News Wrap

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As rural distress worsens, there is growing farmer unrest across India. There are increasing clashes among farmers and government agencies, particularly in Maharashtra, which is facing acute rural distress. This year, there are about 150 incidents of clashes nationwide, between farmers and government law enforcing agencies. The grim agrarian situation triggers farmer unrest. The major reasons for farmer unrest are low Minimum Support Price (MSP) of agricultural produce, as decided by the government from time to time, the contentious land acquisition bill, the right to fair compensation, and inadequate supply of seeds and fertilizers. Agitations by farmers in Punjab, Haryana and parts of western Uttar Pradesh were largely linked to the supply of fertilizers, particularly Urea. Two back-to-back sub par monsoons have squeezed the farmer. More farmers have embraced investment heavy commercial farming without adequate risk cover for pest attacks, or a collapse in global commodity prices. There has been no compensation for crop damage due to unseasonal rains. Unpaid dues keep rising for sugarcane farmers. Food production has fallen by 4.7%. Agricultural growth rate is 0.2%.

Population Growth in West Bengal
In the decade 2001-11, West Bengal has experienced 13.8% population growth rate, which is the lowest in the country. The total fertility rate is defined as the average number of children, a woman would have over her reproduction life. Bengal’s fertility rate of 1.6 is below the national average, but also lower than the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman. The state has not experienced a level of economic and social progress, that could have created conditions for low population growth. In Bengal one-third of the population are illiterate, and nearly three-fifths live in ‘Kutcha’ houses, and again three-fifths earn their livelihood through manual labour. 82% of households, have a breadwinner who earns less than Rs 5000 a month. 70% of the rural households are landless. Around 47% of the rural population do not have primary eduction against national average of 50%. The percentage of graduates in the state is less than the national average, and all the western and southern states. Only 8.5% of the rural population have salaried jobs. And only 19% of the rural population are farmers.

High Onion Prices
Onions are a politically sensitive commodity in India, besides a crucial ingredient for Indian dishes. From Rs 25 a kg at the end of July 2015, price of onions has shot to over Rs 90 a kg. Onion prices were considered a decisive factor in the outcome of two state elections in 1998, and were blamed for the fall of the central government in 1980. The government has blamed the current price increase on unseasonal rains from March to June growing season, which yields about 60% of India’s total annual onion production, and provides supplies that are supposed to last until October or November. A clutch of traders who control much of the onion supplies are working together to manipulate the market, and drive up prices. A 2012 study sponsored by the Competition Commission of India, confirmed the allegation. A previous sharp price jump in 2011 was contained when income tax officials raided several large traders, and prices promptly fell by 60%. The Union Government of India has raised the minimum export price to $700 a ton, up from $425 in June 2015, to try to discourage exports. The government has imported 10,000 tons of onions from neighbouring countries.

Triple Talaq
India does not have uniform civil code that applies to all Indians. Muslims are allowed to follow ‘Sharia’. A muslim man can repeat the word ‘Talaq’ three times, and his wife stands divorced. All objections are over ruled. Instant divorce is permitted under Islamic law. Muslim personal law relates to the seventh century. Triple Talaq is permitted under the hadith, the prophet Muhammad’s sayings. For women, triple talaq is just plain and simple cruelty. Minor arguments, small likes and dislikes can lead to triple talaq. Muslim men feel free to shout the ‘triple talaq’, or send ‘triple talaq’ by mobile phone text, e-mail, facebook, skype and whatsapp. Since it was set up in 2007, the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) has been campaigning for a ban on triple talaq, calling it a travesty of divorce as envisaged in the Qur'an, where the word has to be pronounced on three separate occasions, spread over three months, and must be accompanied by efforts at reconciliation. Recently, a Union Government of India Committee of 2013 to look into women’s status has recommended that the government should outlaw triple talaq. The custom makes wives extremely vulnerable and insecure regarding their marital status. The union ministry of women and child development will hold consultations with civic and religious groups, before a final decision is taken. Clerics and conservative organization, like the powerful All India Muslim Personal Law Board would be opposed to a government ban on triple talaq. Aware of how women’s lives are destroyed by triple talaq, the Muslim Personal Law Board is trying to impose restrictions on its use, by suggesting that efforts at reconciliation must be mandatory. There is a suggestion for imposing a heavy fine for men, who indulge in it.

Attacks on Spanish Press
Press freedom in Spain is under attack from the Citizen’s Security Law, under which media outfits can be fined up to 30,000 euro for filming or taking ‘unauthorised’ pictures of police carrying out their duties. Article 26 states that media images of police could put the safety of officers at risk. The courts must decide what is ‘authorised’. Falling revenues had left newspapers precarious and vulnerable to political pressure. Newspapers were less willing to challenge the political and business elite. Pedro Ramirez, aged 64, was editor of the right-wing El Mundo newspaper for 25 years, until he was sacked in 2014. His dismissal was in retaliation for a series of reports about Mariano Rajoy, the prime minister, who allegedly received tens of thousands of euros from a secret slush fund. Mr Rajoy denies the claims.

Frontier
Vol. 48, No. 22, Dec 6 - 12, 2015