went to Renwal where the delay added to the somber mood, as 8317 hectares of land is being acquired for a housing project and that too when crops are being harvested in many places after 12 long years. With this immediate problem in hand, the Yatra's agenda looked so distant. With urging some member agreed to accompany the Yatra to Jaipur and also take up the issue in court. In Jaipur, there was a public meeting with activists, journalists, students, academics and common citizens coming to listen to the experience of yatris. Dr Surjit Singh (Director, Institute of Development Studies) pointed out the relevance of decentralized planning as a means to address many problems. He also pointed out how liberalized trade has priced out oilseed farmers. Dr VS Vyas (Vice Chairman, State Planning Board, Rajasthan) mentioned that the Yatra is encouraging and shows that  he state has to have a greater role, as the private sector will not address the issues of farmer.


The penultimate day of the Yatra (10 December 2010) started with a meeting at Social Centre for Rural Initiative and Advancement (SCRIA), Khori, Rewari, Haryana where farmers took over slogan shouting and women farmers donated. The last public meeting in the evening was at Nityanand School, Rohtak with all set to go to Rajghat.

Women farmers donating for the Yatra, Khori, Haryana, 9 December 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

On the final day (11 December 2010) of the Yatra, some of the yatris met Ms Sonia Gandhi and there was a day long meeting at Gandhi Darshan after paying obeisance to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, New Delhi. We will come up with a write-up on this soon.

Kisan Swaraj Yatra travels through Eastern India

Kisan Swaraj Yatra (Farmers Freedom Tour) traveled through the eastern regions of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar during 11-24 November 2010. Their call to save agriculture and environment was received with zeal everywhere.

Logo of Kisan Swaraj Yatra. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

The Yatra started on 2nd October 2010, the 141st birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and ended on 11 December 2010 at Rajghat, the samadhi (memorial) of Mahatma Gandhi. See our earlier write-ups on the 28th day of the Yatra and then on the 35th day of the Yatra coinciding with President Obama's visit. These write-ups, including the current one, are based on the blogs maintained by the yatris.

On 10 November 2010 the last day for the yatris in Andhra Pradesh at Vishakhapatnam, adivasis (tribals)  from different parts of the state as also Odisha highlighted about the loss of their land and livelihood. Meetings/discussions pointed out how new agricultural technologies has led to a loss of diversity and dietary practices. What is more, in the name of development, people have been displaced without being given any compensation due to the absence of proper land records. The day ended with cultural fest of song and dance indicating the symbiotic relationship between life and environment.

Dance by tribal women in Vishakhapatnam as part of Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 10 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Visit to Koraput in Odisha on 11 November 2010 was interesting because of a trip to a village, Umari, that required the yatris to walk four kilometers. The women farmers were in the forefront of discussions and were recalling the traditional varieties of rice that grew in the region, but it was a matter of serious concern as these were fast disappearing (also see a recent write-up on saving rice  in Down to Earth). The need for research and extension support that realizes the local advantages, which may differ from village to village, and integrates science that helps foster this was raised.

Interaction with tribal women after trecking for four kilometers to Umari village, Koraput by members of Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 11 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Early morning travel on 12 November 2010 from Koraput in Orissa to Chhattisgarh through the Jeypore tracts made the yatris revel the beauty of the undulating terrain and the rich diversity of paddy. This was also the theme of the meeting later in the day at Jagdalpur. The state government exempted the yatris from paying road tax. A former union minister of state stated that the agricultural policies should not be based on 'one-size fits all' principle. The need for different perspective for the adivasi region that appreciates the fragility of the environment and eco-system, the psychology and culture of the people and their inability to take risks or invest hugely in farming was pointed out. Farmers explained how they preserve varieties of paddy, or how one farmer has come up with a new weeder to be used under the system of rice intensification (SRI) paddy cultivation.

Yatris check out paddy varieties in Jagdalpur Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 12 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

In Raipur on 13 November 2010 the yatris interacted with academicians and Gandhians and the issues that came up were how life-style and culture related changes were affecting the poorest, that there is need for awakening in the mind, that the younger generation should rise to the occasion, that there is large scale displacement and out-migration from the state. The yatris also interacted with biotechnology students of an institute and told that their knowledge is only one side of the debate. The day ended in an interaction with farmers and labourers at Ravaan village.

Interaction with farmers and labourers at Ravaan village, Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 13 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

The Yatra visited Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSG), Ganiyari on 14 November 2010 to see how work with health led JSG to focus on food and agriculture. The group has preserved 150 varieties of seeds in the fields of farmers. "The traditional varieties include some exotic-sounding local ones like Gondhaphool, Basmukhi, Phoolmecha, Rikwa, Bhallu Dubraj (scented), Ram Galli, Bhainphat (scented and super fine) etc. One variety called DRK can yield 32 quintals an acre and another variety that attracted everybody’s attention was Naak kesar – which was purple and beautiful. The shoots and seeds were all purple. The striking feature of all these traditional varieties is that they are all tall and long-duration. The tall crops mean more fodder for cattle too." Later in the day at Bilaspur the discussion pointed out how the excessive use of chemicals in agriculture have adverse health implications. It was also pointed out that the present fertile condition of land is because of generations of effort and this cannot be compensated through monetary valuations.

Rice varieties in a field in Ganiyari, Chattishgarh, facilitated by Jan Swasthya Sahyog, Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 14 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Back to Odisa on 15 November 2010 at Sambalpur the day began in an interaction with media persons and many local television channels were showing the footage of the Yatra. The issues of farmers organization like Paschim Odisa Chasi Samanvay Samit (Western Odisa Farmers Cooperative Society) taking up work in conserving traditional varieties of seeds and promoting ecological farming was applauded. The issues of farmers' suicides, diversion of irrigation water for other usage and appropriating community resources for the benefit of corporations were raised.

Farmers rally in Sambalpur as part of Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 15 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

In Bhubaneswar, on 16 November 2010, the Yatra urged the state government to scrap 'Project Golden Days' done in partnership with Monsanto to cultivate maize with tribal farmers. The yatris released the report Monsanto-ising Indian Agriculture and on the occasion, Kavitha Kurangati, a co-author of the report stated the following:

"It is apparent that corporations like Monsanto are only out to grab ready markets for themselves through taxpayers’ funds whereas it is the responsibility of the government to protect the livelihoods of the marginalized. It is clear from what is emerging on the ground with projects such as ‘Project Golden Rays’ that high-external-input-driven farming with hybrid seeds will only increase indebtedness of farmers, is already changing their dietary habits posing questions on future nutrition security, is threatening environmental sustainability in fragile eco-systems and is taking away our seed and food sovereignty. There is a need to question the intentions of the government when it partners with corporations like Monsanto which have a sordid history of corporate crimes, falsification and omission of data, bribing and anti-farmer behaviour like suing and jailing farmers in the name of IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights)."

Farmers strike down the Memorandum of Understanding between Government of Orissa and Monsanto, Bhubaneswar, 16 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Baripada in Mayurbhanj was the the last stop for the yatris in Odisa on 17 November 2010 and they were satisfied with a huge gathering of 700 or more people where farmers took the pledge to do away with chemical fertilizers. Thereafter there were a couple of breakers in the journey, first in getting a gate pass to exit Odisa and then to pay the road tax to enter West Bengal, but the candle light and floral welcome at Contai  made their day.

Yatris welcomed in Bengal style with flora petal and the blowing of conch, Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 17 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Yatris began the day on 18 November 2010 with a cycle rally and then visited different organic farms, witnessed street plays and saw the inauguration of an organic shop that marked a new beginning. The leaf plates in the shop were a boon for the yatris who had all along been on non-plastic stuff to eat from. The next day (19 November 2010) was in Kolkata that began with a seed exhibition. Discussions that followed emphasized the relevance of cow in India's agriculture, the methods of growing paddy under drought conditions of Kalahandi in Orissa and the need to organize farmers . Yatris left for Bankura and spent the night at Basudaha farm, a no-plastic zone and a low resource-use area. The farm, over the years, has conserved 690 varieties of paddy. In their last day in West Bengal on 20 November 2010, there was a padyatra (march) by yatris through a few villages and a post-lunch event explained how ‘wealth’, ‘paddy’ and ‘prosperity’ were synonymous in the local culture.

Display of rice varieties in Basudha farm, Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 20 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

The yatris had a single meeting in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 21 November 2010 where the focus was on "the implications of the proposed 'Green Revolution in Eastern India' and 'Genetically Modified (GM) seeds' in the context of drought in Jharkhand." The community rights over jal, jungle and zameen (water, forest and land) was raised. Another point mentioned was how the input intensive cultivation is not only costly but also uses more water, which is untenable in a rain-fed region. Farmers stressed the need to have their own seeds, that the land they inherited from their forefathers is what they owe to future generations. The discussions on GM seeds/crops pointed out a move to 'colonize' agriculture through corporate business and as an infringement on our basic rights, stress intolerance of such crops, lack of proof of biosafety, and evidence on health and environmental impacts among others.

Yatris walk into the sukhad virodh abhiyan meetings, Ranchi, Kisan Swarj Yatra, 21 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Bihar leg of the yatra started in Patna on 22 November 2010. The aspects that came up in the meeting was that farmer related issues did not come up in the recently concluded elections for the state assembly and that there are no farmer-friendly policies, that the 'Green Revolution in Eastern India' was identified as 'Loot ki kranti' (exploitation-revolution), that the American farming model is not suitable to the Indian condition, that the issues in front of the farmer are also relevant for the urban consumer, that more such meetings are needed in the nook and corner of the country and that these meetings should be apolitical. Three demands were put for the new government.

• Promote organic farming in the state
• Not allow any GM seeds in the state including open air trials and make a legislation to that effect
• Pick up lessons from the earlier Green Revolution and ensure that the Green Revolution proposals are in the benefit of farmers and in a sustainable livelihoods framework

Yatris at Gandhi Statue, Patna, Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 22 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

On their second day in Bihar (23 November 2010) the yatris had a meeting with scientists of Rajendra Agriculture University, Samastipur. This university had come into news as they refused to take up trial for GM maize for Monsanto last year. There was a long discussion and three demands were put forth to the university.

• To take up more research on ecological farming
• To shun any GM seed development, trial and commercialization, from the university side
• To disallow any proposals on Green Revolution in Bihar, based on intensive models a la Punjab

Director Research, Rajendra Agriculture University, Contributing to Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 23 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

Later in the day, farmers of Vidyajhamp a village declared to work toward being GM free and they will use their own seeds and in another gathering it was pointed out that Bihar should not become a laboratory for multinationals and biotech industry.

Vidyajhamp village declaring itself to be free of genetically modified seeds/crops, Kisan Swaraj Yatra, 23 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

The last day in Bihar (24 November 2010) coincided with the day the election results were being declared. It was also important for the Yatra as it visited a visited a number of villages in East and West Champaran, the  the undivided district being the place from where Mahatma Gandhi started his first satyagraha (non-violent resistance) against the British. Two panchayats, Barsaha and Savangiya, declared that they will be organic and will also join the yatris at Rajghat on 11 December 2010. In another meeting in Madhopur, scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra accepted the advantages of organic farming but raised the issues of food security. In response, yatris pointed out the dependence on imports for our fertilizers. "They cautioned farmers not to fall for such false arguments and reminded that the only way the country can become sovereign, is to be self reliant when it comes to agricultural inputs and that is only possible when we do ecological farming shunning agrochemicals and GM seeds." They also came across a farmer keeping mounavrata (keeping quite or not talking, as a method of resistance/protest) for four years to propagate the use of low external input sustainable agriculture.

Public meeting at Madhopur in East Champaran where a farmer is seen keeping mounavrata (keeping quite or not talking, as a method of resistance/protest) for four years to propagate low external input sustainable agriculture, 24 November 2010. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra   

Melodious songs by a local artist reminded that our traditional agriculture was both ecologically and socially sustainable. As election results started pouring in, the yatris got delayed in reaching their final destination, but were elated on reaching because the farmers were still waiting. Long live farmers!

(See our write-up on the Yatra in North India and we will soon come up with one on the final event at Rajghat).

Day 28 of farmers marching across India to save agriculture

The Kisan Swaraj Yatra, known as the farmers freedom tour, is mobilizing farmers and public opinion across states of India. It is a call to save Indian agriculture.

Logo of Kisan Swaraj Yatra. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

A number of farmers and farmer organization have come together under the banner of Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA, which literally means hope in many Indian languages) and are touring across the country. The Kisan Swaraj Yatra started on 2 October 2010, Mahatma Gandhi's 141st birthday, from Sabarmati, the same place from where Mahatma Gandhi had started his famous salt sayagraha or Dandi march on 12 March 1930. It will end on 11 December 2010 at Rajghat, New Delhi (Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi or crematorium) after having traveled across 20 states.

Today, on 29th October 2010, the Yatra has traversed Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and now reached Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore, a collaborating institute with Monsanto. Farmers' protested by donating money, which the authorities did not accept. The yatris message for the scientists is to take up research that benefit farmers and not the agribusiness corporations.

Farmers in their march as part of Kisan Swaraj Yatra protest against the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University's collaboration with Monsanto. © Kisan Swaraj Yatra

"The overwhelming message from farmers and non-farmers, rural and urban areas, is that such a large mobilization to save Indian agriculture is the crying need today. The Yatra is raising issues like support systems for farmers, remunerative prices, control over seeds, land and other resources, forced displacement and the vicious cycle of high-cost chemical agriculture. The Yatra has had ministers in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka endorsing the demands, farmers taking out bullock-cart rallies, promising resolutely to be annadatas (providers of food) in the face of adversity and land-grabbing, adivasi (tribal) children laying out their vision of sustainable development, film personalities coming out in support, shopkeepers and transport officials donating money to keep the Yatra going."

To support their call, you may have a look at their petition to the Indian government. "The Kisan Swaraj Yatra is an initiative to strike out a new path in agriculture, which provides a dignified livelihood to all our farmers and farmworkers, and keeps our soil alive and our food and water healthy."

It questions the ethos that "there is no alternative" and throws up a world of possibilities where "many alternatives exist" (MAE).
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Those interested may have a look at their petition to the Government of India. If you agree then do sign and share the same.
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Other related articles are the coincidence of the Yatra's 35th day with Obama's visit, the tour across eastern regions and northern regions of India.

A similar write-up was first put up in Digital Journal, 29 October 2010, http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/299546.