Farmer Suicides: Mah.Chief Secy ignores NHRC Notice, summoned-DNA

  http://www.dnaindia.com/

Farmer suicides: Chief secy ignores notice, summoned

DNA / Yogesh Pawar / Thursday, January 31, 2013 5:45 IST

 http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_farmer-suicides-chief-secy-ignores-notice-summoned_1794473-all

A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) notice served to state chief secretary on September 12, 2012, asking details of the state’s intervention in the wake of farmer suicides in Vidarbha had given the state four weeks to reply. Even after all this time the state hasn’t bothered to reply.

The NHRC has now issued a summons to the chief secretary in one case and the Yavatmal district collector in another as neither the secretary, state revenue and forest (rehabilitation) department, nor the Yavatmal district magistrate have responded.

The NHRC chairperson, justice KG Balakrishnan, is coming to the city with a team on Thursday. All eyes are now on the chief secretary’s office to see how the state will explain the delay.

While confirming the summons, no one in the chief secretary’s office and other departments mentioned wanted to go on record. “Since the NHRC is only quasi judicial, it may not lead to direct punitive action, but the embarrassment this brings to the state has led to a lot of red faces,” admitted a senior bureaucrat.

The NHRC team was in Nagpur for the past three days. “Though the Nagpur visit was an open hearing on complaints regarding denial of rights to SCs in the state, there were instances where the fallout of these injustices was compounded due to an overlap with the agrarian crisis in the region and the suicides,” a source in the national panel said.

Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti hoped senior bureaucrats would face action for their apathy. “With nearly 8,500 farmers dead since 2005, this is a kind of government-sponsored genocide. Unless the NHRC takes stern action, the message going across will be that such apathy will be tolerated. This will mean even more brazen neglect by those concerned,”

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Govt. apathy on Vidrabha Agrarian Crisis continued now NHRC summons Maharashtra Chief Secretary summoned

Govt. apathy on Vidrabha Agrarian Crisis continued now NHRC  summons  Maharashtra Chief Secretary summoned

Vidarbha region of Maharashtra has been reporting farmers @ one farmer every 8 hours since but Govt. apathy towards crisis has shown its climax when chief sectary of Maharashtra Govt. was forced to summons even after administration failed to respond human right panels repeated notices and reminder, the Maharashtra Govt. non-serious attitude and zero response to NHRC was even brought to the notice of supreme court of India but babus in state administration are unmoved hence we demand stern action against chief sectary of Maharashtra and suspension respective collectors of vidarbha districts ,Kishor tiwari of vidrabha janandolan samiti(VJAS) demds in press realease today. 

 It is reported that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued  summons to the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra in one case and to District Collector of Yavatmal in another case, for their failing to submit replies to the commision on the farmer suicides in the Vidarbha region

http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article1436153.ece

on  September 12th, 2012 NHRC issued notice Maharashtra chief secretary onmedia report of vidrabh farmer suicides returnable in four weeks but till date report is waited ,here is NHRC details

QUOTE

=========

http://nhrc.nic.in/disparchive.asp?fno=2655

National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra on the basis of a media report alleging that seven farmers committed suicide in the past 72 hours in the Vidarbha region. The press report was carried on 4th September, 2012. The Chief Secretary has been asked to respond to the allegations within six weeks.

Allegedly, Dhayneshwer Thakary, Pramod Mamankar, Kanikrao Kukade, Vitthal Bhogare, Shyam Sahare, Doulat Kukade and Chakradhar Choudhary were those who committed suicide recently. As per documentation done by Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), 528 farmers had committed suicide in the Vidarbha region between the 1st January and the 2nd September this year. The cause of suicides, as reported in the press report, was damage to the cash crops like soya, paddy and cotton because of heavy rain in the area.

The Commission has observed that the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of farmers.

========

UNQUOTE

==========

The Chief Secretary of Maharashtra is yet to give his version of the farmer suicides in September, 2012, despite the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) notice seeking a reply to the incidents within four weeks of its receipt date, which ended on November 19 lastly matter was brought before supreme court of India but till there is no response hence this summon to mahrahstra chief secretary ,Tiwari added.

The apex human rights panel issued the notice to the Chief Secretary based on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist  who highlighted the sorry state of farmers in Vidarbha region of the state.

As many as 565 farmers had ended their lives since January this year owing to the acute agrarian crisis in the region, the petitioner said.

Shivaji Wagh and Baliram Wagh of Pokhari village, Ramesh Kharat of Giroli village and Prakash Jadhav of Koregoan village in Buldhana district, Sunil Choudhari of Karanja Tehsil in Washim district, Yashwant Chavhan of Sultanpur village in Amravati district and Shankar Mudalkar of Yari village in Yavatmal district have reportedly committed suicide in four days of September, Tiawri said.

Baliram Wagh and Shivaji Wagh, who hanged themselves in two hours, are father and son. It is reported that Baliram had committed suicide around 10 am on Saturday and the news of his death led his father to end his life. With the suicides of seven farmers, allegedly prompted by a massive pest attack on their crops causing huge loss, the toll of farmers’ suicide in Vidarbha reached 59 in September.

Right requested the NHRC to investigate the issue, carry out post mortem examination, file a magisterial enquiry report of the incidents and direct the government of Maharashtra to ensure the farmers of human rights and pay compensation to the kin of the deceased.

Vidarbha Farmer widow’s ‘GandhiGiri’ -Seek Divine Intervention to End Government Apathy

Vidarbha Farmer widow’s ‘GandhiGiri’ -Seek Divine Intervention to End  Government Apathy

**

Vidarbha agrarian crisis is classic example of hostile rural India where socio-economic system has been completely collapsed ,issues are not only related to Agricultural ‘Crop-Cost-Credit’ ,it has been much more integrated to complex crisis of unemployment ,very high cost private health services and educational fees ,changing life style and food habits coupled with drastic climate change and degradation of land and surface and ground water mismanagement hence finding solutions with help of  MNCs promoted technology or WB( world bank ) promoted policies has added more fuel to crisis since 2005 .in fact UPA-NDA both Govt. are equally responsible for on going vidarbha farmers genocide hence sensitive section of civil society has to come forward to under stand existing deep distress, despair and gloom that is killing innocent farming community in India as NCRB data farmers suicides is most likely to cross more than 3 lakhs farmers suicide in 2013 which is record genocide in the history of  any time hence this protest is focusing larger area of  Indian rural crisis hence we want media is give justice to crisis

**

Nagpur :January 26, 2013

The unique way of ‘Gandhigiri’ today on republic day farm suicide hit   Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, hundreds  farm widows and farmers protest day long fast worshiped   the photos of state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar next to their deities in a temple and pray so that wisdom dawns on these leaders to resolve their woes.

“Today protest is one of last attempt to put agrarian crisis of vidarbha on national radar as day after day framers are killing themselves due to high debt and the persisting agrarian crisis and yet neither  the concerned state or union minister, media or even civil society has a single candle to light for these poor farmers, UPA Govt. at the centre has turned blind eye to very serious issue where as main opposition parties have no agenda to save dying agrarian community who are innocent victims of wrong policies and technology promoted state hence this protest” says Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), an organization representing farmers in this region while addressing the farm  widows and farmers .

‘Cotton cultivating belt west vidarbha has witnessed  more than 2000 farmers suicides  in the worst-hit district of Yavatmal and the Vidarbha region comprising 11 districts saw 11,000 suicides since 2005. 8 more farmers committed suicide in the last 72 hours taking the toll to 22 in this New Year and Maharashtra has five million cotton farmers who are facing severe cotton crop failure. The failure of the Bt cotton crop in 4.2 million hectares of land has led to farmers off loading raw cotton at throw away prices since there has been no state intervention or compensation, he says, driving bankrupt farmers to kill themselves but administration is busy in painting rosy picture of bumper crop that is adding more fuel to crisis’ Tiwari added.

‘Vidarbha agrarian crisis is classic case of hostile rural India where socio-economic system has been completely collapsed ,issues are not only related to Agricultural ‘Crop-Cost-Credit’ ,it has been much more integrated to complex crisis of unemployment ,very high cost private health services and educational fees ,changing life style and food habits coupled with drastic climate change and degradation of land and surface and ground water mismanagement hence finding solutions with help of  MNCs promoted technology or WB( world bank ) promoted policies has added more fuel to crisis since 2005 .in fact UPA-NDA both Govt. are equally responsible for on going vidarbha farmers genocide hence sensitive section of civil society has to come forward to under stand existing deep distress, despair and gloom that is killing innocent farming community in India as NCRB data farmers suicides is most likely to cross more than 3 lakhs farmers suicide in 2013 which is record genocide in the history of  any time hence this protest is focusing larger area of  Indian rural crisis hence we want media is give justice to crisis.’ Tiwari urged  in the protest rally.   

Today when  the country was celebrating  Republic Day, “over 300 widows of farmers who committed suicide and 2000 farmers gathered  at the Maregaon village temple in Yavatmal district to pray and wished that Chavan and Pawar realize the ongoing tragedy before them and take necessary steps to save us,” said Bebitai Bais, President of Vidarbha Farmers’ Widows Association informed . Maregaon village is where a parliamentary panel headed by MP Basudeo Acharya visited last year to look into the causes of agrarian crisis and submitted its report to the Indian Parliament. “However, nothing came of it,” she says.

While addressing protesters drawing attention to the irony of worst hit crisis   is that the Maharashtra government is spending millions of rupees on agriculture exhibitions in Nagpur, Yavatmal, Amaravati and Akola whilst Bharatiya Janata Party’s ex-president Nitin Gadkari is busy   organizing the Agro-Vision show in Nagpur   whereas same time administration is denying relief and aid to starving farm widows and their families. Distressed farmers are not being given food security, health care or educational help even after the National Commission for Farmers headed by Dr M. S. Swaminathan and the Dr Narendra Jadhav Committee recommended the same moreover the recent Rs 7.78 billion fund announced for drought assistance to Maharasthra has left out any mention of debt-trapped farmers of Vidarbha, Tiwari said.

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Farmers and Farm widows protest on R-Day-TIMES OF INDIA

Printed from

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Farmers and Farm widows protest on R-Day

TNN | Jan 26, 2013, 03.13 AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Farmers-protest-on-R-Day/articleshow/18190726.cms

NAGPUR: Even as six more cases of suicide by farmers were reported in the last three days in Vidarbha, hundreds of farmers are expected to join a protest at Maregaon in Yavatmal, the worst-hit district in the state's cotton belt that has borne the brunt of the farm crisis.

The suicide toll has gone up to 20 in the first month of the New Year. According to the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) which has been monitoring the farm suicides crisis, the victims were identified as Dipak Awari of Vanojadevi village in Yavatmal, Baliram Bharsakale of Sirsoli in Akola, Namdeo Misar of Doksarandi in Bhandara, Jivan Kodape of Ramgoan and Vinay Kalpande of Masod in Amaravati and Santosh Ganphade of Dhindasi in Chandrapur district.

Maregoan was chosen as the venue for the protest because it was a year ago that a parliamentary committee headed by Basudeb Acharya visited this village to look into causes of the agrarian crisis. "But like many other official inquiry reports that studied the situation of farmers in distress in Vidarbha, the parliamentary report has also failed to move the government," said Kishore Tiwari of VJAS.

"The government has failed to provide food security, health care facility and educational help to distressed farmers and families of deceased farmers. The national commission for farmers (NCF) headed by M S Swaminathan and Narendra Jadhav has made several recommendations in this regard, but were ignored by the government," said Babytai Bais, president of Vidarbha farmer's widows association.

The protest is against the government policy which is completely apathetic to this region while concentrating all attention on the drought situation in five districts of western Maharashtra, she added.

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Nagpur-25th  Jan .2013

Maharashtra Govt. is spending hundreds crore on Agri. exhibitions in vidarbha joining hand with opposition parties at Nagpur ,Yavatmal, Amaravati and Akola but denying relief aid to starving thousands  widows  and families of farmers who committed suicides since 2005 even after all panels recommended Govt. for the same  hence houndereds of farm  widows will join protest at village Maregoan  in Yvatmal district where parliemnt panel headed veteran MP Basudeo Achrya visited last year to look in to causes of agrarian crisis and submitted it’s report to Indian parliament but Govt. failed to address the main cause of distress of 3 million cotton farmers of vidarbha region forcing them to kill themselves as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours taking toll 20 in this year 2013 ,recent victims identified as

1.Dipak Awari  of vanoja-devi village  in yavatmal

2.Baliram Bharsakale of sirsoli village in akola

3.Namdeo Misar of doksarandi village in Bhandra

4.Jivan Kodape of Ramgoan in Amaravati

5.Vinay Kalpande of Masod  in Amaravati

6.Santosh Ganphade of dhindasi village in Chndrapur

Earlier to this last week reported

7.Namdeo Thoke of village benoda in Amaravati district

8.Balaji Thaori of village dahegoan(zari)in Yavatmal district

9.Dinkar Navarkhede of village Sakhari in chandrapur district

10.Ramdas Gohane of village chittegoan in chaadrapur  district

11.Gajanan Raut of village Jawra-bori in chandrapur  district

12.Janrao Nagle of village khed in amaravati  district

13.Puroshottam Pursadkar of margoan in yavatmal

14.Ramraoji shende of village manoli in yavatmal

15.Sanjay mohurle of dorli in yavatmal

Farmers suicides taking  toll to 20 in year 2013 ,Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti informed in press release today.

‘Union agriculture ministers Sharad Pawar  is taking meeting after meeting for the drought relief measures for five districts of western maharashtra where as Mahrashtra CM Prathviraj is busy in organizing Agri. Exhibitions spending crore of rupees of public exchanger but state Govt. failed to give food security ,health care facility and educational help to distressed farmers and diseased farm families member who committed suicides  even after National commission for farmers (NCF) headed by Dr.M.S.Swaminathan and Dr.Narendra Jadhav committee recommended the same this shows Govt. apathy towards the crisis which matter of serious concern for civil society’ Tiwari added. 

‘There are more than 10,000 farmer widows and families who lost bread earner since 2005 in vidarbha agrarian crisis  but we are denied relief aid by the administration hence to draw the attention of  administration massive protest has been organized on 26^th JAND and we will pray god to give wisdom to Govt. to save us’ Bebitai bais ,president of vidarbha farmer’s widows association informed.

‘Administration is keeping Govt. in the dark about   Bt.cotton failure in 4.2 million hector as farmers with protective irrigation is also suffered massive cotton failure where as market rate of cotton is now below MSP but there is no intervention by state at ground level hence farmers are off loading raw cotton in throw away prices and killing themselves ,the demand of urgent relief at price front and compensation cotton failure  can only give healing support to stop on going distress and gloom that is forcing farmers to kill themselves. Nonexistent of administration and non sensitive Maharashtra Govt. coupled with hostile opposition is behind this mass genocide of vidarbha farmers ,hence we are urging civil society  to help these 5 milion dying vidarbha farmers, Tiwari added..  

‘Govt. ministers are busy  spending hundred crore on ‘Advantage Vidarbha’ meet to attract investment where as main opposition party BJP National president Nitin Gadkari  is also busy in arranging ‘Agro Vision’  by spending more than advantage vidarbha meet both to be organized in coming February at Nagpur but not single Minister or leader of opposition has even visited crisis driven farmers moreover Nagpur session of Maharashtra legislative house failed to discuss very serious issue of massive crop failure and despair of dying vidarbha that is real agony of tragedy that is adding more fuel   to farm suicide crisis and hence to protest this apathy and to bring attention of central Govt. hundreds of farm widows will go on day long fast on 26th jan 2013 observing republicday as black day at maregoan village in yavatmal district  ” Tiwari added. 

‘This year their  is massive crop failure in 42 lakhs hector in vidarbha but all  districts

Of vidarbha  are not covered in recent relief aid announced by central  Govt. more over apathy of local administration fueled more hardships to 3 million cotton farmers of  vidarbha, there was gloom and despondency due to suicides of debt trapped two more cotton farmers  and moreover the recent e Centre’s announcement on Thursday of Rs778 crore as aid for drought assistance to Maharashtra from the National Disaster Response Fund left out any mention of the drought-induced crop loss faced by five million plus debt-trapped farmers of Vidarbha has left many shocked, Tiwari said.

The Vidarbha region, which has emerged as the country’s farmer suicide capital, has been reeling under its worst agrarian crisis ever due to truant rainfall leading to massive crop failure in cotton, paddy, pulses and soybean. On an average, three farmers end their lives every 24 hours. The government’s own figures show that more than 9,000 dry land farmers have killed themselves due to crop failure and economic losses due to cotton price.

“The government’s drive to push GM cotton in order to benefit one bio-tech MNC has only cruelly compounded the problems faced by farmers due to vagaries of climate since 2005 pushing many towards ending lives,” lamented Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. “Instead of atoning about the way they are responsible, the Centre has mocked the dead farmers and their bereaved families.”

In fact, the meeting of the high-level committee for central assistance to states affected by natural calamity where the aid was announced was chaired by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is believed to understand the agrarian scene in the state only too well. The meeting in New Delhi was also attended by home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, finance minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia too.

“One refuses to believe that all these ‘wise’ people didn’t realise it’d be wrong not to mention what is happening in Vidarbha. This is a ploy by the powerful western Maharashtra politicians’ lobby to ensure that the focus of the Centre and state is restricted to their region only,” charged Tiwari -- a charge which sticks when one considers how the local district administrations in Vidarbha have not even sent a report on the crop-loss to the state.

Today it is reported that a team of central government officials led by joint secretary RB Sinha visited the state in November 2012 to assess the drought situation. Curiously, it didn’t visit Vidarbha despite conditions there. It seems their recommendations to the Inter-Ministerial Group constituted under the chairmanship of the agriculture secretary did not reflect any of Vidarbha’s concerns.Many are now linking the total avoidance of any mention of the worst-hit region to these recommendations. Nearly everyone in the bureaucracy too feels stumped at the meagre amount released. “The state needs around Rs5,000 crore and that’s what had been suggested to CM Prithviraj Chavan. We were quite taken aback when he only asked for Rs2,857 crore. With the Centre’s latest announcement of Rs778 crore, one wonders what the logic is,” said a senior water resources ministry bureaucrat, Tiwari added in release

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Nagpur-25th  Jan .2013

Maharashtra Govt. is spending hundreds crore on Agri. exhibitions in vidarbha joining hand with opposition parties at Nagpur ,Yavatmal, Amaravati and Akola but denying relief aid to starving thousands  widows  and families of farmers who committed suicides since 2005 even after all panels recommended Govt. for the same  hence houndereds of farm  widows will join protest at village Maregoan  in Yvatmal district where parliemnt panel headed veteran MP Basudeo Achrya visited last year to look in to causes of agrarian crisis and submitted it’s report to Indian parliament but Govt. failed to address the main cause of distress of 3 million cotton farmers of vidarbha region forcing them to kill themselves as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours taking toll 20 in this year 2013 ,recent victims identified as

1.Dipak Awari  of vanoja-devi village  in yavatmal

2.Baliram Bharsakale of sirsoli village in akola

3.Namdeo Misar of doksarandi village in Bhandra

4.Jivan Kodape of Ramgoan in Amaravati

5.Vinay Kalpande of Masod  in Amaravati

6.Santosh Ganphade of dhindasi village in Chndrapur

Earlier to this last week reported

7.Namdeo Thoke of village benoda in Amaravati district

8.Balaji Thaori of village dahegoan(zari)in Yavatmal district

9.Dinkar Navarkhede of village Sakhari in chandrapur district

10.Ramdas Gohane of village chittegoan in chaadrapur  district

11.Gajanan Raut of village Jawra-bori in chandrapur  district

12.Janrao Nagle of village khed in amaravati  district

13.Puroshottam Pursadkar of margoan in yavatmal

14.Ramraoji shende of village manoli in yavatmal

15.Sanjay mohurle of dorli in yavatmal

Farmers suicides taking  toll to 20 in year 2013 ,Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti informed in press release today.

‘Union agriculture ministers Sharad Pawar  is taking meeting after meeting for the drought relief measures for five districts of western maharashtra where as Mahrashtra CM Prathviraj is busy in organizing Agri. Exhibitions spending crore of rupees of public exchanger but state Govt. failed to give food security ,health care facility and educational help to distressed farmers and diseased farm families member who committed suicides  even after National commission for farmers (NCF) headed by Dr.M.S.Swaminathan and Dr.Narendra Jadhav committee recommended the same this shows Govt. apathy towards the crisis which matter of serious concern for civil society’ Tiwari added. 

‘There are more than 10,000 farmer widows and families who lost bread earner since 2005 in vidarbha agrarian crisis  but we are denied relief aid by the administration hence to draw the attention of  administration massive protest has been organized on 26^th JAND and we will pray god to give wisdom to Govt. to save us’ Bebitai bais ,president of vidarbha farmer’s widows association informed.

‘Administration is keeping Govt. in the dark about   Bt.cotton failure in 4.2 million hector as farmers with protective irrigation is also suffered massive cotton failure where as market rate of cotton is now below MSP but there is no intervention by state at ground level hence farmers are off loading raw cotton in throw away prices and killing themselves ,the demand of urgent relief at price front and compensation cotton failure  can only give healing support to stop on going distress and gloom that is forcing farmers to kill themselves. Nonexistent of administration and non sensitive Maharashtra Govt. coupled with hostile opposition is behind this mass genocide of vidarbha farmers ,hence we are urging civil society  to help these 5 milion dying vidarbha farmers, Tiwari added..  

‘Govt. ministers are busy  spending hundred crore on ‘Advantage Vidarbha’ meet to attract investment where as main opposition party BJP National president Nitin Gadkari  is also busy in arranging ‘Agro Vision’  by spending more than advantage vidarbha meet both to be organized in coming February at Nagpur but not single Minister or leader of opposition has even visited crisis driven farmers moreover Nagpur session of Maharashtra legislative house failed to discuss very serious issue of massive crop failure and despair of dying vidarbha that is real agony of tragedy that is adding more fuel   to farm suicide crisis and hence to protest this apathy and to bring attention of central Govt. hundreds of farm widows will go on day long fast on 26th jan 2013 observing republicday as black day at maregoan village in yavatmal district  ” Tiwari added. 

‘This year their  is massive crop failure in 42 lakhs hector in vidarbha but all  districts

Of vidarbha  are not covered in recent relief aid announced by central  Govt. more over apathy of local administration fueled more hardships to 3 million cotton farmers of  vidarbha, there was gloom and despondency due to suicides of debt trapped two more cotton farmers  and moreover the recent e Centre’s announcement on Thursday of Rs778 crore as aid for drought assistance to Maharashtra from the National Disaster Response Fund left out any mention of the drought-induced crop loss faced by five million plus debt-trapped farmers of Vidarbha has left many shocked, Tiwari said.

The Vidarbha region, which has emerged as the country’s farmer suicide capital, has been reeling under its worst agrarian crisis ever due to truant rainfall leading to massive crop failure in cotton, paddy, pulses and soybean. On an average, three farmers end their lives every 24 hours. The government’s own figures show that more than 9,000 dry land farmers have killed themselves due to crop failure and economic losses due to cotton price.

“The government’s drive to push GM cotton in order to benefit one bio-tech MNC has only cruelly compounded the problems faced by farmers due to vagaries of climate since 2005 pushing many towards ending lives,” lamented Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. “Instead of atoning about the way they are responsible, the Centre has mocked the dead farmers and their bereaved families.”

In fact, the meeting of the high-level committee for central assistance to states affected by natural calamity where the aid was announced was chaired by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is believed to understand the agrarian scene in the state only too well. The meeting in New Delhi was also attended by home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, finance minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia too.

“One refuses to believe that all these ‘wise’ people didn’t realise it’d be wrong not to mention what is happening in Vidarbha. This is a ploy by the powerful western Maharashtra politicians’ lobby to ensure that the focus of the Centre and state is restricted to their region only,” charged Tiwari -- a charge which sticks when one considers how the local district administrations in Vidarbha have not even sent a report on the crop-loss to the state.

Today it is reported that a team of central government officials led by joint secretary RB Sinha visited the state in November 2012 to assess the drought situation. Curiously, it didn’t visit Vidarbha despite conditions there. It seems their recommendations to the Inter-Ministerial Group constituted under the chairmanship of the agriculture secretary did not reflect any of Vidarbha’s concerns.Many are now linking the total avoidance of any mention of the worst-hit region to these recommendations. Nearly everyone in the bureaucracy too feels stumped at the meagre amount released. “The state needs around Rs5,000 crore and that’s what had been suggested to CM Prithviraj Chavan. We were quite taken aback when he only asked for Rs2,857 crore. With the Centre’s latest announcement of Rs778 crore, one wonders what the logic is,” said a senior water resources ministry bureaucrat, Tiwari added in release

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Nagpur-25th  Jan .2013

Maharashtra Govt. is spending hundreds crore on Agri. exhibitions in vidarbha joining hand with opposition parties at Nagpur ,Yavatmal, Amaravati and Akola but denying relief aid to starving thousands  widows  and families of farmers who committed suicides since 2005 even after all panels recommended Govt. for the same  hence houndereds of farm  widows will join protest at village Maregoan  in Yvatmal district where parliemnt panel headed veteran MP Basudeo Achrya visited last year to look in to causes of agrarian crisis and submitted it’s report to Indian parliament but Govt. failed to address the main cause of distress of 3 million cotton farmers of vidarbha region forcing them to kill themselves as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours taking toll 20 in this year 2013 ,recent victims identified as

1.Dipak Awari  of vanoja-devi village  in yavatmal

2.Baliram Bharsakale of sirsoli village in akola

3.Namdeo Misar of doksarandi village in Bhandra

4.Jivan Kodape of Ramgoan in Amaravati

5.Vinay Kalpande of Masod  in Amaravati

6.Santosh Ganphade of dhindasi village in Chndrapur

Earlier to this last week reported

7.Namdeo Thoke of village benoda in Amaravati district

8.Balaji Thaori of village dahegoan(zari)in Yavatmal district

9.Dinkar Navarkhede of village Sakhari in chandrapur district

10.Ramdas Gohane of village chittegoan in chaadrapur  district

11.Gajanan Raut of village Jawra-bori in chandrapur  district

12.Janrao Nagle of village khed in amaravati  district

13.Puroshottam Pursadkar of margoan in yavatmal

14.Ramraoji shende of village manoli in yavatmal

15.Sanjay mohurle of dorli in yavatmal

Farmers suicides taking  toll to 20 in year 2013 ,Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti informed in press release today.

‘Union agriculture ministers Sharad Pawar  is taking meeting after meeting for the drought relief measures for five districts of western maharashtra where as Mahrashtra CM Prathviraj is busy in organizing Agri. Exhibitions spending crore of rupees of public exchanger but state Govt. failed to give food security ,health care facility and educational help to distressed farmers and diseased farm families member who committed suicides  even after National commission for farmers (NCF) headed by Dr.M.S.Swaminathan and Dr.Narendra Jadhav committee recommended the same this shows Govt. apathy towards the crisis which matter of serious concern for civil society’ Tiwari added. 

‘There are more than 10,000 farmer widows and families who lost bread earner since 2005 in vidarbha agrarian crisis  but we are denied relief aid by the administration hence to draw the attention of  administration massive protest has been organized on 26^th JAND and we will pray god to give wisdom to Govt. to save us’ Bebitai bais ,president of vidarbha farmer’s widows association informed.

‘Administration is keeping Govt. in the dark about   Bt.cotton failure in 4.2 million hector as farmers with protective irrigation is also suffered massive cotton failure where as market rate of cotton is now below MSP but there is no intervention by state at ground level hence farmers are off loading raw cotton in throw away prices and killing themselves ,the demand of urgent relief at price front and compensation cotton failure  can only give healing support to stop on going distress and gloom that is forcing farmers to kill themselves. Nonexistent of administration and non sensitive Maharashtra Govt. coupled with hostile opposition is behind this mass genocide of vidarbha farmers ,hence we are urging civil society  to help these 5 milion dying vidarbha farmers, Tiwari added..  

‘Govt. ministers are busy  spending hundred crore on ‘Advantage Vidarbha’ meet to attract investment where as main opposition party BJP National president Nitin Gadkari  is also busy in arranging ‘Agro Vision’  by spending more than advantage vidarbha meet both to be organized in coming February at Nagpur but not single Minister or leader of opposition has even visited crisis driven farmers moreover Nagpur session of Maharashtra legislative house failed to discuss very serious issue of massive crop failure and despair of dying vidarbha that is real agony of tragedy that is adding more fuel   to farm suicide crisis and hence to protest this apathy and to bring attention of central Govt. hundreds of farm widows will go on day long fast on 26th jan 2013 observing republicday as black day at maregoan village in yavatmal district  ” Tiwari added. 

‘This year their  is massive crop failure in 42 lakhs hector in vidarbha but all  districts

Of vidarbha  are not covered in recent relief aid announced by central  Govt. more over apathy of local administration fueled more hardships to 3 million cotton farmers of  vidarbha, there was gloom and despondency due to suicides of debt trapped two more cotton farmers  and moreover the recent e Centre’s announcement on Thursday of Rs778 crore as aid for drought assistance to Maharashtra from the National Disaster Response Fund left out any mention of the drought-induced crop loss faced by five million plus debt-trapped farmers of Vidarbha has left many shocked, Tiwari said.

The Vidarbha region, which has emerged as the country’s farmer suicide capital, has been reeling under its worst agrarian crisis ever due to truant rainfall leading to massive crop failure in cotton, paddy, pulses and soybean. On an average, three farmers end their lives every 24 hours. The government’s own figures show that more than 9,000 dry land farmers have killed themselves due to crop failure and economic losses due to cotton price.

“The government’s drive to push GM cotton in order to benefit one bio-tech MNC has only cruelly compounded the problems faced by farmers due to vagaries of climate since 2005 pushing many towards ending lives,” lamented Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. “Instead of atoning about the way they are responsible, the Centre has mocked the dead farmers and their bereaved families.”

In fact, the meeting of the high-level committee for central assistance to states affected by natural calamity where the aid was announced was chaired by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is believed to understand the agrarian scene in the state only too well. The meeting in New Delhi was also attended by home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, finance minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia too.

“One refuses to believe that all these ‘wise’ people didn’t realise it’d be wrong not to mention what is happening in Vidarbha. This is a ploy by the powerful western Maharashtra politicians’ lobby to ensure that the focus of the Centre and state is restricted to their region only,” charged Tiwari -- a charge which sticks when one considers how the local district administrations in Vidarbha have not even sent a report on the crop-loss to the state.

Today it is reported that a team of central government officials led by joint secretary RB Sinha visited the state in November 2012 to assess the drought situation. Curiously, it didn’t visit Vidarbha despite conditions there. It seems their recommendations to the Inter-Ministerial Group constituted under the chairmanship of the agriculture secretary did not reflect any of Vidarbha’s concerns.Many are now linking the total avoidance of any mention of the worst-hit region to these recommendations. Nearly everyone in the bureaucracy too feels stumped at the meagre amount released. “The state needs around Rs5,000 crore and that’s what had been suggested to CM Prithviraj Chavan. We were quite taken aback when he only asked for Rs2,857 crore. With the Centre’s latest announcement of Rs778 crore, one wonders what the logic is,” said a senior water resources ministry bureaucrat, Tiwari added in release

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Nagpur-25th  Jan .2013

Maharashtra Govt. is spending hundreds crore on Agri. exhibitions in vidarbha joining hand with opposition parties at Nagpur ,Yavatmal, Amaravati and Akola but denying relief aid to starving thousands  widows  and families of farmers who committed suicides since 2005 even after all panels recommended Govt. for the same  hence houndereds of farm  widows will join protest at village Maregoan  in Yvatmal district where parliemnt panel headed veteran MP Basudeo Achrya visited last year to look in to causes of agrarian crisis and submitted it’s report to Indian parliament but Govt. failed to address the main cause of distress of 3 million cotton farmers of vidarbha region forcing them to kill themselves as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours taking toll 20 in this year 2013 ,recent victims identified as

1.Dipak Awari  of vanoja-devi village  in yavatmal

2.Baliram Bharsakale of sirsoli village in akola

3.Namdeo Misar of doksarandi village in Bhandra

4.Jivan Kodape of Ramgoan in Amaravati

5.Vinay Kalpande of Masod  in Amaravati

6.Santosh Ganphade of dhindasi village in Chndrapur

Earlier to this last week reported

7.Namdeo Thoke of village benoda in Amaravati district

8.Balaji Thaori of village dahegoan(zari)in Yavatmal district

9.Dinkar Navarkhede of village Sakhari in chandrapur district

10.Ramdas Gohane of village chittegoan in chaadrapur  district

11.Gajanan Raut of village Jawra-bori in chandrapur  district

12.Janrao Nagle of village khed in amaravati  district

13.Puroshottam Pursadkar of margoan in yavatmal

14.Ramraoji shende of village manoli in yavatmal

15.Sanjay mohurle of dorli in yavatmal

Farmers suicides taking  toll to 20 in year 2013 ,Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti informed in press release today.

‘Union agriculture ministers Sharad Pawar  is taking meeting after meeting for the drought relief measures for five districts of western maharashtra where as Mahrashtra CM Prathviraj is busy in organizing Agri. Exhibitions spending crore of rupees of public exchanger but state Govt. failed to give food security ,health care facility and educational help to distressed farmers and diseased farm families member who committed suicides  even after National commission for farmers (NCF) headed by Dr.M.S.Swaminathan and Dr.Narendra Jadhav committee recommended the same this shows Govt. apathy towards the crisis which matter of serious concern for civil society’ Tiwari added. 

‘There are more than 10,000 farmer widows and families who lost bread earner since 2005 in vidarbha agrarian crisis  but we are denied relief aid by the administration hence to draw the attention of  administration massive protest has been organized on 26^th JAND and we will pray god to give wisdom to Govt. to save us’ Bebitai bais ,president of vidarbha farmer’s widows association informed.

‘Administration is keeping Govt. in the dark about   Bt.cotton failure in 4.2 million hector as farmers with protective irrigation is also suffered massive cotton failure where as market rate of cotton is now below MSP but there is no intervention by state at ground level hence farmers are off loading raw cotton in throw away prices and killing themselves ,the demand of urgent relief at price front and compensation cotton failure  can only give healing support to stop on going distress and gloom that is forcing farmers to kill themselves. Nonexistent of administration and non sensitive Maharashtra Govt. coupled with hostile opposition is behind this mass genocide of vidarbha farmers ,hence we are urging civil society  to help these 5 milion dying vidarbha farmers, Tiwari added..  

‘Govt. ministers are busy  spending hundred crore on ‘Advantage Vidarbha’ meet to attract investment where as main opposition party BJP National president Nitin Gadkari  is also busy in arranging ‘Agro Vision’  by spending more than advantage vidarbha meet both to be organized in coming February at Nagpur but not single Minister or leader of opposition has even visited crisis driven farmers moreover Nagpur session of Maharashtra legislative house failed to discuss very serious issue of massive crop failure and despair of dying vidarbha that is real agony of tragedy that is adding more fuel   to farm suicide crisis and hence to protest this apathy and to bring attention of central Govt. hundreds of farm widows will go on day long fast on 26th jan 2013 observing republicday as black day at maregoan village in yavatmal district  ” Tiwari added. 

‘This year their  is massive crop failure in 42 lakhs hector in vidarbha but all  districts

Of vidarbha  are not covered in recent relief aid announced by central  Govt. more over apathy of local administration fueled more hardships to 3 million cotton farmers of  vidarbha, there was gloom and despondency due to suicides of debt trapped two more cotton farmers  and moreover the recent e Centre’s announcement on Thursday of Rs778 crore as aid for drought assistance to Maharashtra from the National Disaster Response Fund left out any mention of the drought-induced crop loss faced by five million plus debt-trapped farmers of Vidarbha has left many shocked, Tiwari said.

The Vidarbha region, which has emerged as the country’s farmer suicide capital, has been reeling under its worst agrarian crisis ever due to truant rainfall leading to massive crop failure in cotton, paddy, pulses and soybean. On an average, three farmers end their lives every 24 hours. The government’s own figures show that more than 9,000 dry land farmers have killed themselves due to crop failure and economic losses due to cotton price.

“The government’s drive to push GM cotton in order to benefit one bio-tech MNC has only cruelly compounded the problems faced by farmers due to vagaries of climate since 2005 pushing many towards ending lives,” lamented Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. “Instead of atoning about the way they are responsible, the Centre has mocked the dead farmers and their bereaved families.”

In fact, the meeting of the high-level committee for central assistance to states affected by natural calamity where the aid was announced was chaired by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is believed to understand the agrarian scene in the state only too well. The meeting in New Delhi was also attended by home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, finance minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia too.

“One refuses to believe that all these ‘wise’ people didn’t realise it’d be wrong not to mention what is happening in Vidarbha. This is a ploy by the powerful western Maharashtra politicians’ lobby to ensure that the focus of the Centre and state is restricted to their region only,” charged Tiwari -- a charge which sticks when one considers how the local district administrations in Vidarbha have not even sent a report on the crop-loss to the state.

Today it is reported that a team of central government officials led by joint secretary RB Sinha visited the state in November 2012 to assess the drought situation. Curiously, it didn’t visit Vidarbha despite conditions there. It seems their recommendations to the Inter-Ministerial Group constituted under the chairmanship of the agriculture secretary did not reflect any of Vidarbha’s concerns.Many are now linking the total avoidance of any mention of the worst-hit region to these recommendations. Nearly everyone in the bureaucracy too feels stumped at the meagre amount released. “The state needs around Rs5,000 crore and that’s what had been suggested to CM Prithviraj Chavan. We were quite taken aback when he only asked for Rs2,857 crore. With the Centre’s latest announcement of Rs778 crore, one wonders what the logic is,” said a senior water resources ministry bureaucrat, Tiwari added in release

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Massive Vidarbha Farm widows protest on republic-day as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours

Nagpur-25th  Jan .2013

Maharashtra Govt. is spending hundreds crore on Agri. exhibitions in vidarbha joining hand with opposition parties at Nagpur ,Yavatmal, Amaravati and Akola but denying relief aid to starving thousands  widows  and families of farmers who committed suicides since 2005 even after all panels recommended Govt. for the same  hence houndereds of farm  widows will join protest at village Maregoan  in Yvatmal district where parliemnt panel headed veteran MP Basudeo Achrya visited last year to look in to causes of agrarian crisis and submitted it’s report to Indian parliament but Govt. failed to address the main cause of distress of 3 million cotton farmers of vidarbha region forcing them to kill themselves as six more farmers suicides reported in last 72 hours taking toll 20 in this year 2013 ,recent victims identified as

1.Dipak Awari  of vanoja-devi village  in yavatmal

2.Baliram Bharsakale of sirsoli village in akola

3.Namdeo Misar of doksarandi village in Bhandra

4.Jivan Kodape of Ramgoan in Amaravati

5.Vinay Kalpande of Masod  in Amaravati

6.Santosh Ganphade of dhindasi village in Chndrapur

Earlier to this last week reported

7.Namdeo Thoke of village benoda in Amaravati district

8.Balaji Thaori of village dahegoan(zari)in Yavatmal district

9.Dinkar Navarkhede of village Sakhari in chandrapur district

10.Ramdas Gohane of village chittegoan in chaadrapur  district

11.Gajanan Raut of village Jawra-bori in chandrapur  district

12.Janrao Nagle of village khed in amaravati  district

13.Puroshottam Pursadkar of margoan in yavatmal

14.Ramraoji shende of village manoli in yavatmal

15.Sanjay mohurle of dorli in yavatmal

Farmers suicides taking  toll to 20 in year 2013 ,Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti informed in press release today.

‘Union agriculture ministers Sharad Pawar  is taking meeting after meeting for the drought relief measures for five districts of western maharashtra where as Mahrashtra CM Prathviraj is busy in organizing Agri. Exhibitions spending crore of rupees of public exchanger but state Govt. failed to give food security ,health care facility and educational help to distressed farmers and diseased farm families member who committed suicides  even after National commission for farmers (NCF) headed by Dr.M.S.Swaminathan and Dr.Narendra Jadhav committee recommended the same this shows Govt. apathy towards the crisis which matter of serious concern for civil society’ Tiwari added. 

‘There are more than 10,000 farmer widows and families who lost bread earner since 2005 in vidarbha agrarian crisis  but we are denied relief aid by the administration hence to draw the attention of  administration massive protest has been organized on 26^th JAND and we will pray god to give wisdom to Govt. to save us’ Bebitai bais ,president of vidarbha farmer’s widows association informed.

‘Administration is keeping Govt. in the dark about   Bt.cotton failure in 4.2 million hector as farmers with protective irrigation is also suffered massive cotton failure where as market rate of cotton is now below MSP but there is no intervention by state at ground level hence farmers are off loading raw cotton in throw away prices and killing themselves ,the demand of urgent relief at price front and compensation cotton failure  can only give healing support to stop on going distress and gloom that is forcing farmers to kill themselves. Nonexistent of administration and non sensitive Maharashtra Govt. coupled with hostile opposition is behind this mass genocide of vidarbha farmers ,hence we are urging civil society  to help these 5 milion dying vidarbha farmers, Tiwari added..  

‘Govt. ministers are busy  spending hundred crore on ‘Advantage Vidarbha’ meet to attract investment where as main opposition party BJP National president Nitin Gadkari  is also busy in arranging ‘Agro Vision’  by spending more than advantage vidarbha meet both to be organized in coming February at Nagpur but not single Minister or leader of opposition has even visited crisis driven farmers moreover Nagpur session of Maharashtra legislative house failed to discuss very serious issue of massive crop failure and despair of dying vidarbha that is real agony of tragedy that is adding more fuel   to farm suicide crisis and hence to protest this apathy and to bring attention of central Govt. hundreds of farm widows will go on day long fast on 26th jan 2013 observing republicday as black day at maregoan village in yavatmal district  ” Tiwari added. 

‘This year their  is massive crop failure in 42 lakhs hector in vidarbha but all  districts

Of vidarbha  are not covered in recent relief aid announced by central  Govt. more over apathy of local administration fueled more hardships to 3 million cotton farmers of  vidarbha, there was gloom and despondency due to suicides of debt trapped two more cotton farmers  and moreover the recent e Centre’s announcement on Thursday of Rs778 crore as aid for drought assistance to Maharashtra from the National Disaster Response Fund left out any mention of the drought-induced crop loss faced by five million plus debt-trapped farmers of Vidarbha has left many shocked, Tiwari said.

The Vidarbha region, which has emerged as the country’s farmer suicide capital, has been reeling under its worst agrarian crisis ever due to truant rainfall leading to massive crop failure in cotton, paddy, pulses and soybean. On an average, three farmers end their lives every 24 hours. The government’s own figures show that more than 9,000 dry land farmers have killed themselves due to crop failure and economic losses due to cotton price.

“The government’s drive to push GM cotton in order to benefit one bio-tech MNC has only cruelly compounded the problems faced by farmers due to vagaries of climate since 2005 pushing many towards ending lives,” lamented Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. “Instead of atoning about the way they are responsible, the Centre has mocked the dead farmers and their bereaved families.”

In fact, the meeting of the high-level committee for central assistance to states affected by natural calamity where the aid was announced was chaired by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is believed to understand the agrarian scene in the state only too well. The meeting in New Delhi was also attended by home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, finance minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia too.

“One refuses to believe that all these ‘wise’ people didn’t realise it’d be wrong not to mention what is happening in Vidarbha. This is a ploy by the powerful western Maharashtra politicians’ lobby to ensure that the focus of the Centre and state is restricted to their region only,” charged Tiwari -- a charge which sticks when one considers how the local district administrations in Vidarbha have not even sent a report on the crop-loss to the state.

Today it is reported that a team of central government officials led by joint secretary RB Sinha visited the state in November 2012 to assess the drought situation. Curiously, it didn’t visit Vidarbha despite conditions there. It seems their recommendations to the Inter-Ministerial Group constituted under the chairmanship of the agriculture secretary did not reflect any of Vidarbha’s concerns.Many are now linking the total avoidance of any mention of the worst-hit region to these recommendations. Nearly everyone in the bureaucracy too feels stumped at the meagre amount released. “The state needs around Rs5,000 crore and that’s what had been suggested to CM Prithviraj Chavan. We were quite taken aback when he only asked for Rs2,857 crore. With the Centre’s latest announcement of Rs778 crore, one wonders what the logic is,” said a senior water resources ministry bureaucrat, Tiwari added in release