Farmers Gathering @ Gandhi Peace Foundation 24th May 2011
Farmers Gathering @ Gandhi Peace Foundation 24th May 2011
Friends we meet again, this time to discuss how the Farmers suffering be resolved in light of the turmoil we have seen in recent time from Greater Noida to Agra. As explained earlier, the root cause of the trouble lies in the flawed Land Acquisition Act which is of 1894 & is still not changed because it had helped the corrupt political class to get rich at their expense. Indeed it is this law which is singularly responsible for fostering so much political corruption in our politics.
So what is the solution?
The Land Acquisition Act has to be set aside. This should be non-negotiable.
· Do not accept any amended law on the 70/30 formula as proposed by centre as land acquisition will never act in your interest. Go to Court if you can to get relief from this law.
· Do not accept any increased compensation or annuity promises. What sounds good today will be worth nothing in a couple of years. Today UP is offering less than 1000 Rs per sq meter for land on which flats are being sold for 18000 Rs per sq meter. On top of this you are offered Rs 20,000 pension for 33 years. In other words they want to guarantee that you remain poor and survive on Rs 50 per day for another 33 years! You will not be able to survive on this amount in today’s economy and you will not be able to put another roof over your head for the meagre compensation being offered. Demand that all contracts between promoters and UP government be scrapped immediately because no one has the right to sell off your land without your agreement.
· Your land should remain yours for as long as you wish. No one should be able to impose a sale on you. This does not mean that you are standing in the way of progress. If there is a road project which is justifiable and serves the needs of the larger community of which you are part, then you too should be a stakeholder in the project.
· The land necessary for a project should be leased out to the promoter for a period of say 25 years. During this period you should be the beneficiary to the extent of 25% and at the end of the lease period the entire project should revert back to your community, for you to collect the road toll, run the malls and showrooms which have been set up on your land. If under such terms the promoter still wishes to continue then this can create a win win for all concerned. Such agreements will not be unique they are already happening in the cities where people have not been rendered so helpless as you.Abolish Circle Rates, at least for the farmland sales as these have no justification.Circle rates are artificial prices set up arguably so the government can levy a stamp duty on the sale. However these are used to hide the genuine value of the land purchase and thus evade taxes and encourage the deployment of dirty money by politicians and bureaucrats.You have so far only been dealing in sacks full of money. You do not have access to any banking system and no financial advice. From now on you should be determined to deal only in 100% white money which should then be invested wisely for the future of your family.Reduce Stamp Duty rates on rural land transfers and this should cover any lease agreements you enter into.Traditionally land in rural communities is sold in cash. This way the purchaser not only saves stamp duty but is able to utilise the dirty money looted elsewhere. This stamp duty needs to be reduced to a small token figure and people encouraged to trade only in white money which they can then invest wisely with expert help made available to them through a specialist banking industry set up to help the rural community with experts who understand the needs.Rural communities need to be educated in how they can benefit from trading in legitimate money.Reduction in stamp duty is more than likely to encourage honest transactions, more than likely increase tax revenue and most importantly it will begin to curtail theft by politicians since now they will have less dirty money and it all investments will have to be in white! Thus you gain in the long term since the funds set aside for rural development will be better utilised in future.
4. Abolish the practice of land use change for such development projects
This is another enigma which is exploited by all politicians and bureaucrats. For each land use change a lot of bribe changes hands and bureaucrats get rich at the expense of both the entrepreneur as well as the farmer. Everyone has to pay grease money! Land use change should be built into the approval process and be automatic. Only a united front will achieve results
Last but not the least you have to realise that nothing will come from discussions or battles until you remain disunited in your purpose and confused about your objectives, and allow criminal elements to creep into leadership positions within your groups. All farmer communities therefore must first understand what all needs to be done for their better future, and then come together to fight to save their future. Unless farmers unite they will not achieve a better future for you and your generations.
Treat this as a freedom struggle only this time the enemy is not some Firangi to throw out but your own kind who you have fostered and worshipped over years in the expectation that they will work sincerely for your benefit. Nothing comes free in life and it is now time to reign in the corrupt and create an environment which discourages dishonesty and makes the governance of the nation work for your benefit.
II - India's Population, Economy is growing, inevitably there will be need to strengthen & create Infrastructure in which the major player will be Private Entrepreneurs cum Industry. Govt Central & State not having ability nor talent also should not be running Businesses.
There will be need to acquire Land for not only for Roads, Railway lines, Electricity & Water outreach & factoring need of Land Holders, mostly Farmers, they should be made Shareholders & Partners whereby they get regular ongoing returns.
Land Acquisition Act must be updated, be user friendly & discretionary powers with Officials must be minimal / eradicated as we have had HUGE problems repeatedly due to corrupt practices.
III - INC UPA II continues to bash UP BSP Govt on Land acquiring on deal ongoing in Yamuna Expressway, BJP feels it does so to get Political Mileage as in early 2012 there are MLA State Assembly Elections.
NHRC team is touring troubled spots to gather first hand details on atrocities committed.
Indian Civil Society has decided to Lend a Hand to Farmers, who are scattered & NNFI with it's expertise in Networking / connecting like minded helps them to Bond.
Friends we meet again, this time to discuss how the Farmers suffering be resolved in light of the turmoil we have seen in recent time from Greater Noida to Agra. As explained earlier, the root cause of the trouble lies in the flawed Land Acquisition Act which is of 1894 & is still not changed because it had helped the corrupt political class to get rich at their expense. Indeed it is this law which is singularly responsible for fostering so much political corruption in our politics.
So what is the solution?
The Land Acquisition Act has to be set aside. This should be non-negotiable.
· Do not accept any amended law on the 70/30 formula as proposed by centre as land acquisition will never act in your interest. Go to Court if you can to get relief from this law.
· Do not accept any increased compensation or annuity promises. What sounds good today will be worth nothing in a couple of years. Today UP is offering less than 1000 Rs per sq meter for land on which flats are being sold for 18000 Rs per sq meter. On top of this you are offered Rs 20,000 pension for 33 years. In other words they want to guarantee that you remain poor and survive on Rs 50 per day for another 33 years! You will not be able to survive on this amount in today’s economy and you will not be able to put another roof over your head for the meagre compensation being offered. Demand that all contracts between promoters and UP government be scrapped immediately because no one has the right to sell off your land without your agreement.
· Your land should remain yours for as long as you wish. No one should be able to impose a sale on you. This does not mean that you are standing in the way of progress. If there is a road project which is justifiable and serves the needs of the larger community of which you are part, then you too should be a stakeholder in the project.
· The land necessary for a project should be leased out to the promoter for a period of say 25 years. During this period you should be the beneficiary to the extent of 25% and at the end of the lease period the entire project should revert back to your community, for you to collect the road toll, run the malls and showrooms which have been set up on your land. If under such terms the promoter still wishes to continue then this can create a win win for all concerned. Such agreements will not be unique they are already happening in the cities where people have not been rendered so helpless as you.Abolish Circle Rates, at least for the farmland sales as these have no justification.Circle rates are artificial prices set up arguably so the government can levy a stamp duty on the sale. However these are used to hide the genuine value of the land purchase and thus evade taxes and encourage the deployment of dirty money by politicians and bureaucrats.You have so far only been dealing in sacks full of money. You do not have access to any banking system and no financial advice. From now on you should be determined to deal only in 100% white money which should then be invested wisely for the future of your family.Reduce Stamp Duty rates on rural land transfers and this should cover any lease agreements you enter into.Traditionally land in rural communities is sold in cash. This way the purchaser not only saves stamp duty but is able to utilise the dirty money looted elsewhere. This stamp duty needs to be reduced to a small token figure and people encouraged to trade only in white money which they can then invest wisely with expert help made available to them through a specialist banking industry set up to help the rural community with experts who understand the needs.Rural communities need to be educated in how they can benefit from trading in legitimate money.Reduction in stamp duty is more than likely to encourage honest transactions, more than likely increase tax revenue and most importantly it will begin to curtail theft by politicians since now they will have less dirty money and it all investments will have to be in white! Thus you gain in the long term since the funds set aside for rural development will be better utilised in future.
4. Abolish the practice of land use change for such development projects
This is another enigma which is exploited by all politicians and bureaucrats. For each land use change a lot of bribe changes hands and bureaucrats get rich at the expense of both the entrepreneur as well as the farmer. Everyone has to pay grease money! Land use change should be built into the approval process and be automatic. Only a united front will achieve results
Last but not the least you have to realise that nothing will come from discussions or battles until you remain disunited in your purpose and confused about your objectives, and allow criminal elements to creep into leadership positions within your groups. All farmer communities therefore must first understand what all needs to be done for their better future, and then come together to fight to save their future. Unless farmers unite they will not achieve a better future for you and your generations.
Treat this as a freedom struggle only this time the enemy is not some Firangi to throw out but your own kind who you have fostered and worshipped over years in the expectation that they will work sincerely for your benefit. Nothing comes free in life and it is now time to reign in the corrupt and create an environment which discourages dishonesty and makes the governance of the nation work for your benefit.
II - India's Population, Economy is growing, inevitably there will be need to strengthen & create Infrastructure in which the major player will be Private Entrepreneurs cum Industry. Govt Central & State not having ability nor talent also should not be running Businesses.
There will be need to acquire Land for not only for Roads, Railway lines, Electricity & Water outreach & factoring need of Land Holders, mostly Farmers, they should be made Shareholders & Partners whereby they get regular ongoing returns.
Land Acquisition Act must be updated, be user friendly & discretionary powers with Officials must be minimal / eradicated as we have had HUGE problems repeatedly due to corrupt practices.
III - INC UPA II continues to bash UP BSP Govt on Land acquiring on deal ongoing in Yamuna Expressway, BJP feels it does so to get Political Mileage as in early 2012 there are MLA State Assembly Elections.
NHRC team is touring troubled spots to gather first hand details on atrocities committed.
Indian Civil Society has decided to Lend a Hand to Farmers, who are scattered & NNFI with it's expertise in Networking / connecting like minded helps them to Bond.
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