Many political parties and socially conscious individuals claim
that they are farmer friendly but sometimes it becomes too late even before one
can actually start making some good gains for them in long term. The fundamental
remains that farmers form the backbone of Indian economy and growth.
Same is the case now with Medha Patkar, a prominent
environmental activist of India for more than two decades who has recently
arrived in the proposed capital region of Andhra Pradesh where there is a
controversy regarding acquiring farm lands. The land pooling initiative has
become a thorn in the flesh for the AP government.
One can easily recollect how YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy
and Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan came to this region claiming they are here for
farmers but this was done not during the beginning of land pooling process. So,
the farmers have been getting the raw deal as always.
The latest initiative is also welcome but at a time when the
process has been completed and formal inauguration is ready to break ground for
capital construction, Medha Patkar’s visit is being seen as too little, too
late. It would take a really serious people movement to revamp the situation if
any solution is to be looked at.