The Reality Behind “Vocal for Local”: Is Atmanirbhar Bharat Turning into Import Nirbhar Bharat?

The Reality Behind “Vocal for Local”: Is Atmanirbhar Bharat Turning into Import Nirbhar Bharat?

KAKALI DAS

The slogan “Vocal for Local” has been one of the most widely promoted campaigns in recent years. It is seen as a call to strengthen local industries, encourage indigenous production, and make India self-reliant under the grand vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. But when we look closely at the ground realities, the situation appears far from the slogan’s promise.

While the government urges people to buy and promote local products, its own policies often contradict this appeal. The import of yellow peas from countries like Russia and Canada is a striking example of this inconsistency, one that has directly harmed Indian farmers and undermined the very idea of self-reliance.

The contradiction is simple yet alarming. On one hand, the government calls upon citizens to support local products and reduce dependence on imports. On the other, it continues to facilitate large-scale imports that hurt domestic producers. In the case of yellow peas, this contradiction has gone so far as to push Indian pulse farmers to the edge of crisis, with their incomes slashed to nearly half. So, the question arises – are we truly moving towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, or are we becoming Import Nirbhar Bharat in the name of political rhetoric?

In recent times, the world has witnessed significant global disruptions, trade wars, tariff changes, and price fluctuations. These developments have prompted many countries, including India, to stress on the need for Swadeshi, promoting local manufacturing, local consumption, and local expenditure. The Prime Minister himself has often emphasized the importance of being “vocal for local.” Yet, despite this push for self-reliance, India’s import policies tell a different story.

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To understand this contradiction, we must look at what happened in December 2023. That month, the Indian government decided to waive the 50% customs duty on yellow peas. Yellow peas are not part of India’s traditional pulse variety like arhar (pigeon pea), moong (green gram), or chana (chickpea). They are a separate category altogether. The government removed the import duty because domestic pulse prices were rising sharply. The supply of pulses within the country was limited, while the demand was high. In order to control inflation and stabilize prices, the government decided to import yellow peas freely.

Initially, this appeared to be a move aimed at protecting consumers. But soon, it became clear that the decision had disastrous effects on farmers. As the customs duty was removed, imports from Russia and Canada flooded the Indian market. Yellow peas began selling at around ₹3,500 per quintal, while Indian pulses like arhar, moong, and chana were priced between ₹7,000 and ₹8,000 per quintal. Naturally, consumers shifted to the cheaper imported option.

As a result, the market price for domestic pulses crashed, and farmers were forced to reduce their selling prices drastically to compete. Within weeks, farmers’ incomes fell sharply, and the domestic pulse market collapsed.

In this entire process, the biggest sufferers were the farmers, the very people who form the backbone of India’s agricultural economy. Cheap imports not only undercut domestic production but also made farming unprofitable for those who had already invested in pulse cultivation. The long-term impact of this could be severe, as farmers may start abandoning pulse cultivation altogether if they continue to face losses.

Data further strengthens this argument. In the last financial year, India imported around 6.7 million tonnes of pulses. Out of this, 2.9 million tonnes were yellow peas alone. This figure reveals the extent of import dependence that exists today, even as the government talks about Atmanirbhar Bharat. The influx of imported yellow peas has affected not just the income of farmers but also the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system, which the government uses to ensure fair returns to farmers.

The situation has become so serious that the matter has reached the Supreme Court. Farmers’ associations have raised their voices against the policy, pointing out that it directly violates the idea of self-reliance and undermines India’s national mission on pulses. Ironically, even as the government launched the Mission Atmanirbharta in Pulses to promote domestic production and reduce import dependency, it continued the import duty exemption. Initially planned for a few months, this exemption has now been extended until March 2026.

This means that while on paper India is working towards self-sufficiency, in practice, it is making policies that discourage domestic production. The inconsistency between India’s agricultural policy and its import policy is both glaring and damaging. Instead of empowering farmers and building self-sustained systems, the government’s decisions seem to be sabotaging its own goals.

The contradiction also exposes an internal conflict between various ministries. For instance, the Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, had written to Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, requesting the rollback of duty-free imports, pointing out that it was harming farmers. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which recommends the MSP for crops, also urged the government to bring back import duties. Despite these recommendations, the Commerce Ministry decided to extend the exemption till 2026.

This situation clearly shows a lack of coordination within the government itself. Different ministries are working in different directions, resulting in what economists call policy incoherence. When agricultural policy and trade policy fail to complement each other, the broader goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat becomes impossible to achieve.

The government, however, defends its decision by arguing that duty-free imports help control domestic prices and protect consumers from high food inflation. On the surface, this may sound reasonable. By allowing cheaper imports, the government ensures that pulse prices remain stable for consumers. But in the long run, this strategy weakens domestic production and makes the country dependent on imports. Short-term relief for consumers cannot come at the cost of long-term damage to farmers.

India has witnessed this cycle before. In 2017, economic research firms like CRISIL had already warned that while bumper production or price falls might bring temporary relief to consumers, they can devastate farmers’ incomes. Therefore, balanced policies are essential, ones that protect both consumers and producers. A healthy agricultural economy cannot rely solely on imports; it must encourage and protect local farmers.

The yellow pea episode is, in fact, a wake-up call. It reminds us that slogans alone cannot make India self-reliant. True self-reliance requires coherent policies, strong institutional coordination, and consistent implementation. Without this, the idea of Atmanirbhar Bharat remains an emotional and political narrative rather than a real, practical movement.

It is important to understand that Atmanirbhar Bharat is not just about producing goods within the country. It is about ensuring that Indian producers, farmers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs, are able to compete fairly, earn sustainable incomes, and contribute to the nation’s growth. When imported goods are allowed to flood markets without adequate safeguards, local producers lose confidence, and the very foundation of self-reliance begins to weaken.

The import of yellow peas, which started as a short-term measure to control inflation, has now turned into a long-term problem. It has hurt farmers, reduced domestic cultivation, and made India more dependent on other countries for essential commodities. Moreover, the extension of import duty exemption until 2026 shows that the government is prioritizing consumer comfort over farmers’ survival.

If India truly wants to achieve the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, then the government must ensure that its trade policies do not undermine its agricultural policies. There must be harmony between ministries, and every decision must be assessed for its long-term impact on farmers and food security. Self-reliance cannot be built on imported foundations.

The reality today is that while “Vocal for Local” continues to be promoted as a patriotic call, the economic ground beneath it tells a different story. Farmers who were once encouraged to grow more pulses under the promise of Atmanirbhar Bharat are now struggling to sell their produce. They are watching helplessly as imported yellow peas occupy the shelves of Indian markets, pushing their hard work to the background.

The contradiction between words and action is what makes this situation particularly disheartening. If the government continues to focus only on short-term price control measures, it will end up damaging the country’s long-term goal of self-sufficiency. Policy coherence, transparency, and consistency are the need of the hour.

India’s strength lies in its farmers. They are the foundation of our food security and economic resilience. If they are weakened by policy contradictions and import-driven distress, the dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat will remain just that, a dream.

It is time for the government to turn rhetoric into reality, slogans into substance, and policy into practice. Atmanirbhar Bharat cannot be achieved through emotional appeals alone; it requires the courage to take tough policy decisions that protect and empower those who truly build this nation – the farmers of India.

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