Farmers – Our Nation Builders

The stakeholders at SJBHS are urged to be active and informed citizens. A webinar titled ‘Farmers – Our Nation Builders’ was held on 15 January 2021 – with an expert to simplify the ground reality behind the ongoing farmers’ protest.

The webinar commenced with a prayer, welcome address and the introduction of the erudite speaker, Professor Babu Mathew (Former Registrar and Faculty at NLSIU). Prof Mathew has extensive knowledge on the existing and the new farm laws and sort to simplify the agrarian crisis. While shedding light on the difference between the ‘Food Security’ approach on one hand and the ‘Food Sovereignty’ approach on the other, Mr. Babu also untangled the difference between ‘Targeted PDS’ and ‘Universal PDS’. The calculations used in MSP (Minimum Support Price), the intricacies of the new Essential Commodities Act, the procurement procedures for farm crops and the significance of the term ‘minimum wage’ were all discussed.

The session was not only simple to follow but went a long way in helping one understand the background of the problem. Needless to say, the students of SJBHS are getting an education in social sensitization and empathy.