VJAS moved MHRC against Polluted Water Supply to 8,900 Villages in Maharashtra

VJAS moved MHRC against Polluted Water Supply to 8,900 Villages in Maharashtra

Nagpur-Monday, June 28, 2010

Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) has moved Maharashtra State Human Right Commission (MHRC) against recent official report of the State health department which has issued red cards to 8,901 village panchayats, which were found supplying contaminated drinking water to than 1.2 billion rural population mostly tribal and backward class and deprived masses .VJAS in the petition before state human right panel has urged HRC to order to criminal proceeding against concerned officers responsible for making killer drinking water available and forcing the more than 1.2. billion people to drink toxic contaminated water resulting in health hazard and disease like astroflorosis,paralysis and renal and anartic disease is nothing but the offense under culpable homicide and stringent action is needed to save life the innocent people who are drinking contaminated water due to failure of state administration,Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) has informed in a press release today.

As per report Village panchayats in Yavatmal district have received the highest number of red cards. Of the total 1205 village panchayats in this district, 986 have been issued red cards

Nanded, the home district of Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, has won the dubious distinction of receiving the second highest number of red cards in the state.Of the total 1,313 village panchayats in the district, 784 have serviced the red card for supplying contaminated water.In Latur district of ex-Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is ranking third in the state as 722 of the total 787 village panchayats have received the red cards.

HERE IS OFFICIAL DATA

DISTRICT	TOTAL VILLAGES	VILLAGES SUPPLYING POLLUTED DRINKING WATER
YAVATMAL	1205	986
NANDED	1313	784
LATUR	787	722
MAHARASHTRA	28,262	8,901

The State health services Medical Officer Dr Sachin Desai offcially informed that

'The State government conducts inspection of sources of drinking water in the State twice a year. The first survey is conducted from October to December. The second survey is conducted from April to May.

During the survey, the health department personnel conduct inspection of cleanliness in 15 metres distance area from the sources of water. Based on this finding, the health department issues red, yellow and green cards to the village panchayats.Village panchayats supplying pure drinking water to local residents are issued green cards and the bodies supplying contaminated water are issued red cards. The village panchayats having defective water supply system are issued yellow cards.

The health department had issued red cards to 8,901 of the total 28,262 village panchayats in maharashtra which is highest in rent years ,

VJAS has submitted recent affidavit of state administration submitted in mumbai high court Nagpur bench that administration has made available safe drinking water to tribal villages in vidarbha and yavatmal district in particular where as state health department survey and inspection report has exposed the false claim of local administration.we will move special application in mumbai high court In atter of our PIL regarding tribal starvation death in which Govt. action taken report(ATR) is awaited ,Tiwari added.

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“Interest-free Crop loans to farmers” is hoax to 3 million vidarbha dying cotton farmers as Banker denied fresh crop loan to 90% vidarbha farmers.

“Interest-free Crop loans to farmers” is hoax to 3 million vidarbha dying cotton farmers as Banker denied fresh crop loan to 90% credit starved farmers

Nagpur -25^th June 2010

Maharashtra Govt. decision to give Rs.50000 crop loan to regular, non-default as “Interest-free” has been termed as futile and useless for the drought hit cotton farmers where bankers failed to provide the fresh crop loan to farmers as till date only 12% target of crop loan set by NABARD has been achieved thanks to apathy of Maharashtra administration, kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan andolan Samiti(VJAS) has informed today in the press note .

“year of drought and cotton crop failure and central Govt. has ordered reconstruction of crop loan of all drought hit farmers but till date only 1.2 lakhs farmers as against the total 2 million debt trap farmers of region manage to get fresh crop loan even NABRD has set the crop loan target of Rs..2460 but bankers have disbursed only Rs.314 crore as per official figure as on 25th June 2010 hence such interest free loan facility will only benfiting the farmers of western Maharashtra and this nothing but the hoax for dying vidarbha farmers .

It was expected that on agriculture credit front in dying field of vidarbha where farmers are committing suicides due to debt , Maharashtra Govt. will take urgent steps as per the last report of Dr. Narendra Jadhav committee which has been accepted by Govt. asking for the bankers credit reforms in suicide prone west vidarbha which are related to the need for restructuring of the rural financial institutions and also making them socially more sensitive. In the case of co-operative banks, suggestions made by the Vaidyanathan Committee be implemented expeditiously and asked the administration to take the steps which are

Agricultural Credit Planning

While providing credit, banks often place a number of undue restrictions on farmers by introducing rigid criteria about season, cropping pattern and the scale of finance. It is imperative to bring in some flexibility in this respect. In this regard, instead of the prevailing cropping pattern, an average cropping pattern could be used and a limit set accordingly. The task of reformulating the scale of finance should be delegated by the State Level Krishi Vikas Parishand to an independent professional institution.

Alternate to Money Lenders

The massive Debt-Waiver scheme has not addressed the indebtedness arising from the non-institutional credit. There is an imperative need to create an effective alternative to the prevailing system of moneylenders and relieving the farmers from their clutches. In this regard, a Plan for

‘Moneylender-free Village’ may be formulated on the following lines

1.Atleast one member of each family in the village should become a member of some Self-help Group (SHG) in the village.

2.Every rural and semi-urban branch of each bank should adopt one village in its jurisdiction.

3. Since at least one member of every family in the village would be a member of SHG and through the SHG to an institutional source of credit, a 100 per cent financial inclusion would be achieved and over a three-year period the village can be free of indebtedness from moneylenders.”

This is worst ever performance of agriculture credit and institutionalized crop loan to already agrarian crisis hit region which has almost nullified the effect of all bailout packages given by state and central Govt. since 2005 that cover Chief Minister Relief Package-2005 (Rs.1075 crore),Prime Minister Relief Package-2006(Rs.3750 crore) ,central govt. loan waiver-2008(Rs.71,000 crore) and Maharashtra Govt. extended loan waiver -2009 (Rs.6350 crore) ,Tiwari added.

‘In yavatmal district alone last bankers achieved 100% crop loan disbursement target this year they kept Rs.910 crore target and till date achieved Rs.234 crore which shows that bankers are not ready to give fresh crop loan to the drought hit farmer even after R.B.I. has issued orders more over C.B.I. raid on Bham-Raja Allhabad Bank has exposed the corruption and hostile functioning of banks ,there are reports of most branches of central bank of India which is leading bank in the district that manager are demanding money to disburse fresh crop loan but it is not possible to for every distressed debt trap farmers to go Nagpur C.B.I office and arrange trap ,we have demanding fresh crop loan to every drought hit farmers so that they are not forced to go to private money lender who are the main culprit of on going cotton farmers suicides but nobody in the administration even look at the our demand seriously resulting economic crisis and credit crunch in west vidarbha which has aggravated the on going agrarian crisis ,inviting more farm suicides in the region, farmers are urging central govt. intervention which is not coming that’s unfortunate’ Tiwari said

“Cash for Crop loan Scam ’Bank Manager in C.B.I. Net :Banker pushed more than Million Vidarbha Cotton Farmers in Money Leaders “Debt Trap” Nagpur -

“Cash for Crop loan Scam ’Bank Manager in C.B.I. Net :Banker pushed more than Million Vidarbha Cotton Farmers in Money Leaders “Debt Trap”

Nagpur -24^th June 2010

All efforts and bailout packages for vidarbha cotton farmers who are in the debt trap private money leader failed this year when bankers failed to provide top fresh crop loan to farmers as till date only 12% target of crop loan set by NABARD has been achieved thanks to apathy of Maharashtra administration and massive corruption in nationalized banks as yester C.B.I officials has arrested bank manager Mr. S.R. Nair of Allhabad Bank Bhamb-Raja Branch 160 k.m. south-west of Nagpur who was demanding Rs.2000 cash for giving Rs.22,000 crop loan to one distressed farmer of village Wadgoan-Gadhava identified as Nasir Mannat , kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan andolan Samiti(VJAS) has informed today in the press note .

West vidarbha is reeling under drought and Govt. has ordered reconstruction of crop loan of all drought hit farmers but till date only 1.2 lakhs farmers as against the total 2 million debtrap farmers of region manage to get fresh crop loan even NABRD has set the crop loan target of Rs..2460 but bankers have disbursed only 256 crore as per official figure as on 23th June 2010 this is worst ever performance of agriculture credit and institutionalized crop loan to already agrarian crisis hit region which has almost nullified the effect of all bailout packages given by state and central Govt. since 2005 that cover Chief Minister Relief Package-2005 (Rs.1075 crore),Prime Minister Relief Package-2006(Rs.3750 crore) ,central govt. loan waiver-2008(Rs.71,000 crore) and Maharashtra Govt. extended loan waiver -2009 (Rs.6350 crore) ,Tiwari added.

‘In yavatmal district alone last bankers achieved 100% crop loan disbursement target this year they kept Rs.910 crore target and till date achieved Rs.234 crore which shows that bankers are not ready to give fresh crop loan to the drought hit farmer even after R.B.I. has issued orders more over C.B.I. raid on Bham-Raja Allhabad Bank has exposed the corruption and hostile functioning of banks ,there are reports of most branches of central bank of India which is leading bank in the district that manager are demanding money to disburse fresh crop loan but it is not possible to for every distressed debt trap farmers to go Nagpur C.B.I office and arrange trap ,we have demanding fresh crop loan to every drought hit farmers so that they are not forced to go to private money lender who are the main culprit of on going cotton farmers suicides but nobody in the administration even look at the our demand seriously resulting economic crisis and credit crunch in west vidarbha which has aggravated the on going agrarian crisis ,inviting more farm suicides in the region, farmers are urging central govt. intervention which is not coming that’s unfortunate’ Tiwari said .

As recent report of Dr. Narendra Jadhav committee which has bben accepted by Maharashtra Govt. clarified the bankers credit scenario in suicide prone west vidarbha which has clearly said that “ There is a need for restructuring of the rural financial institutions and also making them socially more sensitive. In the case of co-operative banks, suggestions made by the Vaidyanathan Committee be implemented expeditiously.

Agricultural Credit Planning

While providing credit, banks often place a number of undue restrictions on farmers by introducing rigid criteria about season, cropping pattern and the scale of finance. It is imperative to bring in some flexibility in this respect. In this regard, instead of the prevailing cropping pattern, an average cropping pattern could be used and a limit set accordingly. The task of reformulating the scale of finance should be delegated by the State Level Krishi Vikas Parishand to an independent professional institution.

Alternate to Money Lenders

The massive Debt-Waiver scheme has not addressed the indebtedness arising from the non-institutional credit. There is an imperative need to create an effective alternative to the prevailing system of moneylenders and relieving the farmers from their clutches. In this regard, a Plan for

‘Moneylender-free Village’ may be formulated on the following lines

1.Atleast one member of each family in the village should become a member of some Self-help Group (SHG) in the village.

2.Every rural and semi-urban branch of each bank should adopt one village in its jurisdiction.

3. Since at least one member of every family in the village would be a member of SHG and through the SHG to an institutional source of credit, a 100 per cent financial inclusion would be

achieved and over a three-year period the village can be free of indebtedness from moneylenders.”

report added but state administration ignored the report .

“Cash for Crop Loan scam ’Bank Manager in C.B.I. Net :Banker pushed more than Million Vidarbha Cotton Farmers in Money Leaders “Debt Trap”

“Cash for Crop Loan scam ’Bank Manager in C.B.I. Net :Banker pushed more than Million Vidarbha Cotton Farmers in Money Leaders “Debt Trap”

Nagpur -24^th June 2010

All efforts and bailout packages for vidarbha cotton farmers who are in the debt trap private money leader failed this year when bankers failed to provide top fresh crop loan to farmers as till date only 12% target of crop loan set by NABARD has been achieved thanks to apathy of Maharashtra administration and massive corruption in nationalized banks as yester C.B.I officials has arrested bank manager Mr. S.R. Nair of Allhabad Bank Bhamb-Raja Branch 160 k.m. south-west of Nagpur who was demanding Rs.2000 cash for giving Rs.22,000 crop loan to one distressed farmer of village Wadgoan-Gadhava identified as Nasir Mannat , kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan andolan Samiti(VJAS) has informed today in the press note .

West vidarbha is reeling under drought and Govt. has ordered reconstruction of crop loan of all drought hit farmers but till date only 1.2 lakhs farmers as against the total 2 million debtrap farmers of region manage to get fresh crop loan even NABRD has set the crop loan target of Rs..2460 but bankers have disbursed only 256 crore as per official figure as on 23th June 2010 this is worst ever performance of agriculture credit and institutionalized crop loan to already agrarian crisis hit region which has almost nullified the effect of all bailout packages given by state and central Govt. since 2005 that cover Chief Minister Relief Package-2005 (Rs.1075 crore),Prime Minister Relief Package-2006(Rs.3750 crore) ,central govt. loan waiver-2008(Rs.71,000 crore) and Maharashtra Govt. extended loan waiver -2009 (Rs.6350 crore) ,Tiwari added.

‘In yavatmal district alone last bankers achieved 100% crop loan disbursement target this year they kept Rs.910 crore target and till date achieved Rs.234 crore which shows that bankers are not ready to give fresh crop loan to the drought hit farmer even after R.B.I. has issued orders more over C.B.I. raid on Bham-Raja Allhabad Bank has exposed the corruption and hostile functioning of banks ,there are reports of most branches of central bank of India which is leading bank in the district that manager are demanding money to disburse fresh crop loan but it is not possible to for every distressed debt trap farmers to go Nagpur C.B.I office and arrange trap ,we have demanding fresh crop loan to every drought hit farmers so that they are not forced to go to private money lender who are the main culprit of on going cotton farmers suicides but nobody in the administration even look at the our demand seriously resulting economic crisis and credit crunch in west vidarbha which has aggravated the on going agrarian crisis ,inviting more farm suicides in the region, farmers are urging central govt. intervention which is not coming that’s unfortunate’ Tiwari said .

A AND .crore CRORE 3‘debtrap’ BANK MAarrested NAGE IN cb.iSupply of Credit

(A) Reorganization of Rural Financial Institutions

There is a need for restructuring of the rural financial institutions and

also making them socially more sensitive. In the case of

co-operative banks, suggestions made by the Vaidyanathan Committee be

implemented expeditiously.

(B) Agricultural Credit Planning

While providing credit, banks often place a number of undue

restrictions on farmers by introducing rigid criteria about season, cropping

pattern and the scale of finance. It is imperative to bring in some flexibility

in this respect. In this regard, instead of the prevailing cropping pattern, an

average cropping pattern could be used and a limit set accordingly. The task

of reformulating the scale of finance should be delegated by the State Level

Krishi Vikas Parishand to an independent professional institution.

(C) Alternate to Money Lenders

The massive Debt-Waiver scheme has not addressed the indebtedness

arising from the non-institutional credit. There is an imperative need to

create an effective alternative to the prevailing system of moneylenders and

relieving the farmers from their clutches. In this regard, a Plan for

‘Moneylender-free Village’ may be formulated on the following lines :

• Atleast one member of each family in the village should become

a member of some Self-help Group (SHG) in the village.

• Every rural and semi-urban branch of each bank should adopt

one village in its jurisdiction.

• Since at least one member of every family in the village would

be a member of SHG and through the SHG to an institutional

source of credit, a 100 per cent financial inclusion would be

achieved and over a three-year period the village can be free of

indebtedness from moneylenders.

Vidarbha farmers welcome MSP Hike and Incentive to Tur Pulses.

Vidarbha farmers welcome MSP Hike and incentive to Tur Pulses.

Nagpur-15 June 2010

The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) today welcomed the Government decision to raise the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for pulses for the current kharif crops. The increase which ranges from Rs. 380 per quintal to Rs. 700 per quintal is part of the Government’s strategy to boost the production of pulses in the country. The rise in MSP for pulses this year is significant, both in terms of absolute increase and percentage rise. For tur, the rise is Rs. 700 per quintal, from Rs. 2300/q last year to Rs. 3000/q, which represents 30.43% rise over the previous year’s MSP. This rise is higher than the rise of Rs. 500 recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). The rise in MSP for pulses this year is significant, both in terms of absolute increase and percentage rise. For tur, the rise is Rs. 700 per quintal, from Rs. 2300/q last year to Rs. 3000/q, which represents 30.43% rise over the previous year’s MSP. This rise is higher than the rise of Rs. 500 recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

VJAS President Kishore Tiwari in letter to Indian Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh thanked him for giving special incentive, farmers selling tur, urad and moong to procurement agencies during the harvest/arrival period of two months will get an additional incentive of Rs. 5 per kg (Rs. 500/q).

“This was long pending demand of dry land farmers to west vidarbha who are cultivating mono-cash crop BT. cotton which very much rain sensitive and highly volatile to the international pricing due US subsidies and created lot of complex problem of water crisis in drought prone west vidarbha where 98% farmers are dry land farmers .we welcome Govt. initiative to introduce the major schemes, viz. the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) and the Macro Management of Agriculture Scheme which is now have special components for pulses development as to encourage farmers towards growing pulses, the Centre is spending Rs. 837.03 crore on pulses development this year. The allocation has risen eight-fold in four years, from Rs. 105.59 crore in 2007-08.we welcome the decision but we urge central Govt. to ban all rain sensitive cash like cotton ,sugarcane, soybean in the dry land region of Maharashtra by providing special direct cash subsidy to pluses grower and give them free health care and educational concession in professional institutes in order to address the on going agrarian crisis in vidarbha region which is product of American MNCs who are dominating the crop patterns and agriculture resulting in million of innocent cotton farmers victimization and lastly in farm suicides” Tiwari added in letter.

VJAS urged central Govt. to provide institutional support to vidarbha farmers for supply of quality seed, and kits of nutrients and plant protection chemicals Arhar (Tur), Moong, Chana, Urad and Masoor who are showing the interest for cultivation under The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) ,Tiwari informed

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Eight credit starved vidarbha farmers’ suicides reported in last 48 hours.

Eight credit starved vidarbha farmers’ suicides reported in last 48 hours.

Nagpur-13th June-2010

The complete apathy of Maharashtra chief minister Ashok chavan toward the vidarbha agrarian crisis has started showing it's impact on vidarbha agrarian crisis as unattended of issues related to non availability of farm credit , seeds, fertilizers and growing economic distress has resulted in 8 credit starved vidarbha farmers suicides in last 48 hours ,the recent victims of vidarbha agrarian crisis that include from four Amaravati distrcit ,two from most effected yavatmal and one from akola and washim district each.,they are-

1.Sudhakar Sarad in Amamravati

2.Mansan Shedokar in Amaravati

3.Babarao Chavan in Amaravati

4.Grupasagr Adau in Amaravati

5.Ravindra Masekar n Yavatmal

6.Pundlik Sidam in Yavatmal

7.Mahadev Nikanth in Akola

8.Vilas Belkhade in Washim

Taking toll to 413 in 2010.

"The situation in West Vidarbha where six of the districts are facing farmers' suicide crisis has returned once back to year 2006 even after prime minister relief package and mega loan waiver due to hostile attitude of administration very poor planning of ICAR and NABARD implement proper food crop pattern and soil enrichment ,rainwater harvesting, micro social audit of water shade activities and promotion of special pluses zone for vidarbha ” VidarbhaJan Andolan Samiti president Kishore Tiwari informed in press release today.

''Vidarbha facing the worst ever drought of century more than 5 million farmers of vidarbha in of 15460 villages are facing problem of drinking water, food ,fodder and work under MGREGA scheme ,resulting these farmers suicides in vidarbha.

There is acute shortage of seed and fertilizer ,farmers are not getting bank credit as there is no clear cut order of reconstruction of crop loan due to drought .water crisis has created havoc in rural vidarbha and million of people are force to drink very toxic water which is also rare and one has to walk for more than miles to get it .till today administration has not arranged to food, fodder and work under MGREGA and prevailing despair and distress adding fuel to on going agrarian crisis .we were expecting that Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chvan has no time to attend these problems and another Maharashtra Bhumiputra Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Sharad Pawar is too busy in cricket to address the farmers crisis then Indian Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan singhji approached and urged to revisit vidarbha but nothing is happening in PMO at any level ,nobody is responding to our request and more debt trapped farmers are till killing themselves resulting more despair and condition of farm widows and family members of farmers who committed suicide are more pathetic as they are facing starvation and health care problems " Tiwari added.

'There is an urgent need to stop cultivation highly rain sensitive crops like suger cane and Bt.cotton in the crisis-ridden Vidarbha region and give special financial incentive take to pulses and food grain cultivation. Cotton cultivation is a capital intensive and aggressive way in which Bt cotton is being promoted could lead to a disastrous situation once again as it demands more water,If the coming monsoon is deficient like last year, the situation in Vidarbha is bound to be aggravated. Maharashtra government is not any taking steps to promote food crop and promoting cash crops that unfortunate and if Govt. failed to take corrective steps to address the on going agrarian crisis ,this apathy will the restart farm suicide spiral in near future " said Tiwari, urging Indian Prime Minster to attend to vidarbha agrarian crisis with out further delay.

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4 million Maharashtra Cotton Farmers urged Indian Prime Minister to hike MSP of cotton

4 million Maharashtra Cotton Farmers urged Indian Prime Minister to hike MSP of cotton

Nagpur- Dated-11^th June 2010,

A decision for keeping MSP of cotton for kharif crops for 2010-11 unchanged for the successive last two years by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has disappointed more than 4 million cotton farmers of Maharashtra.since 2008-9 MSP of cotton has not been changed where as cost of production ,crop failure due to drought being has aggravated agrarian crisis in cotton cultivation belt of India. in order to give relief to debt trapped and credit starved 4 million cotton farmers of maharshtra , Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) farmers activist group has urged Indian Primee Minister Dr.Manmohan singh to hike minimum support price (MSP) Bt.cotton to Rs.4000 per quintal from Rs.3000/- per quintal .

VJAS recalled last year the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) which were based on the following factors that include Cost of production, Changes in input prices ,Input-output price parity,Trends in market prices, Demand and supply situation ,International price situation, prices paid and prices received by the farmers and implications for national –international subsidy suggested hike in cotton MSP for 2009-10 ,CACP recommendations were ignored by union Govt. and it was promised to consider it for kharif 2010-11 but this year too MSP of cotton is unchanged which is matter of surprise to 4 million cotton growers of Maharashtra.

“This is betrayal with cotton farmers of vidarbha which is main cash crop of region ,cotton farmer were expecting minimum Rs.3500 per quintal MSP but they were disappointed there is no relief to paddy growers of eastern vidarbha as Rs.50 is hike in paddy MSP unjustified .where as Govt. claiming big rise in pluses MSP is not inline with CACP calculations and will not encourage the farmers opting pluses cultivation in place of cash crops where such non realistic and unjustified MSPs will have greater impact on food crop promotion programme of Indian Govt.” Kishor Tiwari Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press note today.

The increase was given for the widely consumed arhar dal (tur), the MSP for which has been increased to Rs 3,000 a quintal from Rs 2,300 last year but market price for last whole year on more than RS.3800/- where as the MSP for moong, another popular variety, has been increased to Rs 3,170 per quintal from Rs 2,760. Support price for urad has been increased to 2,900 a quintal from Rs 2,520 last year.

“This is peanut and need urgent revision for encouraging the dry land farmers to go for cultivation of pulses. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has ignored this which is unfortunate decision hence we want the review ” Tiwari added.

UPA Govt. before election has given promise that dying farmers will get reasonable MSP and UPA Govt. more sensitive to the hardships of dying farmers but after the election year, Central Govt. has changed it’s outlook toward the cash crop growing farmers who are playing key role in increasing so called agriculture growth ,are being completely ignored and specially Cotton and Soyabean farmers of vidarbha who are in focus due to on going farm suicides and drought and the decision to keep MSP of cotton and soybean unchanged is unfortunate, Tiwari said.

“UPA Govt. is urged to review MSP of Cotton and Soybean to Rs.4000 from Rs.3000 and Rs.2000 from Rs.1560 respectively in order to save dying 4 million farmers” Tiwari urged indian prime minister in later faxed today.

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No change in MSP of cotton disappointed Betrayal of 4 million Maharashtra Cotton Farmers : Rise in MSP of Pluses and Paddy is Peanut -VJAS

No change in MSP of cotton disappointed Betrayal of 4 million Maharashtra Cotton Farmers : Rise in MSP of Pluses and Paddy is Peanut -VJAS

Nagpur- Dated-10^th June 2010,

A decision for keeping MSP of cotton for kharif crops for 2010-11 unchanged for the successive last two years by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has disappointed more than 4 million cotton farmers of Maharashtra.

“this is betrayal with cotton farmers of vidarbha which is main cash crop of region ,cotton farmer were expecting minimum Rs.3500 per quintal MSP .the Rs.50 is hike in paddy MSP unjustified where as Govt. claiming big rise in pluses MSP is not inline with CACP calculations and will not encourage the farmers opting pluses cultivation in place of cash crops where such non realistic and unjustified MSPs will have greater impact on food crop promotion programme of Indian Govt.” Kishor Tiwari Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press note today.

The the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) are based on the following factors that include Cost of production, Changes in input prices ,Input-output price parity,Trends in market prices, Demand and supply situation ,International price situation, prices paid and prices received by the farmers and implications for national –international subsidy but MSP declared has ignored all the factors

The increase was given for the widely consumed arhar dal (tur), the MSP for which has been increased to Rs 3,000 a quintal from Rs 2,300 last year but market price for last whole year on more than RS.3800/- where as the MSP for moong, another popular variety, has been increased to Rs 3,170 per quintal from Rs 2,760. Support price for urad has been increased to 2,900 a quintal from Rs 2,520 last year.

“This is peanut and need urgent revision for encouraging the dry land farmers to go for cultivation of pulses. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has ignored this which is unfortunate decision hence we want the review ” Tiwari added.

UPA Govt. before election has given promise that dying farmers will get reasonable MSP and UPA Govt. more sensitive to the hardships of dying farmers but after the election year, Central Govt. has changed it’s outlook toward the cash crop growing farmers who are playing key role in increasing so called agriculture growth ,are being completely ignored and specially Cotton and Soyabean farmers of vidarbha who are in focus due to on going farm suicides and drought and the decision to keep MSP of cotton and soybean unchanged is unfortunate, Tiwari said.

“UPA Govt. is urged to review MSP of Cotton and Soybean to Rs.3600 from Rs.3000 and Rs.1860 from Rs.1560 respectively in order to save dying 4 million farmers” Tiwari demanded.

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VJAS urged Indian Prez to Release of Forest Officer Mr.Vilas Bardekar, Kidnapped by Militants

VJAS urged Indian Prez to Release of Forest Officer Mr.Vilas Bardekar, Kidnapped by Militants since 13^th May.

Nagpur-7^th june 2010

Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti today urged Indian president smt. Pratibhatai patil to take up issue with central Govt. and Govt. arunachal Pradesh in order to arrange the release of forest officer from vidarbha , Mr.Vilas Bardekar (Joint director, social Forestry) who was abducted by suspected National Democratic Front of Bodoland Militants in Arunachal Pradesh(India) on May 13 .

Earlier State forest minister Patangrao Kadam said that the Arunachal Pradesh authorities, holding 'negotiations' with militants, have confirmed that Pune-based senior forest officer Vilas Bardekar is safe but now 23^rd day no progress is seen in the precess of releasing the forest officer more over his whereabouts are also being not known by state govt. as there is very poor foloow up from Maharashtra administration,

Mr. Vilas bardekar was kidnapped from the Eagles Nest sanctuary in Daimara area along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, where rare species of butterflies are found.

butterflies, had gone to Arunachal Pradesh to study the rare species there.

“Hon.Ble President Smt.Pratibhatai Patil are from vidarbha and Bardekar is from Buldhana and has worked in Chandrapur, Bhandara and other places. He is a popular officer in the department., had recently completed his doctorate in 'Observation on Biodiversity and Systematics of butterflies of Chandrapur', hence we have urged Prez. to arrange to look in this serious and very sensitive kidnapping ’ Kishor Tiwari of VJAS added in the letter which was faxed today to Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“we can understand the condition of his wife Madhavi and college-going son and a school-going daughter as family members are since 13 May in a state of shock after senior police officials from the northeast informed them about the abduction. As the days are passing the Mahrashtra Govt’s apathy is seen hence we are requesting Indian Prez for special attention.”Tiwari added.