MUMBAI BASED GRAND MARATHA FOUNDATION TO DONATE RS.25 LAKH TO SUBSTANTIATE FARM WIDOWS IN YAVATMAL

MUMBAI BASED GRAND MARATHA FOUNDATION TO DONATE RS.25 LAKH TO SUBSTANTIATE FARM WIDOWS IN YAVATMAL

July 17- 2017 : The Grand Maratha Foundation of Mumbai run by a UK based Industrial Group has come forward to help the farm widows of Pandharkawda tehsil of Yavatmal district and the maiden pilot project of ‘Dal Mill and Packaging Unit’ estimated to cost Rs. 25 lakh is launched with the financial assistance of the Foundation. The maiden project is expected to give bread winning source to over 200 farm widows of the area. This information is given to the media by the Farm Task Force Chairman Kishor Tiwari here on Sunday.

According to Tiwari, though the Govt is announcing financial assistance to the farm widows from time to time, no fund is reaching the targeted beneficiaries owing to the deliberate apathy of the power drunk ‘Babus’ right from Mantralaya to the District levels.

“We have chalked out a long term plan to ensure the bread earning source for the farm widows and as a part of it, a common facility centre will soon be set up for 10 Gram Panchayats each across the district aiming to create mass awareness among the widows,” Tiwari further said.

The pilot project was inaugurated at a function held in Pandharkawda on Sunday under the chairmanship of Kishor Tiwari  which was attended by the Vice President of the UK based Industrial Group Rohit Shelatkar, Foundation representative Rajesh Tawade, Scheduled Caste Local Self Govt Development Corporation President Tulsiram Kumre, PKV officer Dr. T.H. Rathod and others.

During the function, indigenous seeds developed by PKV Akola and Urea from NGO Dilasha have been distributed to the widows so that they would opt for organic farming. The agriculture produces including pulses are in great demand in overseas market but they should be free from chemicals and pesticides, Tiwari said, adding that the Mission is keen to promote indigenous seeds through organic farming so that the farmers would be able to export the same and earn comparatively better price. The Mission will help and guide the widows in this regard, he further added.

“ We will train the widows modern farming and how to run agro produce processing units in their own villages for which a training centre will also be set up shortly,” Tiwari said, adding that under PESA, cluster activities will also be launched during the second phase of the programme.

“It is our sincere effort to market the high quality dal (pulse) produced in the district to overseas markets mainly to UK in due course of time,” Tiwari said, adding that the Mumbai based Grand Maratha Foundation is directly involved in the Govt sponsored Baliraja Chetana Abhiyan, a brain child of the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to thwart the ongoing farmers’ suicide in the district.

Kon Banega Karodpati fame farm widow Arpana Malikar conducted the proceedings while Panchayat Raj Officer Vinkare proposed a vote of thanks.

The farm widows, farm activists, Forest and Agriculture officers, villagers and Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samiti office bearers  largely attended the function. 

x