Council formed to protect peasants’ rights

The council would act as an independent think tank


Our Correspondent February 28, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

LAHORE:


The Agrarian Reforms Council was launched on Saturday with the prime objective of developing the rural economy in the province. It also aims to tackle poverty by strengthening agriculture and supporting the rights of farmers and peasants.


The National Peasants’ Coalition of Pakistan (NPCP) and the Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE) had arranged the council’s first meeting on Saturday in collaboration with in collaboration with South Asia Partnership-Pakistan, Anjuman Falah-i-Niswan, Sahiwal, and the Oxfam.

The council would act as an independent think tank giving recommendations for reviewing land and agrarian policies. Initially, it will take up some urgent issues, but over the time it might cover a wide range of agro-economic and environment policy issues ranging from rural infrastructure to agri-marketing.

It will promote dialogue among policymakers, journalists and the public. The council will meet on a quarterly basis to review its progress. It will consist of politicians, parliamentarians, academicians, judiciary members, journalists and farmers.

The meeting decided that the council would meet again within a month to constitute an executive body consisting of MPAs and members of civil society.

Other objectives of the council include helping the government develop effective land and agrarian policies in the wake of the 18th Constitutional Amendment; developing common understanding on issues related to farmers, peasants, land, food security and irrigation and launching a caucus in the Punjab Assembly for promoting the council’s recommendations for a policy change.

Awami Workers’ Party general secretary Farooq Tariq said growers were given very low wages. He expressed concerns over the attitude of feudals towards tenants. Praising the launch of the council, he condemned various political parties for apposing agricultural reforms. He said tenants should hands to secure their rights.

Mahoob Khan from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said the Agriculture Act must be addressed at different forms and peasant organisations should be considered as trade unions. Democracy could not be strengthened without strengthening the power of votes of peasants and workers, he said. He said land must be given to the landless peasants.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2015.

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