Are Indian Laws Sufficient to tackle Locusts Attack?- (Blog)
Agriculture
has been the backbone of this country. “Jai Javaan Jai Kisan” popular quotes by
our ex-prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri signifying the importance of farmer
in this contemporary world. Agriculture is the largest source of livelihood in
India. Around 70% of it’s population of rural households still depend on
primarily on agriculture for their livelihood.
Locusts
are the oldest migratory pest which belongs to the family of grasshopper. With
returning of rain soil becomes moist and greenery everywhere which causes them
to produce rapidly thus changing the solidary lifestyle into group lifestyle
generally known as gregarious phase. Locusts swarm can shatter and ruin by
causing damage to agricultural land which leads to starvation and famine in a
country. Every year in India they are frequently seen during the month of July
– October in small isolated groups. They are generally spotted in India
Pakistan border before mid-April. After are seen in western Rajasthan and
northern Gujarat after damaging Rabi crops. But this year these swarm of
locusts have come from Pakistan and entered into various districts of Indian
states little earlier. This attack has been worst attack in 26 years.
In
order to tackle this locusts attack the Government of India has relied upon its
colonial law. But these laws are not quite sufficient to eradicate this
problem. The followings Acts are as follows :-
1.
Destructive
Insect and Pest Act, 1914
For
the first time the major utilisation of this act was seen after the Bengal
Famine of 1943. An inquiry commission led by Sir John Woodhead publish it’s
report, one of it is increasing the crop production and minimising crop losses
by adopting locusts pest control measures.
But
this act doesn’t specifically mentioned anything about the Locusts, instead it
contains the phrases of “fungus, insect and other pest”.
Therefore, there is a need to define about the word Locusts in such act.
2.
East
Punjab Agricultural Pest, Diseases & Noxious Weeds Act, 1949
Fortunately
one of the section 4 (1) (2) mention about the locusts. But the drawback of
this act contain in section 4 (1) (2) (ii) which notify that male resident not
below the age of 14 years can service in an event of worst locusts attack. This
archaic law says that only male are capable of fighting against locusts by
beating drums or other customary modes in village or locality. This sections
about the anachronistic nature.
In
the modern and advanced era, we need to amend the provision of dependency on
male an old method.
This
act too states about the mechanisms to deals with locusts invasion but it
doesn’t speaks about mechanisms to prevent at different stage such as outbreak,
upsurge or plague.
The African countries are worst affected by
Locusts. The scientist in Africa have come up with an innovative steps by
developing a supercomputer that accurately predicting the hatching period of
eggs to reduce their population from causing havoc. The Government of India
need to take proactive approach to give much needed protection and security to
agricultural industry. Locusts attack is not a minor problem we need an
appropriate measures to amend the archaic laws while considering the present
issues in order to save the nation food stocks and protecting from wreaking of our
economy.
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