Madhura Swaminathan, a developmental economist and the daughter of agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, stated on Tuesday—referring to the Haryana government’s handling of farmers’ protests—that Indian farmers are “our annadatas” and cannot be treated like criminals.
Speaking at an event held by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Pusa, Delhi, in honour of her father’s posthumous award of the Bharat Ratna, Madhura stated that farmers must be included in the ongoing celebration of MS Swaminathan. “The farmers of Punjab today are marching to Delhi. Based on the reports in the newspapers, I think that bars are being installed, jails are being prepared for them in Haryana, and various other preventive measures are being taken. These are farmers, they are not criminals,” she said.
On Tuesday, farmers marched towards Delhi after meeting with a group of union ministers and having a disappointing discussion. The farmers’ resolve to go to Delhi was announced by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), who raised their demands on the Centre to take up their complaints.
A legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP), the execution of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, the forgiveness of agricultural debts, the resolution of police cases, justice for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, the withdrawal from the World Trade Organisation, recompense for the families of farmers who have died in previous protests, and more are among the demands made by the farmers.
“I request that all of you, India’s top scientists, speak with our annadatas. We cannot treat them like criminals,” she continued. “We need to come up with answers. This is what I’m asking for. I believe that to move forward and pay tribute to M. S. Swaminathan, we must include the farmers in any plans we make.”
At the function, Soumya Swaminathan, a former head of WHO, said her father, MS Swaminathan, regularly combined participatory and anticipatory research methods, involving people who would be directly affected by any new studies he conducted.
Madhura took it to X and shared MS Swaminathan’s appreciation for the final decision in November 2021.
Madhura shared a statement from MS Swaminathan from November 2021 on X, the former Twitter platform. In it, he expressed his satisfaction with the Union government’s decision to repeal its three controversial farm laws.
In September 2023, MS Swaminathan, who is recognised as the mastermind behind India’s Green Revolution, went away at the age of 98.
She recalled that Swaminathan was committed to the cause of agriculture and the welfare of farmers, particularly small-holder farmers and fishermen. “The fact that those who grow our food actually do not lead healthy lives always worried and saddened him.”
M S Swaminathan developed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and fervently pushed for its implementation, according to former IARI director R B Singh. Recalling his time working with M. S. Swaminathan, Singh remarked, “Agriculture policies abound, but there is nary a policy for farmers, the man with the plough. The Swaminathan Commission had strongly pushed for the Minimum Support Price. With a pro-poor, pro-women, and pro-environment stance, Dr. Swaminathan was adamant that our farm women and men would secure a bright future in agriculture and food and nutrition security if they received the support outlined in the policy.
Soumya Swaminathan, the Chief Scientist at WHO, and her daughter MS Swaminathan also spoke at the function.
by Swapnil Angel Samad