Indian Farmers' Protest

Student Health and Human Services

Human Relations, Diversity & Equity
February 2021
Welcome
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Objectives

Learn about the Indian Farmers' Protest

Review the history of government intervetion in Indian agriculture

Reflect on why the government is changing course now

Why are the farmers protesting?
There are a LOT of
Farmers in India.

 India is the home to

1.4 billion people. 

 Farm workers make

up half of the labor
force.
  The US is the home to 328 million people. 

 If India has 1.4 BILLION people, and 50% are farmers, that means
there are approximately 700 million farmers in India. 

 That's 2x the entire population of the United States. 

Reflection

 How do you think the US Government would respond if HALF of

the work force went on strike or protested? 
Government Intervention
 In the 1960's, the Indian government stepped in to
modernize farming and increase the food supply –
this was called the Green Revolution. 

 India quickly went from food famine, to food

suprlus as rice and wheat production soared. 

 India developed a nationwide food marketing

system to ensure fair prices for farmers. 
Protecting Farmers
Farmers bring crops to
wholesale markets
(mundi's)

Government issues
Farmers avoid exploitation
Minimum Support Price

System provides oversight

Transparency in sales
that protects farmers by
between farmers and
giving them market
traders
standards
Not a Perfect System
 Experts agree, this is not a perfect
system. 

 Studies show that the system does

serve to keep farmers profitable. 

 In Punjab and Haryana, where the

market system is active, farmers are
highest paid in the country.

 In Bihar, the market system was

eliminated in 2006, and the farmers
are ranked the poorest in India. 
  The Indian government intervened in the 1960's to provide support
to the nations farmers and improve food scarcity issues. 
 Though the system was flawed, it did appear to be working. 

Reflection
 Why do you think the government would chose to change it all
now? 
 To Make Matters
Worse
 52% of farming households
are in debt

 20k farmers have died by

suicide in last 2 years
Fewer Protections

 Farmers have been asking for

reforms for decades

 However, as a result of these new

laws, farmers now have fewer
options to fight bad deals. 

 Smaller farmers are dependent on

the terms set by big corporations,
or face being cut out of the
industry all together.

 So they are protesting. 

Reflection

 One of the protesters in the video stated,

"Even when someone breaks
the bird's nest, the bird makes noise. "

 What do you think this means? 

 Check Out
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 Teacher Survey
Location​​ Name​​ E-mail Address​​
Central Office​​ Judy Chiasson, PhD (She/Her)​​ Judy.chiasson@lausd.net​​
Central Office​​ Janise Escobar, LCSW (She/Her)​​ Janise.escobar@lausd.net​​
Central Office​​ Jules Gomez, LCSW (She/Her)​​ Julie.gomez@lausd.net​​
LD Northeast​​ Cristina Hudson, LCSW (She/Her)​​ Cristina.hudson@lausd.net​​
LD Northwest​​ Frances Marion, LCSW (She/Her)​​ Frances.marion@lausd.net​​
LD West​​ Samantha Torres, LCSW (She/Her)​​ Samantha.torres@lausd.net​​
LD East​​ Tina Southern, LCSW (They/She)​​ Kristina.southern@lausd.net​​
LD South​​ Susanna Zoeckler, LCSW (She/Her)​​ Susanna.l.zoeckler@lausd.net​​
LD Central​​ Talia Guppy, LCSW (She/Her)​​ Talia.guppy@lausd.net​​

Human Relations, Diversity & Equity