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tion. If the ruling party is able to sense methodology of calculating the whole- non-institutional sources. Sometimes
agonizingly growing distress of farmers sale price index, a major indicator of they take loans from arhtiya/commis-
and comes up with desirable solutions inflation in our country. Until the sion agents to timely repay the institu-
it may gain. The problems of agriculture weight age to the food items is not tional loan so that they remain eligible
are multi-dimensional and cannot be reduced, the remunerative price of for subsidized loan from institutional
solved in one stroke, he added. farmers’ produce cannot be achieved. sources and fall in debt-trap.
The national convenor of Jai Kisan A slight increase in prices of food items The estimates reveal that about 70
Andolan of Swaraj Abhiyan said that reflects a spike in WPI resulting in neg- per cent of healthcare services are
the rebuke of Bhartiya Janata Party in ative sentiments. This needs to be cor- located in top 20 cities of the countries
the recent assembly elections in three rected to benefit the farmers. and provided by the private players.
states with a large farming base must The farmers in different parts of In- Though, Modi led NDA-II Government
have taught a lesson to all political par- dia when contacted by Tehelka to un- announced the ambitious ‘Ayushman
ties. He said that in the aftermath of derstand the causes of high debt, con- Bharat’ Scheme to cover the marginal
these elections, BJP is trying to push the verged on the growing cost of medical sections of the society and debt-rid-
agenda of farm distress on back foot but and education and inadequate quality den farmers farmers explicitly can be
Jai Kisan Andolan will make efforts to medical and education facilities in hin- covered and benefitted under such
keep it on the centre-stage. terland. In order to meet unproduc- scheme-but the question is if it would
“February onwards, we would kick- tive needs, they have to take loan from actually help the poor peasant to cut
start localised agitation so that the down their health expenditure?
farming community remains united The Government of India has allo-
and updated to fight for their rights”. He • Costs add to woes Farmers have been hit cated 2,000 cr for this scheme. Accord-
said that there was a need to revise the by falling crop prices and rising input costs ing to senior officials, an annual outlay

Tehelka / 15 february 2019 24 www.Tehelka.com