Integration of the Northeast with the rest of the country through all-possible ways, especially through economic linkages has always been mooted by the current Central government and several policies in this regard have also been framed. However, due to an existing rule which the Ministry of Food Processing and Industries (MoFPI) is adhering to, several key products of the region have so far remained deprived of the transportation subsidies rolled out under the Kisan Rail scheme, launched in July 2020 with much fanfare. Reportedly, despite the request from the Ministry of Railways to MoFPI to tweak the said rule in the interest of the NE farmers, as of now, only a part of it has been fulfilled, thereby nullifying one of the fundamental objective the scheme pursues, which is to enable the country’s farming community to reach out to prospective customers with their produce in an economical way. The MPs from the region, irrespective of political affiliations must move together to persuade the Centre to change the rules. There should be no legitimacy in continuation of those rules and regulations that obstruct in realisation of the greater good.

Going by facts, it must be said that the scheme within 8 months has become hugely popular among farmers across the country, especially small and marginal which is now their most-preferred mode of transporting agricultural produce particularly due to the subsidies it entails. This is really a great alternative for those farmers who very often can’t afford the road route and cold storage needs and it’s no wonder that since inception the scheme has transported more than 80,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables from the length and breadth of the country to the bigger markets, which virtually remained unreachable to them so far. However, since the scheme’s rollout, several major items for which the NE is famous for such as bamboo, tea leaves, mustard, soyabean, areca nut, black pepper, rubber, turmeric and mandarin have been denied the 50% subsidy benefit under its ‘Operation Greens-TOP to Total’ solely due to the definition clause of ‘fruits and vegetables’. The MoFPI initially contended that the said items are neither fruits nor vegetables and it’s only after a proposal from the Ministry of Railways recently, turmeric and mandarin have been allowed entry and the rest, unfortunately, continues to remain outside the loop. This is an irrational practice in force based on a narrow definition guideline causing the core agricultural products of the region to remain outside the orbit of the huge and expanding pan-India market. Official data also suggest that while several Kisan Rail trains originating from mainland states have delivered their produce to the NE, the reverse hasn’t happened.

Clearly, it's one-way traffic. The definition of ‘fruits and vegetables’ must be changed at once and made more accommodating for NE’s economic interests.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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