In the backdrop of NITI Aayog’s consultation with a high-powered committee of chief ministers on using MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) funds to reduce agricultural input cost and help in doubling farmers’ income, a consortium of farmers’ organisations demands their participation in the consultation. Rashtriya Kisan Mahashangha (RKM), a consortium of 62 leading farmers’ organisations, has written to Prime Minister and all chief ministers of India, demanding constructive dialogue with farmers over use of the flagship scheme in doubling farmers’ income. Binod Anand, founder of RKM, claimed that NITI Aayog had initially contacted him to get names of farmers’ organisations, but later it did not call anyone. “They have called only those members of farmers’ organisations that have affiliations with the ruling party. This attitude of a senior official of NITI Aayog is really disturbing,” says Anand.
— source downtoearth.org.in 06 Aug 2018