PARAGRAPH,WORDS AND MEANINGS

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TOPIC – Trust deficit

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a federation of around 500 farmer organisations, has resolved to intensify its agitation against three farm laws hurriedly enacted by the Centre. After dismissing the protests as ill­-informed and motivated initially, the Centre has offered to make some changes to the laws, but the farmers have now called for a Bharat Bandh on December 8. Thousands of farmers camping on the outskirts of the national capital are sceptical of the government claim that these laws would make agriculture more lucrative and secure by allowing market forces to play. The fear that the new regime will dismantle the system of procurement under Minimum Support Price (MSP) and leave farmers at the mercy of corporations is real. Responding to concerns, the Centre has suggested safeguards to prevent land alienation via contract farming; strengthening the State ­run mandi system and ensuring its equal footing with private buyers through equalising taxes; allowing grievance redress in civil courts rather than just in the offices of Sub­ Divisional Magistrates, and ensuring proper verification of private traders. It has not,  however, offered a legal guarantee of MSP and the question of power subsidies also remains contentious. The Narendra Modi government has a  declared policy of ensuring farm prices that are at least 50% more than the input costs. This has remained more an intent than reality, and the discussion has also been muddled by the government’s refusal to include the rental value of the land in input costs. Agriculture has to remain environmentally sustainable and remunerative for farmers. Significant challenges have emerged with regard to these benchmarks, though India has ensured substantial food stock and a robust distribution mechanism that covers the entire country. There is a strong case for reworking the incentive structures and cropping pattern in order to account for changes in water availability and changing dietary requirements. The problems faced by farmers are by no means the same across India. But a sense of hostility from the state and market is now pervasive. Changes in land acquisition laws and the general thrust towards industrialization together with the pressure on agriculture subsidies have increased the feeling of vulnerability of farmers in recent years. The abrupt changes in the sector brought in through the three laws have aggravated the trust deficit of the government. The combative attitude of the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party towards criticism worsened it further. Food security is considered a component of national security by all countries. The Union Agriculture Minister has said the government has no ego. The Centre must strive for reaching an agreement with the farmers that addresses their concerns.

MEANINGS AND WORDS 

Skeptical (adjective) – Doubting or denying the truth of revelation

Synonyms – suspicious, doubtful, cynical, incredulous, pessimistic

Antonyms – naïve, convinced, gullible, trusting, credulous

Lucrative (adjective) – Greedy of gain

Synonyms – profitable, worthwhile, thriving, prosperous, fertile

Antonyms – unprofitable, barren, baneful, stymied, delusive

Dismantle (verb) – Take off or remove

Synonyms – raze, strip, disassemble, demolish, unmount

Antonyms – construct, compile, pack, invent, infer

Alienation (noun) – Derangement of the mental faculties

Synonyms – estrangement, disaffection, division, insanity, split

Antonyms – attachment, endearment, sympathy, compassion, amity

Contentious (adjective) – Having power to decide controversy

Synonyms – controversial, combative, belligerent, antagonistic, bellicose

Antonyms – pacifist, conciliatory, amiable, gracious, cowardly

Muddled (adjective) – Confused and vague

Synonyms – befuddled, jumbled, muzzy, woolly, foggy

Antonyms – clean, neat, achieve, lucid, analytical

Pervasive (adjective) – Having the power to spread throughout

Synonyms – widespread, ubiquitous, universal, pungent, rife

Antonyms – limited, restricted, inadvisable, scanty, reckless

Thrust (verb) – Push forcefully

Synonyms – force, shove, poke, stab, plunge

Antonyms – pull, decline, draw, deduce, inertia

Combative (adjective) – Showing an inclination to dispute or disagree

Synonyms – bellicose, aggressive, belligerent, pugnacious, hostile

Antonyms – peaceful, pacifist, genial, amicable, conciliatory

Strive (verb) – To exert much effort or energy

Synonyms – struggle, endeavor, toil, strain, combat

Antonyms – relax, forget, loaf, abandon, dismiss