Saturday, December 5, 2020
The amendments in the Essential Commodities Act 2020 ?
Please go through the amendments allowed under the Essential Commodities Act 2020 as below:
In section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—
‘(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1),— (a) the supply of such foodstuffs, including cereals, pulses, potato, onions, edible oilseeds and oils, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, may be regulated only under extraordinary circumstances which may include war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamity of grave nature;
(b) any action on imposing stock limit shall be based on price rise and an order for regulating stock limit of any agricultural produce may be issued under this Act only if there is— (i) hundred percent increase in the retail price of horticultural produce; or (ii) fifty percent increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural foodstuffs, over the price prevailing immediately preceding twelve months, or average retail price of the last five years, whichever is lower.
What does it mean?
(i) hundred percent increase in the retail price of horticultural produce?
(ii) fifty percent increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural foodstuffs?
What will be its impact on the prices of Foodstuff in India, be it Perishable or Non-Perishable?
Does it mean: For Example, if the Potato price last year was Rs. 20/- kg, it can be hiked up to Rs. 39/- per kg this year? It can be Rs 77/- per kg in the 2nd year? It can be Rs. 153/- per kg in the 3rd year? It can be Rs 305/- per kg in the 4th year & so on?
Must be given serious thought over the impact on the Prices of foodstuffs, including cereals, pulses, potato, onions, edible oilseeds and oils, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Key Features The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020
- Trade of farmers’ produce: The Ordinance allows intra-state and inter-state trade of farmers’ produce outside: (i) the physical premises of market yards run by market committees formed under the state APMC Acts and (ii) other markets notified under the state APMC Acts. Such trade can be conducted in an ‘outside trade area’, i.e., any place of production, collection, and aggregation of farmers’ produce including: (i) farm gates, (ii) factory premises, (iii) warehouses, (iv) silos, and (v) cold storages.
- Electronic trading: The Ordinance permits the electronic trading of scheduled farmers’ produce (agricultural produce regulated under any state APMC Act) in the specified trade area. An electronic trading and transaction platform may be set up to facilitate the direct and online buying and selling of such produce through electronic devices and internet. The following entities may establish and operate such platforms: (i) companies, partnership firms, or registered societies, having permanent account number under the Income Tax Act, 1961 or any other document notified by the central government, and (ii) a farmer producer organization or agricultural cooperative society.
- Market fee abolished: The Ordinance prohibits state governments from levying any market fee, cess, or levy on farmers, traders, and electronic trading platforms for the trade of farmers’ produce conducted in an ‘outside trade area’.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020
- Farming agreement: The Ordinance provides for a farming agreement between a farmer and a buyer prior to the production or rearing of any farm produce. The minimum period of an agreement will be one crop season or one production cycle of livestock. The maximum period is five years unless the production cycle is more than five years.
- Pricing of farming produces: The price of farming produce should be mentioned in the agreement. For prices subjected to variation, a guaranteed price for the produce and a clear reference for any additional amount above the guaranteed price must be specified in the agreement. Further, the process of price determination must be mentioned in the agreement.
- Dispute Settlement: A farming agreement must provide for a conciliation board as well as a conciliation process for the settlement of disputes. The Board should have a fair and balanced representation of parties to the agreement. At first, all disputes must be referred to the board for resolution. If the dispute remains unresolved by the Board after thirty days, parties may approach the Sub-divisional Magistrate for resolution. Parties will have a right to appeal to an Appellate Authority (presided by collector or additional collector) against decisions of the Magistrate. Both the Magistrate and Appellate Authority will be required to dispose of a dispute within thirty days from the receipt of the application. The Magistrate or the Appellate Authority may impose certain penalties on the party contravening the agreement. However, no action can be taken against the agricultural land of farmer for recovery of any dues.
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020
- Regulation of food items: The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 empowers the central government to designate certain commodities (such as food items, fertilizers, and petroleum products) as essential commodities. The central government may regulate or prohibit the production, supply, distribution, trade, and commerce of such essential commodities. The Ordinance provides that the central government may regulate the supply of certain food items including cereals, pulses, potatoes, onions, edible oilseeds, and oils, only under extraordinary circumstances. These include (i) war, (ii) famine, (iii) extraordinary price rise and (iv) natural calamity of grave nature.
- Stock limit: The Ordinance requires that imposition of any stock limit on agricultural produce must be based on price rise. A stock limit may be imposed only if there is: (i) a 100% increase in the retail price of horticultural produce; and (ii) a 50% increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural food items. The increase will be calculated over the price prevailing immediately preceding twelve months, or the average retail price of the last five years, whichever is lower.
Monday, November 30, 2020
Happy Gurupurab & Farmers protest in Delhi !
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal
CM, Delhi
Subject: Happy Gurupurab & Farmers Protest in Delhi
Dear Sir,
Wishing you a Happy Gurupurab, on the Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Last year you had visited our Gurudwara at Krishna Nagar on this auspicious occasion, but we could not invite you this time due to COVID19.
A large number of farmers have reached Delhi to protest against the Farmers Bill. But most of them are not wearing a mask & not maintaining any social distancing.
May we request you to please arrange the masks for them & ask them to wear & maintain social distancing vide hoardings at suitable places.
Best Regards,
B S Vohra
Convener - SikhsIndia
Convener - RWA Bhagidari
President - East Delhi RWAs Joint Front
www.RWABhagidari.com
Monday, November 23, 2020
Saturday, November 21, 2020
#कोरोना - आखिर कैसे थमेगा यह कोरोना?
1759 official DEATHS in Delhi in the last 21 days due to coronavirus. 2618 new CONTAINMENT ZONES in the last 19 days in Delhi. Patients claim NO BEDS & NO VENTILATORS in hospitals. NGOs claim a long waiting period at CREMATION GROUNDS. Still, there is no LOCKDOWN.
But can't we expect a Night Curfew at least, to instigate some fear amongst the residents?
Can't we expect certain restrictions on the market timings or even alternate day opening of markets, to save the so-called economy as well as the precious human lives?
The economy may be equally important for our leaders but for the residents, human lives are also very important. Just ask the families of those who have lost a person due to Coronavirus, as Govt has not imposed any checks & restrictions anywhere.
Please join us on Sunday 22 Nov. at 8.30 pm in our RWA BHAGIDARI LIVE CHAT with RWAs of East Delhi - #कोरोना - आखिर कैसे थमेगा यह कोरोना?
मर के तो ज॔ग नहीं जीती जातीं।
दिल्ली के मुख्य मंत्री, दिल्ली की RWAs से मिलकर बात करने को तैयार नहीं ?
CM SAAB. WE WANT TO MEET YOU IMMEDIATELY OVER THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO COMBAT CORONAVIRUS & TO SAVE DELHI. PLEASE REVERT. The meeting can be a Face 2 Face or an Online meet.
हैरानगी है, कि दिल्ली के मुख्य मंत्री, इस मुश्किल घडी में भी, दिल्ली की RWAs से मिलकर बात करने को तैयार नहीं। Over 1600 deaths in the city in the last 20 days and we are still awaiting the invite for atleast a virtual meet. #coronavirus #COVID19
BEST REGARDS.
B S VOHRA
www.RWABhagidari.com
Can't we have atleast a Night curfew, if not a LockDown?
Can't we have atleast a Night curfew, if not a LockDown? Can't we restrict the market timings and ask markets to open alternate days? Almost 1600 people have died in the past 20 days due to #coronavirus but no impact on #Delhi Govt. Situation has worsened with cases all over now.
Must Wear a Mask. Must maintain Social Distancing.
B S Vohra
Convener - RWA Bhagidari
President - East Delhi RWAs Joint Front
Where the Non Covid patients will get treatment?
You just keep on reserving 60% - 80% beds of private hospitals in #Delhi for #COVID__19 #COVID19 patients BUT have you ever thought the plight of non covid patients? Where they will get treatment? Why don't you add more #coronavirus ICUs & ventilators in your govt hospitals?
B S Vohra
Convener - RWA Bhagidari
President - East Delhi RWAs Joint Front
Just 122 ventilators remaining now in Delhi !
Just 122 ventilators remaining now as per the official version while the reality is just the opposite as NO BEDS AVAILABLE. Please take care. Take precautions. Must wear a mask & maintain Social Distancing in #Delhi to combat #coronavirus #Corona #COVID19 #COVID19AB
Must Wear a Mask. Must maintain Social Distancing.
B S Vohra
Convener - RWA Bhagidari
President - East Delhi RWAs Joint Front
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Human lives are MORE important CM Saab !
please view the comments of the readers at the end:
19th November 2020
CM Arvind Kejriwal,
Subject: Human lives are MORE important in a city 1. with a huge population of Senior citizens with comorbidities; 2. with insufficient health infrastructure to look after a huge population.
Dear Sir,
Human lives are MORE important. We just can't let the markets remain all open for the sake of the economy & let the people die in a city, where there are lakhs of 60+ senior citizens with comorbidities. We must impose certain restrictions for their safety. We just can't turn Delhi into Lombardy in any case.
There are lakhs of citizens in our city who just can't get the treatment as we don't have sufficient infrastructure. With just 2353 ICU beds & 1362 ventilators, we can't take care of the economy of Delhi, instead can easily turn it into a burial ground.
Moreover, the most polluted capital, facing the severe surge of Coronavirus pandemic can't be left on its own, while people don't want to wear even a mask, rest aside the social distancing as you yourself had announced that चिंता करने की कोई बात नहीं है ।
Please note, each & every life is precious for their family members & you just can't put these precious lives at stake at the cost of your revenue.
You must understand that it's the responsibility of your Government to check the Coronavirus Pandemic Deaths in the city & it is the responsibility of your Government to provide suitable health facilities for all.
But Deaths have risen significantly in Delhi, & your Government hospitals are not at all capable to offer the Quality treatment to the patients. People are forced to sell their valuables for treatment at various private hospitals.
Human Lives are more important CM Saab, & in case you still don't want to impose a LockDown, you must impose much stricter restrictions on the Markets & all the commercial activities, to safeguard the lives of the residents of Delhi.
You must also provide for the Free treatment of all the Corona patients at all the Private hospitals, and you must compensate the residents suitably, for each & every death in the city, as we have elected a Government Of The People, By The People, For The People.
With best regards,
B S Vohra
Convener - RWA Bhagidari
President - East Delhi RWAs Joint Front
www.RWABhagidari.com
Mr. M K Malhotra: Now the residents of Delhi are very much concerned about their lives in this city especially senior citizens like me and thinking of moving out of town for some days. Delhi govt has not taken any concrete steps in Nov but busy in spending on advertising and praising on its own.
Mr. Chandarmohan Dewani: Shocking aspect is that the government is more concerned with revenue collection than human life so people should work collectively and should not depends on the government.
Mr. Vipin Mahajan: Now people are not important in their view because this is not election time?
Monday, November 16, 2020
#Delhi requires many more #COVID19 ICU Beds & Ventilators, immediately !
16th November 2020
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal
CM Delhi
Subject: #Delhi requires many more #COVID19 ICU Beds & Ventilators, immediately.
Dear Sir,
#Delhi has ONLY 1342 #COVID19 ICU beds with ventilators & ONLY 161 vacant at this minute as per your App.
#Delhi has ONLY 2184 #Coronavirus ICU beds without Ventilators & ONLY 248 vacant at this minute as per your App.
#Delhi is now getting 7000 to 8000 cases a day presently, due to #Corona surge & the number of ICU Beds & ventilators is quite insufficient.
#Delhi may get many more cases if RT-PCR tests are doubled, to combat the #pandemic, as announced by Home Minister Sh Amit Shah.
Therefore, Delhi immediately requires MANY MORE ICU beds & ventilators to save the precious lives of citizens else the fatalities may go up significantly.
Please look into it & arrange the suitable numbers immediately.
Warm Regards,
B S Vohra
Convener - RWA Bhagidari
President - East Delhi RWAs Joint Front
www.RWABhagidari.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
Pollution Status of Delhi on Diwali, i.e. 14th November 2020 amidst #Corona Surge in #Delhi !
#Delhi breathed 34 times of PM2.5 and 25 times of PM10 Last Night amidst the #Corona scare. Must look into these figures of high levels of PM2.5 & PM10.
Is it possible for humans to breathe at such levels of #AitPollution in #Delhi?
How risky it can be, to breathe at the #AQI @ 2426, PM2.5 @ 2040 and PM10 @ 2530 ?
B S Vohra
Environment Activist
Convener - RWA Bhagidari
President - East Delhi RWAs Joint Front