vidarbha times

Vidarbha Agrarian Crisis deepen as 4 more Yavatmal Farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

2012-01-27T22:24:00.000-08:00

Vidarbha Agrarian Crisis deepen as 4 more Yavatmal Farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Nagpur-28^th January 201

As all officials are busy election and SEC has stopped relief aids has further deepen the on going Agrarian crisis in cotton belt of vidarbha as 4 more debt trapped and distressed cotton farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours ,the recent victims identified as

1.Gajanan kale of Nandura in Yavatmal

2.Mahadeo chavan of Khopari(khurd) in Yavatmal

3.Pundlik Ade of Pathri in Yavtmal

4.Narendra Thakare of sarpali in Yavatmal

As per official reports around 300 distressed farmers committed suicides in year 2011 alone and suicide spiral is till continued in 2012 ,Kishor Tiwari, president of Nagpur-based Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, (VJAS), activist group working for cotton farmer rights in a Press release today.

The complete administration and All political parties are busy in Local body elections whereas SEC guidelines of moral code of conductions are stopping the babus to release relief aids to dying farmers resulting in farmers suicides . Every party raised the banner demanding a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) to at least 6,000 a quintal from 3300 at present are keeping mum ,Tiwari added.

Poor yields had disturbed the whole calculation for the region's growers and many had not grown enough to even break even at current rates, Moreover, Friday's session left the traders apprehensive too as the rates of lint (processed cotton) have gone down by 500 at 35,000 a candy (3.56 quintals). This is expected to have a ripple effect on raw cotton prices too. The prevailing cotton rates will add fuel to on going cotton grower’s crisis as given the rising cost of production, a rate of 6,000 a quintal alone will leave some surplus with farmers, Tiwari said.

According to the data compiled by Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), Maharashtra has the second lowest yield at 355 kgs per hectare. This translates to around 1.5 quintals an acre. Karnataka yield is 322 kg a hectare or 1.28 quintals per acre. According cotton federation, a yield of at least 5-6 quintals per acre is needed for the farmer to turn a profit. This doesn't happen here mainly due to lack of irrigation, Tiwari said.

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti said even though state government has announced relief package, it was too less to make good the farmers' losses। Under the scheme, a farmer gets 4,000 per hectares with the dole being capped at 8000 per cultivator. "If the losses are considered, the grant is too less. The only solution is to increase the minimum support prices as market trends only indicate bearish outlook for future," he said.

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गन्ना किसानों से धोखा कर रहे कारखाने-नितीन गडकरी के घर के सामने आंदोलन की चेतावनी=भास्कर

2012-01-14T22:41:00.000-08:00

गन्ना किसानों से धोखा कर रहे कारखाने : तिवारी
नितीन गडकरी के घर के सामने आंदोलन की चेतावनी
http://epaper.bhaskar.com/index.php?editioncode=196&ch=mpcg
विशेष प्रतिनिधि. नागपुर

विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समिति के प्रमुख किशोर तिवारी ने आरोप लगाया है कि शक्कर कारखाने गन्ना उत्पादक किसानों के साथ धोखा कर रहे हैं। राज्य सरकार द्वारा 1800 रु. समर्थन मूल्य घोषित करने के बावजूद शक्कर कारखाने किसानों को 1500 रु. दे रहे हैं। श्री तिवारी ने कहा कि किसान नेता सांसद राजू शेट्टी के आंदोलन के बाद राज्य सरकार ने पश्चिम महाराष्ट्र के गन्ना किसानों को 2050 रु. व विदर्भ, मराठवाड़ा के गन्ना किसानों को 1800 रु. समर्थन मूल्य देने की घोषणा की थी। विदर्भ के ज्यादातर शक्कर कारखाने भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष नितीन गडकरी के पूर्ति उद्योग समूह के हैं। यहां 1500 रु. में गन्ना खरीदा जा रहा है। इस तरह किसान को 300 रु. की चपत लग रही है। सांसद शेट्टी के आंदोलन को भाजपा ने भी समर्थन दिया था और सरकार द्वारा समर्थन मूल्य देने की घोषणा करने पर इसका श्रेय भी लेने की कोशिश की थी। उन्होंने व्यंग्य किया कि भाजपा एक तरफ श्रेय लेने का काम रही है, वहीं दूसरी तरफ किसानों के साथ धोखा कर रही है। उन्होंने 1800 रु. समर्थन मूल्य देने तथा 300 रु. के घाटे को पूरा करने पैकेज देने के लिए शक्कर कारखानों पर दबाव डालने की मांग राज्य सरकार से की।

विदर्भाचे ऊस उत्पादकही हमीभावापासून वंचित-लोकशाही वार्ता

2012-01-14T19:31:00.000-08:00

विदर्भाचे ऊस उत्पादकही हमीभावापासून वंचित

लोकशाही वार्ता/१४ जानेवारी

यवतमाळ : कृषिमंत्री शरद पवार यांच्या बारामती येथे ऑक्टोबरमध्ये बेमुदत उपोषण करून आंदोलन यशस्वी झाल्याच्या आनंदात स्वाभिमानी शेतकरी संघटनेचे खा.राजू शेट्टी यांनी शेतकर्‍यांना २0५0 तर विदर्भ, मराठवाड्याच्या शेतकर्‍यांना १८00 रुपये भाव फरक मंजूर करून ऊस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांना ४ हजार कोटींचे पॅकेज मिळाल्याची घोषणा केली. मात्र विदर्भातील आत्महत्याग्रस्त कापूस, सोयाबीनचा पेरा सोडून ऊस उत्पादनात गेलेल्या शेतकर्‍यांना मात्र ही घोषणा फसवी ठरली आहे. विदर्भातील सर्वच साखर कारखाने शेतकर्‍यांच्या १५00 रुपये दराने ऊस खरेदी करीत असून अशा प्रकारे भाव फरकाने ३00 रुपये शेतकर्‍यांच्या खिशातून काढून ऊस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांनाही आत्महत्येच्या वाटेवर नेत आहे.
महाराष्ट्र सरकारने मध्यस्थी केल्यानंतर व महाराष्ट्रातील साखर कारखानेदारांनी हमी भरल्यानंतरच खा. राजु शेट्टी यांनी आपले उपोषण मागे घेतले होते. मात्र विदर्भाच्या ऊस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांना १८00 रुपये भाव द्यावा यासाठी आघाडी सरकारने दबाव टाकावा, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी महाराष्ट्राचे मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांना एका निवेदनाद्वारे केली आहे. या निवेदनाची एक प्रत भाजपचे राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष नितीन गडकरी यांनाही देण्यात आली आहे.
विदर्भात सध्या सुरू असलेले सर्वच साखर कारखाने भाजपाचे राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष नितीन गडकरी यांच्या पूर्ती उद्योग समुहाचे असून शेतकर्‍यांना मंजुर केलेल्या १८00 रुपये दर न देता फक्त १५00 रुपये द्यावे, हा निर्णय नितीन गडकरी यांनी स्वत: बैठकीत घेतला असून ऑक्टोबरच्या बारामती येथील खासदार राजू शेट्टी यांच्या ऊस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांच्या हमीभाव वाढीच्या आंदोलनाला महाराष्ट्र भाजपचे अध्यक्ष सुधीर मुनगंटीवार यांनी भेट देऊन सक्रिय पाठिंबा जाहीर केला होता. शिवसेना व मनसेनेही पाठिंबा दिला होता व मागण्या मंजूर झाल्यानंतर आंदोलनाच्या यशाचे श्रेय भाजपसह सर्व विरोधी पक्षांनी घेतले होते. मात्र राज्य सरकार व ऊस उत्पादकांमध्ये हमीभावबाबत झालेला समझोता भाजपचे राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष नितीन गडकरी यांनी केराच्या टोपलीत टाकल्यानंतर भाजपासह शिवसेना व मनसेही या विषयावर मौन साधुन आहे. हमीभाव न मिळाल्यास ऊस उत्पादक शेतकरी भाजपाचे राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष नितीन गडकरी यांच्या रामनगर निवासस्थानासमोर उपोषण, करेल अशी घोषणा किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली.

Vidarbha Sugarcane farmers also denied Minimum Support Price

2012-01-13T22:21:00.000-08:00

Vidarbha Sugarcane farmers also denied Minimum Support Price

Nagpur Jan 13, 2012,

The Maharashtra government earlier announcement of Rs 1,800 MSP for sugarcane in Vidarbha and Marathwada and Rs 2,050 in western Maharashtra in October, Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetty MP led an agitation in western Maharashtra for higher minimum support price for sugarcane is turning to be another eyewash as announced MSP for pluses announced by union Govt as in Sugar Factories are offering Rs 1,500 per quintal for sugarcane and this time injustice is done by BJP National President Nitin Gadkari whose “PURTI GROUP” is running most of sugar factories involved in sugar, methanol and power generation likely to dine Rs.100 crore legitimately owned by the farmers as per agreement done with state Govt. as his party has supported Raju Shetty MP led an agitation in western Maharashtra , Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, a farmers’ advocacy group in a press release today

“When demand of higher MSP of vidarbha cotton, soya and paddy farmers have been rejected ,it was expected that much hyped sugar cane growers will get at least Rs 1,800 per ton price wich was less that rate fixed for western Maharashtra on ground less recovery of sugar but practically they are given 20% less even if the state government has declared Rs.1,800 and Rs2,050 support price for sugarcane growers in Vidarbha, Marathwada and western Maharashtra regions respectively, the farmers in this region are still waiting for this price and now main opposition parties in vidarbha are keeping salient over issue as this time unjust is done by BJP National President Nitin Gadkari which is serious concern ,we are taking up issue with BJP national high command so that they will direct there National President to natural justice to vidarbha farmers who have opted sugarcanes cultivation only after he urged them to do so .we will not allow distress vidarbha farmers’ to commit suicide as he has opted for sugarcane crop and this is much more humiliating ”Tiwari added.

‘If sugar factory management has nothing to do with Govt. agreement then its ridicules to announce the MSP. We will take up issue with Director of sugar factories to get justice to the dying vidarbha farmers and if we fail to get justice we will start agitation before these sugar factories’ Tiwari announced.

MNS backs Vidarbha statehood demand- TIMES OF INDIA

2012-01-13T21:53:00.000-08:00

Printed from

MNS backs Vidarbha statehood demand- TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Eyeing-polls-MNS-backs-Vid/articleshow/11482672.cms?prtpage=1
AMRAVATI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MS) on Friday supported the statehood demand for Vidarbha provided people conducted a referendum. Widely believed as a poll plank with civic elections round the corner, MNS MLA Bala Nandgaonkar said that the demand would be supported if people insist on it and not any political leader. Earlier, MNS had expressed its opposition to the statehood demand.

MNS, which has a tag of a political party of western Maharashtra, seemed to be trying to establish itself in Vidarbha in view of the civic elections with MLAs Nandgaonkar and Pravin Darekar taking up the touchy issue. They also took potshots at the government for sidelining Vidarbha.

Addressing a convention of the office-bearers of western Vidarbha here on Friday, Nandgaonkar said three chief ministers came from Vidarbha but the region was deprived of development. He also urged the activists to work tirelessly in preparation for the civic elections.

He said that it was a matter of pride that NCP president Sharad Pawar praised MNS chief Raj Thackeray for showing courage in politics. Without taking name, he criticized the 'dindi' taken out by Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Raote to highlight the woes of cotton growers.

In reply to a question, Nandgaonkar said that the alliance between Shiv Sena, BJP and RPI would not affect the prospects of MNS. They made the alliance because they did not have the confidence, he said. When asked whether Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray deciding to campaign in the civic election would affect MNS, he replied in the negative.

Darekar said that politicians in Vidarbha are not interested in development. Irrigation backlog, malnutrition and farmers' suicide are crucial issues in Vidarbha. But the government is hardly doing anything for them. Due to lack of infrastructure, industrial development has been hampered in the region. Despite that, Amravati district has great scope for tourism, he said.

Flopped BN Bt cotton leaves ICAR red-faced-Admits Misuse Power-TIMES OF INDIA

2012-01-10T23:12:00.000-08:00

Printed from

Flopped BN Bt cotton leaves ICAR red-faced

TNN | Jan 11, 2012, 03.51AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Flopped-BN-Bt-cotton-leaves-ICAR-red-faced/articleshow/11442497.cms

A series of failures on part of agricultural scientists at different levels to maintain scientific rigour while developing a new variety of Bt cotton has resulted in Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) having egg on its face. Bikaneri Narma (BN), projected by ICAR as Indian variety of Bt cotton, has been found to contain gene from cotton variety developed by Monsanto, a farm product multinational.

Scientists involved in developing BN Bt cotton did not follow the scientific procedures to cross-check the presence of any contamination in the seeds before giving it to farmers for commercial cultivation. The variety developed by University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) Dharwad, under the guidance of BM Khadi, has been found to contain Mon-531 gene instead of BN la106 truncated cry1 AC gene supplied by Ananda Kumar, director of National Research Centre for Plant Biotechnology (NRCPB), an ICAR institute in Delhi to the university.

Deputy director general (DDG) crop sciences Dr SK Datta of ICAR in 2009 stopped any further multiplications of seed when he was told about the presence of Monsanto gene. ICAR director general S Ayyappan told TOI he would constitute an expert committee to look into the issue. However, predecessors of Ayyappan and Dutta did not appear to have taken required care while asking UAS Dharwad to commercialize the variety through city-based Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR). They failed to check the purity of variety even after an alert on presence of Monsanto gene in the material was sounded by the Bt referral lab of CICR.

Proceedings of two meetings (obtained by some UAS scientists under RTI and available with TOI), held in ICAR under the chairmanship of DDG, crop science, PL Gautam and SK Datta respectively show that the council was more than keen on commercializing and popularizing the variety in 2008 than heeding to warning signs.

Khadi admits his mistake to misuse his power

BM Khadi had brought the seeds from his university to CICR after taking over as CICR director. In 2005, he involved CICR in conducting bio-safety trials and seems to have misused his power as director. Now, he admits to his mistake. "Something went terribly wrong during multiplication of seeds but it is difficult to say when and how. I admit to the presence of Monsanto gene in our material. This is probably a contamination caused by cross-pollination during trials. When we got complaints from farmers for poor results in the crop we informed the DDG crop science (Gautam) but he asked us to continue the programme. I am a breeder and do not understand molecular biology," he said.

Khadi also seems to have manipulated things in his favour by being a member of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee ( GEAC) which cleared the products for genetically modified products during 2008. But now he admits that his presence in regulatory body was wrong as someone who's product is under examination cannot be a member of the regulatory committee.

Other experts in ICAR do not buy this argument. They say that the five scientists involved in the project, IS Katageri, HM Vamadevaiah, SS Udikeri, BM Khadi and Polumetla A Kumar were asked to withdraw their paper from Current Science published in volume 93, number 12, dated December 25, 2007, describing the work titled 'genetic transformation of an elite Indian genotype of cotton (Gossypium hirstum) for insect resistance, but the scientists did not do so.

Dutta admits something has gone wrong in the science and promised action against defaulters. Kumar, who gave the gene to Khadi, says the contamination happened at UAS end. But he too agreed that the gene given to UAS was borrowed from Prof Altosaar of Canada. "We are calling it a NRCPB gene as it belongs to us now as per agreement between NRCPB and the professor. It contains only 1850 base pairs compared to Monsanto that has 3600 pairs. I have not cheated anyone as I told Khadi about the origin of gene. My role is only to supply gene. Things went wrong at UAS end," he said.

Keshav Kranthi, who took over as acting director from Khadi, says he followed the commercialization procedure in good faith. "Since CICR was not involved at any step in development of the product except bio-safety trials and commercialization, the onus of explaining the presence of Monsanto gene or contamination lies with UAS alone," he said.

सत्ताधारी आघाडीच्या विरोधात प्रचार करणार-किशोर तिवारी

2012-01-09T23:47:00.000-08:00

सत्ताधारी आघाडीच्या विरोधात प्रचार करणार - किशोर तिवारी

http://epaper.lokshahivarta.in/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=

राजकुमार भीतकर/ ९जानेवारी

यवतमाळ : शेतकरी व सर्वसामान्य जनतेच्या मूलभूत प्रश्नांकडे दुर्लक्ष करणार्‍या व राज्य आणि केंद्रात सत्तेत सहभागी असलेल्या आघाडी सरकारच्या विरोधात स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्थेच्या निवडणुकीत प्रचार करून आघाडीतील घटक पक्षांना त्यांची जागा दाखविणार असल्याची, माहिती शेतकरी नेते व विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे अध्यक्ष किशोर तिवारी यांनी दै. 'लोकशाही

वार्ता'ला दिली. तिवारींच्या या भूमिकेमुळे आघाडीतील घटक पक्षांना मोठा फटका बसणार असल्याचे चित्र निर्माण झाले आहे.
या मुलाखतीत तिवारी पुढे म्हणाले, आघाडीतील घटक पक्ष असलेल्या काँग्रेस आणि राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेसच्या नेत्यांनी शेतमाल हमी भाव, महागाईसारख्या महत्त्वाच्या प्रश्नांवर जनतेची घोर निराशा केली आहे. स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्थेच्या निवडणुकीत या मुद्यांवर जनजागृती करून आघाडीच्या उमेदवाराला नामोहरम करण्याचा आमचा संकल्प आहे. एकीकडे राज्य आणि केंद्रात आघाडीत असलेले काँग्रेस व राष्ट्रवादी जिल्हय़ात स्वबळावर लढणार आहेत. आघाडीतील या घटक पक्षांजवळ जनतेसमोर जाण्यासाठी कोणताही मुद्दा शिल्लक राहिलेला नाही. सरकारने शेतकरी आणि सामान्य जनतेचा विश्‍वासघात केला आहे. कापूस प्रश्नांवर आघाडी सरकारने विदर्भातील शेतकर्‍यांच्या तोंडाला पाने पुसली आहेत. सरकारच्या कापूस निर्यातबंदीच्या निर्णयामुळे कवडीमोल किमतीत कापूस विकावा लागला. यावर्षी आगष्ट महिन्यापासून सत्तारूढ पक्षानेच कापसाला प्रतिक्विंटल सहा हजार रुपये हमी भाव देण्यात यावा, अशी ओरड केली. कंगाल व कर्जबाजारी झालेल्या शेतकर्‍यांना दिलासा देण्यात हे सरकार अपयशी ठरल्याचा आरोपही तिवारी यांनी केला आहे. आघाडी सरकरच्या या शेतकरीविरोधी धोरणाचा खुला विरोध या निवडणुकीत आम्ही करणार आहोत. ज्येष्ठ समाजसेवक अण्णा हजारे यांनी लोकपालच्या मुद्यावर सत्ताधारी पक्षाला घेरत पाच राज्यात काँग्रेसविरोधी भूमिका घेण्याचे ठरविल्यानंतर विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने घेतलेली भूमिका काँग्रेस व राष्ट्रवादीला विदर्भात हादरा देणारी ठरण्याची शक्यता आहे. आघाडीच्या उमेदवारांचा पराभव करण्यासाठी शेतकर्‍यांनी सक्षम विरोधी पक्षाला मतदान करावे, असे आवाहनही किशोर तिवारी यांनी केले आहे. शेतकरी आत्महत्या, शेतमालाच्या हमी भावाचा प्रश्न, कापूस, धान व सोयाबीन उत्पादकांना मिळालेली तुटपूंजी मदत, उद्द्धवस्त झालेले शेतकर्‍यांचे संसार, वाढती महागाई आणि सरकारचा दांभिकपणा आदी मुद्यांवर मतदारांच्या दारापर्यंत जाऊन जनजागृती करणार असल्याचा निर्णय 'विजस'ने घेतला आहे. जिल्हा परिषद व पंचायत समितीमार्फत ग्रामीण विकास, आरोग्य, शिक्षण व महिला व बालविकास, ग्रामीण विकास यंत्रणेमार्फत ग्रामीण भागातील आर्थिक व सर्व क्षेत्रातील विकासासाठी येणारा कोट्यवधी रुपयांचा निधी राजरोजसपणे लुटला जात असल्याचा आरोपही तिवारी यांनी केला.
विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समिती काँग्रेस, राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेसच्या उमेदवाराच्या विरोधात आपले उमेदवार उभे करणार आहे. 'कौन बनेगा करोडपती' या मालिकेमुळे प्रसिद्धीझोतात आलेल्या अपर्णा मालीकर, समितीचे सचिव मोहन जाधव, प्रेम चव्हाण, आदिवासी नेते बाबुलाल मेर्शाम यांना समितीतर्फे उमेदवारी दिली जाणार असल्याचे तिवारी यांनी सांगितले. सक्षम असलेल्या भाजप, शिवसेना किंवा अपक्ष उमेदवारालाही पाठिंबा देण्याचा निर्णय विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने घेतल्याचेही तिवारींनी स्पष्ट केले

कापूस व धान्याच्या हमीभाव व मदतीचे वाटप केले नाही तर शेतकरी मतदान करणार नाहीत!-किशोर तिवारी

2012-01-05T21:23:00.001-08:00

Thursday, 5 January 2012

कापूस व धान्याच्या हमीभाव व मदतीचे वाटप केले नाही तर शेतकरी मतदान करणार नाहीत!-किशोर तिवारी

कापूस व धान्याच्या हमीभाव व मदतीचे वाटप केले नाही तर शेतकरी मतदान करणार नाहीत!-किशोर तिवारी

लोकशाही वार्ता/ ५जानेवारी

यवतमाळ : कापूस व धान्याच्या हमीभावाचा व घोषित सरकारी मदतीचे संपूर्ण वाटप निवडणुकीपूर्वी होण्यासाठी तातडीने निर्णय घ्यावा, अन्यथा नापिकीग्रस्त विदर्भातील शेतकरी संपूर्ण गावकर्‍यांच्या मदतीने जिल्हा परिषद व पंचायत समितीच्या निवडणुकांना पाठ फिरवतील. अशीच उदासिनता राहिली तर विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समिती या सर्व शेतकर्‍यांना निवडणुकीच्या मतदानापासून दूर राहण्याचे आवाहन करेल, असा इशारा विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी दिला आहे.
सध्या विदर्भाच्या धान उत्पादक क्षेत्रात शेतकर्‍यांचा धान घरात पडून असून हमीभावापेक्षा कमी भावामध्ये सुद्धा व्यापारी घेत नसून सरकारने संकलन केंद्र व खरेदी केंद्राच्या केलेल्या घोषणा फक्त कागदावर आहे. निवडणूका घोषित झाल्यामुळे सर्व राजकीय पक्ष आपली सत्तेची सोय लावण्याकरिता व्यस्त झाले असून शेतकर्‍यांना वार्‍यावर सोडले आहे. निवडणुका घोषित झाल्यामुळे सर्व राजकीय पक्ष आपली सत्तेची सोय लावण्याकरीता व्यस्त झाले आहे.
शेतकर्‍यांना वार्‍यावर सोडले आहे. महाराष्ट्र सरकारने प्रारंभी नगरपालिकेच्या निवडणुकीच्या नावावर महाराष्ट्रातील ९0 लाख हेक्टरमधील कापूस, सोयाबीन व धान उत्पादक क्षेत्रामधील शेतकर्यांना घोषित केलेले पॅकेज आचारसंहितेच्या नावावर हिवाळी अधिवेशनाच्या शेवटच्या दिवसापर्यंत लटकवत ठेवले . पॅकेजमध्ये कापूस व धान उत्पादकांच्या हमीभावाच्या प्रश्नावर सरकारने तोटकी मदत जाहीर केली. मात्र या मदतीसाठी प्रशासनाकडून जि.आर.काढण्यापूर्वीच सरकारने पुन्हा एकदा महानगरपालिका व जिल्हा परिषदांच्या निवडणुका महाराष्ट्रात लादून आचारसंहितेच्या नावावर शेतकर्‍यांच्या मूळप्रश्नांना बगल दिली. सरकारकडून होणारी खरेदी ही मागणी थंडबस्त्यात गेली असून अतिशय अडचणीत असलेल्या व नापिकीमुळे आर्थिक अडचणीत आलेल्या महाराष्ट्रातील ९0 लाख शेतकरी मदती पासूनही वंचित राहणार आहे. सरकारच्या व महाराष्ट्राच्या निवडणूक आयोगाच्या निवडणुकीच्या घोषणेमुळे संपूर्ण शेतकरी वर्ग प्रचंड अडचणीत आला असून निवडणुकीवर या सर्व आर्थिक नैराश्याचा परिणाम पडून पैशाचा पाऊस पाडून आदर्श आचारसंहितेची एैशीतैशी करण्यासाठी मार्ग मोकळा झाल्याची टीका विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी व्यक्त केली आहे.
महाराष्ट्राचे मुख्य निवडणूक अधिकारी नीला सत्यनारायण यांना विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने पत्र लिहून पहिल्यांदा आपल्या निवडणूक कार्यक्रमामुळे शेतकर्‍यांच्या मदतीची घोषणा झाली नाही. आता तुम्ही दुसर्‍या निवडणुकीच्या घोषणा केल्यामुळे मार्च महिन्यापर्यंत शेतक र्‍यांना घोषित मदतही मिळणार नाही, तरी या संबंधी शेतकर्यांच्या आत्महत्या व आर्थिक अडचण हा मुद्दा समोर घेऊन निवडणूक आयोगाच्या नियमांना शिथिल करुन सरकारला शेतकर्‍यांच्या समस्या व घोषित आर्थिक मदत तत्काळ देण्यासंबंधी आदेश द्यावे व त्यासाठी प्रशासकीय यंत्रणा निवडणुकीच्या कामामधून वेगळी करावी, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे.

Maharashtra Election Commission’s Code of Conduct delaying Relief Aid to Farmers

2012-01-05T00:56:00.000-08:00

Maharashtra Election Commission’s Code of Conduct delaying Relief Aid to Dying Farmers

NAGPUR: 5^th January 2012

The recent announcement State Election Commissioner Neela Satyanarayan to conduct election of local bodies in metros and more than 25 Zila Parishad has enforced fresh code of conduct barring state administration to take fresh policy decisions to give any relief to already distressed and debt trapped around 1 billion drought hit Maharashtra farmers as state Govt. has already declared that cotton ,Soya and paddy crops under 90 lakhs hector in vidarbha , Marathwada, Khandesh and north Maharashtra damaged due climate change and delayed rain in dry land region and given Rs.2000 crore relief package for which administration is yet to complete administrative formalities and requisite survey ,will delay the relief aid resulting the on going farmers suicides to continue in agrarian crisis hit vidarbha hence we have moved the state election commissioner Neela Satyanarayan to relax the code of conduct imposed for forthcoming local bodies elections so that the state government could disburse a relief package to needy farmers ,Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), an advocacy group fighting for the cause of cotton growers of the region informed today

Earlier too in November Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had put on hold decision to announce a compensation package for cotton growers citing the state election commission directives and then declared package in hurry without any serious thought on it now the sudden announcement State Election Commissioner Neela Satyanarayan has given another breather to hostile administration and bankrupt Govt. to buy another two month to delay the most needed relief to the farmers .hence apathy of administration now officially continue in the name of moral code of conduct and they will be fully occupied in election work , VJAS president Kishore Tiwari added.

VJAS in a petition filed before the state election body has requested Satyanarayan to give directives to the state Govt. to disburse announced relief of Rs.2000 crore who more than 1 billion farmers are in serious state of distress because of crop losses, pointing out that over a 1000 farmers have already committed suicide in the 2011 in the cotton belt, Tiwari has urged the poll panel chief that reports were submitted with the government from time to time warning of the impending crisis.

“Neither Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan having announced Relief Package has not even seriously put efforts to arrange the fund for the same nor did the administration even move the union Govt. for special relief from PM Relief Fund now Govt. has managed to opposition to shift focus from agrarian crisis to elections and powerful Cong-NCP political leadership can change election fortunate of the parties with use of money power as they did in local body election in last December but if vidarbha farmers’ failed to get declared relief before the election ,they will be forced to boycott ZP and PS election’’ Tiwari warned .

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Govt. to clarify on Hyped ‘Desi Bt’ Cotton Seeds of (CICR) - VJAS

2012-01-01T05:05:00.000-08:00

Govt. to clarify on Hyped ‘Desi Bt’ Cotton Seeds of (CICR) - VJAS

Nagpur- Dated 1^ST January 2012

Vidarbha cotton farmers urged India's Govt. to come clean on recent reported controversy of Hyped ‘Desi Bt’ Cotton Seeds having developed its own by Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR) and Agriculture universities having spent hundred of crores over so called research which has put ICAR in Bt cotton (genetically modified) variety has taken an embarrassing turn with an RTI inquiry by two scientists revealing how the University of Agriculture Sciences (UAS) at Dharwad went ahead brushing aside all precautions to produce an indigenous variety working on a gene originally patented by Monsanto, Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, a farmers’ advocacy group who are documenting Bt.cotton crop failure and farmers suicides in vidarbha since 2005 informed in a press release today.

“It is true that in 2009, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) had decided to stop the sale of Bikaneri Narma Bt Cotton seed marketed state owned seed corporation MAHABEEJ as an “completely indigenous Bt variety”,having failed to give any positive result . Bikaneri Narma was released for farmers as BN Bt by Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) in 2009. It was reported by CICR Director Keshav Kranthi that DESI Bt.cotton seeds will be available for Rs 200 per 2 kg bag as against Rs 1150 per 450 gm bag of Monsanto’s Bt.cotton seed currently sold by national and multinational companies like Monsanto permitted sed companies like Mahyco, Rasi, Ankur and Nuziveedu. It was called an indigenous Bt “variety” as distinct from the Monsanto hybrid where farmers have to buy fresh seeds each season. Farmers could re-use BN Bt cotton seeds for many years but within year then ICAR’s DDG S K Dutta, having received pressure from Agriculture Ministry stopped commercial sale of Bn Bt in 2009, hence we want Govt. Clarification recent developments and reports which exposes CICR activities as illegal and misleading to fact that Bt. Gen. where officially purchased by ICAR from Monsanto followed by baseless claims and counter claims of CICR Director Keshav Kranthi are mush more humiliating and creating doubts about integrality of CICR’’ Tiwari added.

‘In June 2009 to there was questions raised by vidarbha cotton farmers over CICR Director Keshav Kranthi claims that DESI Bt.cotton seed of CICR is beneficial in drought-tolerant, non-irrigated areas and is also resistant to sucking pests like jassids and aphids and VJAS had urged Indian Govt. to take official stand over this ICAR activity as our experience with Monsanto’s Bt,cotton seed is too bad to believe in any more Desi Bt.cotton seed as GM technology is based on gene which only available in part of America then it is must for Indian Govt. to clarify on the claims of CICR ” Kishore Tiwari further added.

It is reported in June 2009 that the white elephant research institute of Indian council of agriculture search (ICAR) the Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR) in Nagpur after ten long years of research punctuated with technical delays, is ready with 20,000 packets of desi Bt cotton seeds for distribution to farmers starting next month in four states. CICR also claimed that the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the apex body which clears GM crops, had okayed the Indian strain on May 2 last year this variety will enable farmers to replicate seeds for the next sowing and CICR’s DESI Bt.cotton variety needs very little fertiliser and pesticide, the farmer can save nearly 4,000 per acre in the first year (Rs 1,000 on seeds, Rs 2,000 on pesticides and Rs 1,000 on fertilisers) and about Rs 4,500 per acre every subsequent year since he won’t have to buy seeds. One seed of the desi Bt can produce up to 200-300 seeds which is not possible with Monsanto’s Bt,cotton seed more over Monsanto’s Bt.cotton seeds has been failed in vidarbha’s dry land cotton fields resulting more than 10,000 cotton farmers after Indian Govt. permitted commercial trials of Monsanto’s Bt.cotton seed hence there are serious issues involved in Rs.4000 crore Bt. Cotton Indian market and role of union agriculture ministry to create monopoly of US Gm seed Giant Monsanto, Tiwari said.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti

KISHORE TIWARI

PRESIDENT

kishortiwari@gmail.com

contact-09422108846

पांढरया सोन्याचा विक्रमी पेरा -उत्पादनात मात्र कमालीची घट-हमी भावात वाढ हवीच : तरुण भारत

2011-12-31T23:11:00.001-08:00

पांढरया सोन्याचा विक्रमी पेरा -उत्पादनात मात्र कमालीची घट-हमी भावात वाढ हवीच : तरुण भारत

यवतमाळ, ३१ डिसेंबर
http://tarunbharat.net/ftp/e-paper/current/ampage12_20120101.htm

भारताच्या कापसाची बाजारात येणारी आवक यांची नोंद ठेवणारया कॉटन कॉर्पोरेशन ऑफ इंडियाने प्रसारित केलल्या अधिकृत माहितीनुसार संपूर्ण भारतात यावर्षी १ ऑक्टोबर ते २५ डिसेंबरपर्यंत फक्त ८८ लाख कापसाच्या गाठींची आवक झाली असून मागील वर्षी या दरम्यान ११८ लाख गाठींची आवक झाली होती. राष्ट्रीय स्तरावर कापसाची आवक २५ टक्क्यांनी कमी होणे, त्यातच गुजरातमध्ये फक्त २९ लाख गाठी, तर महाराष्ट्रात १४ लाख गाठींची नोंद झाली असून गुजरातमध्ये विक्रमी ३० टक्के कमी आवक झाली आहे. महाराष्ट्रात तर ही घट ५० टक्क्यांवर असून कापसाच्या आवकमध्ये झालेली घट कापसाचे संकट राष्ट्रीय स्तराचे असून तात्काळ कापसाचा हमीभाव राष्ट्रीय स्तरावर वाढवावा हा एकमेव तोडगा त्यावर आहे. भारतातील १ कोटींवर कापूस उत्पादक शेतकरयांना झालेल्या नापिकीवर सरकारने गंभीरपणे निर्णय घ्यावा, अशी मागणी विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादक शेतकरयांच्या अधिकारासाठी लढणारे विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी भारत सरकारकडे केली आहे.
यावर्षी भारतामध्ये कापसाचा पेरा सरकारी आकडेवारीनुसारच १२० लाख हेक्टर क्षेत्रात असून यामध्ये सरकारला ३७५ लाख कापसाच्या गाठींचे उत्पादन अपेक्षित होते. मात्र पहिल्याच खरीपाच्या तिमाहीत संपूर्ण भारतात २५ ते ३० टक्के कापसाची आवक कमी असून अनेक भागांत कापसाची प्रचंड नापिकी झाली आहे. त्यामध्ये महाराष्ट्र सरकारने ४० लाख हेक्टरमध्ये कापसाची नापिकी झाल्याची अधिकृत घोषणा केली असून लगतच्या आंध्रप्रदेशनेसुद्धा २० लाख हेक्टरमधील कापसाचे पीक वाया गेल्याची अधिकृत तक्रार केंद्र सरकारला केली असून प्रती एकरी १५ हजार रुपये आर्थिक मदतीचे पॅकेज मागितले आहे. गुजरात प्रदेश काँग्रेस कमेटीने व पंजाब सरकारने केंद्र सरकारला कापसाचा हमीभाव तात्काळ वाढवण्याची मागणी केली आहे. मात्र कापसाचा हमीभाव वाढविला
तर गिरणी मालकांचे प्रचंड नुकसान होईल, असा युक्तीवाद करून कृषी मूल्य आयोगाने कापसाचा हमीभाव वाढीचा प्रस्ताव थंड बस्त्यात टाकला आहे. यावर पंतप्रधानांनी तात्काळ तोडगा काढावा, अशी मागणी एका निवेदनाद्वारे विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे.
भारताचे कृषीमंत्री शरद पवार कापसाच्या नापिकीला कोरडवाहू क्षेत्रापुरते मर्यादित ठेवत असून प्रत्यक्षात मात्र संपूर्ण भारतात कापसावर प्रचंड खर्च झाला असताना उत्पादनात मात्र ४० टक्के घट होण्याचे संकेत मिळत आहेत. अशा वेळेस कापसाच्या हमीभावात तात्काळ वाढ करावी, ही मागणी रास्त असून यावर सरकारने तोडगा काढावा, अशी मागणीही किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.

The Mealy Bug responsible 4 million hectors Cotton crop failure in Mahrashtra.

2011-12-26T08:03:00.000-08:00

The Mealy Bug responsible 4 million hectors Cotton crop failure in Mahrashtra.

Vidarbha -26^th December 2011

Vidarbha Jan Andolan (VJAS) activists have reported shocking facts, all types of plants and ruby crops are severely infected by Mealy Bug, a virus gifted by imported Bt.cotton seed supplied by US MNC Monsanto. The VJAS warned that coming seasons too will have it's wider effect and larger area spread covering all most all crops and set to destroy of next year not only cotton crop but all the other food crops thanks plant killer 'Mealy Bug ' gifted by GMO.

VJAS president Kishor Tiwari urged the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prathiviraj chavan who declared that nearly 4 million hector cotton crop damaged and has given bailout package to compensate losses @ of Rs.4000/- per hector amounting more than Rs.1000 crore to recovery the crop damages from Monsanto Bt. Cotton seeds which has briught this Mealy bug in agrarian crisis hit Maharashtra in order to save more than 5 million distress and debt trapped vidarbha cotton farmers. He also demanded CBI probe over the Mealy Bug spread in Maharashtra on cotton growing dry land region.

Now when the cotton plants have died, the mealy bug is shifting to nearby plants and the bug has been getting multiplied like any thing. It has shifted to pulses nearby, and many other weeds and plants in Maharashtra forest which is grate danger to ecology and environmental impact of Maharashtra.

This initiative comes against a historical backdrop of government support for high chemical input cotton production at national and at state level that has sent the wrong messages to farmers. GM cotton is now falsely promoted as the answer to reducing the scourge of proliferating pesticide use, and is one of many reasons farmers are succumbing to the pressure to grow GM cotton which has

been spreading more complex hazards to public health and resulting heavy economical losses forcing farmers to kill themselves @ one every 8 hourly since June 2005 after Indian authorities has given permission to grow Bt. cotton in rain fed area of Maharashtra .

VJAS has requested Indian authorities to ban Bt.cotton in dry land region of region of maharashtra and to launch National Food Security Mission(NFSM)) and special outlay of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) which.should be followed along with a comprehensive promotion plan of sustainable farming in the small and marginal farmers and tribals cultivating barren land for maharashtra and the demand to allocate dedicated funds on the lines of AIBP for farm ponds,

community tanks and give incentives to farmers/villages who/which harness water but nobody in the administration is serious over the maharashtra agrarian crisis, Tiwari added.

अपुर्‍या पॅकेजमुळे शेतकरी आत्महत्येत वाढ होणार! -किशोर तिवारी यांनी वर्तविली भीती

2011-12-24T19:31:00.000-08:00

अपुर्‍या पॅकेजमुळे शेतकरी आत्महत्येत वाढ होणार! -किशोर तिवारी यांनी वर्तविली भीती

लोकशाही वार्ता/२४ डिसेंबर

यवतमाळ : मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांनी पॅकेजची मदत जाहीर करून ९0 लाख हेक्टरमधील सुमारे ७ लाख शेतकर्‍यांची निराशा केली आहे. अपुर्‍या मदतीच्या घोषणेमुळे विदर्भ, मराठवाडा, उत्तर महाराष्ट्र व खानदेशमध्ये नापिकी झालेल्या शेतकर्‍यांना दिलासा तर मिळणार नाही व नैराश्य वाढून प्रचंड आत्महत्या होण्याची भीती विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी व्यक्त केली आहे.
वारंवार निवेदन करूनही मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी शेतकर्‍यांच्या शेतीमालाच्या मागणीला बगल देऊन मदत जाहीर करतानाही झालेल्या नुकसानीच्या जेमतेम ५ टक्के मदत जाहीर करून सरकारने शेतकर्‍यांच्या जखमेवर मीठ चोळले आहे. सरकारने कापसासाठी हेक्टरी ४ हजार रुपये तर सोयाबीन व धानासाठी हेक्टरी २ हजार रुपये मदत दिली. ही तर अपुरीच होती. त्यामध्येच ही मदत जास्तीत जास्त २ हेक्टरपर्यंत राहील, अशी घोषणा करून नोकरशाहीने पुन्हा एकदा शेतकर्‍यांच्या तोंडाला पाने पुसली आहे.
सरकारच्या पॅकेजच्या मदतीपेक्षा १0 पट असून सरकार शेतकर्‍यांच्या जिवावर उठले असून शेतकर्‍यांसाठी राजकीय पक्षांचे सर्वच आंदोलन सरकारने थोतांड सिद्ध केले आहे. कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांच्या प्रश्नावर सरकार अशा प्रकारे पळ काढू शकत नाही व त्यांना कापसाचा हमीभाव व नापिकीमुळे झालेली नुकसान भरपाई पश्‍चिम महाराष्ट्र ऊस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांप्रमाणेच द्यावी लागेल, असा इशारा विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने दिला आहे.

Maharashtra's Cotton Farmers in Distress-Ashok Gulati-chairman-CACP

2011-12-23T21:59:00.000-08:00

Maharashtra's cotton farmers in distress-Ashok Gulati-chairman-Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)

Dated 24 Dec, 2011,

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/maharashtras-cotton-farmers-in-distress/articleshow/11227173.cms?curpg=2
Maharashtra's cotton farmers are in distress and agitated. The steep fall in cotton prices has triggered this agitation. farmers are asking for a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 6,000 per quintal on the plea that their cost of production is Rs 5,700 per quintal. The current MSP for long staple cotton is Rs 3,300 per quintal and for medium staple Rs 2,800 per quintal, as recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Since we, at CACP, are the ones who recommend these prices, and our heart cries when farmers are in distress, I think it is only appropriate for us to respond to the price 'crisis' with facts and figures. Only a few years ago, Vidarbha was in the news due to unfortunate suicides by some cotton farmers. The Prime Minister and agriculture minister had to announce a special relief package for them. It may happen again this time too. But these are quick-fixes when cotton burns, and we will keep repeating them every once in three years or so. Wisdom lies in finding a sustainable solution to the problem. We need to first diagnose what lies at the root of this problem of Maharashtra's cotton woes.

The story of cotton during the last decade, at the all-India level, is a story of resounding success. The production of cotton, which was only 10 million bales in 2000-01, is likely to touch more than 36 million bales in 2011-12.

There is perhaps no other crop in Indian agriculture that has registered such a jump so quickly. It is well known that this magical transformation came from the introduction of Bt cotton. But what is not fully recognised is that lucrative exports of cotton also provided the necessary incentive to scale it up. In 2002-03, when Bt was introduced, India was a net importer of cotton. But in 2010-11, India exported more than 5 million bales worth more than $6 billion.

The international prices of cotton had more than doubled with the Cotlook A index increasing from 194.18 cents per kg in April 2010 to 506.34 cents per kg in March 2011. Domestic prices followed international prices through the export route, with S-6 variety of cotton prices increasing from Rs 28,277 per candy in April 2010 to Rs 59,700 per candy in March 2011 (1 candy is 355.6 kg of lint cotton; see accompanying graphic). So, cotton farmers in India made akilling with abnormal profits in 2010-11.

These high prices and profits in 2010-11 made farmers even more bullish and they produced a record crop of cotton in 2011-12. But the demand for cotton from China has slowed down (which is a ripple effect of dwindling demand in eurozone and the US). This led to sharply declining international prices (see graphic), adversely affecting domestic prices and a decline in the supernormal profits that cotton farmers reaped in 2010-11. To us, this is a self-correcting mechanism of a market economy, and cotton prices are coming back to their normal trend levels. The farmers are obviously not very happy, though in private, many of them admit that it was expected and they could not keep sitting on the peak of prices for long. But why Maharashtra farmers in particular are agitating so fiercely? Why don't we hear, for example, Gujarati cotton farmers agitating? There could be some element of politics in this, but here is the real economics behind the woes of Maharashtra cotton farmers.

Maharashtra has less than 5% cotton area irrigated compared to more than 50% in Gujarat. The yield of cotton is almost half in Maharashtra (332 kg/ha during the TE 2010-11) than in Gujarat (650 kg/ha for TE 2010-11). As a result, the projected cost of production for 2011-12 season is much higher in Maharashtra (Rs 2,960 per quintal) than, say, in Gujarat (Rs 2,216 per quintal), and even weighted average for India (Rs 2,528 per quintal) (see graphic). It is not surprising, therefore, that Maharashtra's cotton farmers have the lowest returns on their costs. For the medium staple cotton growers in Maharashtra, whose MSP is Rs 2,800 per quintal, the return from MSP over comprehensive cost (C2) is indeed negative (-5.4%), but it is positive 11.5% in case of long staple cotton, whose MSP is Rs 3,300 per quintal. And given the variance in the costs of individual farmers, I am sure many farmers in Maharashtra would be even making losses over cost C2. So, their grievance, to that extent, is genuine.
But look at Gujarati cotton farmer. He makes a margin of 26% in case of medium staple cotton and 49% in long staple cotton, as far as MSP and comprehensive costs (C2) are concerned. Rajasthan farmer makes even higher profits than Gujarati farmer. But these margins are over MSP. Farmers are selling their cotton at market prices, in the range of Rs 3,600-4,200 per quintal in different states for medium and long staple cottons, and these are still way above MSP. It needs to be noted that the C2 cost concept actually includes the imputed value of rent on their owned land and capital. The actual paid-out costs plus family labour (A2 + FL) are much lower, and the margins over this cost concept is much higher (see graphic), and this is what matters more.

Thus, the cost analysis gives a clear message that MSP of Rs 2,800/3,300 per quintal is covering the weighted average costs at the national level. And since CACP is entrusted to recommend MSP at the national level, not at state level, the situation of varying returns across states is but natural.

So what is the solution to Maharashtra's cotton woes? In the short run, again as a quick-fix, if the state government wants to announce a special relief package on perhectare basis, this is its prerogative. But a sustainable solution to this problem can be found only in large-scale investments in irrigation, may be through water harvesting structures (akin to what Gujarat did in Saurashtra region), improving agronomic practices through extension, and raising yields and cutting down costs. Water is critical and it needs large investments. The Centre should come forward for a mega programme (say, of Rs 30,000 crore or so) on water harvesting dovetailed with dry land farming of cotton, pulses, oilseeds, etc, in drought-prone areas not only of Maharashtra but also of other states. The solution of current cotton 'crisis' does not lie in hiking the MSP to Rs 6,000 per quintal, which can make cotton exports totally unviable, and high cost of cotton can then make domestic textile industry sick leading to large-scale unemployment.

(The author is chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. Views are personal)

Maharashtra farmerss Reject Maharashtra CM relief Package-VJAS

2011-12-23T21:51:00.001-08:00

Maharashtra farmerss Reject Maharashtra CM relief Package-VJAS

Nagpur-24^th december2011

The Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan announced yesterday the details of the Rs2,000-crore compensation package for cotton, paddy and soya farmers on the concluding day of the state legislature’s winter session which has completely disappointed 7 million debt trapped cotton ,soya and paddy rowers of Maharashtra when CM said dying distressed cotton farmer would get Rs4,000 per hectare whereas paddy and soya farmers would be given Rs2,000 per hectare in cash to maximum limit of 2 hector per farm family more over two hectares is the maximum limit for the relief, paddy and soya farmers would get the compensation only if their loss is 25% or more giving the scope for administration to reject most crop failure and agrarian crisis hit farmers will not get anything in their hands. Its better to not announce the package at all,” said, Kishor Tiwari, president of Nagpur-based Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, (VJAS), activist group working for cotton farmer rights in a Press release today.

“farmers of vidarbha region are demanding hike in cotton procurement price to @ Rs.6000/- in order to compensate the losses incurred by them and cash compensation @ Rs.20,000 per hector but state has announced Rs.2000 crore for nearly 90 lakh hector which will peanut hence there is demand to revised the relief package and to sort out issues of dry land farmers which are victims of Agrarian crisis and needs income base incentive to stop their on going suicides and such steps are must and should taken without delay but CM salient over the price front and long term solution likely trigger further fall of cotton prices and will additional fuel to farm suicide spiral which has killed more than 8000 cotton farmer since 2004 in west vidarbha alone ” ,Tiwari added.

Maharashtra DF Govt. today most waited announcement of giving Rs.2000 crore relief package for 40 lakhs hector crop loss compensation is another eyewash as earlier vidarbha farmer packages of year 2005 and 2006 has dashed hopes of more than 5 million farmers who are facing severe economical crisis due to massive crop failure who are demanding the bailout package and hike in MSP of cotton ,soybean and paddy as this will trigger another spiral of farmer suicides having failed to address the basic issue of price and future sustainability of dying agrarian community ,Kishor Tiwari added.

‘It was most expected that after CM indicated earlier that bankrupt financial condition of Maharashtra can’t even give Rs.8000/- per farm family maximum to 5 millions cotton farmers where there is crop failure against the demand of Rs.10,000/- and the cotton farmers of western vidarbha will get nothing as administration has shown minimum crop failure in this region and now out 70 lakh hector area under cultivation of cotton, soya and paddy whop will get what that god know?. Farmers and all parties including congress NCP that MRP hike in cotton ,soya and paddy and cash compensation in line with sugarcane growers of western Maharashtra but once again Govt. has mad mockery of agrarian crisis and announced such penny relief which is nothing but hoax’ Tiwari added.

‘we are demanding long term solution to agrarian crisis not any package which are mostly contractor driven and designed to rehabilitation of the ill managed politician runs cooperative banks. our farmers are working for handful MNCs who are manufacturing Gm seed, fertilizer and pesticides and revival of own agriculture is must which is not being done ’ Tiwari said.

"There is a need for state government's intervention in this regard. The government should provide at least Rs 6,000 per quintal. The chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had promised that he would talk with the union government for better support price for the raw cotton. However, nothing has been done in this regard," Tiwari alleged.

मनरेगा’च्या कामात वनाधिकार्‍यांनी जमवली कोट्यवधींची माया-तरुण भारत

2011-12-23T10:56:00.000-08:00

मनरेगा’च्या कामात वनाधिकार्‍यांनी जमवली कोट्यवधींची माया-तरुण भारत

ग्रामीण जनतेचे शहरी भागात स्थलांतर होऊ नये म्हणून ग्रामीण जनतेला वर्षभरातील किमान १०० दिवस रोजगार उपलब्ध होण्यासाठी सुरू झालेल्या महात्मा गांधी राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण रोजगार हमी योजनेचा (मनरेगा) पुरता बोजवारा उडाला असून कागदोपत्री शेकडो मजूर कामावर दाखवून त्यांच्या मजुरीची रक्कम हडपण्याच्या अनेक तक्रारी उघडकीस येत आहेत.

मनरेगा अंतर्गत जिल्हा परिषद, पंचायत समिती, कृषी विभाग, वन विभागांतर्गत होणारी अनेक कामे जॉबकार्डधारक मजुरांमार्फत करून त्यांचे खाते पोस्टात उघडून मजुरी देण्याची साधी व सरळ पद्धत या योजनेअंतर्गत आहे. केळापूर तालुक्यातील ७४ ग्रामपंचायतींमधील १८०४४ कुटुंबियांनी जॉबकार्ड काढले असून यामध्ये एससी प्रवर्गातील ८५९, एसटी प्रवर्गातील ७०६६ तर इतर प्रवर्गातील १०११९ कुटुंबीय आहेत. या सर्वांना कमीतकमी १०० दिवस रोजगार उपलब्ध करून देण्याची जबाबदारी शासनाची आहे.

यावरूनच सर्व विभागांनी या कामांतर्गत कोट्यवधी रुपयाचा अपहार केला असून शेततळे, मातीला बांध, विहीर बांधणे, सिमेंट प्लग बांधणे, पाण्याची टाकी उभारणे, जंगलात वन्य प्राण्यांनाही तळे तयार करणे, चरे बांधणे, कुंड तयार करणे असे अनेक कामांपैकी बहुतांश कामे कागदोपत्री तयार दाखविण्यात आली आहेत. करण्यात आलेली कामे निकृष्ट दर्जाची झाल्याने शासनाचा कोट्यवधींचा निधी अधिकारी, दलाल व ठेकेदारांनी फक्त केल्याचे स्पष्ट दिसत आहे.

मनरेगाच्या कामातील सर्वांत मोठा भ्रष्टाचार वनविभागांतर्गत झालेला असून, वनविभागातील अनेक कामे अत्यंत दुर्गम भागात करण्यात आल्याने ठेकेदारांसह अधिकार्‍यांनाच या कामाची माहिती असल्याने या अधिकार्‍यांनी ‘अर्धे तुम्ही, अर्धे आम्ही’ या ‘नियमा’प्रमाणे वाटेल त्याला कामे वाटप केली आहे. पांढरकवडा वनविभागाअंतर्गत पारवा, उमरी, पाटणबोरी, पांढरकवडा या उपविभागात मनरेगाच्या माध्यमाने जंगलात मातीनाला बांधणे, चरे उभारणे, कुंड तयार करणे, तळे करणे, सिमेंट प्लग उभारणे अशी अनेक कामे मोठ्या प्रमाणात सुरू असून हाताच्या बोटावर मोजण्याइतपत कामे सोडली तर जवळजवळ सर्वच कामे निकृष्ट दर्जाची झाली आहेत.

वनविभागांतर्गत मनरेगाची कामे प्राप्त करण्याची राजकीय नेत्यांच्या जवळ असणारे चेलेचपाटे मोठ्या प्रमाणात गुंतले असून, अधिकार्‍यांचे जवळचे मित्र, नातलग यांनाही पार्टनर करून ही सर्व कामे सुरू आहेत. वनविभागातील मनरेगाच्या सर्वच कामांची चौकशी करणे आणि या कामांतून वनअधिकार्‍यांनी कोट्यवधींची माया जमविली असल्याने त्यांच्या उत्पन्नाची चौकशी करणे गरजेचे झाले आहे. ठेकेदारांसह वनअधिकार्‍यांनी संगनमत करून ग्रामीण मजुरांची मजुरी हडप करण्याचा प्रकार म्हणजे ‘टाळूवर लोणी खाण्या’चा प्रकार झाला आहे.

पारोमिता गोस्वामी यांनी फुलविलेला श्रमिकांचा एल्गार लोकमत महाराष्ट्रीयन ऑफ दी इयर पुरस्कार

2011-12-22T21:16:00.000-08:00

पारोमिता गोस्वामी यांनी फुलविलेला श्रमिकांचा एल्गार लोकमत महाराष्ट्रीयन ऑफ दी इयर पुरस्कार

चंद्रपूर, गडचिरोलीसारख्या टोकाच्या जिल्ह्यात पारोमिता गोस्वामी यांनी फुलविलेला श्रमिकांचा एल्गार लोकमत महाराष्ट्रीयन ऑफ दी इयर पुरस्कार वितरण सोहळ्याच्या व्यासपीठावर आला आणि स्वातंत्र्यवीर सावरकर स्मारकातील सभागृहाने त्यास मानवंदना दिली.
एका अमराठी महिलेला मिळालेला हा पुरस्कार म्हणजे महाराष्ट्राचा मोठेपणा आहे, अशा शब्दांत पारोमिता गोस्वामी यांनी सामाजिक क्षेत्रातील कामगिरीबाबत राष्ट्राध्यक्षा प्रतिभा पाटील यांच्या हस्ते पुरस्कार मिळाल्यानंतर आपल्या भावना व्यक्त केल्या. चळवळीत साथ देणार्‍या शांताबाई मढावी, गीताबाई मरसकोले, भीमबाई आत्राम, भीमबाई सीडा आणि विजा सिद्धावा या महिलांनाही त्यांनी व्यासपीठावर येण्याची विनंती केली आणि उपस्थितांनी टाळ्यांचा कडकडाट करीत त्यांचे स्वागत केले. राष्ट्राध्यक्षाही कौतुकाने पुढे सरसावल्या आणि त्यांनी आपल्यासोबत गोस्वामी आणि त्या महिलांसोबत छायाचित्रे काढू दिली. मी मूळची बंगाली असले तरी माझी कर्मभूमी ही महाराष्ट्रच राहिली आहे. आयुष्याच्या अंतापर्यंत मी चंद्रपूर, गडचिरोली भागांत राहूनच वंचित शेतकरी, मजूर, वेठबिगार, स्थलांतरित, बालमजुरांना त्यांचे हक्क मिळवून देण्यासाठी झटत राहणार असल्याचा निर्धारही गोस्वामी यांनी व्यक्त केला.

गोस्वामी म्हणाल्या की, या शांताबाई मढावींच्या अंगणात आमच्या श्रमिक एल्गारची स्थापना झाली. संघटनेच्या कामाची रूपरेषा त्यांच्या झोपडीत आखली गेली. आदिवासींच्या जमिनी गैरआदिवासींनी हडप करण्याच्या आंदोलनात त्यांनी साथ दिली. तुरुंगातही साथ दिली. चिमूर ते नागपूर हे दीडशे किलोमीटर अंतर आम्ही चालत गेलो. अनवाणी पायाने त्याही माझ्यासोबत राहिल्या.

महाराष्ट्राच्या कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांचे १0 हजार कोटींचे नुकसान-सरकारने तोडगा काढावा -विदर्भ जनांदोलन समिति ची मागणी

2011-12-22T21:00:00.000-08:00

महाराष्ट्राच्या कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांचे १0 हजार कोटींचे नुकसान-सरकारने तोडगा काढावा -विदर्भ जनांदोलन समिति ची मागणी

नागपुर : राज्याचे मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांनी ९0 लाख हेक्टर मधील कापूस, सोयाबीन व धान उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांना २ हजार कोटीचे पॅकेज घोषित केले. राज्यातील ४0 लाख हेक्टरमधील बी.टी.कापसाच्या पिकाच्या नापिकीवर शेतकर्‍यांना आर्थिक नुकसानाची भरपाई म्हणून देण्यात येणार्‍या मदतीचा समावेश या पॅकेजमध्ये राहील, अशी घोषणा त्यांनी केली. कापूस उत्पादकांच्या प्रचंड नापिकीवर कोणताही अभ्यास न करता घोषणा केल्याची टीका विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे. कापसाला हमीभाव न मिळाल्यामुळे कमीतकमी १0 हजार कोटींचे आर्थिक नुकसान झाले आहे. सरकारने घोषित केलेल्या पॅकेजमध्ये या शेतकर्‍यांना मिळणार्‍या मदतीमध्ये सरकारने प्रत्यक्ष झालेल्या नुकसानीचा अंदाज घेत पॅकेजवर फेरविचार करून कापसाच्या हमीभावाच्या संदर्भात नागपूरच्या हिवाळी अधिवेशनाच्या शेवटच्या दिवशी तोडगा काढावा, अशी मागणी किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.
महाराष्ट्रातील कोरडवाहू शेतकर्‍यांच्या आर्थिक संकटावर सरकार उदासीन नागपुरच्या हिवाळी अधिवेशनात पॅकेजची घोषणा करताना महाराष्ट्राच्या मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी कोरडवाहू शेतकर्‍यांनी अतीपावसाचे व पर्यावरणाच्या अधिक असलेल्या विदेशी बियाण्यांचे कापसाचे पीक घेतल्यामुळे जे प्रचंड आर्थिक नुकसान झाले आहे, त्यावर तोडगा काढताना कोरडवाहू शेतकर्‍यांच्या प्रमुख समस्यांना वाचा फोडली, मात्र तोडगा न काढता सालाबादाप्रमाणे पॅकेजची घोषणा केली. त्याचवेळी भारताच्या कृषिमंत्र्यांनीही महाराष्ट्राच्या कोरडवाहू शेतकर्‍यांनी अति पावसाने बी.टी.कापसाचे बियाणे लावण्यात चूक केल्याचे खापर फोडून शेतकर्‍यांवर जबाबदारी झटकली. या सर्व गंभीर प्रश्नांवर विधान परिषदेमध्ये प्रदीर्घ चर्चा झाली. मात्र सरकारने कोणताही तोडगा काढला नाही. जर या शेतकर्‍यांना झालेल्या आर्थिक नुकसानीच्या बदल्यात सरकारने त्रोटकी मदत दिली व महाराष्ट्रात कापसाचे भाव व्यापार्‍यांवर सोडले. पश्‍चिम विदर्भातील कोरडवाहू कापूस उत्पादकांचे आर्थिक संकट आता पुर्णपणे मराठवाडा, खानदेश व उत्तर महाराष्ट्रात पसरले असून यावर सरकारने कायमस्वरुपी तोडगा काढावा ही काळाची गरज आहे. या कोरडवाहू क्षेत्रात कडधान्याचे पीक घेण्यासाठी शेतकर्‍यांना आर्थिक अनुदानावर पीक घेण्याची योजना सुरू करणे, शेतकर्‍यांच्या शेतात सर्वच कामावर येणार्‍या मजुरांची मजुरी रोजगार हमी योजनेद्वारे अनुदानित करण्यात यावी, शेतकर्‍यांना अन्नसुरक्षा, आरोग्य सुरक्षा व उच्च शिक्षणात सवलती व कोरडवाहू शेतकर्‍यांच्या मुलांना सरकारी नोकरीत आरक्षण यासारखे अतिशय महत्त्वाचे विषय हिवाळी अधिवेशनात निकाली काढावे, असे निवेदन विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने मुख्यमंत्र्यांना दिले आहे.

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It’s official now Maharashtra Farmers lost Rs.10,000 Crore due Bt.cotton failure in 2011-12

2011-12-21T22:40:00.001-08:00

It’s official now Maharashtra Farmers lost Rs.10,000 Crore due Bt.cotton failure in 2011-12

Nagpur -22nd December 2011

The announcement of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prathiviraj Chavan that Govt. will bailout package to Maharashtra dry land farmers to tune of Rs.2000 crore that will cover crop failure of Bt.cotton in 40 lakhs hector in the year 2011-12 which is second in last five years when in year 2005-2006 Maharashtra Govt. compensated dry land cotton farmers of state after Bt.cotton failed to the tune of Rs.220 crore as it was grown in 4 lakhs hector only when Bt. cotton was approved for commercial cultivation in nine states by Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) but as Per Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar own admission that average yield of Bt.cotton in dry land area of Maharashtra is only 125 kg of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) cotton lint when average cultivation is cost is Rs.40,000/- per hector hence now it’s official that dry land cotton farmers who opted Bt.cotton in 40 lakhs hector is likely to loose Rs.10,000 crore as per initial estimate of crop failure reported by Maharashtra administration , Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, a farmers’ advocacy group who are documenting Bt.cotton crop failure and farmers suicides in vidarbha since 2005 informed in a press release today.

‘The admission of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar that Bt.cotton yield minimum in Maharashtra and compensation package of Rs.2000 crore promptly announced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prathiviraj Chavan for Bt.cotton crop failure has once again substantiated our long pending demand that highly rain sensitive and climate sensitive Gm cotton crop has been getting failed since 2005 and should banned even after very toll claim of GM seed American giant Monsanto and it’s completely complete economic collapse of Maharashtra and has extended farm suicide spiral from west vidarbha to all dry land region Maharashtra due to Bt. Cotton crop cultivation’ Tiwari added.

Here is Table that give detail of Rs.10,000 crore Bt. Cotton crop failure in Maharashtra

Bt.cotton crop failure in Maharashtra as reported by Chief Minister Prathiviraj Chavan

Bt.cotton average yield in Maharashtra as reported Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar

Total cultivation cost of Bt. cotton cost as per average

Taken by administration

Return income to Bt.cotton farmers of Maharashtra

Estimated Bt.cotton crop losses in mahrashtra fro year 2011-12

40 lakhs hector

125 kg of lint per hector i.e. 400kg of cotton

Rs.40,000 per hector and total=Rs.16000 crore

Rs.6,000 crore maximum.

Rs.10,000 cror

“The above admission of Union Agriculture Minister and relief packages given by Maharashtra Chief Minister has made all Studies conducted by CICR as rabbish and nonsense that showed there was enormous farmer support for Bt. cotton as is evident from the fact that more than 90% of the area in all the cotton growing states in India is now under Bt. cotton. Maximum gains in yield increase have been obtained Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. More ground reality contradicts the claim of CICR that Cultivation of genetically modified (GM) variety Bt cotton has helped in reducing use of pesticides and insecticides as pr Monsanto BT cotton bollguard I and II has developed resistance to insects `American and spotted bollworms` including other types of sucking pests were still needed to be controlled through the use of pesticides.as per report of west vidarbha Bt.cotton cultivation has increased toxicity to birds, fish, cow, goat and soil micro-organisms moreover farmers have complained that cottonseed cakes available in the market are harming their cattle as their animals are suffering from diseases, specially lack of appetite, and decline in milk production, premature deliveries and sudden deaths due to unknown cause. there are high rise in health cost in these area where Bt.cotton is cultivated since 2005 and hence there should corrective action to protect environmental degradation and toxicity of Gm seed and crop in this dry-land region to ban it’s cultivation ”Tiwari urged.

कापसाचे भाव न वाढल्याने शेतकरी हताश-लोकमत

2011-12-21T21:21:00.000-08:00

कापसाचे भाव न वाढल्याने शेतकरी हताश-लोकमत

कापसाचे भाव न वाढल्याने शेतकरी हताश-लोकमत
http://onlinenews1.lokmat.com/php/detailednews.php?id=NagpurEdition-2-8-20-12-2011-00a93&ndate=2011-12-21&editionname=nagpur

आंतरराष्ट्रीय बाजारात कापसाचे भाव घसरत असताना शेतकर्‍यांसह राजकीय पक्ष, सामाजिक संघटना रस्त्यावर उतरून आंदोलन करीत होत्या. त्यामुळे शासन कापूस भाववाढ करेल, ही आशा होती. परंतु राज्य सरकारने हिवाळी अधिवेशनात कापसाची भाव वाढ न करता, दोन हजार कोटींचे पॅकेज जाहीर केल्याने बळीराजा हताश झाला आहे.
आता कापूस भाववाढीचे सर्वच मार्ग खुंटल्याने निराश झालेले शेतकरी कापूस विक्रीसाठी लगबगीने बाजाराकडे वळले आहेत. कापसाची आवक वाढताच व्यापार्‍यांनी कापसाचे भाव कमी केले आहे. आंतरराष्ट्रीय बाजारात कापसाचे भाव यावर्षी कमी आहेत. देशातही कापसाचे भाव वाढण्याची शक्यता नाही. मात्र आंदोलन, मोर्चे, धरणे देऊन शासनाचे लक्ष या प्रश्नाकडे वळविल्यास राज्य शासन कापसाचे भाव काही प्रमाणात वाढवून देईल, अशी शेतकर्‍यांना आशा होती. शासनाला वेठीस धरल्यास कापसाचे दर वाढतील, हे उसाच्या आंदोलनावरून शेतकर्‍यांना कळून चुकले होते. त्यावेळी आंतरराष्ट्रीय बाजारात कापसाला बर्‍यापैकी भाव मिळत असतानाही शेतकर्‍यांनी कापूस घरात साठवून आंदोलन केले.
या आंदोलनात विरोधकांसह सत्ताधारीही सहभागी झाले होते. सोबतच आगामी जिल्हा परिषद व पंचायत समिती निवडणूक डोळ्यासमोर ठेवून सत्ताधारी कापसाचे दर वाढवतील, ही आशा शेतकर्‍यांना होती. परंतु राज्य शासनाने कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांसमोर न झुकता पॅकेज जाहीर करून शेतकर्‍यांच्या तोंडाला पाने पुसली. त्यामुळे शेतकरी प्रचंड निराश झाले आहे. त्यांच्या मनात राजकीय पक्षांविषयी प्रचंड असंतोष खदखदत आहे.
हिवाळी अधिवेशनात सत्ताधारी लोकप्रतिनिधींसोबतच विरोधी लोकप्रतिनिधी कापसाच्या प्रश्नावरून रान उठवतील, हा शेतकर्‍यांचा अंदाज फोल ठरला. राजकीय पक्षांनी नौटंकी करीत आठवडा काढला. परंतु शेतकरी मात्र निराशेच्या गर्तेतच ढकलला गेला. कापसाचे भाव वाढण्याची आशा धूसर झाल्यामुळे उद्विग्न शेतकरी आता कापूस विक्रीकडे वळला आहे. कापूस विक्रीसाठी शेतकर्‍याची गर्दी वाढली आहे.
कापसाची आवक वाढताच कापसाचे दर खाली आले आहेत. सध्या तीन हजार ७00 रुपयापर्यंत कापसाचे भाव खाली आहेत. आंतरराष्ट्रीय बाजारात कापसाचे भाव घसरल्याने कापसाचे भाव पुन्हा खाली येण्याच्या भीतीने शेतकर्‍यांनी कापूस विकण्याची घाई चालविली आहे. त्याचा लाभ घेत आहेत. कापूस विक्रीसाठी गर्दी वाढताच विविध कारणे सांगून व्यापारी कापूस कमी दरात खरेदी करीत आहेत. त्यामुळे बळीराजा आर्थिक कोंडीत सापडला आहे.

Posted by VIDARBHA FARMER SUICIDE at 9:06 PM

Massive Complaints against BT cotton in PAK too-DAWN.COM

2011-12-21T03:49:00.000-08:00

Complaints against BT cotton grow-DAWN.COM

Complaints against BT cotton grow

Posted By Suhail Yusuf On December 19, 2011 @ 1:56 pm In

Home > HIGHLIGHTS,Latest News,Sci-tech > Editor's Choice,Sci-tech > Top Stories 1 |

It is a matter of worry that after the use of BT cottonseed oil, its toxicity is also harming humans who may have been suffering from various diseases due to its use. – File Photo AFP

TOBA TEK SINGH, Dec 18: Farmers have complained that cottonseed cakes available in the market are harming their cattle as their animals are suffering from diseases, specially lack of appetite, and decline in milk production, premature deliveries and sudden deaths due to unknown cause.

A progressive farmer, Arshad Warraich, of Chak 328-JB said the taste of milk, yogurt, lassi, butter and desi ghee had also been affected as a result and the bitterness was found in them.

Agriculture department deputy district officer Khalid Mahmood said that nearly 90 per cent of the cotton sown in the district was of BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) type and cotton ginning factories supplied most of cottonseed cakes produced from its seed (banola).

He claimed that farmers had left old types of cotton varieties and turned to the most profit-earning crop.

Earlier, the per acre yield of cotton crop was 30 to 40 maund and with the use of BT cotton the per acre yield has increased between 50 and 60 maund.

Cottonseed cake sellers said that farmers lodged complaints with them that their animals were facing varied types of diseases due to cottonseed cakes.

They said farmers tried to get seedcakes prepared from mustard, canola or rapeseed but their production was very limited.

An agricultural scientist Dr Javed Iqbal said the BT cotton had been invented with such genes in it which had insecticidal action against both types of bollworms (American and spotted) attacks, but at the same time it had the potential to cause toxic impact on animals.

He said the BT cotton could resist against only two types of insects `American and spotted bollworms`, but other types of sucking pests were still needed to be controlled through the use of pesticides.

It is a matter of worry that after the use of BT cottonseed oil, its toxicity is also harming humans who may have been suffering from various diseases due to its use.

A group of growers said the skin-related itching was also possibly caused by the use of BT cottonseed cakes to animals and by the use of their milk and milk products and ghee and oil to humans.

Some ghee and cooking oil sellers claimed that factories across the country were using more than 70 per cent BT cottonseed for producing cooking oil and ghee.

Some women from rural area this correspondent talked to said they had been experiencing for two years less quantity of fat on boiled milk while the milk production of each buffalo had reduced to almost half than previous years when the BTcotton was not sown in the area.

Milk sellers said customers also complained to them about less fat on boiled milk, blaming them that substandard milk was being supplied to them.

Peasant women workers network chairperson Rafia Salomi revealed that there was a surge in skin problems among the peasant women picking BT cotton lint.

Human rights activist Ashfaq Fateh demanded of the government to form a committee of scientists to analyze if the use of BT cottonseed, its cakes and oil had any harmful effects for animals and humans.

Grain market commission agents disclosed that there was much more money in cultivation of the BT cotton, but it was causing a decline in sowing of wheat, and if the situation continued Pakistan would have to import sufficient quantity of wheat.

They said the BT cotton was sown in February and March and it took at least 270 days (nine months) to harvest it, and when the sowing season of wheat approached from Nov 15 to Dec 15, its fields were already occupied by the standing BT cotton.

They said that old varieties of cotton took only six months and farmers were free to use the same land for sowing of wheat which took only 180 days for its harvesting.

बीटी कापसाचे महाराष्ट्रात हेक्टरी सव्वा कि्वटल रुईचे उत्पादन -कृषिमंत्री पवार

2011-12-20T21:24:00.000-08:00

आत्महत्याग्रस्त शेतकरयांची समस्या-सांसदीय समितीच्या नियुक्तीच्या घोषणेचे विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीकडून स्वागत

बीटी कापसाचे महाराष्ट्रात हेक्टरी सव्वा कि्वटल रुईचे उत्पादन असल्याची कृषिमंत्री पवार यांची माहिती

त. भा. वा.,यवतमाळ, २० डिसेंबर

राज्य सरकारकडून केंद्र सरकारला शेतकरयांच्या आत्महत्येचा आकडा ८८० असल्याची माहिती असताना केंद्र सरकारच्या गृहखात्याच्या अधिकृत राष्ट्रीय गुन्हे सामग्री आयोगाने दिलेल्या माहितीप्रमाणे भारतात शेतकरयांच्या आत्महत्येच आकडा १५ हजार ६८० आहे. त्यामुळे राज्यसभेतील कृषीसंबंधी चर्चेवेळी शरद पवार यांची सर्वच पक्षांच्या खासदारांनी कोंडी केली. शेवटी लोकसभा व राज्यसभेच्या खासदारांची संयुक्त समिती नियुक्त करून आत्महत्याग्रस्त १० राज्यांचा दौरा करून शेतकरयांच्या समस्येची व आत्महत्यांच्या कारणांची प्रत्यक्ष समीक्षा करून एका वर्षभरात आपल्या शिफारशींसह अहवाल सादर करण्याचा निर्णय घेतल्या गेला. निर्णयाचे विदर्भातील आत्महत्येच्या विषयांवर सतत पाठपुरावा करणारया विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी स्वागत केले आहे.
शेतकरयांच्या आत्महत्यांची संख्या व कृषी संकटाची तीव्रता यांचा संबंध जोडून वास्तविक कृषी संकटांपासून देशाला दूर ठेवत आहे. विदर्भात २००५ पासून दर ८ तासाला १ शेतकरयाची आत्महत्या होत असताना सरकार प्रशासनाला हाताशी घेऊन आत्महत्या कमी झाल्याचे व त्या अनुषंगाने कृषीसंकट कमी झाल्याचा देखावा करत आहे. मात्र, प्रत्यक्षात २००५ मधील कृषी संकटांपेक्षा २०११ कृषी संकट अतिशय गंभीर असून सांसदीय समितीसमोर आम्ही हे सत्य
मांडण्याचा प्रयत्न करू, अशी माहितीसुद्धा तिवारी यांनी दिली. प्रत्येक वेळेस सरकार शरद पवार यांनी, महाराष्ट्रातील ४० लाख हेक्टरवरील कोरडवाहू शेतीत शेतकरी बीटी कापसाचे पीक घेत असून मागील ३ वर्षांत या शेतकरयांना कापसाचे उत्पन्न प्रति हेक्टर सव्वा कि्वटल रुईचे झाले असून, प्रत्येक शेतकरयाला प्रत्येक कि्वटलमागे कमीत कमी ५ हजार रुपयांचे नुकसान होत असल्याची कबुली प्रथमत: शरद पवार यांनी दिली आहे. मात्र, बीटी कापसाचे पीक घेण्यास महाराष्ट्राचे कोरडवाहू शेतकरीच जबाबदार असल्याची धक्कादायक माहिती देऊन त्यांनी केंद्र सरकारकडून या शेतकरयांना वाचविण्यासाठी होणारया मदतीपासून वंचित ठेवण्याचा प्रयत्न केला आहे.

बीटी कापसाचे महाराष्ट्रात हेक्टरी सव्वा कि्वटल रुईचे उत्पादन असल्याची कृषिमंत्री पवार यांची माहिती

महाराष्ट्रात जून २००५ मध्ये बीटी कापसाच्या बियाण्याला कृषीमंत्री शरद पवार यांनीच परवानगी दिली. त्यांनी सतत बीटी बियाण्याचा प्रचार केल्यामुळे २००५ मध्ये ४ लाख हेक्टरमध्ये असलेले बीटी कापसाचे पीक आता ४४ लाख हेक्टरमध्ये झाले आहे. सरकारने कृषी संशोधन परिषदेच्या नागपूर येथील देशी बीटी बियाण्यांच्या विक्रीवरही बंदी लावली आहे. महाराष्ट्रातील ४४ लाख हेक्टरमधील कोरडवाहू शेतकरयांच्या कमीतकमी २० हजार कोटींच्या आर्थिक नुकसानीला प्रत्यक्षपणे शरद पवार जबाबदार असून आता कोरडवाहू शेतकरयांच्या पद्धतीवर खापर फोडणे म्हणजे आत्महत्या करीत असलेल्या शेतकरयांच्या जखमेवर मीठ चोळणेच होय. सरकारने शेतकरयांना कंगाल करणारया व आत्महत्येच्या मार्गावर लावणारया बीटी कापसावर सिचनाची व्यवस्था नसणारया कोरडवाहू क्षेत्रात तात्काळ बंदी करावी, अशी मागणी किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.
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सरकारचे पॅकेज शेतकऱ्यांना अमान्य-सकाळ वृत्तसेवा

2011-12-18T22:03:00.000-08:00

सरकारचे पॅकेज शेतकऱ्यांना अमान्य

सकाळ वृत्तसेवा

Monday, December 19, 2011 AT 03:00 AM (IST)

Tags: yavatmal, packege, vidarbha

http://esakal.com/eSakal/20111219/5204356389514462248.htm
यवतमाळ - सुमारे 90 लाख हेक्‍टरवर शेतजमिनीत नापिकी झाल्याने तेथील शेतकऱ्यांना मदत देण्यासाठी महाराष्ट्र सरकारने दोन हजार कोटी रुपयांचे पॅकेज जाहीर केले. परंतु, ही एक धूळफेक असून, पॅकेजची रक्कम दोन वर्षांत देणार असून, यामध्ये पश्‍चिम विदर्भाच्या शेतकऱ्यांचे भले होणार नाही, हे आता स्पष्ट झाले आहे. म्हणून कापसाचा हमीभाव सहा हजार रुपये व्हावा, सर्व शेतकऱ्यांना नवीन पीककर्ज मिळावे, नापिकी झालेल्या शेतकऱ्यांना हेक्‍टरी दहा हजार रुपये कमीत कमी पाच हेक्‍टरपर्यंत मिळावे, या शेतकऱ्यांच्या प्रमुख मागण्या असून, या मागण्यांसाठी येत्या 25 डिसेंबरपासून "गाव तेथे उपोषण' आंदोलन करण्याचा निर्धार विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केला आहे.

सुमारे 90 लाख हेक्‍टरमध्ये यावर्षी नापिकी झाली असल्याची कबुली सरकारने दिली आहे. यामध्ये सर्व शेतकरी कोरडवाहू आहेत. कापूस, सोयाबीन व धानाचे पीक जेमतेम 20 ते 30 टक्के झालेले आहे. त्यातच लागलेला खर्च व मिळत असलेला भाव यामुळे शेतकरी कमीत कमी 20 हजार कोटींच्या आर्थिक नुकसानीला तोंड देत आहेत. अशावेळी सरकार पश्‍चिम महाराष्ट्राच्या ऊस उत्पादक शेतकऱ्यांना हेक्‍टरी 25 ते 30 हजार रुपये मदत देते, त्याप्रमाणे या शेतकऱ्यांनाही भरघोस मदत देईल व कॉंग्रेस व राष्ट्रवादी कॉंग्रेसचे मंत्री व आमदार वारंवार विनंती करत असल्यामुळे सरकार यावेळेला विदर्भाला न्याय देईल, असे वाटत होते. मात्र, प्रत्यक्षात या पॅकेजमध्ये पश्‍चिम विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादक पाच जिल्हे प्रचंड प्रमाणात वंचित राहतील, अशी दाट शक्‍यता आहे. कारण अमरावती महसूल विभागाने या विभागात नापिकीचा अहवालच दिलेला नाही. एकूण क्षेत्र 90 लाख हेक्‍टर असताना सरकार ही मदत शेतकऱ्यांना कशी देईल, यावर प्रश्‍नचिन्ह असून, प्रत्येक वर्षासारखे हे पॅकेजसुद्धा एक धूळफेकच ठरणार असल्याची टीका किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.

सरकारने कापूस, सोयाबीन व धानाच्या हमीभाव वाढीचा प्रश्‍न तत्काळ निकालात लावावा व पॅकेजची मदत कमीत कमी दहा हजार रुपये प्रतिहेक्‍टरपर्यंत आणावी, अशी किमान मागणी नैराश्‍यग्रस्त शेतकऱ्यांची आहे. शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्या रोखण्यासाठी दिलेल्या पॅकेजवर फेरविचार व्हावा, अशी मागणीही विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे.
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पॅकेज' नंतरही विदर्भात शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या-आघाडीचे पॅकेज 'धूळफेक' - किशोर तिवारी यांची टीका-लोकशाही वार्ता

2011-12-17T21:59:00.000-08:00

पॅकेज' नंतरही विदर्भात शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या-आघाडीचे पॅकेज 'धूळफेक' - किशोर तिवारी यांची टीका-लोकशाही वार्ता

लोकशाही वार्ता/१७ डिसेंबर

यवतमाळ: राज्य सरकारने विदर्भ, मराठवाडा, उत्तर महाराष्ट्र व खानदेशमधील सर्व कापूस उत्पादक शेतकरी आणि २५ टक्क्यांच्यावर नापिकी असलेले सोयाबीन व धानउत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांना दिलेले मदतीचे पॅकेज अपुरे आहे. हमीभावाच्या मागणीला बगल दिल्यामुळे विदर्भात चार शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या झाल्या आहेत. अंकुश राऊत (रा. वाकळी जि. यवतमाळ), अशोक भोंगळे (रा. बार्मडा जि.यवतमाळ), (रामुदास कांबळे रा.गौळ जि.वर्धा),( शामराव ढेंगे रा.केसलवाडा जि.भंडारा) या ४ शेतकर्‍यांनी आत्महत्या केल्याचे उजेडात आले आहे. यंदा आत्महत्या करणार्‍या शेतकर्‍यांचा आकडा ७२२ वर पोहोचल्याची माहिती विदर्भ जन आंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी दिली. सुमारे ९0 लाख हेक्टरमध्ये या वर्षी नापिकी झाली असल्याची कबुली सरकारने दिली आहे. यामध्ये सर्व शेतकरी कोरडवाहू आहे. कापूस, सोयाबीन व धानाचे पिक जेमतेम २0 ते ३0 टक्के आले आहे. त्यातच लागलेला खर्च व मिळत असलेला भाव यामुळे शेतकरी कमीत कमी २0 हजार कोटीच्या आर्थिक नुकसानाला तोंड देत आहे. अशा वेळी सरकार पश्‍चिम महाराष्ट्राच्या ऊस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांना हेक्टरी २५ ते ३0 हजार रुपये मदत देते. त्याचप्रमाणे या शेतकर्‍यांनाही भरघोस मदत देईल व काँग्रेस व राकाँचे मंत्री व आमदार वारंवार विनंती करत असल्यामुळे सरकार यावेळेस विदर्भाला न्याय देईल, असे वाटत होते. मात्र प्रत्यक्षात या पॅकेजमध्ये पश्‍चिम विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादक ५ जिल्हे प्रचंड प्रमाणात वंचित राहतील, अशी दाट शक्यता आहे. अमरावती महसूल विभागाने या विभागात नापिकीचा अहवालच दिलेला नाही. एकूण क्षेत्र ९0 लाख हेक्टर असताना सरकार ही मदत शेतकर्‍यांना कशी देईल, यावर प्रश्नचिन्ह असून प्रत्येक वर्षासारखे हे पॅकेजसुद्धा एक धूळफेक ठरणार असल्याची टीका किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.

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महाराष्ट्र सरकारचे पॅकेज शेतकरयांना अमान्य -कापसाच्या हमीभाव वाढीसाठी तीव्र आंदोलन करणार -तरुण भारत

2011-12-16T21:29:00.001-08:00

महाराष्ट्र सरकारचे पॅकेज शेतकरयांना अमान्य -कापसाच्या हमीभाव वाढीसाठी तीव्र आंदोलन करणार -तरुण भारत

त. भा. वा.
यवतमाळ, १६ डिसेंबर
महाराष्ट्र सरकारने सुमारे ९० लाख हेक्टरमधील सुमारे १ कोटी शेतकरयांना मदत देण्यासाठी २ हजार कोटींचे पॅकेज एक धूळफेक असून ही पॅकेजची रक्कम २ आर्थिक वर्षात देणार असून यामध्ये पश्चिम विदर्भाच्या शेतकरयांचे भले होणार नाही हे आता स्पष्ट झाले आहे.कापसाचा हमीभाव ६ हजार रुपये व्हावा, सर्व शेतकरयांना नवीन पीककर्ज मिळावे, नापिकी झालेल्या शेतकरयांना हेक्टरी १० हजार रुपये कमीतकमी ५ हेक्टरपर्यंत मिळावे, या शेतकरयांच्या प्रमुख मागण्या असून या मागण्यांसाठी येत्या २५ डिसेंबरपासून ‘गाव तेथे उपोषण' आंदोलन करण्याचा निर्धार विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केला आहे.
सुमारे ९० लाख हेक्टरमध्ये यावर्षी नापिकी झाली असल्याची कबुली सरकारने दिली आहे. यामध्ये सर्व शेतकरी कोरडवाहू आहेत. कापूस, सोयाबीन व धानाचे पीक जेमतेम २० ते ३० टक्के आले आहे. त्यातच लागलेला खर्च व मिळत असलेला भाव यामुळे शेतकरी कमीतकमी २० हजार कोटींच्या आर्थिक नुकसानाला तोंड देत आहे.

अशावेळी सरकार पश्चिम महाराष्ट्राच्या ऊस उत्पादक शेतकरयांना हेक्टरी २५ ते ३० हजार रुपये मदत देते, त्याचप्रमाणे या शेतकरयांनाही भरघोस मदत देईल आणि काँग्रेस व राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेसचे मंत्री व आमदार वारंवार विनंती करत असल्याने सरकार यावेळेस विदर्भाला न्याय देईल, असे वाटत होते.मात्र, प्रत्यक्षात या पॅकेजमधये पश्चिम विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादक पाच जिल्हे प्रचंड प्रमाणात वंचित राहतील, अशी दाट शक्यता आहे. कारण अमरावती महसूल विभागाने या विभागात नापिकीचा अहवालच दिलेला नाही. एकूण क्षेत्र ९० लाख हेक्टर असताना सरकार ही मदत शेतकरयांना कशी देईल, यावर प्रश्नचिन्ह असून प्रत्येक वर्षासारखे हे पॅकेजसुद्धा एक धूळफेक ठरणार असल्याची टीका किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.
सरकारने कापसाचा, सोयाबीनचा व धानाचा हमीभाव वाढीचा प्रश्न तात्काळ निकालात लावावा व पॅकेजची मदत कमीतकमी १० हजार रुपये प्रती हेक्टरपर्यंत आणावी, अशी किमान मागणी नैराश्यग्रस्त शेतकरयांची आहे. शेतकरयांच्या आत्महत्या रोखण्यासाठी दिलेल्या पॅकेजवर फेरविचार व्हावा, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे. कोरडवाहू शेतकरयांना अती पावसाचे नगदी पीक घेण्यासाठी सरकारने बाध्य केल्यामुळे नुकसानभरपाईसाठी सरकार जबाबदार आहे व या जबाबदारीमधून आर्थिक दिवाळखोरीच्या नावावर सरकार पळ काढू शकत नाही. सरकारने कोरडवाहू शेतकरयांना नगदी अनुदान देण्याची व त्यांना जिवंत ठेवण्यासाठी आरोग्यसेवा, शिक्षण सवलती, अन्न सुरक्षा व ग्रामीण रोजगार यासारख्या प्रश्नावर कायमस्वरूपी तोडगा काढावा आणि शेतकरयांच्या आत्महत्या थांबवाव्या, अशी विनंती किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.महाराष्ट्र सरकारचे पॅकेज शेतकरयांना अमान्य कापसाच्या हमीभाव वाढीसाठी तीव्र आंदोलन करणार

Vidarbha erupts in protest, dubs it as peanut package - DNA Reports

2011-12-15T22:30:00.001-08:00

Vidarbha erupts in protest, dubs it as peanut package

DNA / Swapnil Sakhare / Friday, December 16, 2011 8:00 ईस्ट

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_vidarbha-erupts-in-protest-dubs-it-as-peanut-package_1626429-all

A day after four farmers committed suicide in Vidarbha, farmers of the state’s eastern region on Thursday blocked roads on two highways to press their demand of better support prices for cotton, soya and paddy.

The four suicides take the toll of farmer suicides in the state to 722 in 2011 alone.

Ramdas Kamble, a 50-year-old farmer of Goul Village in Vardha district, was one of the four farmers who ended their lives on Wednesday.

He left his home early morning saying he was going to feed his cattle. His body was found in the village well.

In 2009, Kamble took a loan of Rs1.5 lakh from a cooperative bank by mortgaging his five-and-a-half acre of agricultural land. The same year, he also borrowed Rs70,000 on interest from a local money lender for his daughter’s marriage.

As farming was the only source of income for Kamble and his family, he had to again borrow Rs40,000 from the local money lender for sowing cotton and soya crop. But Kamble financial worries worsened after one of his two bullocks died and the soya crop got spoiled due to heavy rains. Soya didn’t yield any profit and cotton is not yet not sold as there were no profitable rates.

On Wednesday, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan announced a bailout package of Rs2,000 crore to the farmers of cotton, soya, and paddy in the Vidarbha region.

But Das’ family says it won’t be of any help. The farmers described the package as “a pittance”.

“The farmers might settle for something that is close to their losses. But a mere Rs2,000 crore package is not even worth peanuts,” said Kishor Tiwari, president of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, an activist group working for cotton farmers’ rights in Vidarbha.

Around 50 residents of Ralegaon, a small village in Yavatmal district, shaved off their heads, saying that they were undertaking the last rites of the government that is “dead”. Several spots on the National Highway 6 and 7 saw agitating farmers demanding Rs6,000 as the minimum support price for raw cotton as against the market price of Rs4,000 per quintal. They also condemned the government for announcing a bailout package, which, they said, makes a mockery of the farmers’ plight.

नागपूर-हैदराबाद मार्गावर शेतकरी विधवांचा रास्तारोको-विदर्भात ठिकठिकाणी आंदोलन

2011-12-15T22:14:00.001-08:00

नागपूर-हैदराबाद मार्गावर शेतकरी विधवांचा रास्तारोको-विदर्भात ठिकठिकाणी आंदोलन

नागपूर-हैदराबाद मार्गावर शेतकरी विधवांचा रास्तारोको-विदर्भात ठिकठिकाणी आंदोलन

लोकशाही वार्ता/१५डिसेंबर

पांढरकवडा : विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीच्या नेतृत्वात शेतकरी विधवा आणि शेतकर्‍यांनी तुळजापूर-नागपूर या राष्ट्रीय महामार्गावर आज अर्जुना येथे रास्तारोको आंदोलन करून दीड तास वाहतूक रोखली आणि शासनाच्या धोरणाचा निषेध नोंदविला. सुमारे सहाशे आंदोलकांमध्ये बोथबोडन, वारा कवठा, भोपा मांडवी, पाटणबोरी व इतर गावातील शेतकरी विधवा सहभागी झाल्या होत्या.
तसेच, गजानन बेजंकीवार यांच्या नेतृत्वात पाटणबोरी येथे नागपूर-हैदराबाद राष्ट्रीय महामार्गावरही वाहतूक रोखण्यात आली होती. वणी, उमरखेड येथेही रास्तारोको आंदोलन झाले, तर राळेगाव येथे आघाडी सरकारची तेरवी करण्यात आली! दारव्हा येथे शेतकर्‍यांनी तहसील कार्यालयावर बैलबंडी मोर्चा काढून आपला संताप व्यक्त केला.
कापसाला चांगला भाव देण्यासाठी काल जाहीर केलेले पॅकेज वाढवून द्यावे, अशी मागणी या आंदोलनात करण्यात आली. सरकारने कापूस, सोयाबीन, धान या पिकांचा प्रश्न तत्काळ निकाली काढावा, पॅकेजची मदत कमीत कमी दहा हजार रुपये प्रतिहेक्टर असावी अशी मागणी करणार्‍या या आंदोलकांना अटक केल्यानंतरच राष्ट्रीय महामागार्ंवरील आणि इतरत्रची वाहतूक सुरळीत झाली.
दरम्यान, शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या रोखण्यासाठी पॅकेजवर फेरविचार करण्याची मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे. सरकारने कोरडवाहू शेतकर्‍यांना नगदी अनुदान द्यावे, त्यांना आरोग्यसेवा, शिक्षण, अन्न सुरक्षा व रोजगार या क्षेत्रांसाठी विशेष सोयीसवलती द्याव्या अशा मागण्या किशोर तिवारी यांनी केल्या. दीडशे शेतकर्‍यांविरुद्ध पोलिसांनी गुन्हे नोंदविण्याची प्रक्रिया सुरू केली असल्याचा आरोप तिवारी यांनी केला आहे.

Posted by VIDARBHA FARMER SUICIDE at 10:02 PM

Vidharba farmers protest Chavan’s ‘peanuts’ bailout package-IANS Reports

2011-12-15T05:40:00.000-08:00

Vidharba farmers protest Chavan’s ‘peanuts’ bailout package

Nagpur, Dec 15 (IANS) A day after four farmers committed suicide in Vidarbha, farmers of Maharashtra’s eastern region Thursday staged a road blockade on two highways to press their demand of better support prices for cotton, soya and paddy.

The four suicides take the toll of farmer suicides in the state to 722 in 2011 alone.

The protest also comes a day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan declared a bailout package worth Rs.2,000 crore for the crisis ridden farmers of the state.

The farmers described the package as ‘a pittance’.

‘The farmers might settle for something that is close to their losses. But a mere Rs.2,000 crore package is not even worth peanuts,’ said Kishor Tiwari, president of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), an activist group working for cotton farmers’ rights in Vidarbha.

Supporting the agitation in a unique way were residents of Ralegaon, a small village in Yavatmal district, 160 km from Nagpur. Over 50 residents of the village shaved off their heads, stating that they are undertaking the last rites of the government that is ‘dead’.

Several spots on the National Highway Nos. 6 and 7 saw agitating farmers demand Rs.6,000 as the minimum support price for raw cotton as against the market price of Rs.4,000 per quintal.

They also condemned the government for announcing a bailout package which they said makes a mockery of the sad plight of farmers.

Chavan announced the bailout package in the winter session of the assembly Wednesday stating that farmers will be compensated on a per hectare basis.

The four farmers who committed suicide are Ankush Raut of Wadki and Ashok Bhongale of Bhamada in Yavatmal district, Ramrao Kamble of Gaul in Wardha district, and Shriram Thege of Kesarwada in Bhandara district.

‘The shock of rejection of farmers’ main demand to give hike to support price in cotton, soya and paddy has reportedly led to their suicide. A pittance of a bailout package added to their depression,’ Tiwari said.

Disappointed with farmer’s Package 4 more Vidarbha killed themselves :farm Widows Blockade National Highway protesting the Relief Package

2011-12-14T21:57:00.000-08:00

Disappointed with farmer’s Package 4 more vidarbha killed themselves :farm widows blockade National Highway protesting the relief package

Nagpur-15^th dcmber2011

The shocks of rejection of farmers main demand to give hike to support price in cotton ,soya and paddy has reported four suicides in vidarbha ,identified as

1.Ankush Raut of Wadki in Yavatmal

2Ashok Bhongale of Bhamada in Yavatmal

3.Ramrao Kamble of Gaul in Wardha

4.Shayram Thege of Kesarwada in Bhandara

As per media reports published here taking toll to 722 in year 2011 alone,Kishor Tiwari, president of Nagpur-based Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, (VJAS), activist group working for cotton farmer rights in a Press release today.

Most of major cotton centre town are completely closed to support ‘Bandh’ called giving by opposition parties and hundreds of farm widows blockade N.H. Tuljaput –Nagpur highway at Arjuna 160 k.m. away from Nagpur .there are violent protest of farmers reported all round vidarbha .farmers of vidarbha region are demanding hike in cotton procurement price to @ Rs.6000/- in order to compensate the losses incurred by them and cash compensation @ Rs.20,000 per hector but state has announced Rs.2000 crore for nearly 90 lakh hector which will peanut hence there is demand to revised the relief package ,tiwari added.

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, (VJAS), has welcomed initiative taken by Maharashtra DF Govt. to appoint committee to sort out issue of dry land farmers which are victims of Agrarian crisis and needs income base incentive to stop their on going suicides and such steps are must and should taken without delay,Tiwari said

‘It was most expected that after CM indicated earlier that bankrupt financial condition of Maharashtra can’t even give Rs.1000/- per hector to 5 millions farmers against the demand of Rs.10,000/- and the cotton farmers of western vidarbha will get nothing as administration has shown minimum crop failure in this region and now out 70 lakh hector area under cultivation of cotton, soya and paddy whop will get what that god know?. Farmers and all parties including congress NCP that MRP hike in cotton ,soya and paddy and cash compensation in line with sugarcane growers of western Maharashtra but once again Govt. has mad mockery of agrarian crisis and announced such penny relief which is nothing but hoax’Tiwari added.

The vidarbha agrarian is result of wrong policies promoted by state and situation of cotton growers in west Vidarbha has worsened when ban of cotton export imposed last year and massive crop failure this year .

Tiwari continued, "The government did not concede our demand of providing food security to desperate, distressed and marginal farmers even. The government needs to behave sensibly and responsibly to address farmers' woes and prevent the prevailing spate of suicide in the killing fields of Vidarbha." If the cotton growers do not get better price this season, the situation will assume drastic proportions, he cautioned.

VJAS has urged Govt. of India to send team of expert to assess the Bt. Cotton crop damage in Maharashtra and west vidarbha in particular where cotton farmers are killing themselves .VJAS has been demanding hike in cotton MSP Rs.6000/- per quintal and relief package to dying cotton farmers of region, Tiwari added.

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Vidarbha farm widows and farmers support 15th Dec. Opposition called statewide ‘BANDH’

2011-12-13T21:40:00.000-08:00

Vidarbha farm widows and farmers support 15^th Dec. Opposition called statewide ‘BANDH’

Nagpur -14th December ,2011

The announcement of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in parliament yester day that Govt. of India will not intervene to change cotton MSP for years 2011-12 and reports from close sources in Maharashtra DF Govt. that due on going financial crisis state is to dash the hope of 5 million farmers who are facing severe economical crisis due to massive crop failure who are demanding the bailout package and hike in MSP of cotton ,soybean and paddy now all vidarbha farmers will join the Bandh called SS-BJP in support of dying farmers on 15^th December to ,Kishor Tiwari, president of Nagpur-based Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, (VJAS), activist group working for cotton farmer rights informed in a Press release today.

“The agrarian crisis in Vidarbha and Marathwada is too serious to neglect and attitude of centre Govt. and state administration is pushing the issue to very pathetic situation when state can give huge compensation to sugarcane growers and massive bailout package to textile industry, it is unfortunate that they have no money save 5 million dying cotton farmers region hundreds of farm widows and farmers state peaceful national highway blockade on N.H.6 and N.H.7 as our demands have been pushed by all parties and all minister and MLAs of the region now it is duty of Maharashtra to provide relief bail out that cotton MSP hike @ Rs.6000/- quintal and cash compensation @ Rs.20,000/- to the farmers who have suffered crop failure due severe climate change ” Tiwari added.

The suicide spiral of debt trapped vidarbha farmer who are deep grip of agrarian crisis since 2005 due successive crop failure and volatile market prices of cotton has added 11 more victims as these 11 farmers suicides cases surfaced in first 10days of December 2011 when they failed to get any relief from state due to technical hurdles created by state election which has administration to announce any relief to 5 million dying farmers of Maharashtra on the pretext of so called code of conduct enforced due on going local body election Maharashtra taking toll to 715 in year 2011.

‘we are demanding long term solution to agrarian crisis not any package which are mostly contractor driven and designed to rehabilitation of the ill managed politician runs cooperative banks. our farmers are working as salves for handful MNCs who are manufacturing Gm seed, fertilizer and pesticides and revival of own agriculture is must which is not being done ’ Tiwari said.

विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादकांचे पॅकेज धोक्यात!-लोकशाही वार्ता

2011-12-13T19:14:00.000-08:00

विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादकांचे पॅकेज धोक्यात!

लोकशाही वार्ता /१३ डिसेंबर

यवतमाळ : विदर्भात पार पडलेल्या नगर पालिका निवडणुकीत आघाडी सरकारच्या प्रमुख पक्षांना मिळालेले यश त्यामध्ये राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेसला मिळालेला विजय यामुळे विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांचे पॅकेज धोक्यात आल्याचे मत विदर्भ जन आंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी व्यक्त केले आहे.

निकाल जाहीर झाल्याबरोबरच मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी महाराष्ट्राच्या ५0 लाख हेक्टरमधील नापिकीग्रस्त शेतकर्‍यांना मदतीसाठी तयार करण्यात आलेल्या पॅकेजवर चर्चा केली. केंद्रसरकारकडून मिळणार्‍या मदतीबाबतही खुलासा केला. जनतेमध्ये कोणताच असंतोष नसल्यामुळे सरकारने थातूरमाथूर मदत जाहीर करण्याचा प्रस्ताव मुख्यमंत्र्यांना दिला. त्यानंतर मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी सत्तारुढ पक्षाच्या विशेष करून विदर्भातील कापसाचा हमीभाव वाढविण्याची मागणी करणार्‍या व हेक्टरी १0 हजार रुपये मदत मागणार्‍या माणिकराव ठाकरेंसारख्या सर्व आमदारांना बोलावून सरकार दिवाळखोरीच्या उंबरठय़ावर असून आपण हेक्टरी जास्तीत जास्त १

हजार रुपये मदत देऊ शकतो, तीही मदत २ हेक्टराची र्मयादा ठेवूनच देण्याचा संकल्प मांडल्यामुळे विदर्भातील कापसाचा हमीभाव ६ हजार रुपये करण्याची मागणी करणारे सर्व मंत्री व आमदार विचलित झाले आहेत. मात्र पश्‍चिम महाराष्ट्राचे मंत्री व आमदारांनी मात्र विदर्भातील शेतकर्‍यांना मदतीपासून वंचित ठेवण्याचा कट रचला असून विदर्भाच्या शेतकर्‍यांनी या कटाविरुद्ध रस्त्यावर येऊन बंड पुकारावे, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.

'विदर्भाच्या कृषी संकटावर कायम तोडगा काढा'

विदर्भाचे कृषी संकट संपूर्ण महाराष्ट्रात पसरले असून नगदी पीक घेणार्‍या शेतकर्‍यांना हे वर्ष प्रचंड आर्थिक नुकसानीचे सिद्ध झाले आहे. संपूर्ण महाराष्ट्रातील ४0 लाख हेक्टरमधील कापूस लाल्या रोग आल्यानंतर संपूर्ण नष्ट झाला. तर २0 लाख हेक्टरमधील सोयाबीननेही या वर्षी दगा दिला आहे. विदर्भासोबत आता मराठवाडा, खानदेश, उत्तर महाराष्ट्रामध्ये नैराश्यग्रस्त शेतकरी प्रचंड आर्थिक अडचणीत येऊन सरकारच्या नाकर्तेपणामुळे आत्महत्या करीत असल्याचे वृत्त समोर येत आहे. महाराष्ट्राच्या कृषी संकटावर मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांनी सरकारी नोकरशाहीचे व कंत्राटदाराचे पोट भरणार्‍या पॅकेजची घोषणा न करता कृषी संकट सोडविण्यासाठी कायमस्वरूपी तोडगा काढावा अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे. आज महाराष्ट्रात सुमारे ६0 लाख कापूस सोयाबीन व धान उत्पादक शेतकरी नापिकी व बाजाराच्या मंदीमुळे आर्थिक अडचणीत सापडले आहे. या सर्व शेतकर्‍यांना नवीन पीक कर्ज उपलब्ध व्हावे म्हणून थकित पीक कर्जाबाबत तोडगा काढणे हा प्रमुख

मुद्दा सरकारने समोर ठेवावा. त्याचबरोबर या सर्व ६0 लाख शेतकर्‍यांना रोजगार मिळावा, यासाठी त्यांच्या शेतात रोजगार हमी योजनेची कामे तत्काळ सुरू करावी. या सर्व शेतकर्‍यांना अंत्योदय योजना सुरू करावी.

विदर्भात हजारो कोटींचा सिंचन घोटाळा - लोकमत विशेष

2011-12-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

विदर्भात हजारो कोटींचा सिंचन घोटाळा - लोकमत विशेष
(14-12-2011 : 23:40:09)
भूपेंद्र गणवीर। दि. १३ (नागपूर)

महाराष्ट्र सरकारच्या विदर्भ पाटबंधारे विकास महामंडळाने १५00 कोटी रुपयांचा निधी असताना सन २00७ ते २00९ या दोन आर्थिक वर्षांंत ११ हजार २३८ कोटी रुपयांच्या निविदा काढल्या. यात २जी स्पेक्ट्रम घोटाळय़ाप्रमाणे सुमारे तीन हजार कोटी रुपयांचा घोटाळा झाल्याचा प्राथमिक अंदाज व्यक्त केला जात आहे.

महामंडळाकडे उपलब्ध निधीच्या तीन पट किमतीच्या निविदा काढता येतात. मात्र काही प्रकल्पांमध्ये दहा पटपेक्षा जास्त निविदा काढून अधिकार्‍यांच्या संगनमताने हजारो कोटी रुपये खिशात घातले. या निविदांबाबत तातडीने कारवाई केल्यास घोटाळ्याची रक्कम बरीच कमी करता येईल. निम्न पैनगंगाच्या काही निविदा रद्द करून त्याची सुरुवात करण्यात आली आहे.
विदर्भ पाटबंधारे विकास महामंडळाला वर्षाला सुमारे तीन हजार कोटी रुपयांचा निधी उपलब्ध होतो. यातून कर्मचार्‍यांचे वेतन, देखभाल दुरुस्ती खर्च, जुन्या निविदांच्या कामांची देणे केल्यावर शिल्लक राहिलेल्या निधीच्या निविदा काढता येतात. म्हणजेच सुमारे सहा हजार कोटी रुपयांच्या निविदा काढता आल्या असत्या. मात्र, व्हीआयडीसीने सुमारे ३६0 कामांच्या ११ हजार ३३८ कोटी रुपयांच्या निविदा काढल्या. गेल्या १0 वर्षांंतील निविदांची रक्कम त्यामध्ये गृहीत धरली तर ही रक्कम २१ हजार कोटी रुपयांच्या वर जाते. पूर्णा बॅरेज-२ (नेरधामना) ची अवस्था तर वेगळीच आहे.
या कामांच्या निविदा काढताना बहुतेक कामांच्या निविदा मूल्यात मान्यता देताना अगोदरच अंदाजित मूल्यात वाढ करण्यात आली. ही वाढ विदर्भ पाटबंधारे विकास महामंडळ स्तरावरील अधिकार्‍यांच्या संमतीने केली गेली. त्यानंतर वाढीव मूळ निविदा मूल्यात दुसर्‍यांदा वाढीचा मुद्दा असेल तर त्यास जलसंपदा सचिव, अर्थ व नियोजन सचिव दर्जाच्या अधिकार्‍यांची परवानगी लागते. निविदा मूल्यात १५ टक्के वाढ असेल तर त्या कामाची पुनर्निविदा काढण्याचे बंधन आहे. हे बंधन असतानाही पुनर्निविदा न काढता कामांना मंजुरी देण्याचे प्रकार घडले. अनेक कामांचे निविदा मूल्य १५ ते ३0 टक्के वाढीनंतरही पुनर्निविदा काढण्यात आल्या नाहीत. यामध्येच मोठा आर्थिक घोटाळा दडला आहे.

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शेतकर्‍यांना पाच हजार कोटींचे पॅकेज तरीही हाती विषाचा प्याला-लोकमत

2011-12-13T00:17:00.000-08:00

शेतकर्‍यांना पाच हजार कोटींचे पॅकेज तरीही हाती विषाचा प्याला-लोकमत

शेतकर्‍यांना पाच हजार कोटींचे पॅकेज तरीही हाती विषाचा प्याला-लोकमत
(13-12-2011 : 00:18:54)
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गजानन चोपडे। दि.१२ (यवतमाळ)

पंतप्रधान आणि मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी घोषित केलेले सुमारे पाच हजार कोटींचे पॅकेजही कास्तकारांच्या आत्महत्येचे सत्र थांबवू शकले नाही. गेल्या ११ वर्षांत सहा जिल्ह्यात आठ हजार १३१ कास्तकारांनी कर्जाच्या डोंगराखाली दबून विषाचा घोट घेतला आहे. शासनाकडून देण्यात आलेल्या मदतीचे वाटप रोख स्वरुपात आत्महत्याग्रस्त कुंटुंबांना झाले असते तरी बळीराजाचे जीवनमान बहुवंशी सुधारले असते, असेच आता वाटू लागले आहे. विशेष म्हणजे, पॅकेजचे वाटप करण्यासाठी नेमण्यात आलेल्या आयुक्त दर्जाच्या अधिकार्‍यांनीही सतत दुर्लक्ष केले. परिणामी अधिकार्‍यांपासून तर दलालांपर्यंंत सार्‍यांनीच या पॅकेजचा मलिदा मनसोक्तपणे लाटला.
विदर्भातील यवतमाळ, अमरावती, अकोला, बुलडाणा, वाशिम आणि वर्धा या सहा जिल्ह्यांत कास्तकारांच्या सर्वाधिक आत्महत्या झाल्याची नोंद आहे. त्यातही यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यात शेतकरी आत्महत्यांनी कळस गाठला. ११ वर्षांंत यवतमाळात दोन हजार ३0४ शेतकर्‍यांनी जीवनयात्रा संपविली. त्या खालोखाल अमरावतीत एक हजार ८१0, अकोला एक हजार ८५, बुलडाणा एक हजार २४0, वाशिम ८९९ तर वर्धेत ७९३ शेतकरी कर्जबाजारीपणाचे बळी ठरले. सहा जिल्ह्यात असा एकही दिवस नाही उजाळला, ज्या दिवशी शेतकर्‍याने मृत्यूला कवटाळले नाही. शासनापासून तर माध्यमांपर्यंंत सर्वांंनीच शेतकरी आत्महत्या रोखण्यासाठी प्रयत्न केलीत; मात्र शासनाची मदत जखम पायाला अन् पट्टी डोक्याला बांधणारी ठरली.
शेतकरी आत्महत्या रोखण्यासाठी ८ डिसेंबर २00५ साली तत्कालीन मुख्यमंत्री विलासराव देशमुख यांनी एक हजार ७५ कोटींचे पॅकेज जाहीर केले खरे; पण एप्रिल २00६ पर्यंंत कास्तकाराच्या पदरी एक छदामही पडला नव्हता. एकंदरीत मुख्यमंत्र्यांचे पॅकेज फुसका बार ठरला, असे म्हटल्यास वावगे ठरू नये. त्यानंतर १ जुलै २00६ रोजी खुद्द पंतप्रधान मनमोहनसिंग यांनी विदर्भाचा दौरा करून शेतकरी आत्महत्येचे दाहक वास्तव अनुभवले. विशेष बाब म्हणून या सहा जिल्ह्यांसाठी तीन हजार ७५0 कोटी रुपयांचे पॅकेज घोषित केले. परंतु मदतीचा हा निधीही ३१ मार्च २00७ पर्यंंत राज्य शासनाच्या तिजोरीत पोहचला नव्हता. कर्जावरील २५ हजारांपर्यंंतची व्याज माफी, अल्प मुदतीच्या पीक कर्जावर पूर्ण व्याज माफी देण्याचे वचन शासनाकडून देण्यात आले. उर्वरित रक्कम सिंचन प्रकल्पांवर खर्च केल्याचे दाखविण्यात आले. एव्हाना तब्बल ५0 हजार कोटींची कामे सुरू करण्यात आली. केवळ दहा टक्के निधी उपलब्ध असताना ही कामे कंत्राटदारांना देण्यात आली. नंतर शेतकर्‍यांसाठीचे पॅकेज कंत्राटदारांच्या पॅकेजमध्ये आपसुकच वळते झाले. या कामात मोठा गौडबंगाल झाला. या भ्रष्टाचाराची चौकशी करण्याकरिता आमदार गिरीष बापट यांच्या अध्यक्षतेखाली समिती नेमण्यात आली. समितीचा अहवालाही तयार झाला. मात्र नंतर काय झाले, हा प्रश्न अद्यापही निरुत्तरीत आहे. महालेखाकार समितीनेही या महाभ्रष्टाचाराची गांभीर्याने दखल घेतली. भ्रष्टाचाराचा पर्दाफाश केला. परंतु केवळ पॅकेजची अंमलबजावणी बरोबर झाली नाही असे सांगत शासनानेही हातवर केले. कास्तकारांच्या हक्काचा निधी दलालांनीच गडप केला. यानंतर विदर्भातील सहा जिल्ह्यांना डोळ्यापुढे ठेऊन अख्या देशातील शेतकर्‍यांचे कर्जमाफ करण्यासाठी ७२ हजार कोटींची योजना आली. परंतु जाचक अटींमुळे ती देखील निर्थक ठरली.
अडचणीत असलेल्या शेतकर्‍यांना पंतप्रधान व मुख्यमंत्री सहायता निधीतून सानुग्रह अनुदान देण्यात आले. यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यात शिक्षणासाठी ५५६ लाख आणि आरोग्यासाठी ९६४ लाख रुपये देण्यात आले. पंतप्रधान पॅकेज अंतर्गत शेतकर्‍याचे जीवनमान उंचवावे यासाठी सिंचन सुविधा उपलब्ध करून देण्यात आल्या. प्रकल्पनिहाय भूसंपादनासाठी निधी उपलब्ध करण्यात आला. पेरणीच्यावेळी शेतकर्‍याची आर्थिक कोंडी सोडविण्यासाठी खरीप हंगामात बियाणे वाटप करण्यात आले. २३ लाख पाच हजार ९६२ लाभार्थ्यांंना खरिपाचे बियाणे अनुदानावर देण्यात आले. रबी हंगामातही शेतकर्‍यांना बियाणे अनुदानावर देण्यात आले. सुक्ष्म सिंचनाअंतर्गत ठिबक सिंचनासाठी शेतकर्‍यांना १४ कोटी ३0 लाख रुपये वितरित करण्यात आले. या सोबतच कृषी तंत्रज्ञान व्यवस्थापनाअंतर्गत शेतकर्‍यांना प्रशिक्षण, प्रात्यक्षिक, माहिती व सल्ला केंद्र, शेतकरी चर्चासत्र, प्रदर्शन भरविण्यात आले. शेती पूरक व्यवसायासाठी दुधाळ जनावरे आणि शेतीपयोगी अवजारांचेही शेतकर्‍यांना वितरण करण्यात आले. शेतकरी आत्महत्या रोखण्याचा निव्वळ कांगावा या सर्व योजनांतून करण्यात आला. प्रत्यक्ष स्थिती मात्र वेगळी होती. सिंचनाच्या नावाखाली दिलेला निधी प्रत्यक्षात शेतकर्‍यांपर्यंंत पोहोचलाच नाही. पंतप्रधान पॅकेजच्या विहिरींची अवस्था आजही दयनीय आहे. दुधाळ जनावरांच्या नावाखाली शेतकर्‍यांना भाकड जनावरे देण्यात आली. बहुतांश प्रकरणात तर कागदोपत्रीच जनावरांची खरेदी करण्यात आली. निकृष्ठ दर्जाची कृषी अवजारे देण्यात आली. कृषी खात्याच्या सल्ल्यावरून खासगी कंपनींशी साटेलोटे करत अवजारे खरेदी करण्यात आली. काही दिवसांतच ही अवजारे कास्तकारांसाठी डोकेदुखी ठरली. शिवसेनेचे आमदार संजय राठोड यांनीतर विधीमंडळ अधिवेशनात निकृष्ठ दर्जाच्या अवजारांची चक्क प्रदर्शनी लावून कृषी खात्याच्या गचाळ कारभाराची लक्तरेच वेशीवर टांगली होती. कृषी कर्ज माफी आणि कर्ज परतफेड सवलत योजनेचा लाभ देताना सहकार क्षेत्रातील बँकाच गब्बर झाल्यात अन् कास्तकार मात्र कर्जाच्या गर्तेत पुरता अडकत गेला.
शेतकरी पॅकेजच्या अंमलबजावणी आणि नियंत्रणासाठी अमरावतीच्या विभागीय आयुक्त कार्यालयात वसंतराव नाईक शेतकरी स्वावलंबन मिशनचे स्वतंत्र कार्यालय थाटण्यात आले. आयुक्त दर्जाचा अधिकारी या कार्यालयाचा प्रमुख होता. परंतु गेल्या पाच वर्षात पॅकेजच्या या कार्यालयाला पूर्णवेळ पिठासीन अधिकारीच मिळाला नाही. नियुक्त्या झाल्यानंतर तेथील अधिकार्‍यांनी अवघ्या काही महिन्यातच आपले इतरत्र पुनर्वसन करून घेतले. त्यामुळे पॅकेजच्या अंमलबजावणीवर सुरुवातीपासूनच या कार्यालयाचे नियंत्रण नव्हते. त्याचा परिणाम पॅकेजमध्ये भ्रष्टाचार फोफावण्यावर झाला. आजच्या घडीलाही पॅकेजच्या कार्यालयाला कुणीच वाली नाही. दीड वर्षांंपासून पिठासीन अधिकार्‍याचे पद रिक्त आहे. लिपीकवर्गीय यंत्रणेलाही तेथून हटविण्यात आले. परिणामी या कार्यालयाला सध्यातरी जणू कुलूपच लागले आहे.
संकेत स्थळावर जुनीच माहिती
शेतकरी आत्महत्यांची नोंद नावासकट करण्यासाठी ‘वसंतराव नाईक शेतकरी स्वावलंबन मिशन’ या नावाने संकेत स्थळ तयार करण्यात आले होते. मात्र गेल्या दीड वर्षांंंपासून ते ‘अपडेट’ नाही. वास्तविक आत्महत्या करणार्‍या शेतकर्‍यांचे नाव, कर्ज वाटपाची नावासह माहिती, सिंचन प्रकल्पांची प्रगती तसेच इतर शेतकर्‍यांची माहिती दररोज या संकेत स्थळावर ‘अपडेट’ करण्याच्या सूचना आहेत. परंतु याकडे कुणीही लक्ष देत नाही. एकंदरीत शेतकरी आत्महत्येला गांभीर्याने घेण्याऐवजी थट्टा केली जात आहे.
डिसेंबरच्या सुरुवातीलाच विदर्भात
११ शेतकर्यांच्या आत्महत्या‍
विदर्भातील नापिकी व कर्जबाजारीपणामुळे नैराश्याला तोंड देत असलेल्या ३0 लाख शेतकर्‍यांपैकी आणखी ११ शेतकर्‍यांनी आत्महत्या केल्याच्या घटना समोर आल्या आहेत. महादेव सपकाळ रा. तालखेड, जि. बुलढाणा, भीमराव कुळसंगे, रा. धानाली, जि. वर्धा, फत्तू पायडलवार, रा. झटगाव, जि. भंडारा, शंकर काटेकर, रा. दाढीपेठी जि. अमरावती, भगवान मेश्राम रा. केळझरा जि. यवतमाळ, गजानन भोंगडे रा. बेलोरा जि. यवतमाळ, बाळाभाऊ राठोड रा. उमरदरी जि. वाशिम, किशोर तलमले रा. उमरी पठार जि. यवतमाळ, संदीप खडसे रा. कोडपाखिंडी जि. यवतमाळ, तुकाराम सातपुते रा. केनवड जि. वाशिम, देविदास सारोळकर रा. थड जि. बुलढाणा या दहा शेतकर्‍यांनी आत्महत्या केल्याचे विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे सचिव मोहन जाधव यांनी एका पत्रकात म्हटले आहे.

Packaged politics once again on vidarbha farm issues-TIMES OF INDIA

2011-12-12T06:49:00.000-08:00

Packaged politics once again on farm issues-TIMES OF INDIA

Printed from

Packaged politics once again on farm issues

Ramu Bhagwat, TNN | Dec 12, 2011, 02.43AM IST

NAGPUR: It's the golden jubilee of the winter session of the state legislature this year. And far from any celebratory mood, it's the grave agricultural crisis facing the state that would overshadow the proceedings of the ten-day session.

The entire opposition is geared up to get a better deal for cotton, soyabean and paddy - the three main crops of Vidarbha - which have once again let down farmers of the region. But then we can expect the rhetoric of the opposition to be matched by dramatics of the government. More so as chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has indicated that relief package would be announced during the forthcoming session.

So, another package is on the cards. At the end of the day, or rather session, it would boil down to politics of the package. While the opposition may reject the package as meagre, the government would hope that what it is doling out would be enough to limit the political damage in the zilla parishad and gram panchayat elections that are to follow after the December 11 municipal council polls in the state.

However, the moot question is what purpose these annual packages serve. In the last five years many such packages - loan waivers, compensation for damaged crops, subsidies for farm ponds - have come the farmers' way in Vidarbha. All these measures have not made an iota of a difference in the life of the region's farmers. The only thing certain in Vidarbha's farms is the harvest of suicides.

Time has come for the state as well as the Union government to come out with a permanent solution for dryland farmers whose life hinges on vagaries of nature. Over 5 million families in the state solely depend on cotton as a cash crop.

The area under cotton cultivation now exceeds 40 lakh hectares, nearly 44% of total cotton growing area of the country. New areas in Marathwada and even western Maharashtra are taking to cotton only to find that in dryland areas yields are too low to break even. Recurring losses mean piling up of debt burden forcing farmers to commit suicide.

Unless some special fund is set up to subsidize dryland farmers, the crisis may only worsen. For instance, leave alone MSP and the price of around Rs4,000 a quintal even in the open market, the cotton grower would be able to recover only half the money he invested this year. The government has to intervene and help farmer tide over this crisis. But short term measures would not do.

Labour rates, fertilizers, insecticides and seeds all have become costly. On the other hand, the open market price of cotton which was around Rs6,000 last year, has fallen below Rs4,000 a quintal this year. The condition of soya farmer is even worse. Rains at the wrong time have brought yield to less than half the normal. Paddy growing has also become economically unviable.

At the root of this crisis is the poor irrigation facility that substantially reduced the yield. In Maharashtra, the surface irrigation through dams caters to only 2-3% of land while other means like farm wells and ponds cover 10-12% of the land under cultivation. The rest depends on monsoon. The CACP at the Centre fixes MSP on average input costs of all states, placing Vidarbha in the same place as high-yielding Punjab (with 99% irrigation) and Gujarat (45% irrigation). There is no consideration for dryland situation. This is seen as an injustice by farmers of regions like Vidarbha. Cotton is grown in 40 lakh hectares and gets less political attention. Sugarcane grown in barely 7 lakh hectares in influential western Maharashtra gets all the goodies. This disparity should end if Vidarbha farmer is to survive.

RAISING THE BAR

Scientific guidance

Nagpur has a number of institutes in agriculture - in cotton, citrus, soil - yet the farmers' actual benefit is very little from their research due to the absence of a proper extension system. They need proper scientific guidance on types of crops to be grown in region with cultivation practices.

Shift in crop pattern

There is a strong need for shift in crop pattern based on soil conditions and water availability. National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBBS&LUP) has prepared maps for different agro-climatic zones for sustainable agriculture, but the agriculture department and other implementing agencies have never taken them to farmers.

Region-specific MSP

According to the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), the cost of production of cotton in Vidarbha and Maharashtra ranges from Rs26,000-34,000 per ha for rain-fed conditions and Rs45,000-50,000 per ha for irrigated conditions. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices which fixes the blanket minimum support price (MSP) nationally for different crops does not take into account the productivity levels which are very low in Vidarbha. MSP should therefore be region-specific.

Special farm zones

Special farm zones should be set up in the state to demarcate crops for them by the agriculture universities and government research institutes.

Faulty crop insurance policy

Crop insurance policy for orange announced recently is very faulty and has been framed without considering the recommendations made by the National Research Centre for Citrus. Generally, 70% farmers take 'mrig bahar' crop and 30% 'ambia bahar'. But the insurance policy has taken into consideration only 'ambia bahar' crop.

Cumbersome loan procedure

Nationalized banks have such a cumbersome and bureaucratic procedure for crop loan that maximum farmers never get loans from them.

Losses due to power cuts

Farmers suffer huge losses for no fault of theirs due to load-shedding. The government should either compensate them for it or ensure regular electric supply.

Major crops damaged

This year, all major crops like soyabean (in flowering stage), cotton (boll formation) and paddy (transplantation stage) were damaged severely particularly due to heavy rains at wrong time. Farmers need compensation for each of these crops and also the right MSP. The forthcoming 'mrig bahar' crop (70% farmers depend on it) which fruits from February to April is going to be very bad due to effect in flowering and fruiting. Orange needs at least 150mm rain in July but this year it rained only 70mm in the month but there were heavy rains in later months.

With farmers' economic distress and, consequently, their suicides refusing to abate, Vidarbha's agriculture scene has emerged as something of a national challenge. Despite the issue getting attention from highest level, no effective solution has been found. There have been packages and relief measures but they all ended up being mired in red tape or corruption allegations. Given the stubborn nature of the problem, it really needs some out of the box thinking. The approach should be to wean farmers away from government subsidies by devising market mechanisms that ensure fair return on their produce. When food prices are rising for consumers, farmers not getting higher returns does not stand to reason. Obviously something is gravely wrong. Government interventions so far have gone the wrong way. Could it be time to try a more hands off approach and let the prices be decided by producers and consumers?

11 more Vidarbha Farmers Suicides reported in December: Farmers Demands Policy Driven Relief Package not ‘Contractor or Bank Driven’

2011-12-12T01:46:00.000-08:00

11 more Vidarbha Farmers Suicides reported in December: Farmers Demands Policy Driven Relief Package not ‘Contractor or Bank Driven’

Nagpur -12^th December ,2011

The suicide spiral of debt trapped vidarbha farmer who are deep grip of agrarian crisis since 2005 due successive crop failure and volatile market prices of cotton has added 11 more victims as these 11 farmers suicides cases surfaced in first 10days of December 2011 when they failed to get any rlief from state due to technical hurdles created by state election which has administration to announce any relief to 5 million dying farmers of Maharashtra on the pretext of so called code of conduct enforced due on going local body election Maharashtra taking toll to 715 in year 2011, ill feted farmers are

1.Mahadev Sapkal of Talked in Buldhana

2.Bhimrao Kulsange of Dhanoli in wardha

3.Bhattu Padalwar of Itgoan in bhandara

4.Shankar Katkar of Dadhipidhi in amaravati

5.Bhagwan Meshram of Kelzara in yavamal

6.Gajanan Bhongale of Belora in yaatmal

7.Balabhau Rathode of Uamardari in washiml

8.Kishor Talmale of Umaripathar in Yavatmal

9.Sanddep Khadase of Kkolpakhindi in Yavatmal

10.Tukaram Satpute of Kenwad in washim

11.Devidas Sarodkar of Thad in Buldhana

Kishor Tiwari, president of Nagpur-based Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, (VJAS), activist group working for cotton farmer rights who are documenting these farm suicides since 1997 informed in a Press release today.

‘we are demanding long term solution to agrarian crisis not any package which are mostly contractor driven and designed to rehabilitation of the ill managed politician runs cooperative banks. our farmers are working for handful MNCs who are manufacturing Gm seed, fertilizer and pesticides and revival od own agriculture is must which is not being done ’ Tiwari said.

VJAS has urged Govt. of India to send team of expert to assess the Bt. Cotton crop damage in Maharashtra and west vidarbha in particular where cotton farmers are killing themselves ।VJAS has been demanding hike in cotton MSP Rs.6000/- per quintal and relief package to dying cotton farmers of region, Tiwari added.

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शेतकरी आत्महत्या व आंदोलनाचा बाजार-लोकशाही वार्ता

2011-12-11T21:45:00.000-08:00

शेतकरी आत्महत्या व आंदोलनाचा बाजार-लोकशाही वार्ता

शेतकरी आत्महत्या व आंदोलनाचा बाजार-लोकशाही वार्ता

किशोर तिवारी

(९४२२१0८८४६)
kishortiwari@gmail.com

यावर्षी पुन्हा एकदा विदर्भात कापूस व सोयाबीन या पिकांची प्रचंड नापिकी झाली. शेतकर्‍यांच्या पिकाला योग्य भाव नाही. कर्ज आणि नापिकीमुळे वैफल्यग्रस्त शेतकरी आत्महत्येचा मार्ग अवलंबित आहे. मागील एक महिन्यापासून विदर्भात प्रत्येक ८ तासाला शेतकरी आत्महत्येची नोंद होत आहे. सत्ताधारी व विरोधकांनी मात्र शेतकरी आत्महत्येचे राजकारण केले असून, शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्यांचा बाजार सुरू आहे. यातच ७ डिसेंबरला धामणगाव (रेल्वे) येथे मुख्यमंत्र्यांच्या सभेत गोकुळसरा येथील कापूस उत्पादक शेतकरी अरुण सबाने यांनी मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी शेतकर्‍यांच्या गंभीर प्रश्नावर तोडगा काढावा, असे म्हटले होते. त्यातच मुख्यमंत्र्यांचे भाषण सुरू असताना त्यांनी सर्वांसमक्ष चक्क विष प्राशन केले.
या घटनेमुळे संपूर्ण जगाचे लक्ष पुन्हा एकदा शेतकर्‍यांकडे वेधले गेले. सत्ताधारी पक्षाने अरुण सबाने यांच्या आत्महत्येच्या प्रयत्नाला राजकीय षड्यंत्र असे नाव दिले तर सारे विरोधी पक्ष नेते सबाने यांना भेटण्यासाठी यवतमाळच्या रुग्णालयात हजर झाले. मात्र मी दुसर्‍या दिवशी अरुण सबाने यांच्या वर्धा नदीच्या काठी असलेल्या गोकुळसरा या गावाला भेट दिली असता, तेथील विदारक परिस्थितीचे दर्शन झाले. अख्खा गाव नापिकी व कर्जाच्या बोझ्याखाली दबलेला व प्रत्येक शेतकरी दोन वेळच्या अन्नासाठी धडपडत असलेला दिसला. पश्‍चिम विदर्भातील सर्वात जास्त आत्महत्या असलेल्या यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यातील नैराश्यग्रस्त गावापेक्षा भीषण स्थिती तिथे दिसली. अरुण सबाने यांचा आक्रोश सर्वांच्या चेहर्‍यावर वाचला. आज भारत दुसर्‍या हरितक्रांतीच्या उंबरठय़ावर आहे, असे भारताचे पंतप्रधान वारंवार बोलतात. ही हरितक्रांती जैविक बियाणे निर्माण करणार्‍या अमेरिकेच्या मदतीने होणार, अशी ओरड योजना भवनातून वारंवार ऐकू येते. मात्र या हरितक्रांतीच्या येण्यापूर्वी या दशकात अडीच लाख शेतकर्‍यांनी आत्महत्या करून ही हरितक्रांती नको, असा मूकसंदेशच दिला आहे. मात्र खुली अर्थव्यवस्था व खुल्या बाजार व्यवस्थेची दलाली करणारे हे सरकार ज्या जैविक बियाण्यांनी विदर्भात कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्येचे पीक आणले तेच जैविक बियाणे कापसापासून पुढे आता सर्व पिकांच्या बियाण्यांसाठी वापरण्याची परवानगी देण्याचा कट रचला जात असल्यामुळे कापसाचे अर्थकारण व राजकारण समजण्याची वेळ आली आहे.
कापूस पणन महासंघाने केंद्र सरकारला कृषिमूल्य आयोगाने कापसाचा हमीभाव ठरवताना कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांवर अन्याय केल्याचे म्हटले आहे. त्यामुळे कापसाच्या लागवडीचा खर्च मागील ३ वर्षात २ हजारांवरून ५ हजारांवर गेल्याचे नमूद करून कापसाचा हमीभाव कमीत कमी ६ हजार रुपये करावा, अशी मागणी केली. त्यानंतर महाराष्ट्र प्रदेश काँग्रेस कमिटीचे अध्यक्ष माणिकराव ठाकरे यांनी संपुआच्या अध्यक्षा सोनिया गांधी यांची भेट घेऊन कापसाचा हमीभाव ६ हजार रुपये करण्याची मागणी केली. त्यांनीसुद्धा लागवडीचा खर्च तिप्पट झाल्याचे नमूद केले. मात्र, केंद्र सरकारने मागील ४ महिने या विषयावर कोणतीच कारवाई केली नाही. यामुळे राज्य सरकार प्रचंड अडचणीत आले. यादरम्यान विदर्भातील महाराष्ट्र सरकारमधील सर्व मंत्र्यांनी जाहीरपणे कापसाच्या हमीभावात ६ हजार ते ७ हजार रुपयांपर्यंत वाढ करण्याची मागणी केली तर काँग्रेस व राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस पक्षाच्या आमदारांनी या विषयावर विदर्भात आंदोलन केले. विरोधी पक्षांनी तर या सर्व हमीभावाची व सरकारच्या नाकर्तेपणाची लक्तरे जनतेच्या वेशीवर टाकण्यासाठी गावाच्या वेशीपासून लोकसभेच्या पटलावर हा मुद्दा आंदोलनाच्या रूपाने पेटवला. कारण कापसाच्या भावाचे अर्थकारण व त्यावर होत असलेले राजकारण केंद्र व राज्य सरकारच्या चुकीच्या धोरणामुळे आता त्यांच्या नियंत्रणाबाहेर जात आहे. सरकारने कापसाचे पीक महाराष्ट्रात ५0 लाख हेक्टरमध्ये पेरणी करण्यात व बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपन्याचे अतिपाण्याचे बियाणे विकण्यात दलालाची भूमिका निभावल्यामुळे हा प्रश्न आता अधिक गुंतागुंतीचा झाला आहे. कापसाचे आंदोलन पेटण्यापूर्वी महाराष्ट्राचे मुख्यमंत्री नागपूरमध्ये येतात व कापसाचा हमीभाव वाढविला तर कापडाच्या गिरण्या बंद होतील हा युक्तिवाद करतात.
यावरूनच कापसाच्या भावाचे अर्थकारण व त्यामागील भ्रष्ट राजकारण समोर येते. मागील वर्षी जगात कापसाला ९ हजार रुपये प्रतिक्विंटल मिळत असताना भारताच्या गिरणी मालकांना स्वस्त दरात कापूस मिळावा म्हणून नियोजितपणे कापसावर निर्यात बंदी लावण्यात आली. आता जगात कापसाची मंदी असताना कापसावरची निर्यात बंदी सरकारने उठविली आहे. मात्र यामुळे कापूस उत्पादकांच्या समस्या जैसे-थे आहे. कापूस उत्पादकांच्या आंदोलनात शेतकर्‍यांच्या कापसाचा भाव बाजार देईल, अशी मुक्त अर्थव्यवस्थेची मागणी करणारेसुद्धा सरकारने भाव द्यावा, यासाठी आग्रह करीत आहेत. हेच या आंदोलनाचे यश म्हणायला पाहिजे. मात्र, ज्या शेतकर्‍यांना कापसाचे पीक घेताना बाजारातून दमडीही खर्च न करता कोणतेही बियाणे, खत वा कीटकनाशक न घेता पीक घेता येत होते त्या शेतकर्‍याला २00५ मध्ये एकरी २ हजार रुपये खर्च येत होता. आता एकरी २0 हजार रुपये झाला आहे. लागवडीत झालेली १0 पटीची वाढ तर उत्पादनात झालेला घट आणि बाजारभावात होत असलेला प्रचंड चढ-उतार विदर्भाच्या शेतकर्‍यांच्या आर्थिक अडचणी वाढविणारा आहे.
आज कापूस उत्पादकांचे आंदोलन होत असताना शेतकर्‍यांच्या मूळ प्रश्नावर कोणीच बोलत नाही. सरकारने परवानगी दिलेले बीटी कापसाचे पीक किती टक्के घ्यावे यावर नियंत्रण करणे अत्यंत आवश्यक आहे. शेतीवर प्रतिएकरी होत असलेला खर्च आकाशाला भिडत असताना ग्रामीण भागात वाढलेला आरोग्य, शिक्षण व जीवनावरील खर्चसुद्धा सरकारने नियंत्रित करणे गरजेचे आहे. बँकांकडून शेतकर्‍यांना देण्यात येणारे कर्ज लागणार्‍या खर्चापेक्षा अध्रे असून यामुळे शेतकर्‍यांची खाजगी सावकारांकडून लूट होत आहे. खुल्या बाजारात कापसाच्या भावात होणारी घसरण भारत सरकारला अमेरिका व चीनच्या कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांच्या धर्तीवर किमतीत आर्थिक अनुदानाच्या निश्‍चित तरतुदीसाठी आवश्यक ती पावले उचलण्याची वेळ आली आहे. मात्र सरकार व विपक्ष या शेतकर्‍यांच्या मूळ प्रश्नावर कायमस्वरूपी तोडगा काढण्यास असर्मथ ठरत आहे. सरकारने कितीही मदतीची ओरड केली व विरोधकांनी कितीही दिंड्या काढल्या तरी जोपर्यंत सरकारच्या धोरणात बदल होत नाही तोपर्यंत कापूस उत्पादकांच्या प्रश्नावर तोडगा निघणार नाही. आज सरकारला कापूस उत्पादक क्षेत्रात कापसाच्या लागवडीवरील खर्च, शेतीसाठी लागणारे कर्ज व कापसाच्या लागवडीखाली येणारे क्षेत्र या तिन्ही गोष्टीसाठी कायद्याने नियंत्रक नेमणे आवश्यक आहे. बियाणे, कीटकनाशके व रासायनिक खते खरेदीत होणारी लूट, कर्जफेडीसाठी बँकांकडून होणारा तगादा तर आंतरराष्ट्रीय बाजारात व इतर देशांमध्ये कापूस उत्पादकांना मिळणारे आर्थिक संरक्षण त्यासोबतच सरकारने कापड गिरणी मालकांना स्वस्त कापूस मिळवून देण्याचे धोरण कापूस समस्येचे मूळ आहे. मात्र या दृष्टीने कोणतेही ठोस उपाययोजना केली जात नाही.
कापसाचे अर्थकारण जर अमेरिकेचे सरकार व भारताचे योजना आयोग निश्‍चित करत असतील व एका कटाद्वारे शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या होत असतील तर त्या कटावर या कापसाच्या हमीभावाच्या आंदोलनाच्या वेळी चर्चा होणे गरजेचे आहे. या देशात विदेशी बियाणे, कीटकनाशके व रासायनिक खत जोपर्यंत शेतामधून बहिष्कृत करण्यात येत नाही तोपर्यंत कृषी क्षेत्रातील अर्थकारण जिवंत होणार नाही. खुल्या बाजारात काही देश आपल्या कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांना कापसाच्या विक्रीसाठी आर्थिक अनुदान देत असेल तर सरकारने शेतकर्‍यांच्या मागील हजारो वर्षांपासून सुरू असलेल्या परंपरागत शेतीकडे वळावे. आरोग्य सुरक्षा, रोजगार हमी व उच्च शिक्षणात त्यांच्या मुलांना भरपूर सवलती द्याव्या. आज कापसाच्या भावाचे आंदोलन वरवर दिसत असले तरी या कापसाने ग्रामीण विदर्भ बर्बाद केला आहे. विदर्भातील ३0 लाख कापूस उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांमधून २७ लाख शेतकरी संपूर्ण कर्जाच्या ओझ्यात बुडाले आहे. या शेतकर्‍यांना वाचविण्याकरिता कोणत्याही राजकीय आंदोलनाची गरज नसून सरकारने आपल्या चुकीच्या धोरणापासून दूर व्हावे, हा एकमेव तोडगा आहे.
९४२२१0८८४६
kishortiwari@gmail.com
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State Election Commission Rejects VJAS plea to to relax code for Vidarbha farm relief Aid

2011-12-10T21:41:00.000-08:00

State Election Commission Rejects VJAS plea to to relax code for Vidarbha farm relief Aid

NAGPUR: 11^th December 2011

The State Election Commissioner Neela Satyanarayan official turned down plea of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), an advocacy group fighting for the cause of cotton growers of the region to relax the code of conduct imposed for the municipal council elections so that the state government could announce a relief package for farmers sighting the reasons that decision may influence voters and existing provisions of moral code of conduct can not relaxed as relief package is Govt. policy decision as per official letter wrote to Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), released to press release today by Kishore Tiwari VJAS president.

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) on 15.11. 011 filed a petition before the state election body has requested the state election commissioner Neela Satyanarayan to relax the model code and allow the state to extend relief to the cotton growers who were in serious state of distress because of crop losses. The VJAS has requested Chavan to pay compensation of Rs20,000 per hectare as difference in current purchase price and the actual cost of cotton cultivation, Pointing out that over a 1000 farmers have already committed suicide in the current year in the cotton belt, Tiwari has urged the poll panel chief that reports were submitted with the government from time to time warning of the impending crisis.

‘We are shocked with SEC rejection as same Govt. has announced relief package for sugarcane growers of western Maharashtra and SEC failed to raise any objection to that policy decisions and now SEC stands seems to be bias and stage managed ,we will move this matter before Election commission of India (ECI) asking them for urgent intervention as SEC babus are working as agents of Maharashtra Govt. and depriving dying framers community from relief which very serious issue as agrarian community no relevance and impact over municipal council elections and stand taken by SEC is rubbish to save Govt. from humiliation ’Tiwari added.
This issue has arisen when Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had put on hold decision to announce a compensation package for cotton growers citing the state election commission directives and failed to address the plight of the cotton growers who have suffered heavy crop losses in several pockets of Vidarbha, Marathwada expressed helplessness as the election commission had not allowed any policy announcement because of the code that was in force for the December 8 elections to 196 municipal councils in the state.

VJAS urge the state govt. to extend relief to the cotton growers who were in serious state of distress because of crop losses. The VJAS has requested Chavan to pay compensation of Rs20,000 per hectare as difference in current purchase price and the actual cost of cotton cultivation.

Tiwari has said in the plea that cotton procurement prices have not been revised substantially in last three years though input costs, including prices of seeds, fertilizers, labour costs had increased by about 40%. Several committees including the Narendra Jadhav committee had recommended urgent relief for dry land cotton farmers of the state but the government had failed to act on the reports. "After our meeting with the CM recently, the government had formulated a compensation package, But it was put on hold because of the model code of conduct," Tiwari said .

‘we made a forceful plea to the panel to relax the code as a special case so that the government could announce healing touch to the distressed cotton growers on the lines of those offered to sugarcane growers of western Maharashtra and relief package would go a long way in checking the unending suicides by farmers but hostile SEC Delayed relief which is very unfortunate. ’Tiwari added.

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वेगळ्या विदर्भ राज्याचे समर्थन करणारयांनाच मतदान करा- किशोर तिवारी यांचे आवाहन -तरुण भारत

2011-12-09T21:07:00.000-08:00

वेगळ्या विदर्भ राज्याचे समर्थन करणारयांनाच मतदान करा- किशोर तिवारी
यांचे आवाहन -तरुण भारत
यवतमाळ, ९ डिसेंबर

पश्चिम महाराष्ट्राच्या राज्यकत्र्यांनी, विदर्भावर अन्यायाचा कहरच केला, असून विदर्भात होत असलेल्या, शेतकरयांच्या आत्महत्यांना आघाडी, सरकारमधील काँग्रेस व राष्ट्रवादी, काँग्रेसचे नेतेच जबाबदार असून, विदर्भाचा ५० वर्षांचा अनुशेष भरून, काढण्यासाठी शेतकरयांच्या, आत्महत्या, आदिवासींचे कुपोषण व, बेरोजगारांना रोजगार देण्यासाठी आता, वेगळा विदर्भ राज्य, होणे हा एकमेव, तोडगा आहे. येत्या, ११ तारखेला होत, असलेल्या नगर, परिषद निवडणुकीत जे उमेदवार व पक्ष, वेगळ्या विदर्भाच्या मागणीला समर्थन, देतील त्याच उमेदवारांना मतदान करा, असे कळकळीचे आवाहन विदर्भ, जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर, तिवारी यांनी केले., भ्रष्टाचारविरोधी आघाडीचे घाटंजी, येथील अपक्ष उमेदवार मधुकर निस्ताने, यांच्या प्रचारसभेत बोलताना तिवारी, यांनी हे आवाहन केले त्यावेळी शेकडो, येथील नागरिकांनी या मागणीला पाठिबा, दिला.
विदर्भ सर्व जगात भारताच्या, शेतकरयांच्या आत्महत्येची राजधानी, म्हणून कुप्रसिद्ध झाला आहे. एकेकाळी, या वरहाडाला सोन्याची खाण म्हणण्यात, येत होती ती आज पश्चिम महाराष्ट्राच्या, नेत्यांनी शेतकरयाच्या आत्महत्येच्या, स्मशानभूमित परावर्तीत केली आहे., अशा परिस्थितीमध्ये विदर्भाच्या दबंग, नेत्यांनी पश्चिम महाराष्ट्राच्या नेतृत्वाची, कास धरून, त्यांच्या कुबड्या घेऊन, सत्तेच्या पायरया चढून संपत्ती गोळा, करणे सोडावे व विदर्भाच्या, स्वातंत्र्याच्या या लढाईमध्ये नवीन युवा, नेतृत्वाला समोर करून, त्यांच्या पाठीशी, तन मन धन लावून उभे राहावे, असा, सल्लाही किशोर तिवारी यांनी दिला. ज्या, पश्चिम महाराष्ट्राच्या नेत्यांनी या, महाराष्ट्राला लुटून २ लाख कोटींच्यावर, कर्ज या महाराष्ट्रावर केले असून, महामहीम, राज्यपालांच्या, आदेशानंतरही, विदर्भाला, घटनात्मक, हक्काचा विकासाचा निधी सतत १०, वर्षांपासून देण्यात येत नाही. विदर्भाच्या, विकासाच्या चितेवर अभ्यास, करण्यासाठी समित्यांवर समित्या, बसविल्या जातात. अशीच एक केळकर, समिती सध्या विदर्भात फिरत असून सर्व, नेत्यांनी व अभ्यासकांनी या अभ्यास, समितीसमोर फक्त वेगळ्या विदर्भाची, मागणी रेटावी, अशी विनंतीही किशोर, तिवारी यांनी यावेळी केली.
विदर्भाचा, मागासलेपणा व औद्योगिकीकरणामध्ये, झालेली पीछेहाट व शेतकरी, आदिवासींचे होत असलेले शोषण हे, पश्चिम महाराष्ट्राच्या दलाली करणारया, पोटभरू नेत्यांची विदर्भाला देण असून, या सर्व नेत्यांना त्यांची जागा, दाखवण्याची संधी नप निवडणुकीच्या, निमित्ताने आली आहे., वेगळ्या विदर्भ राज्याचे समर्थन, करणारयांनाच मतदान करा, किशोर तिवारी, यांचे आवाहन
केले आहे.

Vidarbha cotton farmers backs Sharad Pawar’s proposal to include farm work under MNREGA

2011-12-09T05:17:00.000-08:00

Vidarbha cotton farmers backs Sharad Pawar’s proposal to include farm work under MNREGA

Nagpur December 9, 2011

Vidarbha farmers has welcome the proposal of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for inclusion of farm laboures work under UPA flagship rural employment scheme MGNREGA as farm laboure’s wages has touched to sky as per as cotton crop is concern which is highly labor sensitive from sowing to fluking and this is long pending demand that farm work should be included under MNREGA,Kishor Tiwari Vidarbha Jandolan Samiti (V J A S )cotton farmers lobby group fighting for the rights of the cotton farmers who are committing suicides due on going agrarian crisis in the region.

"Under NREGA, Govt.is asking a farmer to build a road or some stone crashing ,work on dams which is not conventional rural work . Instead the government can allow cultivation activities under NREGA so that it would provide wages and also ease the labour costs," Tiwari, , added.

‘It is reported that State-level studies by the Agro Economic Research Centres on wage rate, food security and migration reveal that MGNREGA has put an upward pressure on general wage level in rural areas and that there is shortage of labour for critical labour intensive operations like sowing and harvesting and ,even states, panchayats and farmers associations want the rural development ministry to allow agriculture works under NREGA - something the officials are strongly opposed to, which is unfortunate’ Tiwari said .

We are not supporting pawar demand that he had reportedly sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month suggesting that at least 3 months in a year be considered an off-duration of rural employment guarantee scheme so that farm labourers are available during the peak agricultural operations in various parts of the country instead all agrarian activities should be part of MGNEREGA, Tiwari urged..

Vidarbha Crisis-Divide and rule-TIMES OF INDIA

2011-12-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

Vidarbha Crisis-Divide and rule-TIMES OF INDIA

Printed from

Divide and rule

TNN | Dec 8, 2011, 01.27AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Divide-and-rule/articleshow/11025303.cms

tags:Winter session|western Maharashtra|missing|Farmers' activist Kishore Tiwari

The eight participants began by examining if the winter session held here annually has been useful for the common man. Farmers' activist Kishore Tiwari, who saw the funny side in most things, started by describing the proceedings at the session as a farce perpetrated on the people of Vidarbha and one with no real utility. "All parties come together to adjourn or boycott the session for some reason or the other. I can tell you all with conviction that the resorts that have already been booked by politicians for sojourns in the nearby jungles during the session. Our elected representatives still are focusing on Western Maharashtra. What we need instead of this session is a proper mechanism to take decisions on problems and appeals related to revenue, government servants, PDS, citizens charter etc in Nagpur itself. We should not be forced to go to Mumbai or wait for the winter session to resolve such matters. Maybe, the staff could be stationed at Nagpur and ministers could visit once a month to take any policy decisions related to the work here," he said.
However, social worker Rupa Kulkarni, who works with domestic workers, said the session does serve some purpose. "The session here allows the disadvantaged sections of out society a chance to meet the powers that be. If politicians sit only in Mumbai, the common man would never be able to take problems and representations to them. I agree such demonstrations or morchas don't always get work done fast, but they are a means available to us. It took years for us to sensitize and pressurise the government to pass a law providing social security net for domestic workers. It is taking even longer to implement it, but this shows it can be done," she said.
Kulkarni also suggested, however, that agencies like the Vidarbha Statutory Development Board should be revived and utilized to benefit the region when the session is not meeting here.
Anand Parchure, a high court lawyer of repute, had a different take on the winter session. "Let the session continue to be ineffective, but at least ensure the citizens are not inconvenienced due to this show in town. Streamline it, so that the sham preparations and proceedings do not affect the common man."
Kavita Loya, a chartered accountant, said she disagreed with Parchure's views. She interjected to say, "Parchure's view is pretty superficial. We should not forego the advantage that the winter session gives us. It is our politicians who are to blame for not using this opportunity properly. We could get a lot done for our region even in the 15-day session if our politicians are up to it. But ending the session in Nagpur will be doing away a big opportunity."
Entrepreneur Rita Buddhe said the session had not given anything to the city or region. "The situation in Vidarbha has only deteriorated over the last 20 years. We have more and more sick units, with glitzy showrooms replacing manufacturing units. We are still dependent on agriculture while tiny towns like Nashik, Pune and Aurangabad have grown into big industrial centres."
BJP city unit chief Anil Sole took the middle path by saying that the agenda has to be set properly for the winter session to be really useful for the people. He admitted a failure of politicians that the same issues are discussed since decades without taking them forward. "But I would blame the people too. They are ready to suffer the same problems," he said.
Industrialist Praveen Tapadia added here that there is no alternative to the winter session and closing it down will not help at all. "The winter session does bring in some money into the local economy. Also, this is the time we can catch ministers and bureaucrats in town to highlight out problems. This is our only platform. We should force them to come and hear our problems."
Even as Loya was in complete agreement with this argument, Tapadia continued, "Actually, Hingna industrial area is doing pretty well. Why blame politicians for some failed units. We lack entrepreneurship. We lack the unity to get our work done in the legislature or bureaucracy. They are the ones who take the decisions, so how can you ignore them?"
Loya, Parchure and most others however dismissed the idea that Nagpur is sore at losing its capital status or the winter session should be continued just for the sake of custom or to retain Nagpur's status of second capital.
Tiwari pointed out that more than the session, its duration is what matters. "It used to be held for longer duration earlier. Today, politicians are not responsive to the situation and do not take it seriously now."
Kulkarni added, "Policy decisions are required here to change things," drawing approval from Parchure. "Basic functions of government need to be taken care of, like sanitation, water supply, health care etc. But not one politician or bureaucrat does the homework. It is all taken very lightly," said Kulkarni.
Loya said that this can also be blamed on the apathetic attitude of the politicians and the people themselves, who have let the powers-that-be get away with such an attitude for such a long time.
Tiwari and Sole both pointed out examples of this, like politicians missing out on important debates or all bills being summarily passed at the fag end of the last day of the assembly, when most members have already left or are no longer interested in debating the finer points of the issues.
Parchure said here that just speaking about what the politicians and bureaucrats are "duty bound" to do is not going to help. Giving a radical suggestion, he said, "Make sure they stay here for four or six weeks and solve a few problems before leaving. Better still, make all the legislators and bureaucrats come here for the session in summer. That will ensure all the decisions are taken quickly, so that they can escape to the cooler climes faster."
This suggestion drew as much approval from all present as laughter, and led to suggestions for the budget session to be held here too.
The debate also turned to the part played by the opposition in the assembly, and whether it too was responsible for the session being reduced to a futile effort. Sole said, "Some issues definitely come up in the session and are discussed. But I have to admit that there may not be any decision on them all the time."
Loya and Tapadia said here that the blame for this also falls on the citizens for not pulling up their representatives over non-performance. Parchure added, "The only thing left for citizens to do now is to take the law into their hands and get arrested. The politicians might soon end up being thrashed by the common man."
Buddhe and Loya agreed with him that Vidarbha, and Maharashtra too, lacks good politicians and it is leading to problems. Tapadia however said that despite all this the winter session cannot be blamed as the cause of the problems, so stopping the session is not a solution at all.
In view of this, the suggestion taken up for discussion was whether the amount spent on the assembly session would be better off being spent on development projects for the region. Tapadia remarked that even that money would go down the drain, like all funds released for Vidarbha currently.
An idea that got the most support was for a separate and independent secretariat to be set up in Nagpur for Vidarbha region. Tiwari said, "Currently, people approach the high court here instead of approaching the bureaucrats in Mumbai. An administration structure here, capable of hearing appeals and complaints and taking decision here itself would definitely help. We could have similar set-ups in Aurangabad and Konkan too."
Joining in the debate at this point, city Congress chief Jaiprakash Gupta admitted that the legislature session here has not solved any problems of the region. "Even in these sessions, little time and importance is given to Nagpur and the region. The budget session should be held here to really solve some problems. I have to say that chief ministers from western Maharashtra have been apathetic about this region. A CM from Vidarbha never did that in his 16-year tenure."
Parchure and most others pointed out that this was actually the best argument for a separate state of Vidarbha. Sole too supported the idea saying that the BJP has already expressed its support for a smaller state that could me managed better. He reiterated though that till that happens it would not be prudent to stop the winter session, since the session does give Vidarbha an opportunity to be heard every year.
Tapadia and Parchure too then suggested that a separate secretariat for Vidarbha here is the best way to move forward. It should enable decisions to be taken here, they said.
As for the lack of political will within the region, Parchure as well as Loya said that it is the responsibility of the citizens to push the politicians to act. Interestingly, even the two politicians on the panel, Gupta and Sole agreed with this observation on a change in attitude.
Tapadia though opposed the having ministers for every portfolio in Vidarbha too, "It will only benefit the politicians. Nothing will trickle down to the citizens." Sole too said this cannot work, since politicians also need a vision to be able to get work done.
Gupta said here that all local politicians agree on the need for a separate state, including Congressmen. However, he pointed out that this decision could be taken at the national level only, on the national policy as well as party level too.
Tiwari added here that, in the meantime, there needs to be a frank portrayal of the ground reality here. "Why should a rosy picture be painted of Hingna industrial estate, as Tapadia has claimed. My daughter and lakhs of other youth like her are forced to find employment in Pune because there are no opportunities here," he said.
Tapadia rebutted his claim to say that this problem would require another debate altogether, but insisted that the industrial situation is not as bad as it is made out to be. He granted though, "Even well connected industrialists find it difficult to get things done. So, there is almost no hope for the common man in the present situation."
As the debate wound up, the participant came to the conclusion that something like an independent secretariat is required to help Vidarbha develop. The consensus though was that if even that does not work, then the only solution would be a separate state. It would move all decision making to Nagpur, and finally the politicians here to work for the welfare of the people, unable to pass the buck to powers that be in Mumbai.

गोकुळसर्‍यात पेटते एक वेळ चूल - मुख्यमंत्र्यांच्या सभेत विष घेणार्‍या शेतकर्‍यांच्या गावातील वास्तव-लोकमत

2011-12-07T07:48:00.000-08:00

गोकुळसर्‍यात पेटते एक वेळ चूल - मुख्यमंत्र्यांच्या सभेत विष घेणार्‍या शेतकर्‍यांच्या गावातील वास्तव-लोकमत
(06-12-2011 : 23:32:36) Share
दि. ५ (धामणगाव रेल्वे)

दीडशे शेतकर्‍यांवर अर्धा कोटी रुपयांचे कर्ज, पांढर्‍या सोन्याला भाव नसल्याने घरातच कापूस पडलेला, मुलांचे शिक्षण, मुलीच्या विवाहाची चिंता अशा स्थितीत गावात एकाच सांजेला चूल पेटते. हे वास्तव आहे गोकुळसरा गावातील. काल रविवारी मुख्यमंत्र्यांच्या सभेत विष प्राशन करणारा अरुण सबाने हा शेतकरी याच गावातील रहिवासी आहे.
धामणगाव (रेल्वे) तालुक्यातील गोकुळसरा या गावातील अरुण देवीदास सबाने या शेतकर्‍याने मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांच्या प्रचारसभेत त्यांच्या भाषणाला सुरुवात होताच विष प्राशन केले. या शेतकर्‍याच्या प्रकृतीत सुधारणा होत आहे. या शेतकर्‍याच्या कृतीमागील वास्तव भीषण व अंगावर काटा उभे करणारे आहे. वर्धा नदीकाठी वसलेल्या गोकुळसरा गावाची लोकसंख्या ६00 असून १५२ शेतकरी कापूस उत्पादक आहेत. ३00 हेक्टर शेतजमिनीवर बँक, सोसायटी यांचे अध्र्या कोटींहून अधिक रकमेचे कर्ज आहे. शेतात कपाशीची लागवड केली आहे. एकीकडे कापसाला भाव नसल्याने घरात शेकडो क्विंटल कापूस पडून आहे, तर दुसरीकडे शेतातही कापूस दिसत आहे. घरात कापूस असतानाही व्यापार्‍यांचे देणे चुकते करता येत नाही.
अरुण सबाने यांच्या नावे तीन एकर, पत्नी ललिताच्या नावे तीन, मुलगा हितेश याच्या नावे साडेतीन एकर, तर छोटा राजेंद्र याच्या मालकीचे साडेतीन एकर अशी एकूण १३ एकर शेती आहे. शेतीच्या उत्पन्नातून घरखर्च चालतो. यंदा स्टेट बँकेचे १ लाख ६0 हजार रुपये आणि खासगी एक लाख रुपये कर्ज घर बांधणीसाठी घेतले होते. घरी २५ क्विंटल कापूस पडून आहे. भाव नसल्याने तो विकता येत नाही. दोन दिवसांपूर्वी व्यापार्‍याकडे अरुण गेला असताना त्यानेही अल्पभावात कापूस मागितला होता. त्यामुळे त्यांनी कापूस विक्रीला नेला नाही.

All eyes on political price for cotton-Times of India

2011-12-05T21:54:00.000-08:00

All eyes on political price for cotton

Ramu Bhagwat & Shishir Arya, TNN | Dec 6, 2011, 01.00AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/All-eyes-on-political-price-for-cotton/articleshow/10998722.cms
**"Farmers are sitting on cotton stocks. Less than 30% of the crop has reached the markets," said farm activist Kishore Tiwari. He has been demanding a MSP of Rs 6000. According to him the governments of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Karnataka - states where cotton is grown - have also demanded a hike. The CACP (commission for agricultural costs and prices) under pressure from the seven states had almost agreed for a MSP of Rs 4250. But it was the Union agriculture ministry which shot down the proposal''**

NAGPUR: The meek Vidarbha farmer, only known for his suicidal tendency in the face of a crisis, seems to be flexing muscles this time. Till now, crying for government aid, several peasants in the region have withheld cotton supplies so as to squeeze traders.

The trick worked and cotton prices have rebound from Rs 3700 a quintal last week to Rs 3800 to 3900, with instances of a price of Rs 4,000 also being quoted, say sources in this business.

Arrivals have slowed down in local markets and there are reports of similar stances by farmers in Gujarat too, which has led to the price rise in the last few days.

Three holidays in a row at the Pandharkavda market further worsened the situation for traders. It was an extended weekend at this largest market for cotton in the region, with Moharram holiday on Tuesday, trading was shut even on Monday.

Going by its cultivation area and the number of people whose lives are hinged to it, cotton is now the biggest cash crop of the state. It was sugarcane that till now enjoyed political patronage because the area where it is grown (Western Maharashtra) dominates the state's power politics. But of late, farmers of the otherwise backward Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, where cotton is the main cash crop, have become more vociferous. Looking to their sheer numbers - about three million families - the government of the day knows it can ill afford to ignore their grievances.

That is the reason the forthcoming winter session of the state legislature has become the most anticipated even in the cotton calendar. Farmers have decided to wait till the winter session during which they hope that the government may increase the minimum support price (MSP) to at least Rs 4250 a quintal.

CM Prithviraj Chavan while citing the election code of conduct force for the municipal council polls for his inability to make any announcement, has hinted that a relief package could be expected during the winter session. He reiterated this during his day-long poll campaign tour of Vidarbha on Sunday.

"We are now waiting for the CM's package," said Jeetu Patil, a farmer from the outskirts of the city. "I have not sold the crop as the open market price is low and would not meet my production costs," said Patel. He is hoping at least a hike of Rs 1000 in the MSP from the current Rs 3300. There are reports of a one day token strike by farmers in Gujarat also which has left the traders fuming. "It is sheer pressure tactics, which is not going to work as the farmers' holding capacity will exhaust soon. Each of the farmers is sitting on huge stocks, with many it is almost the entire produce. The rates are expected to recede soon," said an exporter from Mumbai.

"Farmers are sitting on cotton stocks. Less than 30% of the crop has reached the markets," said farm activist Kishore Tiwari. He has been demanding a MSP of Rs 6000. According to him the governments of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Karnataka - states where cotton is grown - have also demanded a hike. The CACP (commission for agricultural costs and prices) under pressure from the seven states had almost agreed for a MSP of Rs 4250. But it was the Union agriculture ministry which shot down the proposal.

The Sunday incident when a cotton grower tried to end his life in the presence of Chavan who was at a campaign rally at Dhamangaon Railway and rising protests from not only the opposition parties but also ruling party leaders who are keen on a bailout package for cotton growers has taken the cotton pricing issue into realms of electoral politics. If the farmer is unhappy he may not vote for the Congress, NCP in the municipal council and corporation elections.

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Cotton farmer Arun Sabane ridicule Cong.charge that his ‘Suicide Attempt is Political Drama’: VJAS activist meet him Govt. Hospital Yavatmal

2011-12-05T05:04:00.000-08:00

Cotton farmer Arun Sabane ridicule Cong.charge that his ‘Suicide Attempt is Political Drama’: VJAS activist meet him Govt. in Hospital Yavatmal

Nagpur -5^th December 2011

A farmer attempted suicide while Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was addressing a public meeting at Dhamangaon Railway in Amravati district on Sunday has termed the local Congress MLA charge that he was asked by BJP to do so as “Rubbish’ .

He was talking to farm activist Kishor Tiwari and Mohan Jadhav who visited Government Medical College Yavatmal today.

“If they know the hardship of cotton and soya farmers of region(vidarbha) then they can understand what ‘nonsense’ they are talking about ,we are dying and they are making mockery of our life this is too much. I have never taken single drop of liquor in my life but I am shocked when administration informed CM that drunkard farmer created drama for chip publicity ,this is insult of agrarian community at large .I wanted to request chief minister to give us higher MSP for cotton and soybean but congress workers manhandled me to take this extreme case ” informed Arun Devidas Sabane, 45, a farmer from Gokulsara village in Dhamangaon tahsil who stood up and asked the CM to talk about cotton price after being manhandled pulled out a white-colour bottle from his pocket and put it in his mouth ,some of farmers stopped him but little quantity of the liquid, however, got into his body then He was rushed to the local hospital and was later shifted to Government Medical College Yavatmal where he is fighting with his life .

The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), which is fighting for the cause of cotton growers in the region has urged the State Election Commission to relax the code of conduct imposed in view of the upcoming Municipal Council elections so that the Maharashtra government could announce a relief package for farmers in the state. State Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, last week had put on hold decision to announce a compensation package for cotton growers, a majority of them from Vidarbha region, citing the State Election Commission directives. Chavan, while stressing that he was sympathetic to the plight of cotton growers who have suffered heavy crop losses in several pockets of Vidarbha, expressed helplessness as the EC had not allowed any policy announcement because of the code that was in force for the December 8 elections to 196 municipal councils in the state, a VJAS release said today. VJAS president, Kishore Tiwari in a petition filed before the State Election Commissioner Neela Satyanarayan, has requested her to relax the model code and allow the state to extend relief to distressed cotton growers. The Samiti has requested Chavan to pay compensation of Rs 20,000 per hectare as difference in current purchase price and the actual cost of cotton cultivation. Pointing out that over a 1000 farmers have already committed suicide in the current year in the cotton belt, Tiwari has urged the poll panel chief that reports were submitted with the government from time to time warning of the impending crisis. Tiwari said in the plea that cotton procurement prices have not been revised substantially in last three years though input costs, including prices of seeds, fertilisers, labour costs had increased by about 40 per cent, the release added

After cotton, soyabean crisis crops up-TIMES OF INDIA

2011-12-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

Printed from

After cotton, soyabean crisis crops up

Shishir Arya, TNN | Dec 5, 2011, 03.21AM IST

NAGPUR: If farmers are complaining about the poor price for cotton, the other favourite cash crop, soyabean, has left them disappointed too. Farm activists and cultivators themselves say that poor yields and low prices have hit soyabean, which is sown in part of the land by cotton growers.

It is like a second line of defence for them along with tur, which is intercropped with cotton. The only hope left for them now is the tur crop, but it is too early to assess the yield since the harvesting season is still a month away.

There has been abundant supply of soyabean elsewhere, which has reigned in the prices to last year's level of Rs2,000 to 2,200 a quintal. But farmers here have reported a rather low output, due to which the current market rates are too low to recover input costs, which are on the rise.

At some of the market yards, prices are being quoted in the range Rs1,800-1,900, say sources. Farmers are demanding a MSP of Rs3,000 a quintal for soyabean, as against Rs1,670-1,690 for black and yellow varieties respectively.

Ample overall supply may have kept the prices at last year's level, but the output in this region has certainly taken a hit. The oil extraction activity from soyabean is also dull due to rising interest rates, said Nandlal Malu of Murli Agro. However, there are reports of better crop due to increased acreage in parts of Amravati and Katol.

"Like cotton, late and erratic rains have hit soyabean too. Although final official estimates have not been drawn yet, 30% loss is expected in Vidarbha. Farmers with poor quality soil or no irrigation facilities may suffer more," said a senior official in the state's agriculture department. Losses of up to 30% matter a lot, especially if overheads rise considerably.

It was a double whammy for farmers since there was a long gap after the first showers, but it rained excessively during Ganesh festival, only to be followed by another dry spell in October first week, when another round of rains was expected, said the source. This hampered paddy cultivation in some parts of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, since transplantation of the crop could not take place. The only hope is the tur crop, but low rains may have taken toll on that too. The picture will be clear only in January when tur harvest begins.

Amit Pawde, an engineer-turned farmer at Narkhed, alleges traders have already piled up huge quantity of soyabean brought from farmers and are waiting to sell when the rates go up. Pawde says that in some cases the yield is below a quintal in an acre. The increase in input cost has thinned the profit margins, especially with DAP fertilizer rates going up by Rs500 in a year and load-shedding adding to the farmers' woes.

Normally, farmers keep one-third of the holding for soyabean. With a low price, government intervention is needed more here. However, National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) has not set up procurement centres this year, says Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, a farmers rights organization. Tiwari estimates the output to be within 2 quintals per acre, which is a major fall from regular yield.

Farmer attempts suicide at Chavan’s poll :The Pioneer

2011-12-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

Farmer attempts suicide at Chavan’s poll :The Pioneer

Sunday, 04 December 2011 22:12

TN Raghunatha | Mumbai

In an embarrassment for the Congress-led DF Government, a 45-year-old distressed cotton farmer on Sunday afternoon attempted to commit suicide after consuming poison at an election rally being addressed by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan at Dhamangaon in Amravati district of the back Vidarbha region.

Arun Devidas Sabhane shouted slogans against the DF Government for its delay in announcing minimum support price for cotton and Soyabean, as he consumed poison from a bottle that he had brought along with him.

Sabhane was immediately rushed to a local Government hospital, from where he was later shifted to Yavatmal district civil hospital. Though initially his condition was described as “critical”, reports quoting the doctors attending on him at the Yavatmal district hospital said later in the evening that Sabhane was out of danger.

The incident took place when Chavan was in the midst of his speech at a campaign rally organised by the Congress for the municipal council polls to be held next week.

A resident of Gokulsara village in Dhamangaon taluka, Sabhane owns two acres of agricultural land and has taken a loan of `3 lakh from a local money lender.

Unconfirmed reports said that during the current season, Sabhane has produced 15 quintals of raw cotton in his field. He has not sold his produce so far, as the cotton price has slumped. To add to his woes, the State Government has not yet announced a minimum support price for cotton, a delay that is said to have been weighing heavily on Sabhane’s mind when he tried to end his life.

The cotton growers across the State have been agitating over a fortnight now, demanding Rs 6,000 per quintal as minimum support price for raw cotton as against the current rate of Rs 3,300 per quintal.

On its part, the Maharashtra Government has kept on hold its decision on the increase of minimum support price for cotton “owing to the prevailing code of conduct for the forthcoming local body polls” in the State. Chavan had announced 10 days ago that his Government would announce the support price hike during the winter session of the State Legislature, beginning on December 12.

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti chief Kishor Tiwari charged that Sabhane’s suicide attempt clearly demonstrated the plight of the debt-trapped cotton growers in the farmers’ suicide-hit belt of eastern Maharashtra.

Lambasting the State Government for its delay in hiking the minimum support price for cotton, Tiwari said, “After consuming poison, Sabhane demanded that the support price be raised. Sabhane’s statement clearly establishes that it was the failure on the part of the State Government to hike cotton support price that had prompted him to attempt suicide.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister described the attempt by Sabhane to commit suicide as “unfortunate”. He said that the State Government would take care of Sabhane’s medical needs.

Chavan also assured the agitating farmers that the State Government would announce its decision on hiking the minimum support price for cotton, immediately after the local body polls. He asked the farmers to maintain cool and restraint till then.

In a related development, independent MP from Kolhapur and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetty also came down heavily on the DF Government for its failure to address the grievances of cotton growers in the State.

विदर्भात डिसेम्बरच्या सुरवातीला ९ शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्या-विदर्भात तीन लाखांवर कृषिपंपांची वीज तोडली-सकाळ

2011-12-03T03:30:00.000-08:00

विदर्भात डिसेम्बरच्या सुरवातीला ९ शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्या-विदर्भात तीन लाखांवर कृषिपंपांची वीज तोडली-सकाळ

Saturday, December 03, 2011 AT 04:15 PM (IST)

यवतमाळ - कृषिमूल्य आयोग कापसाच्या हमीभावात तातडीने वाढ होणार नाही; तसेच मागील दोन दिवसांत कापसाच्या किमती प्रतिक्विंटल 4,400वरून 3,400 रुपयांवर आले. या पडलेल्या किमतीत शेतकऱ्यांना कापूस विकावा लागत आहे. या बसलेल्या आर्थिक धक्‍क्‍याने विदर्भात डिसेम्बरच्या सुरवातीला ९ शेतकऱ्यांनी आत्महत्या केल्याची माहिती विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे किशोर तिवारी यांनी दिली. पुन्हा गुरुवारी (ता. दोन) भंडारा जिल्ह्यातील एका शेतकऱ्याने आपली जीवनयात्रा संपविल्याची माहिती शुक्रवारी मिळाली.

जागतिक बाजारपेठेत कापसाचे भाव गडगडले आणि पणन महासंघाने एकही संकलनकेंद्र सुरू न केल्यामुळे ग्रामीण भागात हमीभावापेक्षाही कमी भावात शेतकऱ्यांना कापूस विकावा लागत आहे. या आर्थिक धक्‍क्‍याने विदर्भात डिसेम्बरच्या सुरवातीला ९ शेतकऱ्यांनी आत्महत्या केल्या. यामध्ये फत्तू चिंधूजी पायडलवार ( रा. इटगाव , जि. भंडारा), महादेव सपकाल (रा. तातखेद , जि. बुलडाणा),महादेव सरोदे (रा. वाकी रायपूर, जि. अमरावती), ज्ञानेश्‍वर राजमिरे (रा. तळेगाव, जि. यवतमाळ), तुळशीराम मानकर (रा. हेटी, जि. गडचिरोली), एकनाथ मुंदाफळे (रा. खंडाळा. जि. नागपूर), राजेंद्र पवार (रा. अंबोडा, जि. बुलडाणा) आणि दत्ता राठोड (रा. साखरा, जि. यवतमाळ) , (भीमराव कुरसंगे रा. धनोति , जि. वर्धा ), कर्जाला कंटाळून आत्महत्या केल्याचा समावेश आहे.

यावर्षी आत्महत्या करणाऱ्या शेतकऱ्यांचा आकडा ७०७ वर पोचल्याचे विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे किशोर तिवारी यांनी सांगितले.
पवनी तालुक्‍यातील इटगाव येथील फत्तू चिंधूजी पायडलवार (वय 32) या अल्पभूधारक शेतकऱ्याने कर्जाला कंटाळून गुरुवारी (ता. एक) विषारी द्रव्य प्राशन करून आत्महत्या केली.

फत्तू पायडलवार यांनी सुमारे एका वर्षापासून विविध सेवा सहकारी संस्थेकडून 50 हजार रुपये, कोंढा येथील येशूबाई पतसंस्थेतून 30 हजार व सोने गहाण ठेवून सुमारे दीड लाख रुपये कर्जाऊ घेतले होते. दोन एकर शेतीतून पुरेशा प्रमाणात उत्पन्न होत नसल्यामुळे आणि कर्जाचा ताण वाढत असल्याने गुरुवारी (ता. एक) दुपारी एक वाजता घरी कोणी नसताना फवारणीचे औषध त्यांनी प्राशन केले. त्यांना पवनी येथील ग्रामीण रुग्णालयात नेत असता वाटेतच त्यांचा मृत्यू झाला. त्यांच्या मागे पत्नी, दोन मुले असा परिवार आहे. पवनी पोलिसांनी घटनेची नोंद केली. तपास सुरू
विदर्भात तीन लाखांवर कृषिपंपांची वीज तोडली

कापसाच्या कमी भावामुळे शेतकरी आत्महत्या करीत असताना राज्य सरकार सरसकट ट्रान्स्फार्मर, रोहित्र व फीडर काढून शेतकऱ्यांच्या कृषिपंपांचा वीजपुरवठा बंद करीत आहे. हवालदिल कर्जबाजारी शेतकऱ्यांकडून जोपर्यंत थकीत बिलाची वसुली होत नाही, तोपर्यंत ट्रान्स्फार्मर व फीडर लावण्यात येत नसून, अशाप्रकारे मागील पंधरवड्यात संपूर्ण विदर्भातील तीन लाखांवर कृषिपंपांचा वीजपुरवठा खंडित करण्यात आला आहे. या तीन लाख कृषिपंपांमध्ये यवतमाळ, वाशीम, चंद्रपूर, गडचिरोली व अमरावती जिल्ह्यांतील आदिवासी भागाचा समावेश आहे. दरम्यान, सरकारने सर्व आदिवासी व बहुजन समाजाच्या शेतकऱ्यांची थकीत देयके आदिवासी व सामाजिक सुरक्षेच्या निधीतून वीज कंपनीला तत्काळ देऊन तोडगा काढावा, अशी मागणी किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.
या धोरणामुळे सरसकट ट्रान्स्फार्मर काढल्यामुळे पैसे भरलेल्या शेतकऱ्यांनाही वीज मिळत नाही. हा जुलमी कारभार सर्वत्र सुरू असून, 10 डिसेंबरपर्यंत सर्व थकीत असणाऱ्या कृषिपंपांचे विद्युत कनेक्‍शन तोडण्यासाठी ग्रामीण भागातील थ्री-फेजचा पुरवठा सरसकट बंद करण्याचा कट कंपनीने रचला आहे.
या गंभीर प्रश्‍नावर सरकारने मंत्रिमंडळाची बैठक बोलावून शेतकऱ्यांच्या कृषिपंपांची थकबाकी डिसेंबरपर्यंत स्थगित करावी व नापिकी असणाऱ्या नैराश्‍यग्रस्त शेतकऱ्यांच्या कृषिपंपांवरील थकबाकी पूर्णपणे माफ करावी व विद्युत कंपनीने काढलेले सर्व ट्रान्स्फार्मर, रोहित्र व फीडर तत्काळ लावावे, अशी मागणी करणारे निवेदन विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी महाराष्ट्राचे मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांना दिले आहे

Six vidarbha farmers suicides reportd in last 72 hours : 3 lakh Agri. Connection snapped by MSEDCL adding fuel to vidarbha crisis

2011-11-30T22:30:00.000-08:00

Six vidarbha farmers suicides reportd in last 72 hours : 3 lakh Agri. Connection snapped by MSEDCL adding fuel to vidarbha crisis

NAGPUR: DECEMBER 1st 2011

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited ( MSEDCL) has started not only power disconnection of Agri. Culture connection now they have removed hundreds of power transformers and DPs and feeders so that three phase power connection to total block is disconnected ,this recovery drive ordered by Maharashtra Dy-chief minister Ajitdada Pawar has added fuel in to on going distress and despair in vidarbha agrarian crisis which has reported another six farmers suicides in last 72 hours taking toll 704 in the year 2011, Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press note today.

Ill fated debt trapped vidarbha farmers who killed themselves and surfaced in he media in last three days are

1.Rajendra Pawar of Ambhora in Buldhana

2.Dutta Rathode of Sakhara in Yavatmal

Earlier reported yesterday-

3.Mahadev Sarode of Village in Amaravati

4.Dhyaneshawar Rajmere of Village Talegoan in Yavatmal

5.Tulsiram Manger of village Heti in Gadchiroli

6.Eknath Mundaphale of village Khandala in Nagpur

‘Arada (Rajanna-palli) Taluka Sironcha in Gadchiroli district MSEDCL forcefully removed power transformer yesterday disconnecting almost more than 10,000 Agri.Power connection as massive drive of recovery of all pending without giving a notice ,here was some hope for farmer to get some cotton with help of little water left but that has been snapped which is much more shocking ’ Shivshankar Adgelwar (CELL-09421930747) farm activist from Gadchiroli informed today

‘In one worst farm suicide hit district more than 60,000 farmers are effected due to this disconnection drive .my own village Hiwara and adjoining Akoli,Boregoan Belori,Chalbardi,Wanjari and Kodori are villages where MSEDCLofficials have removed transformer and DPs so that power is not restored locally. those MSEDCL staff are having sympathy to dying farmers are being suspended as last week MSEDCL suspended eight engineers from service with effect from November 24 on charges of non-performance and poor recovery. These engineers include two each from Yavatmal and Amravati while the remaining four are from Washim district under the chief engineer of Akola region on the strict order of Power Minister Ajitdada Pawar and The names of engineers under suspension in Yavatmal district are Afsar Khan (junior engineer attached to Pusad division) and Sharad Wankhede (deputy engineer, urban division, Yavatmal). ,This will add fuel and more debt trapped cotton farmers will kill themselves ’ Suresh Bolenwar (cell-7588189402)farm activist from Hiwara added.

‘The ground situation is another farm suicide affected district wardha is not here also around 40,000 Agri. Power connections are snapped and farmers are being forced to pay exaggerated bills as MSEDCL officials have removed the power supply transformers in block wise in Deoli,Wardha ,Pulgoan and Sumudrapur area,having removed power feeders even non-defaulter farmers are badly affected ,we have taken protest rally to MSEDCL Wardha Office but officers are helpless blaming Power Minister for crisis ‘another farm activist Prashant Ingale((09922336918) informed wardha.

Atrocities of Ajitdada Pawar was not enough, his uncle Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has fuel to the crisis by ruling out any help from the Centre and has put the onus on the state government by saying that there are seven other cotton-producing states. They have all accepted the Minimum Support Price (MSP) worked out by the Centre for cotton. If the state wants to give relief to cotton farmers they should accept the MSP. This statement of Sahrad Pawar has triggered slash in cotton price as cotton which was getting Rs.4400/- has come down to Rs.3800/- in last few days.

“This is very unfortunate that union agriculture minister is from Maharashtra and he knows the ground reality that 90% area under cotton and soya is rain fed and cost of cultivation for Bt cotton is almost three times and yield is only 25% in comparison to cotton farmers in state where irrigation facility is more hence bailout package for Maharashtra cotton farmers is must which is denied allowing more farmers to die’ Tiwari added.we have been demanding the vidarbha agrarian crisis should tackled on war footing and issue MSP and cash compensation to huge crop failure should be announced with outing more farmers to kill themselves ” Tiwari urged.

VJAS plea to poll panel to relax code for Framer's relief-TIMES OF INDIA

2011-11-29T23:44:00.000-08:00

VJAS plea to poll panel to relax code for Farmer's relief-TIMES OF INDIA

Printed from

VJAS plea to poll panel to relax code for Farmer's relief

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/VJAS-plea-to-poll-panel-to-relax-code-for-relief/articleshow/10924387.cms

NAGPUR: Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), an advocacy group fighting for the cause of cotton growers of the region, has urged the state election commissioner Neela Satyanarayan to relax the code of conduct imposed for the municipal council elections so that the state government could announce a relief package for farmers.

Last week chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had put on hold decision to announce a compensation package for cotton growers citing the state election commission directives. Chavan, while stressing that he was sympathetic to the plight of the cotton growers who have suffered heavy crop losses in several pockets of Vidarbha, Marathwada expressed helplessness as the election commission had not allowed any policy announcement because of the code that was in force for the December 8 elections to 196 municipal councils in the state.

VJAS president Kishore Tiwari in a petition filed before the state election body has requested Satyanarayan to relax the model code and allow the state to extend relief to the cotton growers who were in serious state of distress because of crop losses. The VJAS has requested Chavan to pay compensation of Rs20,000 per hectare as difference in current purchase price and the actual cost of cotton cultivation.

Pointing out that over a 1000 farmers have already committed suicide in the current year in the cotton belt, Tiwari has urged the poll panel chief that reports were submitted with the government from time to time warning of the impending crisis.

He has made a forceful plea to the panel to relax the code as a special case so that the government could announce succour to the distressed cotton growers on the lines of those offered to sugarcane growers of western Maharashtra. A relief package would go a long way in checking the unending suicides by farmers.

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Vidarbha Agrarian Crisis is due to Govt.apathy -PTI

2011-11-29T04:37:00.000-08:00

Food security, interest-free loans, income support demanded for vidarbha farmers

PTI | 11:11 AM,Nov 29,2011

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/food-security-interesfree-loans-income-support-demanded-for/918264.html
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/after-reports-from-more-than-10-committees-on-facts-and/918263.html

Vidarbha farmers Nagpur, Nov 29 (PTI) The Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) which has been working for distressed peasants in the suicide prone Vidarbha region, has demanded free healthcare, secondary income support and interest-free crop loan for dryland farmers. "VJAS has urged Maharashtra New Chief Minister Prhitiviraj Chavan to address the long pending demands of Vidarbha farmers. The most important issue of cotton growers which needs to be attended is compensation for wet drought and crop failure due to record rain and revision in cotton minimum support prices, which has remained unchanged since 2008 even when cost of cultivation has tripled in last two years," its president Kishore Tiwari said. Irrigation facilities in these areas would not cross 20 per cent of total agriculture land.
Hence there is an urgent need to make water conservation a mass movement. Approach of water conservation at village level would be the most effective solution, Tiwari told PTI. The NGO has been monitoring the farmer suicides in Vidarbha and has been on the forefront placing their demands before the government. The VJAS has demanded re-structure of loan for 2011-12, since DCC banks can not raise more than 1250 crore. An additional Rs 1500 crore needs to be provided for disbursement of crop loan. Also, de-silting of Malgujari (local private tanks) and minor storage tanks should to be undertaken by using special time bound programme to stop suicidal tendencies of farmers in the region, it said. Tiwari alleged that the Maharashtra government in December 2008 had decided to implement the recommendations of a high-power committee headed by Vice-Chancellor of Pune University, Dr Narendra Jadhav and had promised to provide food, health care and free education to children of 4.34 lakh farmers in distress from the suicide-prone districts of Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Buldhana, Washim and Wardha remedies on the farmers' plight, instead of providing relief to dying farmers, the then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had in November 2007 set up a one-member panel headed by Jadhav to suggest ways to arrest farmers' suicides in the Vidarbha region when it was quite aware of the gravity of the issue of grave situation of farmers in the cotton growing belt of Vidarbha, he said. VJAS pointed out that in majority of farmer suicide cases, it has come to light that there was no food or medicine available to them which led to the extreme step. Tiwari said the Jadhav Committee has accepted the suggestions given by the VJAS and recommended that all the nationalised banks be strictly advised or directed to review the scale of finance and accordingly have extra sufficent staff for documentation for reviewing and revising the scale of finance/ credit facilities to farmers as per their eligibility.
======================

Govt. is misleading the Nation on Farmer suicides: VJAS

2011-11-28T23:34:00.000-08:00

Govt. is misleading the Nation on Farmer suicides: VJAS

NAGPUR: November 30^th 2011

The claim of Indian Govt. that farmers Suicide by farmers have dropped drastically in the current year due to government initiatives is misleading as country is under severe agrarian crisis due to crop failure in major state suicide prone states Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka as there is severe cotton ,soybean and paddy crop failure reported and farm suicide spiral has restarted and ground situation very grim as debt and distress are forcing innocent farmers kill themselves, ,Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press note today.

“We have been documenting farmers suicides reported in vidarbha since 1997 and The National Crime Records Bureau –NCRB officially published actual figures of farmers suicides and we have noted that NCRB figure is three times our recorded figure but Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha has completely contradicted NCRB own record of farmers suicides and mislead nation this is very rubbish and unfortunate’ Tiwari added..

Here is official link of NCRB which gives official figure

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/archive/00820/Farm_Suicides__All__820598a.pdf

STATE	2010	2004
MAHARASHTRA	NCRB figure is 3141 Agri.Mimistry fig. 454	NCRB figure is 4147 Agri.Mimistry fig. 347
ANDHRA PRADESH	NCRB figure is 2525 Agri.Mimistry fig. 152	NCRB figure is 2666 Agri.Mimistry fig.1181
KARNATAKA	NCRB figure is 2585 Agri.Mimistry fig.138	NCRB figure is 1963 Agri.Mimistry fig. 114

It's official. The country has seen over a quarter of a million farmers’ suicides between 1995 and 2010. The National Crime Records Bureau’s latest report on ‘Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India’ places the number for 2010 at 15,964 even after Govt. informs Indian parliament that in India during 2010, 657 farmers had taken their lives on this count, while in 2004 the toll was as high as .Agrarian at it’s peak and NCRB exposes that brings the cumulative 16-year total from 1995 — when the NCRB started recording farm suicide data — to 2,56,913, the worst-ever recorded wave of suicides of this kind in human history.,

As Andhra Pradesh Govt. is also misleading when they report that 42 farmers’ suicide in 2011 in comparison to 1,181 in 2004 and 152 in 2010,in fact In Andhra Pradesh, 95 farmers committed suicides in just six districts in one month during Oct – Nov 2011, as per compilation of news reports by Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA). ASHA conducted fact-finding visits to 20 families and found that all of them were due to agricultural reasons. “It is highly objectionable that the Government classifies suicides as ‘genuine’ and ‘not genuine’! In 2010, while Crime Records Bureau shows 2525 suicides of farmers, the AP Government has classified only 158 as “genuine”! When it comes to implementing the relief package meant for families of suicides victims, the Government machinery is geared towards ignoring or not supporting the families with designated ex-gratia, under political compulsions , Kiran Vissa of Association for India’s Development added from Hyderabad (Kiran Vissa, AID: 09701705743)

“Farm suicide is only figure that indicates serious agrarian crisis needs long term solution as it is apparent that the existing model of agriculture cannot continue. The current high-external-input model of farming has been one of the root causes for the increasing burden on farmers, given its unviable economics with spiraling costs, unmatched by adequate returns. This model of farming has also resulted in erosion and degradation of the natural resource base on which production has to rest for all time to come! The Government has to promote sustainable agriculture that will reduce costs of cultivation for farmers and reduce risks through diversity-based, agro-ecological approaches. A programmatic thrust along with appropriate and adequate support systems is required to spread sustainable agriculture like the CMSA programme in Andhra Pradesh is required immediately. In this context, the importance of grassroots farmers’ institutions, to make farming a collective enterprise in many ways, cannot be over-emphasized”, Kavitha Kuruganti, Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) informed from Bangalore .

Vidarbha farm activist lobbying at delhi-failed to get appointment of UPA convener smt.sonia Gandhi

2011-11-25T19:49:00.000-08:00

Vidarbha farm activist lobbying at delhi-failed to get appointment of UPA convener smt.sonia Gandhi

New Delhi-26^th November 2011

Vidarbha farmers who has dashed new delhi to update the pathetic situation of cotton soyaben farmers failed to get appointment of smt.sonia Gandhi as she was busy in parliaments and sources informed VJAS activist Kishor Tiwari that they will get official appointment by next week only forcing them to stay at capital.

Farm activist met with wardha M.P. Dutta meghe at his 81 lodhi estate residence and brief him the demands of vidarbha farmers and urgent need of redressal.he also tried to get appointment with hon,ble prime minister and union agriculture minister but as Dr.Manmohansingh is busy in preoccupied schedule and Sharad Pawar is out of station failed to get time for meeting and he also suggested that next all vidarbha M.P. will joined take up issue for requisite bailout package for Maharashtra farmers,Tiwari said.

Kishor Tiwari while briefing media alleged official policies for the increasing number of farmer suicides across the country, farm activists have demanded immediate government intervention to support farmers. State policies on agriculture are often equally absurd forcing farmers to commit suicide. “The policies promote wrong cultivation practices in rain-fed areas such as encouraging crops dependant on rain,”

“We can’t term them suicides; they’re policy-driven victims of the state. We want policies which let the farmers live,” he added. Parliament and civil society groups urged for setting up Parliamentarians Forum on Agrarian Crisis immediately to voice the distress of farmers at the highest possible level’’Tiwari said

“Vidarbha farmers are in urgent need of help because of crop failure and the government should provide relief without delay. Now there is no question of raising MSP at this stage as small and needy farmers have already sold 50% of produce. So a cash subsidy of Rs 20,000 per hectare for cotton and Rs15, 000 for soya be paid to farmers to compensate for 40% loss of crop this year," he said

Vidarbha Farm widows flays Maharashtra decision to delay ‘Bail-Out’: farm widows to take up issue with Smt Sonia Gandhi

2011-11-24T03:04:00.000-08:00

Vidarbha Farm widows flays Maharashtra decision to delay ‘Bail-Out’: farm widows to take up issue with Smt Sonia Gandhi

*In order to bring pressure on the Maharashtra Govt. to announce ‘bailout’ package hundreds of vidarbha farm widows will meetSmt Sonia Gandhi in the leadership of Rahul's Kalavati and KBC fame Aparna Malikar.*

Pandharkawada 24^th November 2011

‘Maharashtra chief minister’s yesterday said that code of conduct is reason for the announcement of so called ‘Bailout Package ‘for 5 million cotton farmers has received very sharp reaction in farm widow hunger strike today in which validity of such argument is questioned when election are in metros and farmers are dying micero-rural area of maharashtra ,it’s rediculos to stop relief aid on that account ,we

are moving up with state election commission will sort our issue and now farmers will force them to take corrective action to restore rural economy of maharashtra which is c

ompletely collapsed ’ Kishore Tiwari Farm activist of farmers advocacy group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS) announced today while addressing before hundreds of vidarbha farm widows

“vidarbha farmers are in urgent need of help due to crop failure and Govt. should help them urgently hence we all resolved that there is no question of raising MSP at this stage, because small and needy farmers have already sold around 50% of produce and cash subsidy of Rs20,000 per hectare for cotton and Rs15,000 for soya be paid to farmers to compensate for 40% loss of crop this year” Rahul's Kalvati and KBC fame Aparna Malikar informed the gathering

"The Situation of Crop damag

e is too critical and farmers have already spent 40% more on inputs this season, including labour costs and fertilizer but we are veryskeptical about any package that bailout dying distress farmers of west vidarbha hence it is unanimously resolved for a blanket relief package for all cotton growers at a rate rs.20,000 per hector . Moreover, farmers will also need to be protected from any further collapse in open market rates in the coming days. Traders are known to manipulate the situation to their advantage and government should protect interests of farmers," ,Mohan Jadhav VJAS secretary informed in the meeting

In order to bring pressure on t

he Maharashtra Govt. VJAS leader is visiting delhi on 25 and 26 November will try to meet UPA convener smt.sonia Gandhi and Indian prime Minister Dr.Manmohansingh and fix appointment of farm widows in the leadership of Rahul's Kalavati and KBC fame Aparna Malikar ,Tiwari said.

Maharashtra proposed ‘Bail-Out’ package is Peanut :Vidarbha farm widows to join Stir from 24th Nov. tomorrow

2011-11-23T03:21:00.000-08:00

Maharashtra proposed ‘Bail-Out’ package is Peanut :Vidarbha farm widows to join Stir from 24^th Nov. tomorrow

Rampur(Yavatmal):23^rd November 2011

‘Maharashtra Govt. on going negotiations and proposed ‘Bailout Package ‘for 5 million cotton farmers is peanut and is nothing but another eyewash like earlier packages when administration is aware of short term and long term solutions to vidarbha cotton farmer’s agrarian crisis as crisis are policy driven and now farmers will force them to take corrective action to restore rural economy of maharashtra which is completely collapsed ’ Kishore Tiwari Farm activist of farmers advocacy group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS)announced today while addressing before two

thousandstrong protest ofcotton farmers by blocking the state highway chandrapur-Yavatmal near village Rampur 120 K.M. from Nagpur .This is seventh day in row that allover vidarbha road are being blocked by cotton farmers demanding higher procurement price for raw cotton @ Rs.6000/- per quintal whereas market price is Rs.4000/- per quintal ,demand supported by all the political parties in state including ruling NCP-Congress alliance too but the state Govt. is unmoved adding fuel to on going stir .

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan called an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue which failed to decide any relief package for dying farmers.

"There is no question of raising MSP at this stage, because small and needy farmers have already sold around 20 lakh quintals of produce. They will be the losers now."

Farm activist and Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishore Tiwari has already met the chief minister on Sunday and suggested that a subsidy of Rs20,000 per hectare for cotton and Rs15,000 for soya be paid to farmers to compensate for 40% loss of crop this year.

"Crop damage has burdened farmers who have already spent 40% more on inputs this season, including labour costs and fertilizer," said Tiwari. "But I am sceptical about any package. I am told the bureaucrats are asking the CM to announce a paltry relief of Rs1,000 per acre. This will be too little, too late and only fuel the farmer suicide crisis in Vidarbha," warned Tiwari

"Moreover, if they announce MSP higher than current market price of Rs4,300 to 4,500, it will be suicidal for the government as farmers and traders from neighbouring states will also flood procurement centres here. So, the best way out would be a blanket relief package for all cotton growers at a rate rs.20,000 per hector . Moreover, farmers will also need to be protected from any further collapse in open market rates in the coming days. Traders are known to manipulate the situation to their advantage and government should protect interests of farmers," Tiwari added.

In order to bring pressure on the Maharashtra hundreds of vidarbha farm widows will start hunger strike from tomorrow 24^th November in the leadership of Rahul’ Kalvati and KBC fame Aparna Malikar ,Tiwari said.

‘विदर्भातील शेतकर्‍यांना पॅकेज द्या’-lokmat mumbai

2011-11-20T20:56:00.000-08:00

‘विदर्भातील शेतकर्‍यांना पॅकेज द्या’
मुंबई - विदर्भातील आत्महत्याग्रस्त सहा जिल्ह्यांतील कापूस आणि सोयाबीन उत्पादक शेतकर्‍यांना अल्पकालीन मदत म्हणून शासनाने पॅकेज जाहीर करून प्रति हेक्टर २0 हजार रुपये द्यावेत, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांच्याकडे केली आहे.
कापूस आणि सोयाबीनला दरवाढ मिळावी, यासाठी राज्यात आंदोलन तापले आहे. त्याबाबत, मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी तिवारी यांच्यासह समितीच्या कार्यकर्त्यांशी सुमारे दीड तास चर्चा करून समितीचे म्हणणे त्यांनी ऐकले. या भेटीनंतर किशोर तिवारी म्हणाले की, मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी अत्यंत गांभीर्याने विषय समजून घेतला असून ते दिलासा देणारा निर्णय घेतील, अशी आशा आहे.
अडचणीतील शेतकर्‍यांना प्रति हेक्टरी २0 हजार रुपयांची मदत द्यावी. ही रक्कम पीक कर्जात जमा करुन पुढील पीककर्ज उपलब्ध करून द्यावे. पुढील पीक येईपर्यंत सरकारने शेतकर्‍याला अन्न सुरक्षा द्यावी तसेच शेतकर्‍यांच्या शेतात रोजगार हमीची कामे तत्काळ सुरू करण्यात यावीत. सहा जिल्ह्यांतील आरोग्य सेवा सक्षम करुन दारूबंदी जाहीर करावी, आदी मागण्याही केल्याचे त्यांनी सांगितले.
दरम्यान, याबाबत २३ नोव्हेंबरला सर्वपक्षीय नेत्यांची बैठक घेऊन आपण चर्चा करुन निर्णय घेऊ, असे आश्‍वासन मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी दिल्याचे, तिवारी यांनी सांगितले

vidarbha times

Vidarbha Agrarian Crisis deepen as 4 more Yavatmal Farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

गन्ना किसानों से धोखा कर रहे कारखाने-नितीन गडकरी के घर के सामने आंदोलन की चेतावनी=भास्कर

विदर्भाचे ऊस उत्पादकही हमीभावापासून वंचित-लोकशाही वार्ता

Vidarbha Sugarcane farmers also denied Minimum Support Price

MNS backs Vidarbha statehood demand- TIMES OF INDIA

Printed from

MNS backs Vidarbha statehood demand- TIMES OF INDIA

Flopped BN Bt cotton leaves ICAR red-faced-Admits Misuse Power-TIMES OF INDIA

Printed from

Flopped BN Bt cotton leaves ICAR red-faced

Khadi admits his mistake to misuse his power

सत्ताधारी आघाडीच्या विरोधात प्रचार करणार-किशोर तिवारी

कापूस व धान्याच्या हमीभाव व मदतीचे वाटप केले नाही तर शेतकरी मतदान करणार नाहीत!-किशोर तिवारी

VIDARBHA NEWS

Thursday, 5 January 2012

कापूस व धान्याच्या हमीभाव व मदतीचे वाटप केले नाही तर शेतकरी मतदान करणार नाहीत!-किशोर तिवारी

Maharashtra Election Commission’s Code of Conduct delaying Relief Aid to Farmers

Govt. to clarify on Hyped ‘Desi Bt’ Cotton Seeds of (CICR) - VJAS

पांढरया सोन्याचा विक्रमी पेरा -उत्पादनात मात्र कमालीची घट-हमी भावात वाढ हवीच : तरुण भारत

The Mealy Bug responsible 4 million hectors Cotton crop failure in Mahrashtra.

अपुर्‍या पॅकेजमुळे शेतकरी आत्महत्येत वाढ होणार! -किशोर तिवारी यांनी वर्तविली भीती

Maharashtra's Cotton Farmers in Distress-Ashok Gulati-chairman-CACP

Maharashtra farmerss Reject Maharashtra CM relief Package-VJAS

मनरेगा’च्या कामात वनाधिकार्‍यांनी जमवली कोट्यवधींची माया-तरुण भारत

पारोमिता गोस्वामी यांनी फुलविलेला श्रमिकांचा एल्गार लोकमत महाराष्ट्रीयन ऑफ दी इयर पुरस्कार

It’s official now Maharashtra Farmers lost Rs.10,000 Crore due Bt.cotton failure in 2011-12

कापसाचे भाव न वाढल्याने शेतकरी हताश-लोकमत

कापसाचे भाव न वाढल्याने शेतकरी हताश-लोकमत

Massive Complaints against BT cotton in PAK too-DAWN.COM

Complaints against BT cotton grow-DAWN.COM

Complaints against BT cotton grow

बीटी कापसाचे महाराष्ट्रात हेक्टरी सव्वा कि्वटल रुईचे उत्पादन -कृषिमंत्री पवार

सरकारचे पॅकेज शेतकऱ्यांना अमान्य-सकाळ वृत्तसेवा

पॅकेज' नंतरही विदर्भात शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या-आघाडीचे पॅकेज 'धूळफेक' - किशोर तिवारी यांची टीका-लोकशाही वार्ता

महाराष्ट्र सरकारचे पॅकेज शेतकरयांना अमान्य -कापसाच्या हमीभाव वाढीसाठी तीव्र आंदोलन करणार -तरुण भारत

Vidarbha erupts in protest, dubs it as peanut package - DNA Reports

Vidarbha erupts in protest, dubs it as peanut package

नागपूर-हैदराबाद मार्गावर शेतकरी विधवांचा रास्तारोको-विदर्भात ठिकठिकाणी आंदोलन

नागपूर-हैदराबाद मार्गावर शेतकरी विधवांचा रास्तारोको-विदर्भात ठिकठिकाणी आंदोलन

Vidharba farmers protest Chavan’s ‘peanuts’ bailout package-IANS Reports

Vidharba farmers protest Chavan’s ‘peanuts’ bailout package

Disappointed with farmer’s Package 4 more Vidarbha killed themselves :farm Widows Blockade National Highway protesting the Relief Package

Vidarbha farm widows and farmers support 15th Dec. Opposition called statewide ‘BANDH’

विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादकांचे पॅकेज धोक्यात!-लोकशाही वार्ता

विदर्भात हजारो कोटींचा सिंचन घोटाळा - लोकमत विशेष

शेतकर्‍यांना पाच हजार कोटींचे पॅकेज तरीही हाती विषाचा प्याला-लोकमत

शेतकर्‍यांना पाच हजार कोटींचे पॅकेज तरीही हाती विषाचा प्याला-लोकमत

Packaged politics once again on vidarbha farm issues-TIMES OF INDIA

Packaged politics once again on farm issues-TIMES OF INDIA

Packaged politics once again on farm issues

11 more Vidarbha Farmers Suicides reported in December: Farmers Demands Policy Driven Relief Package not ‘Contractor or Bank Driven’

शेतकरी आत्महत्या व आंदोलनाचा बाजार-लोकशाही वार्ता

शेतकरी आत्महत्या व आंदोलनाचा बाजार-लोकशाही वार्ता

State Election Commission Rejects VJAS plea to to relax code for Vidarbha farm relief Aid

वेगळ्या विदर्भ राज्याचे समर्थन करणारयांनाच मतदान करा- किशोर तिवारी यांचे आवाहन -तरुण भारत

Vidarbha cotton farmers backs Sharad Pawar’s proposal to include farm work under MNREGA

Vidarbha Crisis-Divide and rule-TIMES OF INDIA

Vidarbha Crisis-Divide and rule-TIMES OF INDIA

Divide and rule

गोकुळसर्‍यात पेटते एक वेळ चूल - मुख्यमंत्र्यांच्या सभेत विष घेणार्‍या शेतकर्‍यांच्या गावातील वास्तव-लोकमत

All eyes on political price for cotton-Times of India

All eyes on political price for cotton

Cotton farmer Arun Sabane ridicule Cong.charge that his ‘Suicide Attempt is Political Drama’: VJAS activist meet him Govt. Hospital Yavatmal

After cotton, soyabean crisis crops up-TIMES OF INDIA

After cotton, soyabean crisis crops up

Farmer attempts suicide at Chavan’s poll :The Pioneer

Farmer attempts suicide at Chavan’s poll :The Pioneer

विदर्भात डिसेम्बरच्या सुरवातीला ९ शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्या-विदर्भात तीन लाखांवर कृषिपंपांची वीज तोडली-सकाळ

Six vidarbha farmers suicides reportd in last 72 hours : 3 lakh Agri. Connection snapped by MSEDCL adding fuel to vidarbha crisis

VJAS plea to poll panel to relax code for Framer's relief-TIMES OF INDIA

VJAS plea to poll panel to relax code for Farmer's relief-TIMES OF INDIA

VJAS plea to poll panel to relax code for Farmer's relief

Vidarbha Agrarian Crisis is due to Govt.apathy -PTI

Food security, interest-free loans, income support demanded for vidarbha farmers

Govt. is misleading the Nation on Farmer suicides: VJAS

Vidarbha farm activist lobbying at delhi-failed to get appointment of UPA convener smt.sonia Gandhi

Vidarbha Farm widows flays Maharashtra decision to delay ‘Bail-Out’: farm widows to take up issue with Smt Sonia Gandhi

Maharashtra proposed ‘Bail-Out’ package is Peanut :Vidarbha farm widows to join Stir from 24th Nov. tomorrow

‘विदर्भातील शेतकर्‍यांना पॅकेज द्या’-lokmat mumbai