Monday, May 21, 2012

२९ प्रकल्पांतून एका थेंबाचेही सिंचन नाही-तीन प्रकल्पांचे ३५ वर्षांपासून काम सुरूच-लोकमत



२९ प्रकल्पांतून एका थेंबाचेही सिंचन नाही-तीन प्रकल्पांचे ३५ वर्षांपासून काम सुरूच-लोकमत
सुरेश भुसारी। दि. २0 (नागपूर)
विदर्भातील५४ मध्यम सिंचन प्रकल्पापैकी २९ सिंचन प्रकल्पातून आतापर्यंत एका थेंबाचेही सिंचन झाले नाही. त्यावर खर्च मात्र ४५0 कोटी रुपये झाले
आहेत.विदर्भात एकूण ५४ मध्यम सिंचन प्रकल्प आहेत. हे सर्व प्रकल्प पूर्ण करण्यासाठी ८ हजार ३0६ कोटी रुपयांची आवश्यकता आहे. आतापर्यंत केवळ ३ हजार ३५६ कोटी रुपये खर्च झाले आहेत. यातून २ लाख ७२ हजार १८९ हेक्टर शेतीचे सिंचन व्हायला पाहिजे होते. हे उद्दिष्ट केवळ ८७ हजार ३११ हेक्टर एवढेच साध्य झालेले आहे. प्रकल्पीय उद्दिष्टापैकी केवळ ३२ टक्के सिंचन आतापर्यंत होऊ शकले.यात मजेशीर गोष्ट म्हणजे २९ सिंचन प्रकल्पातून शेतीच्या एक गुंठय़ाला पाणी मिळाले नाही. कन्हान नदीवर होणारा कोची बॅरेज प्रकल्प नागपूरसाठी पाणी पुरवठा करण्यासाठी महत्त्वपूर्ण ठरणार आहे.या प्रकल्पाला २00७ मध्ये मंजुरी मिळाली यातून १.४६ दशलक्ष घनमीटर पाण्याचा साठा होणार आहे. जवळपास १७ कोटी रुपये खर्च झाल्यानंतर काम पुढे गेलेले नाही. अशीच स्थिती इतर मध्यम प्रकल्पांची आहे. त्याचप्रमाणे निम्न चुलबंद, सुरेवाडी (दोन्ही भंडारा), झाशीनगर उपसा, रजेगावकाटी, तेढवा शिवणी (तिन्ही गोंदिया),  भेंडाळा, बोरघाट, पळसवाडी-आमडी, दिंडोरा (सर्व चंद्रपूर), हल्दी पुरानी, महागाव गर्रा, डोंगरगाव-ठाणेगाव, कोटगल, रेंगुठा, देवलमारी, तळोधी-मोकासा व  चिंचडोह (सर्व गडचिरोली) या नागपूर विभागातील प्रकल्पांमधून काहीच सिंचन झालेले नाही.
हीच स्थिती अमरावती विभागातील मध्यम प्रकल्पांची आहे. पेंढी व गर्गा (दोन्ही अमरावती), काटेपूर्णा बॅरेज, उमा बॅरेज, पूर्णा बॅरेज क्र. २ व घुंगशी (सर्व अकोला), उंबर्डा (वाशिम), टाकळी-डोलारी, वर्धा  बॅरेज (दोन्ही यवतमाळ) या प्रकल्पांमधूनही पाण्याचे सिंचन होऊ शकले नाही. यातील बहुतेक प्रकल्प केंद्र सरकारची मान्यता किंवा निविदा प्रक्रियेत आहेत. ज्या प्रकल्पांची कामे सुरू झाली, त्या प्रकल्पांची कामे १0 ते २0 टक्क्यांपेक्षा अधिक झालेली नाही. प्रशासकीय मान्यता, निविदेची प्रक्रिया व  निधीची उपलब्धता लक्षात घेतली तर हे प्रकल्प पुढील किमान २0 वर्षेतरी पूर्ण होण्याची शक्यता नसल्याचे जाणकारांचे म्हणणे आहे.
३५ वर्षांपासून काम सुरूच
मध्यम प्रकल्पांपैकी तीन प्रकल्प तर तब्ब्ल ३५ वर्षांंपासून सुरूच आहेत. नागपूर जिल्ह्यातील पेंढरी प्रकल्पाला १३ डिसेंबर १९७७ रोजी प्रशासकीय मान्यता मिळाली.तेव्हा या प्रकल्पाची किंमत केवळ ८७ लाख एवढी होती. आज हा प्रकल्प ११ कोटी ७0 लाखांवर पोहोचला आहे. सिंचन मात्र शून्य. हा    प्रकल्पच केंद्र सरकारने नाकारल्याने सुधारित प्रस्ताव २00९ मध्ये केंद्राकडे पाठविला आहे.गडचिरोली जिल्ह्यातील कारवाफा या प्रकल्पाला ३0 नोव्हेंबर १९७७ रोजी मान्यता मिळाली. तेव्हाचा खर्च ३ कोटी ३९ लाख एवढा होता. आज या प्रकल्पाचा खर्च १0६ कोटी ४३ लाखांवर पोहोचला आहे. याच जिल्ह्यातील चेन्नानदी प्रकल्पाला १३ मे १९७७ रोजी मान्यता मिळाली. तेव्हा या प्रकल्पाची किंमत १ कोटी ८२ लाख एवढीच होती. आज या प्रकल्पाची किंमत ५९ कोटी ७१ लाखावर पोहोचली आहे

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Centre, state turn blind eye on drought-hit Vidarbha-TIMES OF INDIA


Printed from

Centre, state turn blind eye on drought-hit Vidarbha-TIMES OF INDIA


 
"This stepmotherly treatment is shocking," said Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishor Tiwari."Even in past, Vidarbha villages never got timely drought relief. The NCP and its supremo Sharad Pawar are ensuring that only villages in their constituencies get aid," he alleged.
"Since several villages are drought-hit, they have effectively 'marketed' the drought and are cornering the relief money," he added.

NAGPUR: Of the 6200 villages facing drought-like situation in the state this year, 72% or 4490 are in Vidarbha.
Yet, neither the state government nor the Centre has deemed it necessary to extend relief measures like setting up fodder depots, cattle camps or special funds to provide drinking water to affected Vidarbha villages.
All the relief funds, as also the Rs 700 crore provided for it by the Union government, are being spent on drought-hit western Maharashtra only.
On Wednesday, the state cabinet announced some more relief measures for drought-hit parts of the state. It has decided to provide Rs 10 crore each to 15 talukas for measures to fight drought. Not even one of these is from Vidarbha.
Those that get these funds are Sangamner, Jat, Palus, Mann, Mangalveda, Parner, Bhoom, Purandar, Athapadi, Kavthe, Khanapurm Tasgaon and Sangole.
"I tried to raise the plight of Vidarbha villages and scarcity of drinking water and fodder, but mine was the lone voice and too feeble in the cabinet dominated by members representing western Maharashtra," said EGS minister Nitin Raut.
Anil Deshmukh, another cabinet minister said, "Aid is being given where the drought is severe."
Social justice minister Shivajirao Moghe, who is guardian minister of Nagpur where nearly 500 villages are reeling under severe scarcity of water and fodder, had a different take on the issue. He justified the action saying the situation in Vidarbha was relatively better than the areas for which the government announced special relief. "It's the acuteness of the crisis that decides relief measures," he said.
Not many are buying this. "Situation in Chandur Bazar and Achalpur in my constituency is far worse. I have written to the district collector about how fodder was unavailable. People are finding it difficult to feed the cattle and are preferring to sell them," said Bacchu Kadu, Achalpur MLA.
He said no fodder depot was opened in Amravati district where 1985 villages have reported yield below 50 paise (Annewari).
"The government has conveniently changed the criteria for relief measures. Instead of going by year-long rainfall records and ground situation, government has accepted yardsticks that suit only western Maharashtra villages. For instance, they are now only looking at levels of well water to provide aid," said Kadu.
"This stepmotherly treatment is shocking," said Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishor Tiwari.
"Even in past, Vidarbha villages never got timely drought relief. The NCP and its supremo Sharad Pawar are ensuring that only villages in their constituencies get aid," he alleged.
"Since several villages are drought-hit, they have effectively 'marketed' the drought and are cornering the relief money," he added.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Vidarbha Farmers urge Govt. follow Big-B Pattern for loan waiver


Vidarbha Farmers urge Govt. follow Big-B Pattern  for loan waiver  
Nagpur-13th May, 2012

News of Superstar Amitabh Bachchan came to the rescue of 90 farmers in Maharashtra's Wardha district who were on Saturday given cheques to repay their debt has been warmly welcome by 3 million distressed and debt trapped cotton farmers who are killing themselves due on going agrarian crisis in region in which more than 10000 cotton farmers committed suicides and urged Govt. follow the Big-B as earlier farm loan waiver failed to give them any relief due it’s stringent condition of excluding farmers holding land above 2 hector moreover presently banks have started forcibly recoveries of old debt even after Govt. declared drought in the region, informed  president of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) Kishore Tiwari activist group working for the rights of the cotton farmers since 1997.

It is reported that the farmers were selected from over 20 villages of wardha  district by members of the Rotary Club and the cheques total around Rs. 30 lakh, all of which was donated by Amitabh Bachchan who announced earlier his  willingness to contribute to the cause of farmers given to them ,Tiwari added..
“We are indebted to Big-B who has shown way to administration to address the issue of debt which is killing farmers as all earlier attempt of waiving off loan of the farmer were never targeted the distressed and debt-trapped farmers moreover loan waiver scheme worked for reducing NPA and rehabilitating the cooperative banks  run by politicians .west vidarbha there are more than 10,000 villages and out of 3 millions cotton farmers more than 70% are under default hence credit restoration is major issue and now Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has once again open chapter we will urge UPA Govt. to start “Big-B Pattern” complete debt waiver programme in vidarbha” ,Tiwari added.

‘Vidarbha agrarian crisis is revolving around “Cost -Crop -Credit”  issue as farmers are getting proper credit from banks and minimum support price is much below cost of production moreover Govt. and MNCs are allowed to promote highly rain sensitive crop like Bt.cotton which is main reason of Hydrological  man-made drought adding fuel to on going crisis hence there is urgent need to address “Cost -Crop -Credit”  issue’Tiwari urged .
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Sharad Pawar, agriculture minister. More agony, less ecstacy.-OUTLOOK







Pass the sugar Sharad Pawar poses for photogs at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai
agriculture: Sharad pawar
Sharad Pawar, agriculture minister. More agony, less ecstacy.
Pawar’s Report Card
The Negatives
  • Per capita availability of cereals and pulses has fallen in last eight years
  • No improvement in irrigation, 60% of agriculture still dependent on monsoons
  • Farmers growing cereals, sugarcane, oilseeds and pulses assured higher MSP, but majority don't benefit
  • Production up, but not productivity. Farmer suicides are on the rise.
  • Poor market advisory on exports being misused to buy cheaply from farmers and make profits overseas
  • Pawar referred to as “sugar minister” for promoting sugar industry interests
  • Big push to private seed companies is raising farm input costs with little hope of recouping expenses
The Positives
  • Pushed the boom in horticulture, fisheries, poultry. Has helped Indian farm sector chalk higher growth.
  • Has ensured higher production in cotton, milk, fruits and vegetables
***
Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar is trying to re-establish his ‘farmer-friendly’ politician image but it’s been hard going with the flip-flop on commodity exports and rising farmer suicides. In April, he wrote to the prime minister criticising the government’s export policies for being “against the interests of the farming community”. This raised many eyebrows. For it is exactly the same charge farmers’ groups have been levelling against Pawar and other central ministers for their decision to ban cotton exports, leading to a market glut and crashing prices. A spate of suicides followed in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha, including five on May 1. Since January, over 320 farmers have committed suicide in Vidarbha alone.
The flip-flop on cotton and sugar exports led to hundreds of Maharashtra farmers hitting the streets in protest. Sensing the mood, the National Congress Party chief, a key man in the UPA set-up, rushed to contain the damage by announcing a major farmer rally on May 16 against government policies. Then, after getting the government to open up sugar exports for all—reversing a policy he had himself put in place while holding the food ministry portfolio—Pawar called off the rally.
 

 

“Pawar has to take the blame for farmer suicides in Vidarbha...he promoted cotton, a water-intensive crop, on dry land.”Kishore Tiwari, Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti

 

 
If all this seems a bit rich, remember it comes from a man who has been India’s longest-serving agriculture minister. For all the sobriquets thrust upon him—broadly pointing to an uncommon mix of political astuteness and administrative command—he is often mockingly referred to as “sugar minister” (for promoting the sugar industry’s interests) or even “cricket minister” (given his engagement with the game as ex-BCCI boss and current International Cricket Council president). Eight years then is as good a time to gauge the performance of Pawar the minister, particularly since his beat affects 60 per cent of India’s population. Despite repeated requests, Sharad Pawar did not speak to Outlook for this story. The scenario now is in sharp contrast to ’04 when the UPA swept to power and Pawar opted to lead the agriculture and food ministries. Hardly anyone then questioned the decision. Sompal Singh Shastri, agriculture expert and a former Union minister, recounts how through technology inputs and the right kind of policies (like the concept of adequate finance), Pawar as Maharashtra CM had helped the farmers, particularly in horticulture. “I had hoped he would lend the same kind of leadership throughout India but it did not happen, which was a huge disappointment,” says Shastri, who admits to have often said as much to Pawar, a close friend.
There are many agri experts and scientists who share the disappointment that Pawar, a practical farmer very knowledgeable on agriculture issues and a heavyweight politician, failed to deliver on the need to raise investments in agriculture, which still remain abysmally inadequate. “Economic reforms have remained confined to providing more space and incentives to the corporate sector while agriculture has been wholly neglected. The most glaring proof— the agriculture marketing system is still mired in many restrictions,” adds Shastri.

Gone to seed Grieving family of a cotton farmer who committed suicide in Vidarbha. (Photograph by Atul Loke)
Public investment in agriculture in the last eight years has been just 0.6 per cent of GDP. Irrigation infrastructure too is abysmal. While foodgrains production has gone up, per capita availability of cereals and pulses has fallen steadily in the last eight years. Food inflation has been high through his tenure, attracting a lot of flak (and prompting Pawar to relinquish the food ministry in 2011). Worse, the lot of farmers has not improved. Over 80 per cent of farmers have less than one hectare of land, and more than 60 per cent of them are in debt, says nsso data.
 

 

“As Union agri minister, Pawar has been a huge disappointment. Economic reforms have neglected agriculture.”Sompal Singh Shastri, Ex-Union minister, agri expert

 

 
Nationwide, there were over 2.6 lakh farmer suicides between 1995 and 2010 —tellingly, 1.18 lakh suicides took place between 2004-10. While Pawar’s native place Baramati (described by noted agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan as a “symbol of resurgent agriculture” and “a mini-Israel”) is held up as an example of a successful agri-business model, the nearby Vidarbha region lays claim to the maximum number of suicides. Every day on an average, 2-3 farmers commit suicide in drought-prone Vidarbha. “If anybody has to be blamed for the spate of farmer suicides in Vidarbha, it is Pawar—he promoted a water-intensive crop like cotton in the dry land. He also forced Mahabeej, a state government seeds organisation, to become an agent of MNCs,” says Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS). By pushing hybrid seeds, farmer input costs went up. Tiwari alleges ministerial attention to the region has been scant and that promised relief is yet to materialise.
Journalist P. Sainath, a strong critic of India’s agriculture policies, says it would be wrong to hold any individual responsible for the wave of suicides over the last 15 years. “It is a matter of policy, not an individual. All these are essentially the outcome of a policy regime that is devastating to small farmers and geared towards corporate interests,” Sainath says. He, however, points out that Pawar has sat on the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers “for five out of eight years as agriculture minister without implementing or promoting discussions in Parliament. This is a panel he set up but they possibly did not give the recommendations he wanted”.

Perish policy Rotting foodgrains at an FCI godown in Fatehgarh Sahib dist, Punjab. (Photograph by Prabhjot Singh Gill)
Swaminathan, who was that commission’s chairman, describes Pawar’s tenure as a period “marked with both ecstasy and agony”. On the plus side, Swaminathan puts the success of farmers producing more than hundred million tonnes of rice, innovative schemes like the National Horticulture Mission and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. On the flip side, the RS member points to the farmer suicides, high food inflation, and enormous wastage of cereals and other perishable commodities due to a mismatch between production and post-harvest technologies and storage capacity.
“Coordination between the commerce and agriculture ministries has also been weak, with the result that food inflation stays high. Our export-import policies have not had the interests of producers and consumers as the bottomline,” says Swaminathan. This holds true even now when agri production data swings from one extreme to another. Typically, after farmers have sold off stocks in distress, prices suddenly rise (for reasons unstated), giving the industry a reason to push for exports to calm domestic markets.
At present, the same thing is happening with cotton, when for reasons unknown an export ban was imposed despite market knowledge of a bumper crop and global prices ruling high. The recent reversal of the decision has brought no relief to distressed farmers with different arms of the commerce ministry giving conflicting signals. And it’s just not cotton. Even in the case of sugar and wheat, we have witnessed India pushing exports with subsidy followed by imports with subsidy. In 2007, we saw wheat exports being pushed, only to import again at exorbitant prices to calm domestic prices and bridge a possible shortfall.
“Before Pawar became the minister, he always came out as someone who understood the needs of agriculture and farmers. This was particularly felt during India’s negotiations with the wto. But there is a disconnect, as he is only talking about the agriculture business, whether it is pesticides, fertilisers, seeds, GM (genetically modified) crops or so on,” says Devinder Sharma, an agriculture expert. To be fair, Pawar makes no bones about his interest in commercial farming, be it contract farming or GM crops.
His views are in tune with government policy, which is pushing Indian farmers to take up large-scale farming in Africa, even as fertile land gets diverted within the country for real estate and industrial development. The irony is that while Pawar’s tenure has seen agriculture production set new records for most commodities, “one also has to admit that there is no commodity that India has not had to import during his tenure as food minister”, says Prof Sudhir Panwar of Kisan Jagriti Manch. For all his shrewd, strategist image, there are too many such omissions in the career of Sharad Pawar, agriculture minister.



Thursday, May 10, 2012

Maharashtra CM moved of against forest official destruction of 70 Kolam Tribal Houses

Maharashtra CM moved of  against forest official destruction of 70 Kolam Tribal Houses
Nagpur-11th May, 2012
Maharashtra Chief minister has taken serious note of tragic unconstitutional very serious incident under   Forest officials of Central Chanda subdivision destroyed 70 houses of Kolam tribals in Piparguda and Kolamguda villages on Maharashtra-Andhra Pradesh border in Rajura tehsil on Sunday. It is being alleged that they have encroached forest land in compartment No. 126 of Vihirgaon range coming under Central Chanda forest subdivision. These tribals walked a distance of 55km in two days to reach Chandrapur seeking justice for destruction of their houses back in their villages.
Tribal activist group disturbed with media report wrote to CM  and asked him to look into matter and take stern action against erring officer who are responsible for freezing the fundamental rights of Kolam Tribals  who are rare primitive Tribes dying due starvation and malnourishment ,informed  Kishor Tiwari, president of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), Tribal  advocacy group.
“This area is part Dandakarayna Forest of Mahabharat and Kolam  are tribes who are living in these forest till then and being forced to leave these forest and chandrapur incident is piece of iceberg  much atrocities are done  regularly and complete apathy of Govt. is brought Kolam Tribals existence in danger ,we will take up this to higher with NHRC ,ST-SC commission if  administration failed to take long term integrated plan save  Kolam tribe community ,Tiwari added.
Here are  the details of complaint
==================================  
From: Chief Minister office <CM@maharashtra.gov.in>
Date: Fri, 11 May 2012 04:09:21 +0000
To: Adv Vinod Tiwari<vinod6262@yahoo.co.in>
Subject: HOW SUCH DESTRUCTION OF SHELTERS/HUTS OF KOLAM PREMITIV TRIBALs CAN TAKE PLACE,WHEN Hon'ble SC HAS ALREADY HELD RIGHT TO LIFE OF TRIBAL CANNT BE INFRINGED..? : ARE NOT CHANDRAPUR FOREST OFFICIALs CRUSHING HUMAN RIGHTs and FORCING TRIBAL...
This is to acknowledge that the office of Chief Minister of Maharashtra has recieved your email. Thank you !
========================
HOW SUCH DESTRUCTION OF SHELTERS/HUTS OF KOLAM PREMITIV TRIBALs CAN TAKE PLACE,WHEN Hon'ble SC HAS ALREADY HELD RIGHT TO LIFE OF TRIBAL CANNT BE INFRINGED..? :
ARE NOT CHANDRAPUR FOREST OFFICIALs CRUSHING HUMAN RIGHTs and FORCING TRIBAL TO BECOME NAXAL ??
----------------
To,
Hon'ble Chief Minister Sh.Prithviraj Chavan Saheb,
Mantralaya, Mumbai.

Sub:
CHANDRAPUR TRIBALs ARE CRYING:
70 Kolam Tribes Families made Homeless by Forest Deptt....!

HOW SUCH DESTRUCTION OF HUTS OF TRIBALs CAN TAKE PLACE ,
WHEN Hon'ble SC HAS ALREADY HELD RIGHT TO LIFE OF TRIBAL CANNT BE INFRINGED..??
ARE NOT CHANDRAPUR FOREST OFFICIALs CRUSHING HUMAN RIGHTs and FORCING TRIBAL TO BECOME NAXAL ??
----------------
Resp Sh.CM Saheb,

This with ref my earlier telecom with you regarding kolam houses destruction in chandrapur forest division ,With this letter, we humbly call upon
Your immediate kind attention towards a highly shocking & perturbing incident happened in Chandrapur distt of our Maharashtra. Print Media reports now confirmed that  70 poor Tribal Kolam families were made home/shelter less by Forest officials & their century  old small Huts in which they were living are destroyed with there being no any alternate arrangement of shifting is made.
here are details published by National daily
Quote
Kolam tribals walk 55km to get back their homes

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-09/nagpur/31641219_1_tribal-women-forest-land-forest-officials

CHANDRAPUR: Forest officials were in a fix on Tuesday after around 70 Kolam tribals, mostly women and children, stormed into chief conservator of forest's (CCF) office and sat at the gate seeking shelter and food. These tribals walked a distance of 55km in two days to reach Chandrapur seeking justice for destruction of their houses back in their villages.
Forest officials of Central Chanda subdivision destroyed 30 houses of Kolam tribals in Piparguda and Kolamguda villages on Maharashtra-Andhra Pradesh border in Rajura tehsil on Sunday. It is being alleged that they have encroached forest land in compartment No. 126 of Vihirgaon range coming under Central Chanda forest subdivision.
Earlier these tribals lived at Dongargaon irrigation project site. As their lands were taken for the reservoir, they were removed. As their settlement was on encroached land no compensation was paid to them. The Kolams then moved to forest land near Kostala village on the state border. But, this time forest department razed their houses.
A total of 19 families from Piparguda and 11 families from Kolamguda were left shelterless after demolition drive carried out jointly by forest and police department. Social organization Shramik Elgar took up the issue and began a long march to Chandrapur. Forest officials however, had deployed huge police posse equipped with riot control squad at CCF office to thwart any untoward situation.
After the protesters reached CCF office, they tried to barge into the premises but cops thwarted their efforts. The tribal women who had toddlers were forced to sit outside the gate. Protesters led by Shramik Elgar's president Paromita Goswami demanded immediate meeting with CCF BSK Reddy, but he took over an hour to step out and talk to the tribals.
Reddy held talks with Goswami across the locked iron gate. Goswami apprised him of their woes and demanded tribals' land back with compensation against the damage. "Forest officers have committed most inhuman act by razing the houses of destitute tribals and leaving them shelterless in blazing summer heat. They have been living for more than 10 years on the same place and the law entitles them to have right over encroached land. Such blatant use of power and senseless atrocities on tribals has fed Naxalism in the area ," she charged.
Tribals held said that they would not budge from CCF office gate at any cost. "Our homes have been destroyed. We have no bread to eat and no other place to go. We will stay here at forest office and now it is responsibility of forest department to arrange for our food and shelter," said tribal women.
Forest officers offered no help to resolve the problem even as social workers show them voter identity cards proving their residence in area for more than 10 years and collector's orders entitling some of the tribals of the land under Forest Right Act.
Speaking to TOI, Reddy said, "Tribals have claimed that their settlement on encroached forest land is more than 10 years old, however our records show otherwise. Their claims will be verified and decision will be taken as per the law."
It was a pity scene at forest office as over two dozen women, accompanied by equal number of children and handful of tribal men sat exhausted and dehydrated throughout the day. Around a dozen of women among them were breast feeding mothers and they sat in blazing sun with their wailing kids. Forest officers themselves provided masala bhat as lunch to the poor tribals, while ZP president Santosh Kumre had arranged for their dinner. Police officers arranged for water and anti-dehydration drinks for tribal children. The tribals intended to stay put in front of CCF office in the night.
Un-Quote
This all happened on the settled position of Laws that the poor Tribal s Can't be Evicted in a manner forest officials did in Chandrapur...!

Tribal Rights to Life as Guaranteed by Constitution of India, is a Fundamental Right to Live Grace ful Life. Therefore, its fit case of Atrocities caused upon  poor tribals.

We all are literally shocked to understand that Forest officials misusing provisions of deconion Forest Conservation Act, all of sudden, crushed huts of Tribal s and 70 families were thrown out of Shelters.
Poor unorganised tribals all crying for justice but no forest officials had listen their voice.

Sir,Its disturbing....!! More perturbing is the second part of Story that all these Tribal,mostly Kolams Women & small children travelled 70 Kms odd distance by Foot March from Forest to distt HQ at Chandrapur in such scorching heat wave.
The action of Forest officials to make these Tribals Homeless is a classic example of Rude & Heartless Atrocity act, which is in breach & in violation of mandate of Hon'ble apex court-SC that no Tribals can be Evicted unless an alternate arrangement is made for their Shelter & live hood. But in present case, it shows How Fundamental Rights of Tribals are infringed in our prosperous State Like Maharashtra.
Having read this News in Media, our team visited the Spot. We have examined the entire events of this case & reasons to believe that its fit case to strike & highlight on all level to avoid repetition of such painful incident.

PRAYER:

Hence we strongly condemn this & hereby demand immediate Restoration of Tribal s huts with suitable compensation to be paid to each sufferer Tribal family & cost be recovered from the salaries of Forest officials concerned.
Looking to seriousness & gravity, a FIR / Criminal Prosecution be made against all Forest Officials involved or responsible for this act of grave atrocity on tribals.

Need less to mention, If our prayer is not considered, We shall be taking this to Human Rights Commission / Hon'ble Apex Court to high light this case of gross violations of Tribals Right to Life, please note.

We hope you will promptly intervention   and arrange to do the needful in the matter.

Hence  this Representation.

Thanking you,

Adv.Vinod Tiwari,
General Secretary,
Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti,
‘We are also taking up matter with forest secretary Pravin Pardesi who is also relief secretary to visit the place and   verify the truth as act of forest officail ,as can not tolerated we will move all the forum  to redress unjust and criminal action against all erring officials is not taken within 8 days” Tiwari added. 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

‘कापूस निर्यातबंदी मागे' घोषणा फसवी-किशोर तिवारी यांचा आरोप

‘कापूस निर्यातबंदी मागे' घोषणा फसवी-किशोर तिवारी यांचा आरोप
तभा वृत्तसेवा, ७ मे
केंद्र सरकारने कापूस निर्यातीवरील बंदी उठविल्याची घोषणा केली असली तरी निर्यातीवर जाचक अटी लावून ही घोषणा फसवी असल्याचे सिद्ध करून दिले आहे. वाणिज्य मंत्रालयाच्या ४ मे च्या नवीन आदेशानुसार कापूस निर्यातबंदी कायम आहे. केंद्र सरकारने या निर्णयाद्वारे शेतकरयांच्या पाठीत खंजीर खुपसल्याचा आरोप  विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे अध्यक्ष व शेतकरी नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी केला असून यामुळे शेतकरयांच्या आत्महत्या वाढतील, अशी भीती व्यक्त केली आहे.
३० एप्रिलला भारत सरकारने कापसाच्या निर्यातीवरील सर्व अटी दूर करून कापूस निर्यात खुल्या परवान्याअंतर्गत सुरू केल्याची घोषणा केली होती. त्यातून हे सरकार कापूस उत्पादक शेतकरयांच्या पाठिशी आहे, असा विश्वासही निर्माण करण्याचा प्रयत्न केला गेला होता. या घोषणेनंतर संपूर्ण भारतात कापसाचा भाव ५०० ते ७०० रुपये क्विंटल वाढला होता. पुढे ४ मे रोजी कृषी मंत्री शरद पवार यावर्षी कापसाचे ३५० लाख गाठींचे विक्रमी उत्पन्न होत असल्याचे सांगत होते. त्याचवेळी वाणिज्य मंत्रालय गिरणी मालकांच्या हितासाठी कापूस निर्यातीवर जाचक अटी लावत होते, असा आरोप त्यांनी केला आहे. वाणिज्य मंत्रालयाच्या नव्या आदेशानुसार कोणताही निर्यातदार जास्तीत जास्त १० हजार गाठी निर्यात करू शकणार आहे. त्यानंतर नवीन परवान्यासाठी १५००-१५०० गाठींसाठी अर्ज करावे लागणार असून १६ मार्च २०१२ रोजी लादलेल्या नवीन अटी निर्यातीसाठी लागू होतील, असे या आदेशात म्हटले आहे. सध्या भारतात कृषिमंत्र्यांच्याच आकडेवारीनुसार १५० लाख गाठी निर्यातीसाठी उपलब्ध असून या नवीन आदेशाने मात्र प्रमुख निर्यातदार कोटा पद्धतीमुळे जेमतेम १ ते २ लाख गाठींची निर्यात करू शकतील, असे तिवारी यांनी म्हटले आहे.
सरकारच्या शेतकरीविरोधी धोरणामुळे जगात कापसाला सरासरी ५ हजार रुपयांच्या वर भाव मिळत असताना भारताच्या शेतकरयांना कापूस निर्यातबंदीच्या जाचक अटी व धोरणामुळे सरासरी जेमतेम ३५०० रुपये प्रतिक्विंटल भाव मिळाला आहे. भारतातील कापूस गिरणी मालकांना स्वस्त कापूस मिळावा यासाठी सरकारच्या भ्रष्ट मंत्री आणि अधिकारयांनी केंद्रीय मंत्रिमंडळाला वारंवार चुकीची माहिती देऊन कापसाचे भाव भारतात पाडले, असा आरोपही त्यांनी केला.
केंद्रीय मंत्रिमंडळासह भारतातील सात राज्यांच्या मुख्यमंत्र्यांकडून सतत विरोध होत असताना, पंतप्रधान मनमोहनसिह यांनी स्वत: लक्ष घातल्यानंतर ३० एप्रिलला भारत सरकारने कापूस निर्यातबंदी उठविली होती. परंतु फक्त तीनच दिवसांत वाणिज्य मंत्री व वाणिज्य सचिवांनी ४ मे रोजी कोटा राज निर्माण करणारा आणि नवीन जाचक अटी लादणारा आदेश जारी केला. वाणिज्य मंत्रालयाने ३ मार्चनंतर काढलेले सर्व आदेश रद्द करावेत आणि कापसावरील निर्यातबंदी विनाशर्त उठवावी, अशी मागणी किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

वनखात्यातील भ्रष्टाचार, टिपेश्‍वर अभयारण्यातील आदिवासींच्या पुनर्वसनाबाबत चर्चा-वनखात्याचे प्रधान सचिव प्रवीण परदेशी उद्या दि. ७ मे रोजी यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यात


वनखात्यातील भ्रष्टाचार, टिपेश्‍वर अभयारण्यातील आदिवासींच्या पुनर्वसनाबाबत चर्चा-वनखात्याचे प्रधान सचिव प्रवीण परदेशी उद्या दि. ७ मे रोजी यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यात
पांढरकवडा: वनखात्यातील भ्रष्टाचार व टिपेशवर अभयारण्यातील पुनर्वसन संदर्भात चौकशी करण्यासाठी राज्याचे वनखात्याचे प्रधान सचिव प्रवीण परदेशी उद्या दि. ७ मे रोजी यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यात येणार आहेत. टिपेश्‍वर येथे दुपारी २ वा. अन्यायग्रस्त आदिवासी व संबंधित अधिकार्‍यांना समोरासमोर घेऊन चौकशी करणार असल्याची माहिती आदिवासी नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी आज दिली.
महाराष्ट्र सरकारने तेंदूपत्त्यावरील मालकी हक्क सोडल्यानंतर २00६ पासून तेंदूपत्त्याच्या लिलावावर भेटणारा राजस्व तेंदूपत्ता बोनस म्हणून वाटप करण्याचा निर्णय घेतल्यानंतर मागील ४ वर्षात वनाधिकार्‍यांनी तेंदूपत्ता मजुरांचा ७0 टक्के बोनस खिशात टाकला असून या वर्षी १४0 कोटीमध्ये तेंदूपत्त्याचा लिलाव झाल्यानंतर १३0 कोटी रुपये तेंदूपत्ता बोनस रुपाने वाटण्यात येणार आहे. परंतु यावर्षीही तेंदूपत्ता मजुरांना तेंदूपत्त्याचे कार्ड न देणे व तेंदूपत्ता तोडणीचा हिशोब न ठेवणे या सर्व गोष्टी राजरोसपणे होत असून तेंदूपत्ता बोनसमध्ये या वर्षीच्या हंगामातही प्रचंड भ्रष्टाचार होण्याचे संकेत मिळत आहे. त्याचप्रमाणे वनखात्यामध्ये महाराष्ट्र रोजगार हमी योजनेच्या सुमारे ५0 कोटींच्या कामात सर्व कामे यंत्राद्वारे करून मजुरांच्या नावाने धनादेश काढण्याचा गोरखधंदा आघाडी सरकारच्या मंत्र्यांच्या चेल्यांनी व राजकीय नेत्यांनी सुरू केल्यामुळे मजुरांचे कार्ड विकण्याचे धंदे राजरोसपणे सुरू आहे. या दोन्ही गोष्टींवर आळा घालण्यासाठी व वनखात्यामधील भ्रष्टाचार कमी करण्यासाठी मजुरांची ओळख संगणकाद्वारे बायोमेट्रिकद्वारे व्हावी, या मागणीसाठी शेकडो मजुरांनी ४ मे रोजी ठराव केल्यामुळे राज्याचे वनखात्याचे प्रधान सचिव प्रवीण परदेशी यांनी ७ मे रोजी सर्व तक्रारी व पुराव्यासह येण्याची विनंती केली आहे. १८ एप्रिल रोजी टिपेश्‍वर येथे आदिवास्यांनी पंचायत घेऊन ग्राम सभेच्या ठरावाप्रमाणे सरकारने प्रति एकर ३ लाख रुपये व संपूर्ण गावठाण सहित पुनर्वसन केल्यास टिपेश्‍वर सोडण्यास सरकारला सहमती दिली होती. मात्र प्रति एकर ३ लाख रुपये देणे सरकारला अशक्य असून सध्याच्या पॅकेजमध्ये नवीन प्रस्ताव जोडून या विषयी आपण सर्व संमतीने मार्ग काढण्यासाठी सुधारीत पॅकेजसह टिपेश्‍वर येथे ७ मे रोजी चर्चा करू तसेच आदिवासी जनतेच्या सहकार्याने टिपेश्‍वर अभयारण्यात पिण्याच्या पाण्याचा तत्काळ तोडगा काढण्यासाठी शर्तीचे प्रयत्न करू,अशी माहिती प्रवीण परदेशी यांनी यावेळी दिली. अभयारण्यातील टिपेश्‍वर, मारेगाव व पिटापुंगरी या खेड्यांच्या पुनर्वसनाचा प्रस्ताव मागील १0 वर्षांपासून प्रलंबित असून यादरम्यान मात्र टिपेश्‍वर अभयारण्य पूर्णपणे बरबाद झाले असून आजच्या परिस्थितीमध्ये एक थेंब पाणी नसल्यामुळे सारे प्राणी अभयारण्याबाहेर आले असून पट्टेदार वाघांच्या हैदोसमुळे ११६ खेड्यामध्ये सर्व शेतकरी व शेतमजुरांचे जीवन धोक्यात आले आहे. अशा परिस्थितीत टिपेश्‍वर अभयारण्य वाचविण्यासाठी विदर्भ जन आंदोलन समितीने सरकारला पूर्णपणे सहकार्य करण्याचे जाहीर केले असून यासंबंधी आदिवासी जनतेमध्ये जागरण, अभयारण्यामध्ये पिण्यासाठी पाण्याची सुविधा उपलब्ध करण्यासाठी सक्रिय सहभाग व अभयारण्यामधील आदिवास्यांचे पुनर्वसन करण्यासाठी सरकारला सक्रिय सहभाग करण्याचे निश्‍चित केले असून त्या दृष्टीने आदिवासी नेते तुकाराम मेर्शाम, लेतुजी जुनघरे, भिमराव नैताम, अंकीत नैताम या ७ मे च्या बैठकीला विशेष रुपाने उपस्थित राहतील अशी माहिती विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे कार्यालय सचिव संतोष नैताम यांनी दिली.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Tribal to demand CBI probe in Yavatmal Forest MGREGA Scam-TIMES OF INDIA


Tribal Rally to demand CBI probe in Yavatmal Forest MGREGA Scam-TIMES OF INDIA

 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-01/nagpur/31526048_1_mgnregs-cbi-probe-tribals

heir last salary was in Jan, 2012!

TNN May 4, 2012, 03.24AM IST
YAVATMAL: The tribals working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) have not got their wages since February. Similarly tribals deployed for plucking the tendu leaves from the deep forest in Yavatmal district have also not been paid their bonus. Irked by the undeterred apathy of the district administration and forest officials, the tribals will take out a massive rally at Pandharkawda, 80km from Yavatmal, on May 4 to demand for a CBI probe into the rampant corruption in the central and state govt-sponsored schemes.
According to the convener of Tendu Mazdoor Samiti Bhimrao Naitam, the forest officials have not paid bonus to the tendu leaf pluckers till date, despite the amount being released by the government to the district administration.
The tribals, who are working simultaneously under the MGNREGS, have not been paid wages since January 2012 which is a criminal offence. "We demand the state government to order a CBI probe into the rampant corruption involved in both the matters (bonus and wages)," Naitam said.
VJAS president Kishor Tiwari has filed a complaint with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan demanding a probe into the allegation of pocketing the huge fund meant for implementation of MGNREGS by contractors, officers and the politicians. As per information, Chavan has forwarded the complaint to principal secretary Pravin Pardesi to look in to the matter on priority.
Naitam alleged that despite most of the work being done by machines, the contractors prepare bogus muster roll and show that the work's being done manually and pocket the entire fund. They do it with the blessings of the politicians and in connivance with some officials.
Tiwari further said, "The contractors' agent collect job cards from the workers and with its support, they open accounts in remote post office and banks. The cheques against the wages are credited into these accounts and are withdrawn later as if the money were given to real labourers. Crores of rupees are siphoned off in this manner and the poor tribals are pushed in to the lurch."
Following complaints, collector Shravan Hardikar has put on hold the issue of cheques amounting Rs25 crore since January last, Tiwari said.
Hardikar admitted that he received complaints of bogus muster rolls and that the works are being carried out by machines instead of labour. "I have asked the concerned officials to go for a social audit which includes site visits and verification of the works done by machine and labour. It is underway since February," Hardikar said, adding that anyone found guilty of corruption and forgery would not be spared.
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पांढरकवड्यात ४ मेंला तेंदूपत्ता मजूर मेळावा बोनस वाटप-रोहयो कामाच्या भ्रष्टाचाराविरुद्ध आदिवासींचा एल्गार

पांढरकवड्यात ४ मेंला तेंदूपत्ता मजूर मेळावा
बोनस वाटप-रोहयो कामाच्या भ्रष्टाचाराविरुद्ध आदिवासींचा एल्गार

जमिनीच्या अधिकाराचा प्रश्न प्रलंबित
आदिवासींना जल - जंगल - जमीन हा घटनात्मक अधिकार मिळावा, यासाठी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने १९९९ मध्ये तेंदुपत्ता मजूर समिती स्थापन करून सतत ५ वर्षं लढा दिला व तेंदुपत्त्याचा बोनस आदिवासींना मिळवून दिला. मात्र आदिवासींच्या जमिनीच्या अधिकाराचा प्रश्न प्रलंबित असून यासाठी नव्याने लढा सुरू करण्यात येत आहे. वनखात्यामार्फत मूळ निवासी कोलाम व इतर आदिवासींना जमिनीतून बेदखल करण्याचा कट रचला जात असून आदिवासींमध्ये लोकजागृती व पुढील आंदोलनाची दिशा या तेंदुपत्ता मजूर मेळाव्यात ठरविण्यात येणार असल्याची माहिती आदिवासी नेते लेतुजी जुनगरे व तुकाराम मेश्राम यांनी दिली.
Pandharkawada 3 may 2012 
महात्मा गांधी रोजगार हमी योजनेंतर्गत वनखात्याच्या कामामध्ये अफलातून भ्रष्टाचार होत असून हयात असणारया - नसणारया तेंदुपत्ता मजुरांचे रोजगार हमीचे कार्ड कंत्राटदारांनी जमा    करून कोट्यवधी रुपयांची लूट केली आहे. या सुनियोजित भ्रष्टाचारामध्ये महाराष्ट्राच्या सनदी अधिकारयांचा सक्रिय सहभाग असल्यामुळे हे संपूर्ण प्रकरण तेंदुपत्ता बोनस वाटप, रोजगार हमी योजनेच्या कामातील प्रचंड भष्ट्राचाराच्या चौकशीच्या मागणीसाठी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समिती व तेंदुपत्ता मजूर समितीने ४ मे रोजी पांढरकवडा येथील अग्रसेन भवनमध्ये तेंदुपत्ता मजूर मेळावा आयोजित केला आहे.
तेंदुपत्ता मजूर समितीने १९९९ ते २००५ पर्यंत सतत आंदोलन करून तेंदुपत्याच्या मालकीचा घटनात्मक अधिकार मिळवून घेतला व लिलावाद्वारे प्राप्त होणारी रक्कम तेंदुपत्ता मजुरांमध्ये बोनस म्हणून वाटप करण्यास सरकारने २००६ पासून सुरुवात केली. मात्र मजुरांना तेंदुपत्ता तोडाईचा हिशोब ठेवण्यासाठी कार्ड न देणे, खोटे तेंदुपत्त्याचे हिशोब तयार करून वनअधिकारी व तेंदुपत्त्याचे खळेदार मागील ४ वर्षांपासून ७० टक्के तेंदुपत्ता मजुरांना तेंदुपत्त्याच्या बोनसपासून वंचित ठेवत आहे सीबीआयला चौकशीसाठी द्यावे, या दोन मागण्या सरकार दरबारी रेटण्यासाठी तेंदुपत्ता मजूर समितीने येत्या ४ मे ला पांढरकवडा येथील अग्रसेन भवनमध्ये तेंदुपत्ता मजूर मेळावा आयोजित केला असल्याची माहिती तेंदुपत्ता मजूर समितीचे संयोजक व विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी आज एका पत्रकाद्वारे दिली.
या कार्यक्रमाला श्रमिक एल्गार संघटनेच्या अध्यक्षा पारोमिता गोस्वामी यांना आमंत्रित करण्यात आले असून आदिवासी नेते तुकाराम मेश्राम, लेतुजी नुजगरे, भीमराव नैताम, अंकीत नैताम, शेतकरी नेते मोहन जाधव, मोरेश्वर वातीले, सुरेश बोलेनवार, नितीन कांबळे, नंदू जयस्वाल, सुनील राउत हे या मेळाव्याला प्रमुख मार्गदर्शन करणार आहेत. या मेळाव्यात प्रमुखपणे तेंदुपत्ता बोनस वाटपातील मागील ४ वर्षांमधील सर्व तक्रारींवर चर्चा होणार असून महाराष्ट्र रोजगार हमीच्या वनविभागातील कामामध्ये झालेल्या भ्रष्टाचाराची जनसुनावणी होणार आहे. तसेच तेंदुपत्ता मजूर समितीतर्फे संपूर्ण दारूबंदी व महिला बचत गटाच्या कर्जमाफीसाठी यावेळी सरकारकडे पाठपुरावा करण्यासाठी ठराव पास करण्यात येतील, अशी माहिती तेंदुपत्ता मजूर समितीचे नेते नैताम यांनी दिली.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Tribals seek CBI probe into MGNREGS fund scam-Deccan Herald

Tribals seek CBI probe into MGNREGS fund scam-Deccan Herald

Mumbai, May 1, 2012, DHNS
Protests against non-payment of wages on Tuesday

Thousands of tribals in the Yavatmal region bordering Andhra Pradesh will take to the streets in Pandharkawda Addi.Collectorate on Friday to press for a CBI probe into the alleged siphoning off over Rs 25 crores from schemes sponsored by the state and Central governments.
The tribals, working under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), have not been paid since January 2012. The same goes for tendu leaf pluckers working deep in forest interiors; the local administration for some reason have been eschewing the disbursement of bonus despite receiving the money from the State for the purpose.


Talking over phone from Nagpur, activist Kishore Tiwari of Tendu Pata Mazdoor Sangh said that while the quantum of money that “is being siphoned off may easily cross over Rs 200 crores (since 2007),” at present it has come to our notice and to the notice of the Yavatmal Collector that through forged documents money meant for tribals was siphoned off by forest officials, contractors and politicians.”


Giving details of the alleged scam, Tiwari said that several officials in collusion with contractors have been collecting money under the names of people who “are long dead.” “It is a classic case of dead souls being used for raking in money.”


Explaining the modus operandi, Tiwari said: “The agents of contractors forged jobcards of the tendu leaf workers who live in remote forests. The cheques made against the wages are credited into these accounts and then withdrawn to show that money has been paid for labour. In fact, in many cases we have found that the contractors silently use automated machines and then show that the work was done by workers.” Yavatmal  Collector Shrawan Hardikar has already instituted a social audit into the scam after he realised that money was not being disbursed to workers.
However, both tendu leaf workers and MGNREGA labourers have expressed dissatisfaction with a “mere social audit,” and want a probe into the scam to be carried out by an independent agency like the  CBI.