What is the role of the various arms of our government? Is it to protect the interest of the people of our country, or are their other interests that concern it? And when its interests become unclear, is it not the right of its citizens to ask questions and expect answers?The second article in this series presents a story showing the government’s acknowledgement for agrarian issues and farmers’ concerns. This story was presented by Dr Sunilam, MLA from Multai, Madhya Pradesh.

Sitaram Kharwar got two loans in 1974 from the local Land Development Bank – Rs. 5000 for breaking land and Rs. 6000 for a diesel pump. But the land got submerged in a local medium irrigation project. Three other fields in the name of his two sons got acquired for the project. Compensation of more than Rs.1 lakh is due, but not 1 Re has been paid so far. All his plans were upset as his resources were lost.

But the bank remained unconcerned. Notices for recovery continued unabated. Yet somehow he managed to pay Rs. 13400 by 1987.

That would not satisfy the bank. Dues were skyrocketing. But Sitaram was helpless. So the inevitable followed. He was released after 15 days in lieu of some unstated consideration. He, however, could not pay a single penny to the bank. That was his situation in 1988.

Came Karza Mafi (Debt write-offs) in 1989, and Rs. 10000 was written off on two accounts. Certificates assuring “Clear Arrears, Become Eligible for a Fresh Loan” were passed around. No one was told what “arrears” were.

Peace prevailed for some time thereafter. But notices started coming in 1995, this time carrying the endorsement of the Superintendent of Police to SHO about tackling ‘big and tough loanees’. An ‘Important Notce’ was served to Sitaram Kharwar on 19th January 1998 asking him to clear dues of Rs. 54670 with a message saying “nasty processes like attachment, auction, and detention have been started against you by the branch”.

His two sons submitted repeated petitions requesting their father, now 75 years old and ill, not be arrested. They even offered that their fathers dues be set off against the dues the government owed them.

Despite all this, Sitaram was unjustly arrested and sent to jail on 20th February, 1998. Soon his condition deteriorated and he had to be moved to a local hospital.

On June 6th 1998, Sitaram passed away. His sons learnt of his death when they went to visit him at the jail on 9th June. Sitaram’s dead body had been disposed off, as it had remained unclaimed.

No one accepted any complaints from the sons. They inherit Rs. 60000 as debt.

While the government owed the family over Rs. 1 lakh to the family, the father was arrested and died in jail for Rs 11000.

This story is not an isolated case. In fact it is a manifestation of systemic problems that the agrarian community faces in India today as well as the callous unwillingness of the Government of India to acknowledge these problems.

Agrarian communities are finding it more difficult to sustain their livelihoods. Over 50 million farmers have lost the ability to sustain their livelihoods through farming. Support prices for many crops have been reduced (even though support prices in USA and Europe have been increased). Over 13000 farmers are committing suicide every year.

In the face of such pressures that the agrarian community faces – 70% of India is still part of the agrarian economy – why has the government has not provided support to these communities? In fact agrarian communities feel that the government is antagonistic to its needs – and justifiably so. Why?

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