Farm Loan Waivers in India: Assessing Impact and Looking Ahead

Report prepared by Shweta Saini; Siraj Hussain; and Pulkit Khatri

Welcome Address: Shri P.V. S. Suryakumar, DMD, NABARD

Opening Remarks: Shri Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj

Release of the Report and Keynote Address: Dr. G.R. Chintala, Chairman, NABARD

Presentation of Key Findings of the Report: Ms Shweta Saini, Principal Investigator and author of the Report and Shri Siraj Hussain, author of the Report

Remarks on the Report: Shri Shaji K.V., DMD , NABARD

Vote of thanks: Dr. K.J. Satyasai, Chief General Manager, NABARD

Farm loan waivers (FLWs) have been announced by the Union and State Governments several times in the last few decades. Some states have even announced multiple loan waivers in successive years. Favourable electoral results for the announcing political parties have somehow provided political legitimacy to these waivers over the years. However, despite waivers, the distress of Indian farmers continues. This is in addition to the damage these waivers have done to the credit culture in the country. With this background, this study, sponsored by NABARD, was conducted in Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. It traces the FLWs and assesses the impact on state governments, financial institutions and farmers

(Collaboration: NABARD)

This programme will be conducted in hybrid mode at NABARD office, Mumbai. A separate link will be shared by email and posted on the website. The programme will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel

Registration link

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Music of the Renaissance
Masses, motets, madrigals and more – experience and explore the music of the Renaissance 
With Dr. Punita Singh, musicologist, linguist, acoustician, editor and educator based in Delhi

Bridging the Medieval and Baroque periods, the Renaissance brought in seminal innovations in the canon of western music. From one voice to many, from simple homophony to complex polyphony, from unaccompanied a capella singing to the use of instruments, from the liturgical texts to vernacular lyrics – varied forms and styles flourished in European music of the 15th and 16th centuries. In this session, Dr. Punita Singh takes us on an experiential listening journey.

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

A Dancer Never Gets Old
Lecture-demonstration by Saswati Sen, well-known Kathak dancer and Guru, Secretary, Kalashram School of Dance & Performing Arts

Moderator: Dr. Anu Jindal

One of senior most classical dancers today, Saswati Sen will share from her vast experience to enlighten how dance is therapeutic both for the dancer and the viewer. For a dancer – the physique, the stance, the posture, the breathing techniques which is akin to yogic pranayama, accompanied with music, the rhythm of time, the expressiveness through abhinay, all help to develop the dancer’s identity and leads towards spirituality. Dance improves muscular strength and aids in increased coordination and mobility, and the experience of dance helps with emotional and cognitive fitness.

The series of talks “Fitness Forever” focuses on making good health and building a strong immunity to be disease free, an integral part of our lifestyle.

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Concert presented by the Slovenian duo Aritmija - Tilen Stepišnik & Šemsudin Džopa, guitarists from Ljubljana with Indian artists, Sabiha Khan on vocals and Vinayak Netke on tabla

The concert marks 30th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Slovenia

(Collaboration: Embassy of Slovenia)
 

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Recent Explorations/Excavations and New Discoveries of Megalithic Settlements in and Around Vangchhia, Mizoram
Illustrated lecture by Dr. Sujeet Nayan, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, Institute of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India

Chair: Shri B.M. Pande

The recent archaeological explorations/excavations at Vangchhia, a small village in Champhai District of Mizoram has yielded pictographs etched on large stone slabs, over 170 menhirs and a necropolis among other artifacts. The ancient people of Vangchchia carved terraces for their settlements and the main excavated site consists of 15 such carved terraces. Decoding Vangchhia’s ancient art of expressing its culture through material remains is hitherto unknown in the context of megalithic burial traditions 
 

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

HER VOICE: ‘Women at Work’ – Always and Everywhere: The Quest for Dignity, Equity and Freedom

Panelists: Prof. Mary John, formerly Director, Centre for Women’s Development Studies and a leading Women’s Studies scholar who is widely published; Dr. Anita Ghai, Professor, Disability Studies and Dean, School of Humanities, Ambedkar University and is South Asia’s leading scholar on Disability Studies; and Prof. Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Professor of Political Science and Principal (acting), Miranda House

When Work Brings Freedom
Screening of the film Koshish (5 min) that showcases the story of Azad Trainer, Rajrani from a trainee to becoming a driving trainer

Discussion on the work of Azad Foundation in India, a Delhi-based civil society organization that helps provide dignified livelihoods to women from resource-poor communities. It enables women to empower themselves by taking up employment opportunities that have traditionally been unavailable to women, thereby increasing their participation in public life.

Speakers: Soibam Bidya Rani, District Lead, Azad Foundation in India; and Omkari, Azad Foundation trainer 

First in a series of three discussions on ‘Women at Work’ conceptualised by Prof. Krishna Menon

Professor, Gender Studies, Ambedkar University Delhi. Gender intersects with various identities in our society and it resonates in public life, social practices and artistic endeavours. This is the entry point for the three broad themes around which the panels will be arranged – Doing, Feeling, and Seeing. Women have been seen as subjects to whom things are done, or for whom action is taken – the discussions seek to move away from this and celebrate women’s dynamism, and engagement with change.

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Speaker: Dr. Shebonti Ray Dadwal, Energy Security Analyst and Consultant 

Chair: Cmdre. C. Uday Bhaskar ( retd.), Director, Society for Policy Studies

The current crisis in energy markets triggered by the Ukraine war is impacting globally – as opposed to ones that were more regional in nature. It is being seen as a critical turning point, as it is likely to set off major shifts in energy markets as well as in global geopolitics. This war has also underlined energy security as a critical priority for every energy importing nation.

As one of the largest consumers of energy, India is severely affected – economically due to the price rise; and politically, as it comes under intense pressure to follow the anti-Russia mandate of the US-led western world. How India will deal with the ongoing crisis and what implications such decisions could have will be the focus of the talk

(Collaboration: Society for Policy Studies)

Registration Link

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

AT 10:00 IN THE MULTIPURPOSE HALL
 

National Seminar: Assessing Classical Group Choreography: Past, Present and Future
Participants: Ms Madhavi Mudgal; Dr. Shama Bhate; Dr. Anita Ratnam; Smt Vanashree Rao; and Shri Sanjeev Bhargava

Moderator: Smt Geeta Chandran

AT 16:00 IN THE MULTIPURPOSE HALL
 

Narthaki.com@30
To mark 30 years of Narthaki, screening of a film and dialogue with Dr. Anita Ratnam

AT 18:30 IN THE AUDITORIUM
Odissi Recital
By Lipsa Satpathy

Followed by 
Kathak Recital
By Abhimanyu Lal

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Organised in collaboration with Natya Vriksha

FROM 10:00 TO 13:00 IN MULTIPURPOSE HALL
 

Koodiyattam Workshop
Conducted by Kalamandalam Dr. Krishnendu

(Collaboration: International Centre for Kathakali)

AT 18:30 IN THE AUDITORIUM
 

Koodiyattam
By Kalamadalam Dr. Krishnendu

Followed by
Bharatanatyam Recital
By Sowmya Laxmi Narayanan
 

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Bindu: Space and Time in Raza’s Vision
Discussion on the book written by Geeti Sen

Panelists: Prof. Ashis Nandy, political psychologist, social theorist, and critic; Shri Akhilesh, well-known artist, curator, and writer; and Dr. Geeti Sen, cultural historian, art critic, and author of the book
Chair: Shri Ashok Vajpeyi

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)