New Delhi: Government must carry all sections of farmers together and tobacco growers should not be subjected to discrimination, industry body Assocham today suggested.
"It is encouraging that the Prime Minister has set a target for Indian farmers to double their income by 2022... However, the government must carry all farmers together and not discriminate against tobacco farmers, who have made an immense contribution to India's cash crop farm economy," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said in a statement.
Assocham and the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) today made a representation to Members of Parliament at an interactive session to discuss opportunities and challenges for India to realise Prime Minister's target of doubling farmer income by 2022.
"... We appeal to the government of India that Indian farmers must be part of the official delegation of CoP7, else it would put livelihood of millions at risk without any public health benefit," FAIFA President B V Javare Gowda was quoted as saying.
"It is disheartening that the Indian tobacco farmer today is subjected to the worst-ever discrimination by way of harsh policies and attacks on their livelihoods without providing either a scientific justification or an alternative to safeguard their interest," FAIFA Vice-President Gadde Seshagiri Rao said.
