Give farmers reservation: Sharad Pawar

In the wake of increasing farmers suicides and looming agrarian crisis, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday demanded reservations for farmers in all sectors.

Pawar said that farmers, irrespective of their caste and religion, should be given reservation in education, social and economic sectors like the SC/ST and OBC community. "Those farmers who are already availing reservations benefits will be automatically excluded from this proposed category," said Pawar.

Prominent agrarian communities, such as the Jats in Haryana, Patels in Gujarat, Gujjars in Rajasthan and Marathas in Maharashtra have been strongly campaigning for reservations in the light of deteriorating financial conditions.

Pawar said that the earlier Congress-NCP government had proposed reservations for Marathas in Maharashtra, but the proposal was turned down in court. "We have to create a new category for the farmer community," said Pawar.

"More than 82 per cent of the farmers own less than two hectares of land. The monsoons have become increasingly erratic and there is no assured water for irrigation. Agrarian debts are increasing, while income is fading. Farmers are committing suicide, hence the government should help them with reservations."

Pawar added that he would put this proposal before the state and central government.

"I even spoke to legal experts, and they say farmers can get reservations on social and economic criteria," he added. "If Tamil Nadu can give them more than 70 per cent reservations in its state, then why should not we do the same across India?"