Saturday, March 30, 2013

Maharashtra Agrarian Crisis Deepen as Vidarbha reports Five Farmers suicides in last 72 hours


Maharashtra Agrarian Crisis Deepen as Vidarbha reports Five Farmers suicides in last 72 hours

Nagpur -31st march 2013

When drought has hit more than 14 districts creating very acute shortage drinking water in more than 16,000  villages mostly western part Maharashtra but eastern part of Maharashtra which is in grip of farmer suicides has been badly hit severe crop failure and  Despondency, despair and accumulated actuate deep distress trigger as epidemic of farm suicides as five more ddebt trapped vidarbha farmers killed themselves in the midst of 'Holi Festival' in last 72 hours as per reports reaching late 
Recent victims of vidarbha agrarian crisis are
1.Thasu Rathode of village Bhansala in Yavatmal
2.Arun chiche  of village Gangadevi in Yavatmal
3.Kamalsingh saryavanshi of village Mankari in Akola
4.Rameshwar asalmot of village Khadaka in Akola
5.Dhudharam Turane of village Somnala in Bhandara

Taking the toll 112 in 2013 Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS )informed in press release today
This is clear cut sign of severe agrarian crisis in the region  because of the fact that for kharif season 2012-13 area under cultivation of Bt.cotton is above 32 lakhs and untimely rain sudden climate change  in cotton cultivating  areas has damaged most of standing Bt.cotton crop and rise input cost and labour charges  has jumped the cultivation cost to double, but has been  reduced to 50% resulting more than Rs.4,000 crore huge financial losses to cotton growers, as farmers sold out most of cotton below MSP i.e. around Rs.3500/- per quintal and now cotton rates jumped to Rs.5500 per quintal. Even normal monsoon reported in vidarbha there is no drinking water in more than 2000 villages ,water level in dam and ground water level is worst than drought hit western Maharashtra and marathwada but both central and state Govt. has ignored the plight 3 million dying distressed farmers that will fuel farm suicide rates in near future  , Kishor Tiwari of VJAS  added.
“We  have been demanding direct cash incentive to food crop cultivation in dry land farmers ,restoration food security ,health security and free professional education to the wards of distress cotton farmers and institutional credit to all debt trapped farmers but package over packages these basic  are not included hence agrarian crisis are getting worst day by day since 2005 hence vidrabha needs sustainable holistic solution to rural crisis not technology and free trade promoted by UPA and US base MNCs” Tiwari added.  

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Monday, March 25, 2013

विदर्भात 'मनरेगा' योजनेपासून हजारो मजूर वंचित

 विदर्भात 'मनरेगा' योजनेपासून हजारो मजूर वंचित
लोकशाही वार्ता / नागपूर
सनदी अधिकार्‍यांच्या दुर्लक्षामुळे महात्मा गांधी राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण रोजगार हमी योजनाच्या लाभापासून (मनरेगा) विदर्भातील हजारो मजूर वंचित आहेत. दोषी सनदी अधिकार्‍यांवर कारवाई करावी, अन्यथा 'थाली बजाव' आंदोलन करण्याचा इशारा, आज एका पत्रपरिषदेत 'मनरेगा' रोजगार हक्क कृती समितीचे अँड्. विनोद तिवारी यांनी दिला.
'मनरेगा' योजने अंतर्गत एकीकडे केंद्र सरकार महाराष्ट्राला ५0 टक्के अतिरिक्त धन राशी देऊन काम मागणार्‍या कुटुंबाला शंभर दिवसांऐवजी १५0 दिवस काम देण्याची हमी देत असताना महाराष्ट्र सरकारच्या सनदी अधिकार्‍यांच्या बेजबाबदार व दिरंगाईच्या कृत्यामुळे विदर्भातील जिल्हय़ात हजारो मजुरांचा शंभर दिवस रोजगार अथवा बेरोजगार भत्ता मिळविण्याचा कायदेशीर हक्क हिरावून घेतला आहे. तीन खात्याच्या कारभारासह रोहयोचा अतिरिक्त कारभार सांभाळणारे प्रधान सचिव व्ही. गिरीराज यांच्या चुकीच्या धोरणामुळे मनरेगा योजनेला मूठमाती दिल्याचा घणाघाती आरोप अँड्. तिवारी यांनी केला. केंद्र सरकारतर्फे विदर्भाच्या वाट्याला या योजनेअंतर्गत १५00 कोटींचे अनुदान प्राप्त झाले आहे. ते व्यपगत होण्याच्या मार्गावर आहे. याला सर्वस्वी जबाबदार सनदी अधिकारी असल्याचा आरोपही त्यांनी केला.
यासंदर्भात मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण व रोहयो मंत्री डॉ. नितीन राऊत यांना समितीतर्फे निवेदन देण्यात आले आहे. मजुरी सरळ बँक-पोस्ट खात्यात थेट जमा करण्याची तरतूद असणारी व कामगारांना सरळ लाभ देणारी योजना आज विदर्भात अक्षरश: बंद पडण्याचा मार्गावर आहे. प्रधान सचिव व्ही. गिरीराज यांच्या बेजबाबदारी कार्य प्रणाली व जिल्हाधिकारी कार्यालयाच्या समन्वयाच्या व नियंत्रणाच्या अभावाने अधिकारी या योजनेचे काम पुढे ढकलण्यास व मजुरांना त्यांचा हक्क मिळवून देण्यास टाळाटाळ करीत असल्याचा आरोप अँड्. तिवारी यांनी केला.
यासर्व गंभीर प्रश्नावर राज्य सरकारने त्वरित लक्षवेध करून विदर्भातील सर्व जिल्हय़ात सर्वत्र जनजागरण मोहीम राबवून प्रत्येक खेड्यात मजुरांची हक्क नोंदणी केंद्र उघडण्यात यावी व गरीब कुटुंबातील प्रत्येक प्रौढ व्यक्तीला कमीत कमी शंभर दिवस रोजगार अथवा भत्ता मिळवून देण्यात यावा, अशी मागणी अँड्. तिवारी यांनी केली. अन्यथा, 'थाली बजाव' आंदोलन करणारचा इशारा दिला. *

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Maharashtra Budget fails address Vidarbha Crisis


Maharashtra Budget fails address Vidarbha Crisis
Nagpur-20th March 2013


Mahrashtra budget which  envisages revenue receipts of  more than Rs 1,55,000 crore against last year receipt of more than Rs.1,44,000 crore  excessding 8,000 crore to last year estimate of Rs.1,36,000 crore  but failed address the on the going crisis of farm suicide prone Vidrabha region as there is no relief package for dying 3 million cotton farmers  who are debt trapped and are committing suicides earlier  Indian budget has ignored plights of drought ridden and suicide prone distressed and debt trapped farmers even after CAG has exposed the truth that earlier  mega loan of 2008 has not reached the farmers hence it was expected that UPA-2 last budget before general election will addressed the issue farm debt, poor MSP and diversion to sustainable from so called second green revolution hence 3 million cotton farmers farmers are too much disappointed and want special bailout package  to save dying farming community who are innocent victim of  wrong technology and climate change, .Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) informed in press release today .

Even there is expected rise in Rs.19,000 crore in year 2013-14 the size of the annual plan of the state has been raised by only Rs.100 crore takint it  Rs 46,000 crore and thereis marginal hike in the special component plan for scheduled castes ,tribal sub plan and district plan (general) outlay  over the last year which reflects unplanned expenses of Govt, which is most serious part of Babus misusing public exchanger ,Tiwari added.
even after country in claiming record agriculture production ’ Tiwari added.
Maharashtra Govt. reported to Indian Govt. that 14 district has been affected by drought and there is no drinking water in above 6,000 villages where around 12,000 villages are facing water shortage ,asking Rs.27,000 crore fro relief from centre but received only Rs.780  crore and with budgetary provision of only Rs.2,000 crore ,this is peanut to handle drought crisis too, Tiwari said.
Crisis driven people of vidarbha are demanding special incentive for dry land farmers ,fresh crop loan, free medicine under NRHM and work in his own farm under MGNREGA including food security to distressed farmers but there is not single paisa kept under this Rs.1,55,000 crore Maharashtra budget. the rosy picture painted by finance is contradicting it’s own economic survey 2013 which has exposed state bankruptcy and growing agrarian crisis but has solution addressed to crisis outlined by economic survey that’s agony ,Tiwari added.

‘Vidarbha is classic example of   Govt.’s wrong policies in the name of second green  revolution where farmer’s are killing themselves @ 8 hourly since June 2005  even after relief packages amounting Rs.10,000 crore and farm loan waiver amounting more than Rs.12,000 crore ,agrarian crisis has not been addressed as all relief packages  were targeted the Agriculture in the name infrastructure or technology but sustainable holistic solution to hardship of distressed dying cotton were not even given any consideration in Indian budgets since 2006 hence we have requested Indian finance minister to re-look   and review prevailing agriculture policies which are forcing farmers to commit suicide even after country in claiming record agriculture production ’ Tiwari added.
‘The basic issues of vidarbha agrarian crisis that the rise in cost of chemical inputs , market volatility of rates , wrong loss making MSP and poor intervention   of Govt., free private market impact ,poor rural health services and very costly education  are not being considered as core issue of agrarian crisis hence wrong allocation budget in the agriculture is adding fuel to crisis hence we want complete change in the existing Govt. policies which is promoting MNCs and killing farmers in the name free market economy and globalization hence this appeal ’Tiwari urged.

‘the existing agriculture crop pattern and practices in the crisis hit dry land region of India where farmers suicides are being reported are the product of UPA Govt. policies allowing wrong technology and  toxic chemical methods of cultivation that has crated very complex problem of social ,economic , environmental nature hence sustainable eco-friendly agrarian practices is the only solution which is being demanded as policy change is coming budget but all were not even discussed ’ Tiwari asked.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

White paper says Maha spent Rs 42,500 crore on irrigation, but Vidarbha farmers still committing suicide -INDIA TODAY


White paper says Maha spent Rs 42,500 crore on irrigation, but Vidarbha farmers still committing suicide

  | Vidarbha (Maharashtra), March 13, 2013 | 22:11

URL for this article :
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vidarbha-farmers-still-committing-suicide-maharashtra-government-spent-rs-42500-crore-on-irrigation/1/257761.html
The government claims to have spent Rs 320 crore on the project so far. Pic by Bhaskar Paul
The government claims to have spent Rs 320 crore on the project so far. Pic by Bhaskar Paul
After spending two months in the wilderness, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) heavyweight Ajit Pawar was sworn back as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister on December 7.

The 800-page white paper, which paved the way for Pawar's comeback, claims that Rs 42,500 crore was spent between 2001 and 2011 on various irrigation projects. It states more than one-third of this money was spent in the drought-prone Vidarbha region, still 9,220 farmers committed suicide in these 10 years.

Headlines Today travelled through Vidarbha to cross check the irrigation statistics tabulated in the white paper with the facts on the ground.

Headlines Today found that while many irrigation schemes have been completed only on paper, there were others which have been lying incomplete for several decades.

The white paper says that 75 per cent of the project has been finished. But at the Lower Pedi irrigation project in Amravati district, the construction has hardly begun. The government claims to have spent Rs 320 crore on the project so far. Clearly, most of it has been spent just on paper.

While the manipulation of irrigation project statistics might be the means of securing political power and financial muscle for Ajit Pawar and his party, for thousands of farmers in the Vidharba region this manipulation is a matter of life and death.

Rs 42,500 crore spent on irrigation but fields remain dry

Almost every second week a farmer here kills himself because of the lack of irrigation facilities.

One such farmer -- Chandrashekhar Keshavro -- committed suicide in March last year. His 40-year-old widow -- Sunita -- has since been working as a labourer in a neighbour's cotton field.

"My husband was lost in his thoughts. He was very disturbed by the fact that the farm produce was very meagre. There are two rivers here -- Devnand and Chaarghat. But we don't get any water from these rivers for our field. Every second home in Vidarbha has a tragic story of poverty and farmer suicide to narrate," Sunita said.

Even after spending millions of rupees of public money, the government has not been able to provide irrigation facility to farmer families like that of Arun Keshavrao.

"My two brothers had one well between them to water their farms. Each could draw water from the well just for two hours a day. But it was just not enough. The crops failed. And whatever little yield was left was not enough," Arun Keshavrao said.

Two of Arun Keshavrao's brothers have committed suicide in less than a year. In his village there are four such families whose one or more of their male members have committed suicide. While there were many reasons for these suicides, the single biggest reason was the lack of irrigation facilities.

Rs 6,609 crore spent against budget of Rs 372 crore, but no water in Vidarbha

Maharashtra's largest irrigation project -- Gosekhurd Irrigation Scheme in Bhandara district in the eastern part of the state -- was launched in 1982 with the stated objective of providing water to 2.5 lakh hectare farm land.

But as of date less than 1 per cent of the targeted irrigation farm area has been covered by the project despite spending a whopping Rs 6,609 crore of public money against the original budget of Rs 372 crore.

Though the dam has been constructed, the network of canals and distributaries which would take water from the dam to farm lands has not been completed. And, part of the proposed canal network which has been constructed is of such shoddy quality that it is lying in shambles.

Deep cracks could be seen in these canals. An expert committee of engineers has told the government that the entire 23 km long stretch of Left Bank Canal is so shabbily constructed that it has to be rebuilt.

BJP, NCP leaders benefit from irrigation projects

Half of the concrete lining work was done by a firm owned by Andhra Pradesh Congress leader Ramarao, whose company is known as Srinivasa Construction, and the remaining portion was constructed by BJP leader Mitesh Bhangadiya.

The Right Bank Canal has also been in shambles. Pictures show that the Right Bank Canal has caved in at several places. This work was done by a firm owned by Nagpur-based contractor Ajay Sancheti, who now happens to be a BJP MP.

Documents with Headlines Today show that Sancheti's firm walked away with tenders worth Rs 736 crore in Gosekhurd Project alone. Similarly, BJP MLC Mitesh Bhangadiya's firm got tenders worth Rs 426 crore.

Is it just a co-incidence that the people who got a majority of the tenders later went to become members of legislative council and of Parliament?

BJP is not the only party which has accommodated contractors in its fold. Two other big contractors from the region -- Satish Chavan and Sandeep Bajoriya -- are now with the NCP. Both are now members of Maharashtra Legislative Council, one nominated while the other was elected.

However, Bajoriya put a counter question in his defence, "Is it written anywhere in the Constitution that contractors cannot become MLAs and MPs?"

Until a few years ago Bajoriya's father was a small time contractor. But as Bajoriya became active in politics, his firm grew in size. His firm entered into joint ventures and bagged tenders worth Rs 820 crore between 2007 and 2010. It is alleged that he got these contracts because of his proximity to Pawar.

But Bajoriya vehemently denies the charges of cronyism.

"My company is in this business for the last 40 years. My father looks after the business. I got contracts because of my qualification and not because of my closeness to Ajit Pawar," he claimed.

Similarly, Satish Chavan who was a small time contractor in the 1990s saw an exponential rise in his fortunes coinciding with Pawar's reign as irrigation minister between 1999 and 2009. During this period, Chavan bagged tenders worth several crore rupees.

"I agree that I was a small contractor to begin with. But you will appreciate that with every new year the budgetary allocation for irrigation projects has also been increasing. If you compare with the total tenders bagged by contractors from outside the state, then you will realise that we have not got a disproportionate amount of tenders," Chavan said.

In 2008, Chavan entered the Maharashtra Legislative Council on NCP ticket. This year he has been re-elected as an MLC.

Political connections and membership of assembly, it seems, grant immunity to charges of corruption and misappropriation of public money. With the lines between contractors and politicians getting blurred, the question is whether the irrigation scam can ever be independently investigated.

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Sunday, March 10, 2013

This urban credit cooperative society strikes gold in farm loans-TIMES OF INDIA



This urban credit cooperative society strikes gold in farm loans!

By Shishir Arya, TNN | Mar 11, 2013, 01.52 AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/This-urban-credit-cooperative-society-strikes-gold-in-farm-loans/articleshow/18899653.cms

**This indicates of lack of seriousness of the banks to provide farm loans. "It is not illegal to lend against gold but it is not an encouraging trend especially when the government is pushing farm loans through banks at subsidized rates. In this budget, even private banks have been proposed to get the subsidy**
NAGPUR: If banks have to be pushed to meet their farm loan targets, this urban credit cooperative society has literally struck 'gold' in this business.
The Buldhana Urban Credit Cooperative Society ( BUCCS) has an exposure of Rs 700 crore from loans doled out to farmers. With this, it sits on as much as 1.5 tonnes of gold pledged by borrowers to get the sum. The cooperative has its headquarters in the drought hit district of Buldhana. 

Credit societies normally are smaller entities as compared to banks but this cooperative's lending to the farm sector comes to more than 12% of the total loans granted in Vidarbha by the regular banking channel. 

A senior official in the Reserve Bank of India, (RBI), said in the year 2012-13, a target of Rs 5,700 crore has been set for crop loans by banks till March end. The actuals are almost close to it. This does not include loans by cooperative societies, which even otherwise do not operate in this sector. Crop loans are provided to meet the yearly sowing requirement. Banks provide gold loans too as a means of top-up finance. 

For the cooperative society this may be a success story, but it also raises concern for farm experts. The regular banking channel which lends at a concessional rate of 6% is mandated to keep 18% of its advances for the farm sector. The Buldhana Society on the other hand lends at 14% to 16% against gold. 

Dr Sukesh Zawar its managing director who provided TOI with figures of gold pledged and the amount lent says it is one of the flagship products of the organization. "Gold loans are short-term credit for a year or so provided apart from the crop loans. The amount increases during rainy season when sowing begins. The society grants crop loans too but its exposure is just around Rs 100 crore, out of total advances of over Rs 2000 crore. It has operations all over state with 265 branches, he said. 

Zawar agreed that this also reflects failure on part of the banks which have too lengthy a procedure for granting farm credit. He stressed that loans against gold were more popular among the farmers. Loans at 50% to 60% of the gold pledged are granted. 

Farm activists however, raised concern over the phenomenon. Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti says this indicates of lack of seriousness of the banks to provide farm loans. "It is not illegal to lend against gold but it is not an encouraging trend especially when the government is pushing farm loans through banks at subsidized rates. In this budget, even private banks have been proposed to get the subsidy," said Tiwari. 

Vijay Jawandiya, the founder member of Shetkari Sanghatana, said a large number of farmers have once again defaulted after availing the debt waiver scheme. Due to this they are not eligible for bank loans and have to resort to other lending agencies. 

Zawar said the society which is also a part of the International Alliance of Cooperatives (IAC), has taken up large scale social work. It has built check-dams, schools and taken up village adoption programmes. 

The society is the first supporting member from India of the Asian Confederation of Credit Union, a global body of cooperatives.

Errant banks to face farmers' 'music'-By Indo Asian News Service


Errant Vidarbha banks to face farmers' 'music'



Yavatmal (Maharashtra), March 10 (IANS) In a bid to pressurise banks to come clean on alleged irregularities in the farm loans scam, Vidarbha farmers and widows will resort to "beating drums" outside the local lead banks and district banks from Monday, an activist said here Sunday.
"We heartily welcome the Reserve Bank of India's move seeking all detail on the farm loans schemes from the local district banks and lead banks. Our agitation will be to remind them to comply within the stipulated RBI deadline," Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti chief Kishore Tiwari told IANS.
Tiwari said that normally, all such diktats are forgotten by the concerned authorities and also by the people within a few days, and the issues die a natural death.
"Not in this case where thousands of farmers have already died. We shall continue beating drums outside these errant banks till they comply with the RBI directives and reveal all the frauds that have taken place in this scheme," a grim Tiwari declared.
Last Tuesday (March 6), taking serious note of the CAG Report on Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme (ADW/DRS) of 2008, the RBI cracked the whip on all scheduled commercial and local area banks seeking complete details on farm loans.
In a letter to the chiefs of all scheduled commercial and local area banks, the RBI sought the beneficiaries' lists with complete verification with priority to areas where indebtedness was high.
It also asked for a list of eligible beneficiaries who were not extended benefits, with reasons for such denials, and action to be taken in all cases where malafides or carelessness appears likely.
Ordering the banks to issue Debt Waiver/Debt Relief certificates in all eligible cases immediately, the RBI asked them to keep full records of such issuance ready for inspection.
It has also said that the banks must identify the administrative/accounting lapses on the part of bank officials, internal auditors, statutory officials who were responsible for the verification, certification, or for passing the claims.
"Action needs to be initiated and full responsibility be fixed at the earliest with no exceptions," the RBI said.
The apex bank has also said that cases of extending benefits to ineligible beneficiaries must be dealt with 'on top priority' and full recoveries as per law must be made to ensure no loss to the exchequer. "It will be the personal responsibility of the institutional heads to ensure that such recoveries are effected in full," the RBI ordered.
Calling for identifying and scrutinising all cases of tampering of records or alternations, etc, by higher authority, the RBI has sought a decision on each such case in the form of speaking orders.
"Stringent action under relevant sections of law against those responsible must be initiated. This would be monitored by the CVOs (chief vigilance officers) of the concerned institutions regularly," it added.
The banks have been asked to comply with these issues in a monthly format which they are required to furnish by the seventh of each month.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its report tabled in parliament last Tuesday on the "Implementation of Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, 2008", said there were irregularities in at least one in five cases, or nearly 20 percent of the Rs.52,000 crore scheme.
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Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Top RBI officers involved in Farm Loan Waiver Scam



Top RBI officers involved in Farm Loan Waiver Scam 

Nagpur -6th march 2013
When Indian parliament adjourned over the issue CAG report pointing holes in Rs.70,000 mega farm loan scam ,unfold covers revealed that, it was deep routed conspiracy with very active involvement top RBI and Nabard  officials who allowed loan waiver scheme for long term loan even to commercials loan  of not only district cooperative banks but urban and private banks which are not concerned with short term crop loan  or not allowed by RBI for agriculture credit in the year 2006 and Maharashtra has topped in such irregularities thanks to union agriculture Minister NCP party who control the most district central cooperative bank including apex Maharashtra state coop. bank  and RSS-BJP who is controlling urban banks in eastern region Maharashtra and illegal loan waiver amount is more than Rs.4000 crore in Maharashtra alone  even CAG has ben kept in the dark by RBI-Nabard officials over illegal nod given by them even after so honest officer objected unfair fraudulent activities hence high level inquiry looking to criminal conspiracy is must, Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS)  informed in press release today.
 “We are ready to give fresh list of illegal beneficiaries associated as directors to the corporative and urban even some big industrialist converted long term regular commercial loan as short term agriculture debt and applied for loan waiver and RBI-Nabard regional offices at Pune and Nagpur allowed such malpractices by taking huge bribe even CAG officers covered such malpractices reason well-known to them hence CAG report  is tip of iceberg ,real truth will be known people only after FIR and CBI inquiry’ activist repeated.

Earlier The CAG on 5th march   tabled in Parliament the report on UPA's farm loan waiver scheme which has exposed massive fraud and thrown light on truth that CAG  found irregularity in the scheme, according to report Indian parliament was informed that CAG had conducted audit of accounts of about 90,000 farmers between April 2011 and March 2012 and CAG found lapses in over 22% of cases and  CAG has said in the report that bank officials siphoned off loan waiver money by giving loan waiver benefit around 10% accounts were found ineligible and majority of loan waiver amount was given in these ineligible so called farmers and over 34% farmers were not issued debt waiver certificate and were failed to get fresh credit from intuitional credit ,is piece of iceberg as CAG report is based on less that 1% farmers hence there is urgent need to have commission of inquiry of the Rs.57,000 crore farm loan waiver fraud ,

‘The farm loan waiver demand was came before the Indian law makers in 2006 as distressed dry land farmers who were debt trapped committing suicides due mounting debt and forceful recoveries  of private moneylenders  but we were shocked when Rs.71,000 crore mega loan waiver was announced at national level with restrictions of  2 hectors of land holding which kept most of dying vidarbha farmers out of farm loan waiver net  in 2008 hence in 2010 Maharashtra announced extended farm loan waiver of Rs.11,000 crore to cover distressed farmers but even after fresh crop loan was not  made available to vidarbha farmers but banker claimed that they disbursed more than Rs.20,000 crore in farm loan waiver scheme now CAG has exposed truth that Bankers selected   ineligible and major portion of  farm loan waiver siphoned off between bank officials ,politicians and so called distressed farmers which is serious criminal offence and needs prosecution  hence we are pressing for national commission of  enquiry’ Tiwari  urged.

Today’s CAG report has once again raised the issue of Indian budget that has ignored plights of drought ridden and suicide prone distressed and debt trapped farmers even after CAG has exposed the truth that earlier  mega loan of 2008 has not reached the farmers hence it was expected that UPA-2 last budget before general election will addressed the issue farm debt, poor MSP and diversion to sustainable from so called second green revolution hence 5 million farmers are too much disappointed and want special bailout package  to save dying farming community who are innocent victim of  wrong technology and climate change, Tiwari added.  

CAG Report on UPA's Farm Loan Waiver Scam is Piece of Iceberg



CAG Report on UPA's Farm Loan Waiver Scam is Piece of Iceberg

Nagpur -5th march 2013
The CAG on today  tabled in Parliament the report on UPA's farm loan waiver scheme which has exposed massive fraud and thrown light on truth that CAG  found irregularity in the scheme, according to report Indian parliament was informed that CAG had conducted audit of accounts of about 90,000 farmers between April 2011 and March 2012 and CAG found lapses in over 22% of cases and  CAG has said in the report that bank officials siphoned off loan waiver money by giving loan waiver benefit around 10% accounts were found ineligible and majority of loan waiver amount was given in these ineligible so called farmers and over 34% farmers were not issued debt waiver certificate and were failed to get fresh credit from intuitional credit ,is piece of iceberg as CAG report is based on less that 1% farmers hence there is urgent need to have commission of inquiry of the Rs.57,000 crore farm loan waiver fraud , Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS)  informed in press release today.

‘The farm loan waiver demand was came before the Indian law makers in 2006 as distressed dry land farmers who were debt trapped committing suicides due mounting debt and forceful recoveries  of private moneylenders  but we were shocked when Rs.71,000 crore mega loan waiver was announced at national level with restrictions of  2 hectors of land holding which kept most of dying vidarbha farmers out of farm loan waiver net  in 2008 hence in 2010 Maharashtra announced extended farm loan waiver of Rs.11,000 crore to cover distressed farmers but even after fresh crop loan was not  made available to vidarbha farmers but banker claimed that they disbursed more than Rs.20,000 crore in farm loan waiver scheme now CAG has exposed truth that Bankers selected   ineligible and major portion of  farm loan waiver siphoned off between bank officials ,politicians and so called distressed farmers which is serious criminal offence and needs prosecution  hence we are pressing for national commission of  enquiry’ Tiwari  urged.

Today’s CAG report has once again raised the issue of Indian budget that has ignored plights of drought ridden and suicide prone distressed and debt trapped farmers even after CAG has exposed the truth that earlier  mega loan of 2008 has not reached the farmers hence it was expected that UPA-2 last budget before general election will addressed the issue farm debt, poor MSP and diversion to sustainable from so called second green revolution hence 5 million farmers are too much disappointed and want special bailout package  to save dying farming community who are innocent victim of  wrong technology and climate change, Tiwari added.