Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
कापूस निर्यात आणि तूर खरेदीच्या मागणीसाठी उद्या धरणे
कापूस निर्यात आणि तूर खरेदीच्या मागणीसाठी उद्या --LOKSATTA
| कापूस निर्यात आणि तूर खरेदीच्या मागणीसाठी उद्या धरणे- - | | |
कापसाची निर्यात खुली करा आणि तुरीची खरेदी ३५०० रूपये प्रति क्विंटल हमी भावाने करा या मागणीसाठी येत्या १ मे रोजी धरणे देण्यात येणार असल्याची माहिती विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने दिली आहे.
सरकारने कापसाच्या गाठीच्या निर्यातीचा कोटा ५५ लाखावरून १ लाख ५० हजारावर नेण्याचे आश्वासन थंडय़ाबस्त्यात टाकल्यामुळे कापसाच्या भावात प्रचंड घसरण आली. त्यामुळे मागील १५ दिवसात कापसाचे भाव ६ हजार ५०० रूपयांवरून सरसकट ३ हजार ८०० वर आले आहे. ही घसरण पुढेही अशीच सुरू राहणार असून कापसाच्या हमी भावापेक्षा कमी भावातसुद्धा व्यापारी कापूस खरेदी करतील, अशी भीती समितीने व्यक्त केली आहे. गेल्यावर्षी कापसाचे उत्पादन २४० लाख गाठी झाल्या असताना सरकारने ८५ लाख गाठीच्या निर्यातीची परवानगी दिली होती. मात्र, यावर्षी सरकार कापसाचे उत्पादन ३५० लाख गाठी होणार असा दावा करत असताना कापसाच्या गिरणी मालकांचे हित जोपासण्यासाठी व त्यांना स्वस्त दरात कापूस मिळावा याकरीता सरकारने निर्यात बंदी लागू केली, असा आरोप समितीने केला आहे. सरकारचे वाणिज्य मंत्री आनंद शर्मा यांनी मंगळवारी सरकार कापसाच्या निर्यातीसंबंधी सर्व निर्णय ऑक्टोबरमध्ये घेणार व गिरणी मालकांच्या हितासाठी आम्ही बांधील आहोत अशी घोषणा केल्यामुळे कापसाच्या किंमतीत ही घसरण सुरू असून सरकारने कापसाची निर्यात तात्काळ सुरू करावी व निर्यातीचा कोटा १५० लाख गाठीचा करावा, या मागणीसाठी १ मे रोजी शेतकऱ्यांचे धरणे आंदोलन आयोजित करण्यात आले असल्याची माहिती विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने दिली.
यावर्षी भारतात तुरीचा पेरा वाढावा यासाठी सरकारने तुरीचा हमी भाव ३ हजार रूपये प्रति क्विंटल केला व तुरी पेरणाऱ्या शेतकऱ्याला प्रति क्विंटल ५०० रूपये बोनस देण्याची अधिकृत घोषणा केली. महाराष्ट्राच्या कृषी विभागाने या योजनेचा प्रचार, प्रसार केला व विदर्भात १ लाख २० हजार हेक्टरमध्ये तुरीचा विक्रमी पेरा झाला. मात्र, आज शेतकऱ्यांच्या तुरीला जेमतेम २२०० रूपये प्रति क्विंटल भाव मिळत असून व्यापारी तुरी घेण्यास तयार नाहीत. मात्र, ३ हजार ५०० रूपये प्रति क्विंटली घोषणा करणारे सरकार मागील ३ महिन्यापासून संकलन केंद्र सुरू करून खरेदी करण्यास अपयशी ठरले आहे. सरकारने नाफेड व पणन महासंघामार्फत तुरीची खरेदी ३ हजार ५०० रूपये दराने करावी व या खरेदीमध्ये शेतकऱ्यांना लुटणाऱ्या व्यापाऱ्यांना तुर विकता येऊ नये, यासाठी व्यवस्था करावी या मागणीचाही रेटा १ मे रोजी आयोजित धरणे आंदोलनात करणार असल्याची माहिती विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने दिली आहे. या आंदोलनात विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी, माजी जिल्हा परिषद सदस्य तुकाराम मेश्राम, समितीचे सचिव मोहन जाधव, सुरेश बोलेणवार आदी सहभागी होतील.
सरकारने कापसाच्या गाठीच्या निर्यातीचा कोटा ५५ लाखावरून १ लाख ५० हजारावर नेण्याचे आश्वासन थंडय़ाबस्त्यात टाकल्यामुळे कापसाच्या भावात प्रचंड घसरण आली. त्यामुळे मागील १५ दिवसात कापसाचे भाव ६ हजार ५०० रूपयांवरून सरसकट ३ हजार ८०० वर आले आहे. ही घसरण पुढेही अशीच सुरू राहणार असून कापसाच्या हमी भावापेक्षा कमी भावातसुद्धा व्यापारी कापूस खरेदी करतील, अशी भीती समितीने व्यक्त केली आहे. गेल्यावर्षी कापसाचे उत्पादन २४० लाख गाठी झाल्या असताना सरकारने ८५ लाख गाठीच्या निर्यातीची परवानगी दिली होती. मात्र, यावर्षी सरकार कापसाचे उत्पादन ३५० लाख गाठी होणार असा दावा करत असताना कापसाच्या गिरणी मालकांचे हित जोपासण्यासाठी व त्यांना स्वस्त दरात कापूस मिळावा याकरीता सरकारने निर्यात बंदी लागू केली, असा आरोप समितीने केला आहे. सरकारचे वाणिज्य मंत्री आनंद शर्मा यांनी मंगळवारी सरकार कापसाच्या निर्यातीसंबंधी सर्व निर्णय ऑक्टोबरमध्ये घेणार व गिरणी मालकांच्या हितासाठी आम्ही बांधील आहोत अशी घोषणा केल्यामुळे कापसाच्या किंमतीत ही घसरण सुरू असून सरकारने कापसाची निर्यात तात्काळ सुरू करावी व निर्यातीचा कोटा १५० लाख गाठीचा करावा, या मागणीसाठी १ मे रोजी शेतकऱ्यांचे धरणे आंदोलन आयोजित करण्यात आले असल्याची माहिती विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने दिली.
यावर्षी भारतात तुरीचा पेरा वाढावा यासाठी सरकारने तुरीचा हमी भाव ३ हजार रूपये प्रति क्विंटल केला व तुरी पेरणाऱ्या शेतकऱ्याला प्रति क्विंटल ५०० रूपये बोनस देण्याची अधिकृत घोषणा केली. महाराष्ट्राच्या कृषी विभागाने या योजनेचा प्रचार, प्रसार केला व विदर्भात १ लाख २० हजार हेक्टरमध्ये तुरीचा विक्रमी पेरा झाला. मात्र, आज शेतकऱ्यांच्या तुरीला जेमतेम २२०० रूपये प्रति क्विंटल भाव मिळत असून व्यापारी तुरी घेण्यास तयार नाहीत. मात्र, ३ हजार ५०० रूपये प्रति क्विंटली घोषणा करणारे सरकार मागील ३ महिन्यापासून संकलन केंद्र सुरू करून खरेदी करण्यास अपयशी ठरले आहे. सरकारने नाफेड व पणन महासंघामार्फत तुरीची खरेदी ३ हजार ५०० रूपये दराने करावी व या खरेदीमध्ये शेतकऱ्यांना लुटणाऱ्या व्यापाऱ्यांना तुर विकता येऊ नये, यासाठी व्यवस्था करावी या मागणीचाही रेटा १ मे रोजी आयोजित धरणे आंदोलनात करणार असल्याची माहिती विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने दिली आहे. या आंदोलनात विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी, माजी जिल्हा परिषद सदस्य तुकाराम मेश्राम, समितीचे सचिव मोहन जाधव, सुरेश बोलेणवार आदी सहभागी होतील.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Vidarbha cotton farmers flay union Govt.’s Decision not allow Cotton Export: Hunger Strike on 1st May to lift cotton export ban
Vidarbha cotton farmers flay union Govt.’s Decision not allow Cotton Export: Hunger Strike on 1st May to lift cotton export ban
NAGPUR: April 28, 2011
The recent announcement of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma that there is no immediate proposal to allow raise cotton bales exports quota which has shattered the hopes of dying vidarbha getting a good price for their produce remained short-lived for cotton growers. Prices plummeted to below Rs 4,500 a quintal during last fortnight after touching a high of Rs 7,000,has been flayed by vidarbha cotton farmer’s activist group vidarbha Jannadolan Samiti (VJAS) and threaten to start hunger strike from 1st may to press demand to raise cotton bales export quota 1.5million from existing 55 lakhs ,Kishore Tiwari of vidarbha Jannadolan Samiti (VJAS) informed in press release today.
‘The remark on the issue of increasing export quota of cotton by 1.5 million bales to 55 Lakhs bales, the minister said that Cotton industry's requirements are always uppermost in the mind of the textile ministry or of the group of ministers has added futher fuel in to agrarian crisis of cotton growing region of west vidarbha whre more than 10,000 farmers killed thenslves due to debt and crop failure ’Tiwari added.
The government had put a quantitative cap of 5.5 million bales (170 kg each) on cotton exports for the year ending September this year and earlier promised raise the limit up to 1.50 million bales as india’s is estimated to have harvested 33.9 million bales crop this year (2010-11) as against 24.22 million bales in the previous year as per recent announcement of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar .
Earlier in the month of February Committee of Secretaries (CoS) in decided to keep the cap on cotton exports at 55 lakh bales and reject Maharashtra state's request to increase it to 75 lakh bales has come as a shock for farm activists and cotton experts in the state now commerce minister has disappointed dying vidarbha farmers were expecting to make good money and wipe out old losses in once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But the exports restriction would mean the domestic prices would come down," lamented Kishore Tiwari.
Slamming the Union government decision, VJAS alleged that the bureaucrats were influenced by strong lobbying by textile mill owners who want cheap raw material to increase their profit margins.
"This decision is shocking. Why put a restriction when there is good demand in global market and benefits of good price can be passed on to cotton farmers who have suffered for over a decade because of unremunerative prices, cotton growers may not get another such chance of high open market prices domestically and globally " asked Tiwari .
"Floods hit crop in China and Pakistan while crop area was cut down in the US, the other major producer. So it's a rare chance that Indian farmer got this time as cotton crop in India was exceptionally good. Moreover, when 83 lakh bales were exported last year, why should the Centre scale it down in a good crop year hence we are demanding the lift all quantitative restriction on cotton export," Tiwari demanded..
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Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Vidarbha farmers demand C.B.I. probe on CAG report on Rs.5000 crore Prime Minister Farmers Relief Package
Nagpur-26APRIL 2011
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has once again came out very serious allegation of massive corruption in prime minister and chief minister relief packages amounting Rs.5000 Crore disbursed to suicide hit agrarian crisis west vidarbha in year 2005-2006 to stop on going coton farmers suicides resulting in more than 8000 ill fated farmers to kill themseleves as relief were never reached to dying people .Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) has filed fresh complaint to Indian prime minister asking him order the CBI probe in to all misdeeds in relief package work including in irrigation contracts ,kishore tiwari of VJAS informed in a press reslease todayQUOTE
Special packages announced by the Prime Minister and the chief minister's office to contain farmer suicides in Vidarbha failed to meet their objectives, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has observed. A performance audit report compiled by the CAG on various state government departments and state-run public sector undertakings was placed before the state legislature last week.
In its report, the CAG has raised serious questions on the implementation of some of the special packages doled out to drought-prone areas in the Vidharbha region. These include a livestock and fisheries package, announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in August 2006, for the six districts with high suicide rates: Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Wardha, Washim, and Yavatmal.
Observing that cases of farmer suicides in these districts were related to the depletion of financial conditions and burden of loans, Singh sanctioned a Rs 27 crore package, disbursed in the 2006-10 period, for providing supplementary source of income to the farming population.
The package involved distribution of two milch animals to each affected family. The government agreed to bear 75 per cent of the purchase cost, while the beneficiaries had to arrange for the remaining amount. A rider that the animals could not be sold for at least three years and had to be produced at the time of verification was put in place.
A scrutiny of status reports in Akola, Amravati and Yavatmal by the CAG in March 2010, however, revealed that 385 of the 10,210 animals distributed under the package were not available with the beneficiaries. These had either been sold (473) or were not in the beneficiary's possession (1,867) at the time of verification; 509 others had died.
The CAG has observed that despite the release of subsidy, objectives behind the package could not be achieved. The state animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries department, which was to oversee the scheme's implementation, has been blamed for "poor monitoring" and institutional weakness in planning.
Similar discrepancies were also observed in an independent package announced by the chief minister's office in February 2006. The CM had sanctioned a package of Rs 30 crore, which also dealt with 75 per cent subsidy in purchase of two large milch animals or 10 sheep and a goat. Even in this case, reports in the three districts revealed that nearly 37% of the 6,090 animals were not available with the farmers. While 517 had been sold, 1266 were not traceable, and 466 were reported dead.
The CAG said the department is yet to reply on the action taken against the beneficiaries. It also raised the issue of irregularities and excess payment of compensation to farmers affected by bird flu in 2006. An audit note has been raised on non-payment of compensation for destroyed eggs as announced.
UNQUOTE
The corruption in vidarbha relief package in irigation project was earlier reported was also submitted to Indian prime minister for arranging CBI probe in december 20101 but till date PMO ha snot taken any action that's very unfortunate ,Tiwari added.
here is earlier reports on primeminister rlief package corruption
QUOTE
Until now Ajay Sancheti was known to have only a BJP connection: last year Nitin Gadkari had invited him to be on the party's national executive. Documents now with TOI indicate that he may also have close links with the present Democratic Front state government comprising Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.
Documents collected under RTI Act by Arunkumar Sampat, a contractor with Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation, reveal the promoters of Sancheti group used a dead company to corner more contracts by bypassing the norms. Interestingly, prominent builder Avinash Bhosale had also allegedly colluded with them in bagging multi-crore contracts.
Insiders say the fraud could be worth at least Rs 2,000 crore with the Sanchetis using fraudulent means to bag irrigation projects. The VIDC was headed by the current deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in his capacity as the irrigation minister in the previous government.
The Sanchetis have also been in the news recently for the manner in which they bagged flats in Mumbai's Adarsh Housing Society.
Clever Sancheti milked state for irrigation contracts
Until now Ajay Sancheti was known to have only a BJP connection after being invited to be on the party's national executive by its president Nitin Gadkari last year. However, documents now with TOI indicate that he also has close links with the current Democratic Front state government which comprises the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.
Insiders feel that the fraud could be worth at least Rs 2,000 crore with the Sanchetis using fraudulent means to bag irrigation projects from the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC). This was being headed by the current deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in his capacity as the irrigation minister in the previous government.
Documents collected under the RTI Act by Arunkumar Sampat, who too is a VIDC contractor, reveal that the promoters of the Sancheti group made a dead company come alive which became the means of cornering more contracts by bypassing the norms. Interestingly, Cidco scamster and prominent builder Avinash Bhosale had also colluded with them in bagging multi-crore contracts.
The Sanchetis have also been in the news recently for the piquant manner in which they bagged flats in Mumbai's Adarsh Housing Society. While one is in the name of Ajay Sancheti's driver Sudhakar Madke, a second is in the name his cousin Paramveer who is a student in the UK and the third in the name of Rajesh S Bora, brother-in-law of Abhay Sancheti who is Ajay's uncle and Paramveer's father.
Ten months after complaints of alleged corruption in VIDC were filed by the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh and Shiv Sena's Suresh Gambhir, a former MLA from Mahim in Mumbai, the state water resources department began an enquiry about two months back. It is yet to be concluded.
"An enquiry is being conducted by three chief engineers of the VIDC in the Sancheti matter," said C S Modak, the executive director of VIDC.
"It's a blatant fraud, Sancheti should be blacklisted by the VIDC," said Sampat.
The Sancheti group, which is a leading player in Vidarbha region in construction, mining and power sector, is one of the main contractors with the VIDC. The corporation rules state that no single firm can hold more than three contracts simultaneously. Though this has been in existence for at least 10 years, the VIDC recently changed the rule which was only in force to ensure that contractors can complete existing projects before starting on a new one.
In a bid to gain more contracts, the Sanchetis adopted an ingenious method. After bagging contracts in the name of Shaktikumar M Sancheti Ltd, the firm changed its name to SMS Infrastructure Ltd. If the promoters change the name of their company then the entity with the previous name ceases to exist. However, this did not happen in case of the Sanchetis.
Both companies continued to exist and bag VIDC contracts, far exceeding the upper limit of three.
On November 28, 2005, the registrar of companies issued Shaktikumar M Sancheti Ltd a fresh certificate of incorporation with SMS Infrastructure Ltd as the name. This new company continued to have the same VIDC contractor registration number - 1083. Even though the Sanchetis intimated the VIDC about the change of name in 2006, they continued to bag contracts in the old name too. A project-wise intimation has to be submitted to the corporation.
The VIDC too did not see anything wrong in both Shaktikumar M Sancheti Ltd and SMS Infrastructure Ltd, the group's current name, bagging contracts. It also issued contractor registration certificates to the former on March 14, 2007 as well as the new firm on July 23, 2007. The two firms continued to be awarded different contracts.
Ajay Sancheti, however, told TOI that there was nothing hanky-panky in the bagging of projects. "Since the work orders are issued by different executive engineers of VIDC, they took varying time to incorporate the changes," said Ajay Sancheti, who is the MD of SMS Infrastructure Ltd.
"Many a time, the engineers continued to issue cheques and other documents in the name of Shaktikumar M Sancheti Ltd even though we had changed the name of the company," he added.
A VIDC officer, preferring anonymity, told TOI that this irregularity would not have been possible without the connivance of the top brass of the corporation. "Not only did the two firms continue to bag contracts, they also formed joint ventures with different companies and bagged more contracts in the name of the JVs," the officer added.
Sanchetis formed joint ventures in the name of both Sancheti Infrastructure Limited and SMS Limited. The former tied up with Mumbai-based M/S N Thakkar Construction Private Limited and the latter with another Mumbai-based firm D Thakkar Construction Private Limited. Incidentally, a number of directors are on the board of both the Mumbai firms.
The first partnership deed between Shaktikumar M Sancheti Limited and SN Thakkar was executed on November 14, 2005 just a fortnight before it changed its name to SMS. The SMS-D. Thakkar deed is dated December 4, 2008.
However, even in 2007, when Shaktikumar M Sancheti did not exist anymore, a partnership deed was forged with SN Thakkar for taking up another VIDC contract. As per VIDC rules, a fresh joint venture has to be formed to bid for each contract.
In this manner, the Sanchetis bagged six projects in partnership with the Thakkars. One job was awarded to SMS Infrastructure on its own and another to a joint venture of Shaktikumar Sancheti Ltd and Soma Enterprise Ltd headed by Avinash Bhosale.
On this, Sancheti responded with a very vague "I don't have the details". "My director Dilip Surana is away for a couple of days," he said.
The Thakkars too have been indicted in a separate VIDC enquiry for circumventing corporation rules. The enquiry officer found that two out of four directors in SN Thakkar Construction and D Thakkar Construction - Pravin Thakkar and Jigar Thakkar - were the same. He concluded that it amounted to the same company bagging two offers. Even though the enquiry report was submitted in March this year, no action has been taken so far
'if prime minister failed to to order the CBI probe even after the CAG report ,we will move in high court for the justice to 3million dying vidarbha farmers'Tiwari said.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Vidarbha Farmers oppose the conversion Vidarbha Sugar factories into Liquor Plants
Vidarbha Farmers oppose the conversion Vidarbha Sugar factories into Liquor Plants
After drought hit Marathawada region of Maharashtra now it’s turn of dying vidarbha as all 42 closed sugar factories in Agrarian Crisis hit Vidarbha are once again taken over by recently developed ‘Liquor–Ethanol’ mafia for production of so-called healthy liquor from poor’s people food and most unfortunate part that all most all closed factories once started by ruling congress party leaders have taken over BJP National President Nitin Gadakari and Vice President Gopinathji Munde joining very notorious ‘Ethonal Cartal’ run by NCP president Sharad Pawar and conspiracy has made venerable all ‘Paddy and Pluses Growers’ forcing them committee suicide as Govt. failed to procure single kilo of paddy and pluses from farmers in this season ,this sensational allegations leveled today by vidarbha farm activist group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti urging BJP National President Nitin Gadakari and Vice President Gopinathji Munde to tell the truth to the society .
“The recent massive farmers rallies for the promotion of sugarcane cultivation in Bhandra –Gondia and wardha by BJP National President Nitin Gadakari so as the Govt. subsidies food crop base liquor factories owned by Vice President Gopinathji Munde being going in full production ,this is much more irritating as BJP is party who is National contractor of character and clean India building and National President and vice-president are involved such activities are opened opposed by all section of society moreover complete salient of RSS over the issue is very shocking as RSS chief Dr.Moham Bhagwat are closely monitoring the development of these Two RSS disciplined workers who are listed as top billionaires’ of Indian politics ” Tiwari furthered alleged .
“the recently acquired and floated sugar cum liquor factories in vidarbha not only manufacture liquor but will take away more than 50% water reserved for irrigation that is serious issue as all these sugar cum liquor are having mega thermal power plant as package turnkey project as all such proposals are pending for consent before Maharashtra pollution control board fro consent .Purti power plant at Bela is running on coal not on the molasses and power is sold to the Mumbai base reliance group where feeder and transmission lines were set up by state owned electric company that support our allegation that all national parties have joined the robbery of water ,coal and forest resources now turned toward the poor farmer food crop which will create the situation much more pathetic ” VJAS warned the administration
At present paddy cultivation and cotton growers in Vidarbha are up in the arms against ill-conceived agriculture policies if Central Government. They say, the government has fooled them by not procuring their produce at prices it had promised a few months back.
Central Government had assured a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs. 3,000 per quintal for Tur apart from a Rs. 500 bonus per quintal. Lured by tall promises, a large number of farmers especially in Western Vidarbha opened for Tur cultivation. According to officially figures, the area under Tur cultivation increased to as high as 1.20 lakh hectares. However, even as the harvest season in long gone, the Government ditched the framers had to sell their produce in the open market at a low price of not more than Rs. 2,700 quintal.
As a result, this monsoon, more farmers are expected to switch over to the non-traditional crop of sugarcane and very risky BT cotton, VJAS president Kishor Tiwari said, ”It is unfortunate that the farmers in the region are not given correct prices for their hard-earned produce. An increasing number of farmers are also opting for sugarcane even as the region has little facilities for irrigation. If the trend is really followed, it will lead to rampant water scarcity in the region in the days to came. It appears to be a well-conceived plan on the part of the government to turn the shut sugar factories in the region into liquor manufacturing units. It is for this reason that government is taking measures to bing Tur and cotton cultivators to loss by not assisting them” Tiwari alleged.
‘we have written these facts to Indian prime minister and top leaders of BJP for urgent intervention as this move will further ruin vidarbha region already in grip of agrarian crisis’ Tiwari informed.
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Tur now brings tears to farmers' eyes-TIMES OF INDIA
Tur now brings tears to farmers' eyes
NAGPUR: Tur dal, the common man's source for protein which had left a big hole in the consumers' pocket last year, has now become the farmers' sorrow. Like the cotton phenomenon as reported by TOI on Wednesday, even tur rates have crashed towards the end of the crop season when normally the trend should have been the other way around.
Last year, the tur whole rates had touched a peak of Rs 6,000 a quintal after opening at Rs 4,500.
Tur dal, however, is still priced between Rs 5500 to Rs 6800 a quintal at the retail counters, way above the rates of the raw material. Millers claim that this is due to the high processing costs (see story).
Farmers, especially those from Vidarbha, are in a fix as they have thronged mandis with their stock only to find a glut. There are reports of almost 1500 truckloads of tur whole stranded at the Hinganghat market yard, 75 kms from Nagpur on the road to Hyderabad. Traders who apprehend a further fall are simply refusing to lift the stock.
Tur whole farmers have been left in a hapless situation as the state government, which had announced a support price of Rs 3,500 per quintal, has not started the procurement process. This has hit the Vidarbha farmer hard as the local produce is not fetching more than Rs 1800-2500 because of its poor quality. Better quality stock from Andhra and Karnataka is being quoted for Rs 3200 but there are no buyers for it as well.
Such a situation has never happened in the past. The shortage on account of a poor harvest of the crop should have ensured it a higher price. However, unseasonal rains have affected its quality and it's only resulted in a price crash.
Fearing a further collapse in prices, millers are not buying the stock of tur whole from the farmers. The situation is grim at Hinganghat where even farmers from Andhra and Karnataka are camping. The farmers rushed there hoping to get a little more rate than what's being offered in other markets. "But the situation is no different," said Kishore Khera, a miller from Hinganghat which has a cluster of 25 mills.
The situation has resulted in more tur whole being imported from Myanmar from where the grain is regularly sourced to meet the shortage. Therefore, the importers have a lot to gain as the costlier grain from Myanmar is finding a good market especially as the domestic produce is not meeting the quality. Normally, a higher priced imported grain would have had no takers as the importers do not find a market if the domestic variety is cheaper.
Currently, tur whole imported at Rs 3500 to Rs 3900 a quintal, which is on the costlier side, too has takers.
Farm activist Vijay Jawandhiya says that even as it is necessary to import tur whole, the government can still impose a duty on the commodity so as to protect the local farmers' interest. "Given the prices the crop fetched last year, farmers increased their acreage hoping for the phenomenon to continue. Their plans went haywire as rains took a heavy toll on the quality of harvest," said Jawandhiya. "Even the prices in Myanmar have come down by 40
"Tur growers have incurred heavy losses," said farmer Nitin Khadse from Jalka village in Yavatmal district. "The rates opened at Rs 4,900 at the Pandharkavda market in January after which there has been a continuous fall. The quality of tur grown in Vidarbha is inferior to that of Andhra Pradesh due to which farmers here are getting just Rs 1800-2300 a quintal."
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Despite price scare, farmers prefer cotton-TIMES OF INDIA
Subject: Despite price scare, farmers prefer cotton-TIMES OF INDIA
Despite price scare, farmers prefer cotton
Ramu Bhagwat, TNN | Apr 22, 2011,http://timesofindia.
VJAS believes that cotton prices plummeted after Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar announced that the country had a record crop of around 375 lakh bales. "If that figure is correct, why is the government not allowing exports as the domestic consumption is not more than 225 lakh bales
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NAGPUR: The sudden collapse of cotton prices from an unprecedented high of Rs 7000 a quintal to around Rs 4200 within a few weeks is being seen more as a rigging by the powerful textile lobby. Undeterred, instead of shifting to other crops in the coming kharif season, farmers are likely to increase the area under cotton cultivation by about 20% from the 110 lakh hectares of last season.
It was after some decades that cotton farmers of India got a better deal in the last kharif season. Especially so in cotton belt of Vidarbha that has been in news for a decade for unending farmer suicides on account of economic distress and recurring losses. A fairly good crop and double the normal price made more difference to their lives all the relief packages doled out by the government so far.
"There are clear indications that area under cotton will increase by more than 20%. This is more so because other crops like soyabean, wheat and even tur are not that remunerative. Soya, wheat and paddy prices have been stagnant. Tur despite good demand failed to command even the support price of Rs 3000 a quintal fixed by the government," said farmers` leader Vijay Jawandhiya. He believes the fall in cotton prices in last few weeks is driven by speculation over extending ban on cotton exports.
Looking at the unusual demand, seed companies selling Bt seeds are raising prices by Rs 200 for a packet of 450 gms. "Reports from Punjab and Haryana of shortage of seeds show higher demand and possibility of farmers turning to cotton from other crops," said Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. He said there was every chance of Maharashtra seeing a huge jump from around 40 lakh hectares to 50 lakh in the kharif season beginning next June. "The state could have nearly half of cotton crop area of entire country," said Tiwari. Not only in Vidarbha but farmers in some pockets of western and north Maharashtra and areas of Marathwada may also turn to cotton this time, he said.
Tiwari believes that cotton prices plummeted after Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar announced that the country had a record crop of around 375 lakh bales. "If that figure is correct, why is the government not allowing exports as the domestic consumption is not more than 225 lakh bales," Tiwari asked. Jawandhiya also demanded that cotton exports should be allowed as international prices continue to rule high.
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Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Steep fall in cotton prices worries farmers, traders-TIMES OF INDIA
Steep fall in cotton prices worries farmers, traders-TIMES OF INDIA
Tags:Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti|cotton prices|farmer suicides /vidarbha
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Steep-fall-in-cotton-prices-worries-farmers-traders/articleshow/8042378.cms
| Cotton Crisis | END OF THE YARN |
| How cotton rates moved | PeriodRate in Rs/Quintal |
| Fresh arrivals in October | - Rs4,500 |
| November | - Rs4,000 |
| February end | - Rs7,000 |
| March to April first week | - Rs6500 |
| Current- | -Rs4,500-4400 |
Normally a distressed lot, cotton cultivators had seen once in a lifetime boom as prices touched record Rs 7,000 a quintal this year. The rates finally settled around Rs 6,400-6500, still substantially higher than the previous years' average. But the last fortnight turned into a nightmare for them. In some market yards, the rates have come down to even Rs 4200 a quintal. There are virtually no buyers for the commodity, say sources.
This is a rather abnormal situation if market dynamics are considered. Normally, price of agriculture commodities goes up as the season ends and there is a considerable time for fresh harvests to arrive. It is because the supply declines with time and rates ease only when the fresh crop arrives. However, cotton prices have seen a sudden crash when fresh arrivals are at least six months away. Experts hint at a strong possibility of the prices being rigged through the commodity exchanges and that eventually having its effect on the physical market.
Analysts say informal reports had emerged from private sources that the area under cotton cultivation is expected to increase in forthcoming sowing season. It is too early to say that and even earlier to judge the final output but it was enough to change the sentiment in the market leading to the prices plummeting. Farm activists say the textile lobby was keen to get cotton prices down. It was also lobbying for the cap of 55 lakh tonnes on exports to be continued so that the bull run could be reigned.
Baddruddin Khan of Angel Broking said that there had been no official word on the estimates but certain trade lobbies came up with the news that the area under cotton is expected to go up by 15% in India and 7% in China. An estimate of sowing can only be made in sowing season that would begin in monsoon and of output once the harvest nears, he added.
The sudden fall has left three categories of persons in a distress. These are farmers, traders in raw cotton and the speculators on the commodity exchanges. "A section of farmers including those in the region had held on to their stocks hoping that the price may go up further and even touch Rs 8,000. However, they will now have to settle at Rs 4500 to Rs 4200. There are reports of rates as low as Rs 3,800 being quoted too," said Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, a farmers' organisation. Traders too have purchased the commodity for Rs 6,400 to Rs 6,500 a quintal. It takes almost 15 days to deliver it to manufacturers after initial processing. The fall has left them bleeding too, added Tiwari.
A large number of speculators had taken long positions in the commodity exchanges which meant they had bet on a higher rate. They will now lose money, said a commodity analyst at Mumbai.
Sanjay Patil of Hiwrabarsa village in Yavatmal district said he had kept half of his 200 quintals output to be sold later but the crash had led to a loss of almost Rs 2.5 lakh. He had sold the other 100 quintals also for Rs 4200-4400 a quintal and so failed to capitalize on the boom. Those who were not in urgent need of funds had set aside a sizable amount of harvest to be sold later. Their plans had been upset, added Nitin Khadse, a farmer from Jalka village, also in the same district.
"Scared of further losses, traders are desisting from making fresh purchases," said Premkumar Taori, a trader at Dhamangaon. Farmers are feeling that traders have rigged the prices. Rigging could not be ruled out it but there seemed to be a bigger lobby behind it, alleged Taori. Cotton prices had gone up to record levels during this year due to heavy crop losses in China and US.
Tiwari said that the situation was likely to trigger another farm crisis in the region. His organization was advising the farmers that prices would recover in due course. Agencies engaged in counselling the farmers against committing suicide were, surprisingly, no longer seen, he alleged.
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The News of Export Cotton Ban leads Price crash forcing Vidarbha Tribal Farmer to commit suicide
The News of Export Cotton Ban leads Price crash forcing Vidarbha Tribal Farmer to commit suicide
Indian Govt. to put further quantitative restriction on cotton export so that domestic textile mill owner get very cheap raw cotton has crashed cotton rates in vidarbha from Rs.6200 to Rs.4200 per quintal in week has forced tribal farmer Punaji Dhurve (22) of village zuli in yavtmal to commit suicide taking toll of farm suicide to 142 in this year 2011, Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS )informed in press release today
‘last week only Indian Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had announced that bumper crop of cotton to the tune of record 375 lakhs bales dually supported by USAD reports that India has recorded mega yield of cotton due American Bt.cotton seed and very costly pesticides has created ray of hope that now Govt. will lift quota restriction on cotton export but closely associated sources in central Govt. has spread news that the cotton export ban will continue has reflected very badly in market and prices slashed by 40% vidarbha from Rs.6200 to Rs.4200 per quintal in week has added fuel in agrarian crisis of west vidarbha which has reported more than 10,000 cotton farmers since June 2005 ’ Kishore Tiwari added.
‘In fact the data of bumper crop given by Indian Council Agri. Research(ICAR-CICR) that the yield of 375 lakh bales is misleading but in reality the cotton crop is lowest in the India and cotton growers of vidarbha are in deep trouble as excessive and record rain and massive floods in cotton cultivating areas which has damaged most of standing Bt.cotton crop and excessive rain has jumped the cultivation cost to double, but expected yield has been reduce to 50% that has disturbed the cotton economy at large ’Kishor Tiwari of VJAS added.
‘VJAS urged Indian Prime Dr.Manmoham Singh to lift ban on cotton export so that cotton farmers in dying vidarbha region can get the prevailing market as protecting Indian textile mills at cost of cotton farmers genocide is matter of freezing the right to live innocent farmers ’Tiwari added.
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Monday, April 18, 2011
Vidarbha farmers protest forced administration to cancel 'public hearing of to M/s JinBhuvish Power Project in Yavatmal
Vidarbha farmers protest forced administration to cancel 'public hearing of to M/s JinBhuvish Power Project in Yavatmal
Nagpur - April 19, 2011
It was grate victory of dying vidarbha farmers when administration was forced to cancel so called environmental clearance 'public hearing ' in viallge kolura by thousands unruly farmers under leadership of local MLA sanjay rathode ,VJAS secretary Moahan jadhav and leaders of ruling congress and NCP also joined the protest nad forced district collector sanjay deshmukh to run away from place alongwith regional manager pollution control board and company officials.
mob of protster just damged the pendal ,damaged all chairs and stage and beaten company promoter local BJP EX-MLA Madan Yerawar .this 1280 MW super thermal power plants by com panies associated with BJP national president Nitin Gadkariji and details are given earlier reproduced here
QUOTE
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‘Now on going robbery of water of the irrigation projects funded through prime Minster’s vidarbha relief package and AIBP(Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program) in order to address the agrarian crisis and to stop farmers suicides in west vidarbha for 85 thermal power projects capacity to tune of 56,000 megawatt out of which more than 10 are in very advance stage in Gondia,Bhandra,Nagpur,Wardha and Chandrapur Districts now expanded to worst hit Yavatmal district where more than 2000 farmers committed suicides since June 2005 as very unknown player in power sector company named “Jinbhuvish Power Generations Pvt. Ltd” has launched two Mega Power Projects v.i.z.
http://www.jinbhuvish.com/projects/
1. 1260 MW (2*300 MW+1*660 MW ) Coal based Power Plant Location:village:-Bijora Tehsil- Mahagaon, District-Yavatmal (Maharashtra) public hearing of this project is over on 24th march 2011
2.1320 MW (2*660 MW Super critical Coal based Power Project) Location :Village :-khutafali,Tehsil-NER,District-Yavatmal(Maharashtra) public hearing of this project is on 19th april 2011
Costing Rs.5040 cr. And Rs.5280 cr.
Which has been strongly objected by farmers activist group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) and decided to take up issue with central and state administration to redress the genuine hardship of the farmer..
‘As Govt. has pumped more than Rs.5000 crore in these irrigation projects so that dying cotton farmers which are dry land farmers will get guaranteed water to save crop and take additional one so that crisis are minimized and farm suicides are controlled but now same water is being diverted for the power plants this is highly objectionable and contrary to Prime Minister Vidarbha Relief Package condition and objects and it’s anti-farmer policies leading to the another chapter of cotton farmers genocide hence we are opposing it’ Kishor Tiwari of VJAS informed in press note today.
‘Jinbhuvish Power Generations Pvt. Ltd is closely owned by the business aids of BJP national president Nitn Gadkari as other project actvities are companies are related BJP supreme so local ex-BJP MLA Madan Yerawar has acquired around 1000 acre land for these projects and Manish Mehta is playing very key role in the project this much more shocking to us’ Tiwari added.
Jinbhuvish group activities listed on the portal are
http://www.jinbhuvish.com/group-activities/
1. Development of more than 300 Acres of Commercial & Residential complex.
2.Partners in one of the biggest Multi-Utility Integrated Township with Special Economic Zone in the Central Province of India encompassing an area of 3280 Hectares.
3.Building of the State Express Highway No. 31 stretching 125 Kms between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
4.Erection and Operation of Appu Ghar Amusement Park spread over 140 Acres in Nagpur attracting an annual foot fall of 2.5 million visitors of all age groups.
5.Establishment & Management of an Ecotel Forest Country Resort in the Kanha forest region Innovatively promoting wild life adventure.
Which are mush more eye opening to the facts that along with congress and NCP leaders of vidarbha now BJP has official joined the party of the robbers who are responsible for farmers genocide in the region .
‘we will take up this issue to the public of vidarbha and start the massive protest against these on going robbery of water, coal and other resources of vidarbha against these fraudulent leaders “Tiwari added.
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UNQUOTE
'we are happy today that farmers have shown the strength taken fron jaitapur myter and now we will cancel all 90 power project total capacity of more than 10 million MW that ruined the whole vidarbha.this is our struggle against slavery and fight for liberation ,we will do it'Kishore Tiwari informed today.
Robbery of irrigation water in vidarbha for Thermal Power Plants continue: Vidarbha farmers says ‘No’ to M/s JinBhuvish Power Project in Yavatmal
Robbery of irrigation water in vidarbha for Thermal Power Plants continue: Vidarbha farmers says ‘No’ to M/s JinBhuvish Power Project in Yavatmal
Nagpur - April 18, 2011
‘Now on going robbery of water of the irrigation projects funded through prime Minster’s vidarbha relief package and AIBP(Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program) in order to address the agrarian crisis and to stop farmers suicides in west vidarbha for 85 thermal power projects capacity to tune of 56,000 megawatt out of which more than 10 are in very advance stage in Gondia,Bhandra,Nagpur,Wardha and Chandrapur Districts now expanded to worst hit Yavatmal district where more than 2000 farmers committed suicides since June 2005 as very unknown player in power sector company named “Jinbhuvish Power Generations Pvt. Ltd” has launched two Mega Power Projects v.i.z.
http://www.jinbhuvish.com/projects/
1. 1260 MW (2*300 MW+1*660 MW ) Coal based Power Plant Location:village:-Bijora Tehsil- Mahagaon, District-Yavatmal (Maharashtra) public hearing of this project is over on 24th march 2011
2.1320 MW (2*660 MW Super critical Coal based Power Project) Location :Village :-khutafali,Tehsil-NER,District-Yavatmal(Maharashtra) public hearing of this project is on 19th april 2011
Costing Rs.5040 cr. And Rs.5280 cr.
Which has been strongly objected by farmers activist group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) and decided to take up issue with central and state administration to redress the genuine hardship of the farmer..
‘As Govt. has pumped more than Rs.5000 crore in these irrigation projects so that dying cotton farmers which are dry land farmers will get guaranteed water to save crop and take additional one so that crisis are minimized and farm suicides are controlled but now same water is being diverted for the power plants this is highly objectionable and contrary to Prime Minister Vidarbha Relief Package condition and objects and it’s anti-farmer policies leading to the another chapter of cotton farmers genocide hence we are opposing it’ Kishor Tiwari of VJAS informed in press note today.
‘Jinbhuvish Power Generations Pvt. Ltd is closely owned by the business aids of BJP national president Nitn Gadkari as other project actvities are companies are related BJP supreme so local ex-BJP MLA Madan Yerawar has acquired around 1000 acre land for these projects and Manish Mehta is playing very key role in the project this much more shocking to us’ Tiwari added.
Jinbhuvish group activities listed on the portal are
http://www.jinbhuvish.com/group-activities/
1. Development of more than 300 Acres of Commercial & Residential complex.
2.Partners in one of the biggest Multi-Utility Integrated Township with Special Economic Zone in the Central Province of India encompassing an area of 3280 Hectares.
3.Building of the State Express Highway No. 31 stretching 125 Kms between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
4.Erection and Operation of Appu Ghar Amusement Park spread over 140 Acres in Nagpur attracting an annual foot fall of 2.5 million visitors of all age groups.
5.Establishment & Management of an Ecotel Forest Country Resort in the Kanha forest region Innovatively promoting wild life adventure.
Which are mush more eye opening to the facts that along with congress and NCP leaders of vidarbha now BJP has official joined the party of the robbers who are responsible for farmers genocide in the region .
‘we will take up this issue to the public of vidarbha and start the massive protest against these on going robbery of water, coal and other resources of vidarbha against these fraudulent leaders “Tiwari added.
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
विहीरीसाठी आयुष्याचं पाणी ; शेतकर्‍यांचे मारेकरी कोण ?-IBN-LOKMAT special Report...
विहीरीसाठी आयुष्याचं पाणी ; शेतकर्‍यांचे मारेकरी कोण ?-IBN-LOKMAT special Report...
Apr 13, 2011
12 एप्रिल
अलका धुपकर, मुंबई
विदर्भात सतत होणारा अवकाळी पाऊस आणि कपाशीच्या पिकाची आलेली नापिकी यापुढे शेतकर्‍यांनी हात टेकले. कपाशीला पर्याय असलेला सोयाबीन पेरला तर त्याचे बाजारभाव पाडले जात आहे. आत्महत्या केलेल्या शेतकर्‍यांच्या कुटुंबाला एक लाख रुपयांची तातडीची मदत सरकारनं जाहीर केली. पण प्रत्यक्षात शेतकर्‍याची आत्महत्याच या मदतीसाठी अपात्र ठरवून शेतकर्‍यांच्या कुटुंबाला नागवलं जातंय. कर्त्या माणसाच्या आत्महत्येनंतर कुटुंबाची ही मदत मिळवण्यासाठी फरफट होतेय.
तुळशीराम पवार या 60 वर्षाच्या शेतकर्‍याने आपल्या वावरात म्हणजे शेतातच कीटकनाशक घेतलं. तुळशीराम आणि त्यांच्या दोन्ही मुलांचा संसार या चार एकराच्या शेतीवरच चालायचा. तुळशीराम आणि जिजाबाईने आयुष्यभर शेतात राबून संसाराचा गाडा चालवला होता. पण जिजाबाईच्या संसाराचे चाक मध्येच निखळून पडलंय. आणि उरलंय तिचं अर्धांग झालेलं शरीर आणि कर्जाचा बोजा.
तर यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यातल्या घाटंजी तालुक्यातील शिवणी गावची ही गोष्ट. सिंचनाची गैरसोय आणि शेतीवर गुजराण करणारे कास्तकरी. झाकपाक पोशाखातून जशी श्रीमंती चमकून उठते. तसेच इथली गरिबीही खूप काही सांगते. धान्याच्या पोत्यांऐवजी घर जनावरांच्या मक्याच्या कोंड्यांने भरलेलं असतं. मेहनत करुनही पिचलेलं आयुष्य जगणारे हे संसार बघितले की सुन्न व्हायला होतं.
या शेतकर्‍यांना चैनीचे आयुष्य तर जगता येतच नाही. पण औषधपाण्याचा खर्च, मुलांच्या उच्च शिक्षणाचा खर्च, शेतीत बोअर मारण्यासाठीचा खर्चही परवडत नाही.पिपली लाईव्हमध्ये दाखवलेली मंहगांई खरोखरच गावागावातली डायन बनली आहे. पांढरकवड्याच्या एका बंजारा तांड्यावर म्हणूनच हे शेतकरी जमतात. सरकारच्या निषेधाची भजनं गातात. त्याचे सूर सरकारपर्यंत पोचतील या भाबड्या आशेने.
विहीरीसाठी..आयुष्याचं पाणी
विदर्भात आत्महत्येचं सत्र सुरु झालं होतं तेव्हा म्हणजे 2006 मध्ये वर्धा जिल्ह्यातल्या मोशी गावातल्या विलास मडवी या तरुण शेतकर्‍याने आत्महत्या केली. त्यानंतर मीराला विलासच्या बायकोला मजुरी करावी लागतेय. स्वत:ची शेती कसायला घरचा माणूसच उरला नाही म्हणून शेती दुसर्‍याला मक्त्याने करायला दिली.
पंतप्रधान पॅकेजमध्ये तिला विहीर मंजूर झाली. पण या विहीरीच्या सुरवातीच्या बांधकामाचा 30 हजाराचा खर्च तिने करायचा आहे. तरच तिला पॅकेजचा लाभ मिळेल. दिवसाला मिळणार्‍या 50 रुपयाच्या मजुरीत मीरा कसतरी घरं चालवते. दोन मुलं, आजारी सासू पॅकेज मिळूच द्यायचं नाही, म्हणून अशा अटी घातल्यायत का? असंच ती सरकारला विचारते.
यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यातल्या दहेली तांड्यावर राहणार्‍या आठ शेतकर्‍यांचा हाच प्रश्न आहे. खोदलेल्या विहीरी, कर्ज काढून केलेली बांधकामं आणि तालुका प्रशासनाकडे प्रलंबित असलेला सिंचन जलपूर्ती धडक योजनेचा निधी एक लाख 10 हजार रुपयांचा निधी मिळवण्यासाठीही शेतकर्‍याला वणवण करावी लागतेय.
पंतप्रधान पॅकेजची भूल देऊन सरकारने शेतकर्‍यांना कर्जबाजारी केलंय. सिंचन जलपूर्ती धडक योजनेचा विदर्भातला बोजवारा हे त्याचं या महाघोटाळ्यातील एक प्रातिनीधिक उदाहरण.
आत्महत्या मात्र सुरूच
2004 ते 2011 साली 7,974 शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या
2004 साली 456 शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या
2005 साली 666 शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या ( पॅकेज जाहीर - 1,075 कोटी (राज्य))
2006साली 1866 शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या - पॅकेज जाहीर - 3,750 कोटी (केंद्र)
2007 साली 1556 शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या
2008 साली 1680 शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या -पॅकेज जाहीर - 71,000 कोटी (केंद्र), पॅकेज जाहीर - 1,088 कोटी (राज्य)
2009 साली 916 शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या
2010 साली 706 शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या
2011साली 128 शेतकर्‍यांच्या आत्महत्या
विदर्भाच्या शेतकर्‍यांचे मारेकरी कोण ?--IBN-LOKMAT
विदर्भाच्या शेतकर्‍यांचे मारेकरी कोण ?--IBN-LOKMAT
अलका धुपकर, मुंबई
12 एप्रिल
कर्जबाजारी शेतकर्‍यांसाठी केंद्र सरकार आणि राज्य सरकारने कोट्यावधीची पॅकेज जाहीर केली. पण या पॅकेजमुळे कर्जाच्या गर्तेत सापडलेल्या शेतकर्‍याचा पाय आणखी खोलात गेला.पॅकेज जाहीर झाल्यानंतर 2010 पर्यंत सरकारी आकडेवारीनुसार तब्बल 7,846 शेतकर्‍यांनी आत्महत्या केल्या आहेत. तर 2011 सालच्या पहिल्या चार महिन्यांत तब्बल 128 शेतकर्‍यांनी आपली जीवनयात्रा संपवली आहे. मढ्याच्या टाळूवरचं लोणी खाणार्‍या सरकारी भ्रष्टाचारी कोण असा सवाल उपस्थित झाला आहे. 
कर्जबाजारीपणामुळे होणार्‍या विदर्भातील शेतकर्‍यांच्या वाढत्या आत्महत्या पाहून राज्य आणि केंद्र सरकारने त्यांच्यासाठी कोट्यवधी रुपयांची पॅकेजेस् जाहीर केली. 2006 मध्ये खुद्द पंतप्रधान मनमोहन सिंग विदर्भाच्या दौर्‍यावर आले. आणि त्यांनी 3 हजार 750 कोटी रुपयांच्या पॅकेजची घोषणा केली. त्यापूर्वी आणि त्यानंतर राज्य आणि केंद्र सरकारने अनेक पॅकेजेस देऊ केले.
केवळ 2005 आणि 2006 या दोन वर्षात पाच हजार कोटींची पॅकेज फक्त विदर्भासाठी जाहीर झाली. पण इतकी पॅकॅजेस देऊनही आत्महत्याचे सत्र मात्र थांबले नाही. कारण या पॅकेजचा निधी पीडित शेतकर्‍याच्या कुटुंबीयापर्यंत पोहचलाच नाही. या निधीला अनेक वाटा फुटल्या. पॅकेजच्या नावाखाली शेतकर्‍यांची घोर फसवणूक झाली. राजकारण्यांच्या नातलगांना लाभार्थी बनवण्यात आलं. शेतकर्‍यांना निकृष्ट दर्जाचं साहित्य पुरवण्यात आलं.
पश्चिम विदर्भातल्या 6 ही जिल्ह्यांमध्ये आत्महत्यांचं सत्र सुरुच आहे. कर्जबाजारी शेतकरी, पडलेले बाजारभाव, अवकाळी पाऊस आणि कोरडवाहू शेती यापुढे शेतकरी हतबल झाले आहेत. आत्महत्यांचं सत्र कुटुंबच्या कुटुंबांना उध्वस्त करतंय. अकोल्यातील 35 वर्षाच्या एका शेतकर्‍याने महिन्याभरापूर्वी आत्महत्या केली. त्याचं घरच उजाड झालंय. केंद्रीय कृषीमंत्र्यांना आणि अगदी अकोल्याचे भारिपचे आमदार हरिदास भदे यांना या शेतकर्‍याच्या घरी भेट द्यायला अजून फुरसद मिळालेली नाही. पण आयबीएन लोकमतची टीम अशा एकेका शेतकर्‍यां पर्यंत पोहचली.
व्यसन होतं शेतीचं... पण घरातच गळफास
कृष्णा चतरकर गावातला नावाजलेला कष्टकरी होता. त्याला व्यसन होतं. पण ते दारुचं नव्हे तर शेतीचं. त्याने शेतात 7 बोअर वेल खोदल्या होत्या. त्यातील 6 फेल गेल्या. कर्ज मात्र चढत गेलं. अवकाळी पावसाने कापसाचं पीक हातचं निघून गेलं. अखेर राहत्या घरातच गळफास लावून कृष्णाने जगाचा निरोप घेतला.
कृष्णाची 25 वर्षांची बायको आशा चतरकर हिचं विश्व फक्त घर आणि मुलं एवढंच राहिलं. आता चार लाखांच्या कर्जाची फेड कशी करायची ? हा मोठा प्रश्न त्याच्या कुटुंबापुढे आहे. कोवळ्या वयात पोरकी झालेली मुलं आणि तरुण विधवा हे विदर्भातील अनेक घराघरात दिसणारे भयाण सामाजिक वास्तव बनलंय.
कीटकनाशक पिऊन किंवा गळ्याभोवती चहाट आवळून शेतकरी आत्महत्या करता. पण त्यांच्या आत्महत्येमुळे कुटुंबावरचा कर्जाचा बोजा हटत नाही. उलट कारभारी गेल्यामुळे कास्तकर्‍यांची ही कुटुंबच हादरुन गेली.
'गायींनी दूध दिलंच नाही, आठ दिवसात मेल्या'
विदर्भातील आत्महत्याग्रस्त शेतकर्‍यांच्या कुटुंबीयांना मदत म्हणून तसेच आत्महत्येच्या उंबरठ्यावर असलेल्या शेतकर्‍यांना मदत म्हणून जनावरांचे वाटप करण्यात आलं. थाटामाटात राज्याच्या पशुसंवर्धन मंत्र्यांनी या कार्यक्रमाचं उद्घाटनही केलं. पण या गाई, म्हशी प्रत्यक्षात भाकड निघाल्या. जनावर विकणार्‍या कंत्राटदारांना बक्कळ पैसे मिळाले पण पीएम पॅकेजच्या हेतूचाच बोजवारा उडाला.
अकोला जिल्ह्यातल्या कापशी रोड या गावात पंतप्रधान पॅकेजअंतर्गत 20 गायी देण्यात आल्या होत्या. पण यापैकी फक्त 2 गायी गावात जिवंत राहिल्या आहे.पशुधन म्हणून देण्यात आलेल्या या गायी शेतकर्‍यांसाठी धन नव्हे तर बोजा ठरल्या आहे. भाऊराम खाकरे म्हणतात,'माझी गाय स्वच्छता अभियानातून आली होती. ती फक्त पन्नेच खायची म्हणजे प्लॅस्टिक खायची. मेली तेव्हा पोटातून प्लॅस्टिक निघालं.
शेतकरी वारंवार सांगत होते की, गायी स्थानिक बाजारपेठेतून घेऊया पण मंत्रालयातील आदेशानुसार खरेदी झाली ती नगरच्या लोणीमधून आणि नागपूरच्या बाजारपेठेतून. नागपूर आणि नगरमधून ट्रकने गायी अकोल्यात आणायचा खर्च, त्यांच्या रेतनासाठीचा वाया गेलेला खर्च आणि अनुदानाची उर्वरित रक्कम म्हणून शेतकर्‍यांनी भरलेले चार हजार रुपये या सगळ्याचा बोजा डोक्यावर घेऊन शेतकर्‍यांच्या गोठ्यातल्या पॅकेजच्या गायी काही महिन्यातच मेल्या. गायींच्या खरेदी व्यवहाराचे लोणी खाल्लं कोणी ? हे यातूनच कळतंय.
बोगस इंजिनाचे वाटप
पंतप्रधान पॅकेजमधून शेतीसाठीची अवजारं, इंजिनाचं वाटप करण्यात आलं होतं.गांडूळ खतासाठीचे युनिट देण्यात आलं होतं. पण ही अवजारं म्हणजे शेतकर्‍यांची सर्वात मोठी धूळफेक होती. यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यातील जुनुनी गावामध्ये सतीश डकाके या तरुण शेतकर्‍याची पीएम पॅकेजसाठी निवड झाली. पण त्याला मिळालं ते बोगस इंजिन. त्या इंजिन दुरुस्तीसाठी त्याने 20 हजारापेक्षा जास्त खर्च केला. पण इंजिन काही चालेना. याच गावातील पांडूरंग कंठेश्वर यांना पीएम पॅकेजमधून मिळालेले हे नांगर, पाईप आणि इतर अवजारं भंगार बनून घराच्या मागे पडलेले आहेत.
जुनुनी गावातीलच शेतकर्‍याना दिलेली चार हजार रुपयाच्या ताडपत्रीचा तीन महिन्यात भुसा झाला आहे. त्यांनी तर पॅकेजमधील अवजारं गोणीत बांधून ठेऊन दिलीयत कारण ती निरुपयोगी आहेत.तर गांडूळखताच्या युनिटसाठी खेटे मारुन सुद्दा शेतकर्‍याला ती दिली जात नाही.
ज्या शेतात सिंचनाची सोय नाही अशा कोरडवाहू शेतकर्‍यांना पाण्याचे पाईप दिले जात आहेत. तर बैल ओढू शकणार नाहीत असे नांगर दिले गेले आहे.पॅकेजची अंमलबजावणी केली म्हणून दावे ठोकणार्‍या मंत्र्यांनी याचा दोष अधिकार्‍यांवर दिला. दोषी कोण हे शोधण्याची स्पर्धा आता सुरु झाली आहे. पण यामध्ये शेतकर्‍यांच्या हाती काहीच लागलं नाही.
शेतकर्‍यांच्या टाळूवरचं लोणी खालं कोणी ?
पंतप्रधान आणि मुख्यमंत्री पॅकेजस ही शेतकर्‍यांपर्यंत पोहचलीच नाहीत. शेतकर्‍यांच्याच भाषेत सांगायचं तर आत्महत्याग्रस्त शेतकर्‍याच्या टाळूवरचं लोणी खाण्यात आलंय. केंद्र आणि राज्य सरकारनं जाहीर केलेली पॅकेजस म्हणजे कोट्यवधींचा मलिदा होता. सरकारी बाबू आणि राजकारण्यांनी मिळून त्यावर डल्ला मारला. गुरांपासून ते नांगरापर्यंत प्रत्येक गोष्टीत पैसे खाल्ले.ही पॅकेजेस नेमकी काय होती ? त्यावर नजर टाकूया म्हणजे भ्रष्टाचाराचं अर्थकारण उलगडायला मदत होईल.
1 हजार 75 कोटी रुपयांचं मुख्यमंत्री पॅकेज 2005 साली जाहीर झालं. पुढे ते वाढवून 1 हजार 495 कोटींचं झालं. पंतप्रधान पॅकेज जाहीर झालं 2006 साली. पंतप्रधानांनी विदर्भ दौर्‍यात 3 हजार 750 कोटींच्या पॅकेजची घोषणा केली. यापैकी 1400 कोटी रुपये हे व्याज माफी आणि शेतकर्‍यांना थेट मदतीसाठी होते.
थकबाकी फेडण्यासाठी 380 कोटी, सिंचनासाठी सर्वाधिक 3 हजार 200 कोटींची तरतूद होती. तर 2007 साली यामध्ये भ्रष्टाचार झाल्याचं उघड झालं. चौकशीसाठी डॉ. गोपाल रेड्डी समितीची नेमणूक झाली. आणि 2008 साली रेड्डी समितीने अहवाल सादर केला. मार्च 2011 मध्ये 405 अधिकारी दोषी असल्याची घोषणा सरकारने केली. त्यापैकी 50 अधिकार्‍यांना निलंबित करणार असल्याचं जाहीर केलं. पण दोषी अधिकार्‍यांची नावं मात्र अजूनही गुलदस्त्यातच आहेत.
2008 साली सरकारने राज्य सरकारचे पॅकेज घोषित केलं. कर्जबाजारी शेतकर्‍यांच्या कर्ज माफीसाठी 6,208 कोटींचे पॅकेज जाहीर झालं. 2008 साली केंद्र सरकारनं देशरातल्या कर्जबाजारी शेतकर्‍यांच्या कर्जमाफीसाठी 71,000 कोटींचं पॅकेज जाहीर केलं. 2011 साली अवकाळी पावसाने नुकसान झालेल्या शेतकर्‍यांसाठी 1 हजार 88 कोटींचे नवं पॅकेज राज्य सरकारने जाहीर केलं. यापैकी 600 कोटी रुपये केंद्र सरकारकडून मिळाले आहेत. पण कोट्यवधींची ही पॅकेजेस ज्यांच्यासाठी जाहीर झालेली होती, त्या पीडित शेतकर्‍यांपर्यंत मात्र पोहचलीच नाहीत.
यानिमित्तानं आयबीएन-लोकमतनं काही प्रश्न उपस्थित केले आहेत.
- शेतकर्‍यांच्या नावानं आलेले पैसे कुणी हडप केले?
- भाकड गायी आणि निरुपयोगी अवजारं कुणी खरेदी केली?
- या महाघोटाळ्याला कोण जबाबदार?
- संबंधित अधिकारी आणि मंत्र्यांवर कारवाई होईल का?
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