No respite for peasants on day to mark their struggle

2021 has failed to bring any significant legal or policy improvements for peasants, said a statement issued by the Hari Welfare Association (HWA) on International Day of Peasants' Struggle.

HWA President Akram Khaskheli said that the Government of Sindh has filed a plea in the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP), challenging a landmark ruling of the Sindh High Court (SHC) which struck down regressive revisions to the Sindh Tenancy Act and addressed bonded labour practises in the province.

"Despite the fact that the case was filed in January 2020, the then Sindh Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu vowed and confirmed that his administration would not pursue an appeal in the SC against this historic, pro-peasant judgement.

However, the provincial; government continued to pursue the case in the SC in 2021.  The HWA received a copy of the plea filed by the government and the association believed that the provincial administration had no concerns over human rights or peasants or rural workers in Sindh.  "Rather, it is pursuing anti-peasant rights policies and the repressive feudal system and structure," an HWA statement read.

It added that the Sindh Tenancy Act (STA) of 1950 is the most important law for peasants and rural workers. "In 2021, the HWA did not see the Sindh government implementing the law or further improving it as per directions of the Sindh High Court verdict in 2019.'

The HWA statement continued that the due to the failure to implementation the STA, there are serious issues and problems for peasants. "In April 2021, in Sanghar, peasants of Jaffar Penjaro village protested that their houses were burnt down by the landlord and they were being forced to leave their homes."

The landlord wanted to evict them from the land. They demanded that government take action against the landlord and protect their rights." The association pointed towards another case in Tando Adam where peasant Ghulam Qadir protested in front of the area's press club. He stated that the landlord tortured and threatened to evict him. "In these and many other cases, landlords across the province have not signed a contract with the peasants under the STA," the statement said.

On the legislative front, the HWA did not learn of any changes in the Sindh Bonded Labour System Abolition Act in 2021. At the same time, relevant quarters urged the government to set up DVCs as per the law and activate them for the effective implementation of the SBLSAA.

"Sindh's agriculture policy (2018-2030) is not peasant and grower-friendly. It should be amended as per the SHC's judgment in 2019," the HWA advised. 

Khaskheli said that low-quality seeds continued to be a problem for farmers. "The proliferation of seed corporations brings little benefit to farmers, owing to a lack of a strong regulatory framework. The federal government's decision to launch Plant Breeders' Rights Registry from February 15 was illegal and unethical."

The statement said that there is no policy or practical measure to bring land reforms and this is a critical problem in Sindh in terms of the province's general development, its economy, and its people. "Land reform is extremely difficult to achieve within the given political structure and without sustained efforts in view of the STA."

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2022.