Unseasonal rains have wreaked havoc in Gujarat and farmers have faced unprecedented losses.
Under tremendous pressure from various quarters, the state government is expected to announce a relief package soon.
However, in these trying times one comparison that is doing rounds is about the facilities provided to 182 MLAs in the state and the condition of farmers and crores of people in the state who do not have health insurance.
A leading vernacular daily has reported that out of 182 MLAs, 15 ministers and 21 MPs out of 37 in Gujarat, as well as three Union ministers, have declared their occupation as agriculture in their election affidavits.
The report goes on to state that the elected representatives get far more than what the farmers have been getting.
In the last one week alone two farmers have died by suicide allegedly because of crop failure.
The newspaper compares that MLAs get several free of cost facilities, including health.
On the other hand, more than 51 lakh farmers in the state have a total debt of Rs 1.46 lakh crore, meaning that each farmer has an average debt of Rs 2.86 lakh.
According to NCRB data, a total of 797 farmers and farm laborers committed suicide in the state between 2018 and 2023.
Marginal farmers with less than 1 hectare of land and small farmers with land between 1 and 2 hectares have a debt of Rs 66,600 crore. In the last 6 years, the number of small farmers taking loans has increased by 65% to 36.36 lakh. 40% of the total debt of farmers is on small and marginal farmers.
In sharp contrast, MLAs get the facility to travel in first or second class AC trains in the state along with their spouse and two family members. Outside Gujarat, they can travel 10 thousand kilometers alone in a year and 20 thousand kilometers with a co-passenger.
Air travel is allowed three times across the country with one family member.
They also get an allowance of Rs. 1000 for attendance during the assembly session. If the MLA comes in his own car, he gets Rs. 11 per kilometer and if he comes by train, first or second AC fare is paid.
Incumbent and former MLAs and their family members get free treatment in government and private hospitals. All the expenses incurred are borne by the government.
Each MLA is allotted a flat with an area of 238.45 square meters, which has the facilities of 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, office and servant room.
Food is available at a concessional rate in the restaurant of the member’s residence. Every house has telephone facilities and the government also pays the electricity bill of the house.
There is a special facility for making railway reservations in the Vidhan Sabha building and post office facilities are also available.
The newspaper further mentions that in sharp contrast, about 3 crore Gujaratis in the state do not have health insurance. The number of people with private health insurance is 1.40 crore, while 2.94 crore people are covered by the Ayushman Yojana. Yet, about 3 crore people are still uninsured.
Talking about the unseasonal rains that have caused havoc, the daily mentions that crops have been damaged in 16 thousand villages in 249 talukas of the state. A total of 31 lakh hectares of land has been affected. Main crops like groundnut, cotton and paddy have been particularly badly affected.
Commenting on the disparity, Isudan Gadhvi, president of Aam Aadmi Party’s Gujarat Unit, told Vibes of India that the poor, downtrodden and the farmers have the first right over the Nation’s help. While mentioning that the voices of the farmers and the downtrodden are not heard, Gadhvi also alleged that industrialists get preferential treatment.
Gujarat Congress spokesperson Dr. Hiren Banker said that ideally the comparison should be between the industrialists and the farmers because both are into business and both take the risk. The industrialists get land at the place they want but the farmers do not get their dues, including Minimum Support Prices most of the time, he said.
The BJP has such a good strength but the MLAs do not voice the concerns of the farmers, he said, alleging that they are not people’s representatives but “BJP’s managers”.
Also Read: Gujarat: Cong Demands Rs 10,000 Crore Relief Package for Farmers as Heavy Rains Devastate Crops https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-cong-demands-rs-10000-crore-relief-package-for-farmers-as-heavy-rains-devastate-crops/
