Cabinet clears Bill to repeal 3 farm laws; Parliament approval next

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 24

Taking the first step forward in completing the formalities for repealing the three contentious farm laws, the Union Cabinet today approved “The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021”. It will be now tabled in the winter session of Parliament.

In his address to the nation on November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Union Government’s decision to withdraw the three farm laws, saying the government failed to convince protesting farmers about the benefits of the agriculture sector reforms. He had also urged them to end their protest and return home.

3 research schemes to continue 5 more yrs

• Ocean research scheme O-SMART extended for five years | Cost Rs2,177 cr
• National Apprenticeship Training Scheme stays for 5 years | Cost Rs3,054 cr
• ACROSS plan for atmospheric science programmes extended for 5 yrs | Cost Rs2,135 cr
• SPV for privatisation of power distribution in Dadra Nagar Haveli

Announcing the decision taken at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said the first step in completing the formalities to repeal the farm laws had been taken.

“Approval has been granted to the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, to roll back the three laws passed by Parliament in September last year, with an objective to bring reforms in the agriculture sector, especially marketing of farm produce,” he said.

The three laws to be repealed are: Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act. “In the upcoming session of Parliament, it will be our priority to take back these three laws,” the minister said. The winter session will begin on November 29 and conclude on December 23. The repeal of the three farm legislations has been one of the key demands of around 40 farmer unions protesting against these reforms for nearly a year now at Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur on the Delhi border.

Free foodgrain plan extended till March

The government on Wednesday decided to extend the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (free foodgrains to around 80 crore poor) from December 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. TNS

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.