The Nation’s Constitution, the text of which is often glorified in many ways, including its dubious feature as the world’s most voluminous by public speakers of all hues from various platforms on well-marked occasions, has mothered not only 120 or so amendments but also a large number of Acts and still counting. Their virtual tail in the form of Rules and Regulations may very well fall out of the shelves of even the most sought-after lawyers, not to speak of the stock of the implementing functionaries in various Departments of the Government. The street-smart sections in the land’s population are entitled to their scant regard to this virtual cornucopia saying “Show me the person I’ll show you the rules.” The number of Court cases in the temples of justice across the country yet to be heard by the Judges is said to have exceeded three crore. The number of rules and regulations, being issued as appendage to the Acts, both complied with and violated in the land is keeping august company with the undecided litigations. It is unfair to make any sweeping remark on the manner and extent of people benefiting from the Acts. One such Act, Model Contract Farming Act, ostensibly to make farming a calling that brings smile on the face of farming fraternity raises hopes of keeping the country’s food basket to be brimful.
The rustics are known to be pursuing agriculture for centuries without fuss and ado, while it is only now that they are mentioned in despatches as the country’s backbone. Thanks to the yawning urban-rural divide on many counts, the disenchanted rustic is heading to cities in search of assured livelihood without toiling. The Contract Farming Act, if implemented effectively, may benefit both sections, food for urbanites and livelihood with well-deserved income to rustics.
