The government has been urged to implement the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, by the standing committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. The act is part of the three farm laws that have been the centre point of months- long farmers’ protest whichy even led to violence in part of the national capital Delhi. The committee has members from 13 parties including BJP, Congress, TMC, AAP, NCP and Shiv Sena.
Indian Express quoted TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay, as saying that it (a report that was tabled in Lok Sabha) “hope[s] and expect[s] that the recently enacted ‘The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020’ which was aimed at addressing the issue will become a catalyst for unlocking vast untapped resources in the agriculture sector by creating an environment for enhanced investments…, fair and productive competition in agricultural marketing and increase farmers’ income”.
Titled ‘Price Rise of Essential Commodities – Causes and Effects’, the report said“although the country has become surplus in most agricultural commodities, farmers have been unable to get better prices due to lack of investment in cold storage, warehouses, processing and export as entrepreneurs stated to be get discouraged by the regulatory mechanisms in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955”.