New Delhi: While observing that reforms are indeed important to save the farming sector from plunging to further crisis, a group of 200 academics from across the country have noted that the Narendra Modi government has failed to hold due deliberations with farmers before enacting the Central farm laws, which are being described by it as "historic".

The signatories of the statement released in support of protesting farmers are carrying research in various fields at some of the prestigious academic institutions in the country, including the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bangalore; Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur; India Institute of Technology Madras; National Center For Biological Sciences, Bangalore; University of Hyderabad; among others.

The statement has noted that the Centre instead of attending to the genuine concerns of farmers has responded with high-handedness, misinformation campaign resulting in a standoff and leaving farmers high and dry on the borders of Delhi.

It further notes that the regular process of holding wide ranging consultations with stakeholders, parliamentary committees for over a year before any successful act is passed has been given a go by. This, the academics note, has resulted in the genuine concerns of farmers not being reflected in the Central farm laws.

"We are particularly concerned that these reforms render small farmers vulnerable to exploitation by large-scale buyers by creating unregulated markets," the statement adds.

Reproduced below is the full statement of the academics.

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Statement of solidarity with farmers by the academic community

27 December 2020

As citizens and members of the academic community, we are deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in the farm sector. The seasonal nature of farming renders farmers deeply vulnerable to exploitation at the time of harvest. We strongly believe that real reforms are sorely needed to protect the livelihoods of the millions of farmers who bring food to our plate despite enormous hardships.

However, real reforms are successful only when they are based on extensive consultation and consensus-building, particularly with the stakeholders (the farmers) involved and affected by the reforms. We are therefore anguished to note the failures of the Government on several fronts --

1. Failure to follow due process: These reforms, touted by the Government as historic and sweeping in their nature, have been passed without much deliberation or discussion in parliamentary committees, unlike other successful Acts that often go through a year of deliberation before being passed.
2. Failure to consult the real stakeholders. The reforms have been enacted without consulting the farmers or farmers organizations who are the real stakeholders and who will be the most impacted by the
3. Failure to acknowledge genuine concerns. Farmers organizations nationwide have expressed genuine concerns regarding the reforms. The Government has flatly refused to acknowledge these concerns. We are particularly concerned that these reforms render small farmers vulnerable to exploitation by large-scale buyers by creating unregulated markets.
4. Failure to acknowledge the right to peaceful dissent. Farmers nationwide have organized massive peaceful protests to voice their concern against the farm bills, but the government has responded to these protests with force, high-handedness and misinformation, with no major progress made even till

This is a golden opportunity for the Government to listen to its people. We call upon the Government to protect the right to peaceful and non-violent dissent by the farmers, engage in constructive dialogue, and enact genuine reforms to protect small farmers from exploitation.

We stand in solidarity with farmers across India and salute their efforts.

This statement is being issued in the personal capacity of all the undersigned members of academic institutes in and around Bengaluru.

The Undersigned,

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