It's Pro-Farmer's Budget- Kishor Tiwari

It's Pro-Farmer's Budget- Kishor Tiwari

Nagpur-29 Feb.2016 

" For the first time in  NDA Govt., has brought hope and cheer for all the farmers across the country as it covers the core issues of agrarian crisis and hostile rural economy related farm credit , irrigation facility,health security,restoration of sustainable agriculture, food crop promotion , E-marketing and intervention with price stabilization fund  ,food security,crop insurance ,rural employment under MNREGA and Mudra scheme  , LPG and road connectivity ,thin is right move  to address the present agrarian crisis   and stop farmer suicide but more sensitivity and proper implementation is need of the hour ", Said Kishore Tiwari, President of Late Vansantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission (VNSSM), a Govt Maharashtra's Special Task Force for Farmers in 14 Distressed Distt of Vidarbha & Marathwada in Maharashtra State reacting on budget 20016

the budget of 2016  For the first time, a record farm credit  allocation has been made  of Rs. 9.35 lakh crore in fact  It has quadrupled since 2013. Finance Minister introduced special 0.5% Agricultural Welfare Tax to be collected thru Service Tax. Its welcome move, much needed for welfare farmers, , but this amount of Special Tax must be made available to Farmers Distress Proven Areas in India specially like Vidarbha & Marathwada where maximum no of unfortunate incidence of farmers suicides have been occurred, to provide direct help to Govt of Maharashtra to give helping hand to Farmers in Real Distress. So this Special Agro Welfare Tax of 0.5% must be spent for Distressed Areas instead of General Pool, as it has been specifically added due to our VNSSM demands", Tiwari added.

Mr. Tiwari welcomed Central Govt for not announcing any Big unwanted, Mindless & BOT Mega Project to please big corporate, further demanded that Union Govt while amending MNREGA Act must provide to allow States to give direct benefits to Farmers such as 100% grants for digging wells & small water ponds under MNREGA in Rain Fed Areas like Vidarbha & Marathwada.

" Agro Priority Sector Lending enhanced to Rs.9.35 Lacs Crores to be made directly available to Farmers, instead of Agro Processing Sector, virtually turning to NPAs. There should be separation of Direct & Indirect segments in Agro sectors so that Farmers can be benefited directly & can get Credits from Nationalized Banks in Public Sectors instead of Cooperative Bank. Similarly, Food Security schemes tobe strengthen to give direct benefits to families in distress regardless of Agro holding", Tiwari demanded.

we are pleased to know that the budget aims to double the farmer’s income by 2022 with ehlp of a dedicated Irrigation fund worth Rs.20000 crores to be set up under NABARD and bringing .5 lakh acres to be brought under organic farming over three year period ,implementation of 89 irrigation projects will be fast-tracked,.Rs.35984 crores is the total allocation for farmer’s welfare.this shows the priority of the government is to provide additional resource to the rural areas,TIwari said .

we welcome the move to give extension of credit to   very marginal segment of farmers with Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) has the benefit of interest subvention scheme prolonged for further period of up to six months (post-harvest) against Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWRs), at the same rate as available to crop loan. This is done to dampen the agonizing sale of crops by small farmers, provision of Rs.15000 crores towards interest subvention to reduce burden of loan repayment has been made ,Tiwari said 

Government has earmarked Rs 86,500 crore for irrigation under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichaai Yojana. Total allocation for agriculture for the coming fiscal is to be Rs 35,984 crore. Further the government has said that 89 irrigation projects are to be fast tracked by the on a priority. Out of this 30 projects are to be completed by 2017. Tiwari said that the focus on irrigation, MNREGA, crop insurance was important. now babus  should convert it in to reality ,TIwari added.

`Babus' insensitivity to blame for agri suicides'-TIMES OF INDIA

Feb 21 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai) `Babus' insensitivity to blame for agri suicides' Prafulla Marpakwar Mumbai   Veteran farmers' leader and head of the special task force set up by the state government Kishore Tiwari on Saturday said BJP's first Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's ambitious plan to tackle the worst-ever agrarian crisis and halt farmers' suicides has failed to take off owing to rampant corruption at all levels, lack of supervision and above all an “insensitive bureaucracy .“Alarmed by the sudden spurt in farmers' suicides in 14 districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada, Fadnavis had appointed Tiwari, who had taken up the cause of farmers, to draft an action plan to tackle drought and halt suicides. “Ever since I took over as head of the special task force, I found there is absolutely no accountability and there is lack of seriousness and rampant corruption at all levels; as a result, despite the CM's best efforts we have not been able to reduce farmers' suicides in the 14 districts,'' Tiwari told TOI. Tiwari said since the CM was well aware of the gravity of the situation, he entrusted the task of implementing schemes for the welfare of farmers to IAS officers of the rank of principal secretary . “Principal secretaries were appointed for all tehsils in the suicideprone districts. Owing to their casual approach, all districts have witnessed more suicides than ever before. They did visit the suicide-prone tehsils, but there was absolutely no seriousness and they never took up the new assignment seriously ,“ Tiwari said. Tiwari said neither the district administration nor high-ranking bureaucrats made any attempt establish a dialogue with the farmers in distress, as all along, they were busy in their own protocol, vehicles and arrangements for stay . “Whenever there was a visit of a principal secretary , the entire district ad ministration was running after him. During his visit, the administration would come to a standstill,“ Tiwari said. Secondly , Tiwari found that during his official tour of the suicide-prone districts, not a single official was present at the tehsil or district headquarters; as a result, there was no redressal of grievances raised by farmers.“Village and tehsil-level officers were not present in their offices. At the district-level offices too, the situation was more or less similar,“ he said. On the health and education front, the situation was more shocking, he said, as in most village, tehsil and district-level hospitals, there was no staff. “Doctors as well as paramedical staff were never seen in hospital.Specific cases of dereliction of duty were brought to the notice of the state health secretary and health minister,“ he said. Tiwari said on the one hand, the CM was taking credit for the Rs 9 lakh crore of investments during the Make in India week and on the other, his government was unable to provide even basic infrastructure to tackle the agrarian crisis and halt farmers' suicides.

Maharashtra taskforce suggests formula to end farmers' suicides-IANS

Maharashtra taskforce suggests formula to end farmers' suicides-IANS

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/maharashtra-taskforce-suggests-formula-to-end-farmers-suicides/articleshow/51067075.cms

Nagpur, Feb 20 (IANS) Tasked by the Maharashtra government to study the farm crisis in the state, Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission (VNSSM) has announced a two-point formula which it claims could be the key to ending farmers' suicides in the country.

The formula is part of a report on measures needed to tackle agrarian crisis in 14 drought-prone districts of Maharashtra that Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission has submitted to the state government. 

Kishor Tiwari, who chairs the Mission, said on Saturday the formula has two parts: a distress management relief plan and an agenda to address core isses of agrarian crisis.

The first part envisions provisions for food and health security, better farm credit facilities within the existing network, water and electricity connection to each farmer, and access to education for farmers' children, particularly in the distressed areas.

It also includes provision of more jobs under Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and effective implementation of Mudra Scheme and other government welfare schemes by reducing corruption at various levels.

The second part addresses the core issues of agrarian crisis for which Tiwari blames the neglect and mismanagement of the officialdom.

The Mission advocates restoration of holistic and sustainable agriculture in the existing soil conditions, moisture, water availability, and suitable cropping patterns in the drought-prone areas.

Over the past six months, the Mission is advising farmers on how to slash input costs by 40 percent by proper selection of seeds, fertilizers, etc., to avoid exploitation by traders and market players, Tiwari said.

"The Union Budget is coming up, followed by the state budget. We call upon the state and the Centre to consider our suggestions seriously and make suitable provisions to wipe the tears off farmers' eyes," Tiwari told IANS.

With the upcoming summer season, there are reports of water shortages from different parts of the state including Marathwada and Vidarbha where the Mission is working. Another water crisis may trigger further distress among farmers.

विदर्भ आणि मराठवाड्यातील १४ आत्महत्याग्रस्त जिलंमध्ये आणखी १0 लाख लोकांना अन्नसुरक्षा

विदर्भ आणि मराठवाड्यातील १४ आत्महत्याग्रस्त जिलंमध्ये आणखी १0 लाख लोकांना अन्नसुरक्षा

आत्महत्याग्रस्त भागांमध्ये शेतकर्‍यांना शासकीय योजना, सवलतींचा लाभ पोहोचविण्यात कसूर करणार्‍या महसूल, आरोग्य आणि कृषी विभागाच्या २0 कर्मचार्‍यांना गेल्या दोन महिन्यांत निलंबित करण्यात आले तर जवळपास तेवढय़ाच कंत्राटी कर्मचार्‍यांना घरचा रस्ता दाखविण्यात आला. कुचराई करणार्‍यांना घरी पाठवा, असे स्पष्ट आदेश मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांनी दिले आहेत. यदु जोशी￭ मुंबई विदर्भ आणि मराठवाड्यातील १४ आत्महत्याग्रस्त जिल्ह्यांमध्ये आणखी ३ लाख ४0 हजार कुटुंबांमधील १0 लाख लोकांना अन्नसुरक्षा योजनेंतर्गत २ रुपये किलोने गहू आणि ३ रुपये किलो दराने तांदूळ देण्याचा निर्णय घेण्यात आला आहे. या भागामध्ये २२ लाख कुटुंबांतील ७0 लाख व्यक्तींना जुलै २0१५ पासून अन्नसुरक्षा प्रदान करण्यात आली आहे. अमरावती विभागातील अमरावती, वर्धा, यवतमाळ, अकोला, बुलडाणा आणि वाशिम या पाच जिल्ह्यांमध्ये या योजनेची व्याप्ती वाढविण्यात आली असून लवकरच नागपूर विभागातील वर्धा जिल्हा आणि मराठवाड्यातील आठही जिल्ह्यात ती वाढविली जाणार आहे. शेतकरी आत्महत्या रोखण्यासाठी कार्यरत वसंतराव नाईक शेतकरी स्वावलंबन मिशनचे अध्यक्ष किशोर तिवारी यांनी  ही माहिती दिली. ज्या शेतकर्‍यांच्या नावावर शेती नाही, जे कंत्राटी शेती करतात, सरकारी वा अन्य प्रकारची जमीन कसतात, अशी हजारो शेतकरी कुटुंबे अन्नसुरक्षा योजनेपासून तांत्रिक कारणाने वंचित होती. आता त्यांना या योजनेचे कवच प्रदान करण्यात आले आहे. अनेक आदिवासी, अपंग, भूमिहिन, विधवा, परितक्त्या, शेतकरी व शेतमजूर हे त्यांच्याकडे पांढरी शिधापत्रिका असल्याने अन्नसुरक्षेपासून वंचित होते. त्यांनाही आता लाभ दिला जाईल. पूर्वी अंत्योदय व बीपीएल योजनेत समावेश झालेल्या अनेक भूमिहिन लाभाथर्र्ींना कालांतराने नोकरी मिळाली किंवा त्यांनी शेतजमीन विकत घेतली. अशा सगळ्यांना योजनेतून वगळण्यात येणार आहे. दुष्काळी परिस्थितीत पिकांचा पॅटर्न, कृषी कर्जाचे स्वरुप या बाबत धोरण ठरविण्यासाठी कृषी विभागाच्या अधिकार्‍यांची बैठक ३ मार्चला अमरावती येथे होणार आहे. झिरो बजेट शेतीचे प्रणेते पद्मश्री सुभाष पाळेकर यांना बैठकीसाठी आमंत्रित करण्यात आले आहे. १५0 दिवसांची हमी रोजगार हमी योजनेंतर्गत आतापर्यंत वर्षातून १00 दिवसांच्या रोजगाराची हमी असायची. ही हमी आता १५0 दिवसांची करण्याचा निर्णय घेण्यात आला आहे. शेती कामांसाठी अनेकदा मजूर मिळत नाहीत.त्यामुळे या कामांसाठीचे अनुदान शेतकर्‍यांनाच देण्याचा प्रस्ताव आहे. शेतकरी आत्महत्या रोखण्यासाठी उपाययोजना सुचविणारा अहवाल किशोर तिवारी यांनी मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांना अलिकडेच सादर केला. त्यात, उद्योगांच्या धर्तीवर शेतकर्‍यांना पाच वर्षांसाठी कर्ज पुरवठा करा. त्यातून शेती कसणे, मुलांचे शिक्षण, मुलींचे लग्न आणि घर बांधता येईल. मनरेगा अंतर्गत शेतकरी कुटुंबाला शेतीकामाची सबसिडी द्या. आत्महत्याग्रस्त १४ जिल्ह्यांमध्ये बिगर-रासायनिक शेतीचा सिक्कीम पॅटर्न राबवा. मुद्रा बँक योजनेचा फायदा द्या, आरोग्याची सुविधा शेतकर्‍याच्या दारी पोहोचवा, आपल्या शेतीतील कामांची मजुरी म्हणून शेतकर्‍यांना सबसिडी द्या, आदी शिफारशी करण्यात आल्या आहेत. २0 जण झाले निलंबित आत्महत्याग्रस्त भागांमध्ये शेतकर्‍यांना शासकीय योजना, सवलतींचा लाभ पोहोचविण्यात कसूर करणार्‍या महसूल, आरोग्य आणि कृषी विभागाच्या २0 कर्मचार्‍यांना गेल्या दोन महिन्यांत निलंबित करण्यात आले तर जवळपास तेवढय़ाच कंत्राटी कर्मचार्‍यांना घरचा रस्ता दाखविण्यात आला. कुचराई करणार्‍यांना घरी पाठवा, असे स्पष्ट आदेश मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांनी दिले आहेत.

Taskforce on Maha agrarian crisis submits report to govt— PTI

Taskforce on Maha agrarian crisis submits report to govt

Mumbai, February 15

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/taskforce-on-maha-agrarian-crisis-submits-report-to-govt/196579.html

A Maharashtra government-appointed taskforce on tackling the agrarian crisis has mooted a two-pronged strategy of having a distress management relief plan and restoration of agriculture extension services.

Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission (VNSSM) headed by Kishor Tiwari was constituted by the state government for redressal of farmers’ grievances and was asked to submit a report on measures needed to tackle agrarian crisis in the 14 drought-prone districts of Maharashtra.

In the report submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently, Tiwari has proposed laying out a distress management relief plan that covers food security, health services improvement, providing 100 per cent fresh farm credit and crop insurance cover to every farmer.

It also includes improving educational facilities in distress farm suicide area, zero pendency and corruption free local governance, livelihood management as well as job creation under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and Mudra scheme.

The second of suggestions includes restoration of agriculture extension services, participation of Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs) in agro-counselling, reintroduction of food, edible oil and pulses crop, soil moisture management, long term farm credit policy and income based resource mobilisation in rural economy.

The activist also proposed that farmers of the 14 districts be made to shift from rain sensitive crops to cultivating edible oil seeds abd pulses while nalas, rivers that were dead be revived under the Jalyukt Shivar project.

He also suggested that the government create post- harvest processing facilities, health care and educational facilities for farmers and their children and ensure hundred per cent fresh farm credit and crop insurance cover to every farmer.

The other suggestions include covering seven million families, farm labourers and landless farmers in the 14 districts under the National Food Security Act, which will give average annual relief of Rs 6,000 to every family