IDUKKI: Accusing the Rubber Board of failing to alert the Centre to invoke the Rubber Act of 1947 for helping the crisis-ridden rubber farmers, the Indian Farmers’ Movement (Infam) on Thursday said that it is planning to move the court to seek help for farmers under the Act.
Infam has come to know that a petition has already been filed in the Kerala High Court in this regard. In such a case, Infam would implead itself in the case, M C George, national trustee of Infam told reporters at the Idukki Press Club.
There are two sections under section 11 and 13 of the Rubber Act 1947 which were formulated to protect rubber growers. Under section 11 of the Act, the Central Government could prohibit, restrict or control import or export of rubber, he said. Under Section 13, the government could fix the minimum and maximum price for the rubber. Anyone violating the sections are liable for punishment with fine and imprisonment, he said.
Suspicious Stand
It is intriguing why the Rubber Board has not sought the invoking of the Act to help the farmers, he said. The matter should be investigated whether it was done voluntarily or inadvertently, he added. This arouses suspicion as the rubber-based industry lobby is strong and it needs to be seen whether the Board has come under the pressure of the lobby.
The rubber-based industry operators had moved the Bombay High Court in 2004 against the then BJP-led government intervention to save the farmers by restricting import and introducing quality control for imported rubber and offering subsidy for the rubber procured from local farmers, he said.
Congress Blamed
Blaming the Congress-led UPA Government for its lapses for not intervening in the market, he said that the situation has become worse after the government allowed more import of natural rubber by reducing the import duty from 20 per cent to seven per cent.
It is condemnable that despite the state having eight ministers in the UPA Government nothing was done to mitigate the woes of the farmers. The Rubber Board imposing a tax of 2 per cent as cess on the rubber farmers and the state government claiming 5 per cent as VAT and restrictions on sale of rubber wood are like rubbing salt on the wound, he said.
Protest March Tomorrow
Idukki: Infam will stage a march to the Rubber Board office at Thodupuzha on November 1 in protest against the Board’s lapse in helping the farmers.
– newindianexpress.com
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