Can we commit suicide, Maharashtra farmers ask government---IANS

Can we commit suicide, Maharashtra farmers ask government---IANS

IANS  |  Nagpur  

July 13, 2015 Last Updated at 18:30 IST

http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/can-we-commit-suicide-maharashtra-farmers-ask-government-115071300911_1.html

Nagpur, July 13 (IANS) In a bizarre development, seven debt-ridden farmers, among them three women, in Maharashtra's Wardha district have sought the administration's "permission" to commit suicide.

"The situation has become so bad that these seven peasants have approached the district officials requesting their green signal to end their lives," said Kishore Tiwari, president of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, an NGO working for farmers' rights.

Kishore Ingale, Bhanudas Wadadkar, Pankaj Gawande, Shankar Khadse, and the women farmers - Kundabai Lonkar, Kamala Warhade and Vasanta Gingavkar - from Wadad village, have been running from pillar to post since January for the aid promised by the Maharashtra government, he said.

Around 10 days ago, these farmers wrote letters and simply walked down to the local tehsildar (government revenue department officer) to submit to them a memorandum, seeking their "clearance" to commit suicide.

They got an official acknowledgement to their "suicide permission letters" from the amused officials, which they submitted to the collector's office and got another acknowledgement, Tiwari said.

As per government norms, the farmers are entitled to an aid of around Rs.4,000 per head for crop losses they suffered due to hailstorms, droughts and floods last year.

"For over six months, the money remains locked up in bank accounts as the district authorities are not clearing the disbursal. This is now forcing the farmers to write letters and ask for 'clearance' before committing suicide," Tiwari said.

In the meantime, the current dry spell in the state has damaged around 70 percent of sown crops, and claimed 23 lives in the past 12 days.

These include seven from Yavatmal, five from Amravati, four from Wardha, two each from Akola and Buldhana, one each from Bhandara, Chandrapur and Washim districts.

The dry spell and crop losses are estimated at around Rs.8,000-10,000 per acre, pushing the farmers into deeper debt traps.

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विदर्भात पुन्हा दुष्काळाचे सावट - सरकारच्या उदासीनतेमुळे जुलै महिन्याच्या १६ शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्या

विदर्भात पुन्हा दुष्काळाचे सावट - सरकारच्या उदासीनतेमुळे जुलै महिन्याच्या १६ शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्या  

दिनांक -१२ जुलै २०१५

विदर्भात कापूस कापूस सोयाबीन उत्पादक जिल्यात जुन महिन्यातील पेरणी पावसाने मागील २० दिवसाने दडी दिल्याने बुडाल्यामुळे जुलै महिन्याच्या सुरवातीलाच १६ शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्या समोर आल्याअसुन सरकार फक्त  घोषणांचा पाऊस पाडत असुन दुबार पेरणीग्रस्त कर्जबाजारी शेतकऱ्यांना वाऱ्यावर सोडले असुन जर येत्या एक दोन दिवसात पाऊसाने व सरकारने  कृपा केली नाही तर विदर्भातील २० लाख एकरातील शेतकऱ्यांना आत्महत्या करण्याची वेळ येणार अशी भीती शेतकरी नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी व्यक्त केली आहे . 

मागील तीन दिवसात विदर्भात ९ शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्या झाल्या असून यात यवतमाळ जिल्यातील वाटतखेडचे रामराव नैताम व किन्हीचे पुंडलिक   उघाडे तर वर्धा जिल्यातील पवनारचे मनोहर वाट्खुळे व वडनेरचे रामचंद्र कुंभलकर , बुलढाणा जिल्यातील खाळेगावचे रुघुनाथ  इंगळे ,अमरावती जिल्यातील अमदाबाद गावचे देविदास तायडे ,वाशीम जिल्यातील मनोरा येथील मांगीलाल आडे तर अकोला जिल्यातील मोरझाडी येथील बळीराम भटकर व चंद्रपूरचे  शेम्बळ येथील यादव जीवतोडे याचा समावेश आहे .यापुर्वी याच जुलै महिन्यात   यवतमाळ जिल्यातील ४ तर अमरावती व वर्धा जिल्यातील प्रत्येकी दोन शेतकऱ्यांनी आत्म्हत्या केल्याचे घटना समोर आल्या होत्या  यामध्ये यवतमाळ जिल्यातील  वाटखेड येथील आदीवासी शेतकरी पांडुरंग मडावी ,पांढरीचे मारोतराव  एटरे ,शिरसगावचे अमोल वहिले ,  टाकळी येथील महीला शेतकरी गुजाबाई मडावी तर अमरावती जिल्यातील शेन्दुर्जाना संतोष चतुले व भिवापुरचे श्यामराव कोकार्डे आणी वर्धा जिल्यातील पोरगव्हाणचे दिनेश भोंडे व  गोह्दाचे  सतीश सिदराम यांचा समावेश असुन यावर्षी एकट्या विदर्भात ८१२ शेतकऱ्यांनी आत्महत्या केल्या असुन ,एकीकडे शेतकरी विक्रमी संख्येत आत्महत्या करीत आहेत तर सारे सरकार सत्कार स्वागत विदेशवारी मध्ये गुंतले असल्यामुळे मस्तवाल अधिकाऱ्यांच्या नाकार्त्यामुळे हवालदील शेतकरी मरत असल्याचा आरोप  किशोर तिवारी यांनी केला आहे . 

सरकारने शेतकऱ्यांना पिककर्ज देण्याचे वा दुबार पेरणीग्रस्तांना बियाणे  देण्याचे सर्व आश्वासने हवेत विरली असून एकीकडे सहकारी बँकांना निधी दिल्याची घोषणा होत मात्र आतापर्यंत सहकारी बँकांनी थकितकर्जाचे पुनर्वसन केले नसुन नवीन पिककर्ज वाटप सुरु होत नसुन सहकार मंत्री चक्क  झोपले आहेत ,मागील वर्षी विदर्भाच्या ५० लाख कर्जबाजारी व दुष्काळग्रस्त असल्यामुळे या  शेतकऱ्यांमधून फक्त २० टक्के मागील वर्षीच्या २०१४-१५ थकितदारांना पीककर्ज पुनर्वसन योजनेचा लाभ मिळाला असुन  मागील तीन वर्षापासून सतत नापिकी ,दुष्काळ व अतिवृष्टीचा मार बसणारे  ४० लाख तणावग्रस्त शेतकरी नवीन पिककर्जा पासुन वंचित राहिले आहे  त्यामुळे  महाराष्ट्राचे मुख्यमंत्री सर्व शेतकऱ्याने १५ जून पर्यंत नवीन पीककर्ज मिळणार अशी सरकारची घोषणा हवेत विरली असून आता  मागील तीन वर्षापासून सतत नापिकी ,दुष्काळ व अतिवृष्टीचा मार बसणारे थकितदार  ४० लाख तणावग्रस्त शेतकरी यांनी काय करावे यावर सरकारने बोलावे  एकीकडे मुख्यमंत्री कर्जमाफीचा विचार चालू आहे अशी पुंगी सोडतात तर अर्थमंत्री सुधीर  मूनगणट्टीवार सातबारा कोरा करता येत नाही कारण तिजोरी रीकामी आहे असा हवाला देतात या सरकारने विदर्भाच्या कृषी संकटाचा  व शेतकरी आत्महत्यांचा गांभीर्य गमावले असुन सरकारच्या उदासीनतेमुळे जास्त शेतकरी मरत असल्याचा आरोप तिवारी यांनी केला आहे . यावर्षी सर्व २०१२-१३,१३-१४,व १४-१५ चे थकित  पीककर्ज ,मध्यम मुदतीचे सर्व प्रकारचे कृषी कर्ज व तारण कर्ज यांचे पुनर्वसन करण्याची मागणी शेतकरी करीत असून नौकरशाहीच्या समोर शरणागती घेतलेल्या सरकारने यावर जाणून बुजून मौन धारण केले आहे यामुळे येत्या महिन्यात शेतकऱ्यांच्या आत्महत्या मोठ्या प्रमाणात वाढण्याची भीती तिवारी व्यक्त केली आहे 

जलयुक्त शिवार योजनेचा गाजावाजा करण्यात येत असुन नाले खोदून व जमिनीत ओलावा आणल्याने महाराष्ट्राचे कृषी संकट संपणार ही सरकारची दिवाळखोरी असून यावर्षी बारमाही सिंचनाची सोय असणार्‍या हजारो शेतक र्‍यांना कापूस, सोयाबीन , धानाला व तुरीला भाव न मिळाल्यामुळे झालेले नुकसान महाराष्ट्राचे मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांनी पहावे व ९० टक्के शेतकरी बँकेचे थकबाकीदार आहेत, लाखो शेतकरी आर्थिक संकटामुळे मुलींचे लग्न, मुलांचे शिक्षण, आजारांवर उपचार करण्यास दमडीही नाही,अन्न व चारा याची सोय सुद्धा नाही व अतिशय अडचणीत असलेले शेतकरी मायबाप सरकार मदतीला येईल, अशी भोळी आशा करणार्‍या शेतक र्‍यांना नितीन गडकरी शेतक र्‍यांनी सरकार व देवावर आता मदतीसाठी पाहू नये तर त्याचवेळी महाराष्ट्राचे मुख्यमंत्री पिककर्ज व दुष्काळग्रस्त व तणावग्रस्त मदतीचे पॅकेज मिळणार नाही, असा निरोप देतात यामुळेच मागील तीन महिन्यात शेतकरी आत्महत्या मोठय़ा प्रमाणात वाढल्या असुन याला विदर्भाचे केंद्र व राज्यातील नेतेच जबाबदार असुन हेच विरोधी पक्षात असताना शेतकरी आत्महत्या ह्या शेतीमालाला भाव मिळत नसल्यामुळे व शेतक र्‍यांच्या तोट्याच्या शेतीमुळे झालेल्या कर्जामुळे होत असून आपण यावर गुंतवणूक अधीक ५0 टक्के नफा या सुत्राने कृषीमालाला आधारभूत किंमत व सर्व शेतक र्‍यांना नवीन कर्ज देऊ असे आश्‍वासन दिले होते. आता चुप का असा सवाल किशोर तिवारी यांनी केला आहे.

मागील वर्षी  महाराष्ट्र सरकारने एकूण ३९ हजार ४५३ गावांपैकी २४ हजार ८११ गावे म्हणजे जवळपास ६0 टक्के गावांमध्ये पूणर्त: खरीप पीक नष्ट झाल्यामुळे दुष्काळग्रस्त जाहीर होते  यामुळे ९0 लाख शेतकरी गंभीर दुष्काळाच्या प्रभावात असून जागतिक मंदीचा मार बसल्यामुळे नापिकीनंतर कापूस, तूर, सोयाबीन व दूध उत्पादक शेतकरी देशोधडीला लागले आहेत आणी यावर्षीसुद्धा खरीप हंगाम तसाच जात आहे , अशा आणिबाणीच्या वेळी विदर्भाच्या शेतकर्‍यांनी भारताचे अर्थमंत्री अरुण जेटली यांना हमीभाव वाढ, पीककर्ज मुक्ती व कोरडवाहू क्षेत्रात कमी पावसाचे पीक घेण्यासाठी अनुदान अशी तीन सुत्री असलेला एकात्मिक कार्यक्रम सादर करण्यासाठी किशोर तिवारी यांनी विनंती केली होती मात्न सरकारने हमीभाव वाढ व पीककर्जमाफी देणार नाही हे स्पष्ट केल्यामुळे तणावग्रस्त शेतकरी आत्महत्या करीत असल्याचा आरोप तिवारी यांनी केला आहे.

भीमकुंडचे पूरग्रस्तांचे पुनर्वसनाच्या प्रस्तावावर २ वर्षांपासून बसलेल्या पुनर्वसनखात्याचा प्रधानसचिवाला राज्य मानवाधिकार आयोगाची नोटीस

भीमकुंडचे पूरग्रस्तांचे पुनर्वसनाच्या प्रस्तावावर २ वर्षांपासून बसलेल्या पुनर्वसनखात्याचा    प्रधानसचिवाला राज्य मानवाधिकार आयोगाची नोटीस  

दिनांक -९ जुलै २०१५

दोन वर्षापूर्वी  २०१३च्या  ऑगस्ट महिन्यात आलेल्या पुरामुळे संपूर्ण भीमकुंडचे शेतकरी व शेतमजूर अभयारण्याच्या पायथ्याशी असलेल्या शासकीय जमिनीवर राहण्यासाठी गेल्यावर सरकारने सर्व कुटुंबांना पट्टे  वीज व पाणी देण्याचे आश्‍वासन २४ महिन्यापूर्वी दिले होते मात्र सतत पाठपुरावा करूनही सरकारने पुनर्वसन न केल्यामुळे भीमकुंड पुरग्रस्तानी १२ मार्चला २०१४ रोजी विदर्भ जनांदोलन समितीचे किशोर तिवारी यांच्या मार्फत राज्य मानवाधिकार आयोगाकडे सरकारविरुद्ध दाद मागितली होती व या याचिकेची सुनावणी सोमवारी ७ जुलै  रोजी राज्य मानवाधिकार आयोगाचे अध्यक्ष न्यायमूर्ती  बुन्नरमठ यांचे समोर  अमरावती येथे  घेण्यात आली व यवतमाळ जिल्याचे युवा जिल्हाधिकारी एस पी सिंग यांनी सरकारतर्भे  शपथपत्र सादर करून जिल्यास्तरांवरील समस्या पाणी व वीज पुरवठा देण्याचे काम अंतिम   टप्प्यात असुन मागील दोन वर्षापासून पूरग्रस्तांना महसूल जमिनीचे पट्टे देऊन त्यांचे सर्व सुविधासह  पुनर्वसन करण्याचा प्रस्ताव मंत्रालयात पुनर्वसन खात्याचे प्रधान सचिव यांचेकडे धूळ खात पडला असल्याची माहिती देंण्यात आल्यावर  राज्य मानवाधिकार आयोगाचे अध्यक्ष न्यायमूर्ती  बुन्नरमठ यांनी याची गंभीर दखल घेत प्रधान सचिव (पुनर्वसन ) यांना नोटीस बजावून जातीने हजर राहून तात्काळ शपथपत्र सादर करण्याचे आदेश दिले व  पुढची सुनावणी मुंबई येथे ठेवण्यात आली आहे . 

यावेळी यवतमाळ जिल्याचे युवा जिल्हाधिकारी एस पी सिंग यांच्या चमूने विषेय प्रयन्त करून पिण्याच्या पाण्याची व वीज पुरवठा देण्यासाठी वेगळा ट्रान्सफार्मर  लावल्याबद्दल  राज्य मानवाधिकार आयोगाचे अध्यक्ष न्यायमूर्ती  बुन्नरमठ यांनी भीमकुंडचे सरपचं माणिक गेडाम यांनी मांडला व उपसरपंच व्यंकटेश सोटपेल्लीवार  यांना विचारून चांगल्याकामाचा  उल्लेख आपल्या आदेशामध्ये केला मात्र महसूल जमिनीवरचे झाडे व कायमस्वरूपी पट्टे मिळण्यासाठी सरकारकडे  पाठपुरावा करण्यास सुद्धा सांगितले . किशोर तिवारी यांनी पिण्याचे पाणी आणण्यासाठी वीषेय प्रयन्त बी डी ओ मानकर व तात्काळ वीज  ट्रान्सफार्मर  लावल्याबद्दल वीज कंपनीचे अधिशक अभियंता  कोंडावार यांचा उल्लेख  यावेळी केला व जिल्हाधिकारी एस पी सिंग विषेय बैठक बोलावून सर्व समस्या येत्या दिवसात पूर्ण करण्याचे हमी दिल्याची माहीती सुद्धा राज्य मानवाधिकार आयोगासमोर  मांडली 

राज्य मानवाधिकार आयोगाच्या समोर भीमकुंडवासी  किरण कोलवते, गजानन मामीडवार, नारायण रेड्डीवार, विठ्ठल गावंडे, गणपतराव कन्नलवार, बालू प्रतापवार, बाळासाहेब कन्नलवार, रमेश पाटील, अतुल नगराळे, नाना नगराळे, नाना अगरुलवार, कृष्णा मारपवार, किष्टन्ना मॅकलवार, अशोक मॅकलवार, दत्ता गेडाम, कमलाबाई नैताम, किष्टाबाई गोपावार, गंगाबाई शर्लावार, वासुदेव नैताम, समितीचे सचिव मोहन जाधव, अंकीत नैताम, सुरेश बोलेनवार, नितीन कांबळे, नंदू जयस्वाल, संतोष नैताम, भीमराव नैताम हे सहभागी झाले होते.

Bombay HC seeks reply from Maharashtra on Starvation Death

Bombay HC seeks reply from Maharashtra on starvation death

By Indo Asian News Service | IANS India Private Limited/Yahoo India News 

https://in.news.yahoo.com/bombay-hc-seeks-reply-maharashtra-starvation-death-123006558.html

http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/bombay-hc-seeks-reply-from-maharashtra-on-starvation-death-115070800895_1.html

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit on its non-implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013, following a starvation death in Tiroda, Gondiya, district.

A division bench comprising Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Indu Jain asked the principal secretary, food and civil supplies department of the state, to file the detailed affidavit within two weeks.

The court orders came on a public interest litigation filed by Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishore Tiwari, who alleged the state government's failure in implementing the food security act led to the starvation death in the backward Gondiya district of the state.

The victim, Lalita S. Rangari, was a Dalit widow, aged 36 and mother of two children, one of whom is visually disabled, allegedly because of starvation.

Terming this as 'gross negligence' on the part of the state government, Tiwari in his PIL said that the state government has failed until now to identify the 'eligible' and 'priority' households under the NFS Act after it came into being on September 10, 2013.

Moreover, the PIL claimed, attempts by the government to reduce the quantity of food grain supply through the public distribution system (PDS) also caused great hardships to the poorest of the poor in the past one year.

"The report of starvation death is shocking...It is a stigma on civilized society and thus is a matter of great concern... This unfortunate incident could have been avoided if the state had performed its obligation under the NFS Act," the petition pointed out.

Of Maharashtra's population, 76.32 percent in rural areas and 45.34 in urban areas is required to be covered under the Targeted PDS, he added.

"The NFS Act is a complete code in itself...and gives effect to the right to life as guaranteed by the Constitution of India under Article 21. Till date, the state government has not framed any guidelines to implement it properly and effectively, which led to the starvation death," Tiwari said.

He demanded directions to the state to implement the NFS Act properly, order a probe into the starvation death and adequate compensation to the deceased woman's family.

The petition will come up for next hearing on July 22, said the petitioner's lawyer Vinod Tiwari.

Starved of Crop-loans, 8 more Vidarbha farmers killed themselves in last 48 hours

Starved of Crop-loans, 8 more Vidarbha farmers killed themselves in last 48 hours

July 5 , 2015 -

When Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fandanavis is on US tour and claiming ‘Make in Maharashtra ‘ claiming  vidarbha shining with metro rail an smart city projects but ground reality is to gloom to support his wild claim as more than 5 million deb-trapped distressed farmers are in deep trouble due on going resowing of kharip crop and continuous denial of fresh crop loan to drought hit  resulting 8 more innocent vidarbha farmers suicides in last 48 hours ,they are four  from yavatmal ,two each from wardha and  Amaravati identified as 1.Marotrao Atare of village Pandhari, 2.Amol Wadhale of village Shirasgoan,3Ppandurang Madavi of village Watkhed 4.Gunjabai Madavi of village takla all from Yavatmal District 5.Santosh Chantule of village Shendurjana and 6.Shaymrav Kokarde of village Bhivapur in Amaravati and 7. Sathish Sidram of village Gohda  and 8. Dinesh Bhonde of village Porgavahan both from Wardha taking toll to 802 in vidarbha alone in year 2015 , Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti claimed today. 

Maharashtra farm loan crisis is the result of hostile functioning Maharashtra Govt. who has made mockery of crop loan disbursement as   the Rs 2,000 crore that was announced to be used to restructure farmer loans taken from district cooperative banks, the state government has made provision for just Rs 25 crore as earlier announcement of Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, in a review meeting of the kharif season, announced that before 15 June, all district cooperative banks would be provided with financial assistance of a total of Rs 2,000 crore from the state has not been fulfilled resulting present crop loan restructuring crisis ,VJAS chief Tiwari alleged 

in fact due to the delay in providing fund to DCC banks, more than 18 lakh farmers from western Vidarbha region were denied crop loans by the DCC banks and The government’s apathetic stand has resulted into maximum farmland remaining uncultivated as farmers have no money to purchase seeds and fertilizers,” said Mr Tiwari.

The situation has worsened after the waiver. He pegged the number of farmers who have defaulted on loan payments at over 2 lakh as against 4.16 lakh agriculturists in the district. The cooperative department records put the number of defaulters at 1.17 lakh in Yavatmal. However, this is limited to the loans granted by Yavatmal DCCB. Tiwari has called for another round of waiver for farmers.

Vidarbha, adding to the distress of the farmers who have suffered heavy losses for last three consecutive years because of bad weather conditions and poor prices for produce and  the situation is so bad that cultivators are unable to procure seeds, fertilizers and implements to start their work even as the rains are expected any time. "Around 40% of land has been  remain untilled and unsown this time as f timely action is not taken was not taken as CM was touring world allowing vidarbha farmers to die ' Tiwari alleged .

MHRC summoned Yavatmal collector on Kolam Tribals' Plight

MHRC summoned Yavatmal collector on Kolam Tribals' Plight
dated 4th July 2015

Yavatmal district which has reported kolam tribals farmers suicides in last few months has been issued fresh noticed by  The Maharashtra Human Rights Commission(MHRC)  against compliant filed  Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti President Kishore Tiwari regarding complete apathy of state administration to implements High court order issued 2001 to provide  food ,shelter,potable water im the matter of kolam starvation death  

The Maharashtra Human Rights Commission chairman Justice S.R.Bannurmath has issued summons to Yavatmal collector directing him to appear before it on July 7 at Amaravati  and  present his report on the complaint filed by VJAS  President Kishore Tiwari. The complaint is regarding plight of kolam tribals  of yavatmal district and the dismal conditions in which they are forced to live with complete survey report ialka pod in ralegoan taluka of yavatmla distrcit .

Tiwari alleged that in a affidavit collector yavatmal has informed high court that all kolam tribals have been covred under antyodaya scheme for food security but in fact ground reality 50 % kolam tribal denied the food under PDS and several irregularities were detected in public distribution system but despite a high court order to set things right, the grains supply remained irregular. "The poor Kolam tribe members do not get subsidized foodgrains for three months in a row. Grains meant for them are sold in open market," Tiwari said in his plea.

the kolam tribals farmers are forced to commit suicide as they are denied land right and institutional credit and all welfare scheme of kolam tribal are being misused by other people hence Tiwari has prayed for criminal action against all district officials . 

He also alleged that because of the apathy of the district administration, the tribals were leading a miserable life. The government hospitals had no doctors and the wards were used for housing staff like nurses. The condition of ashramshalas (special schools for tribals) was worse. At one such residential school for girls, the toilet is locked and inmates have to wait till dark to defecate in open, he added.

The government had given an assurance in the court in 2001 that the tribals would be provided with houses and proper shelters. Till date the promise has not been fulfilled because of the callous attitude of the district officials concerned. Acting on Tiwari' s petition, the Commission asked the district collector to be present before the Commission at its camp office in amaravati on July 7  at 11am to respond to the complaints.

Only Rs 25 crore sanctioned for farmer loans-AsianAge

Jun 29, 2015 - Vivek Bhavsar | 

• Mumbai

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http://www.asianage.com/mumbai/only-rs-25-crore-sanctioned-farmer-loans-024#.VZBTN9Wu6GY.facebook

Of the Rs 2,000 crore that was announced to be used to restructure farmer loans taken from district cooperative banks, the state government has made provision for just Rs 25 crore.

The Maharashtra Co-operative Bank (MSC) has taken aggressive stand that it will not allocate loans to the farmers till the state releases 15 per cent fund as its share to the MSC Bank.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, in a review meeting of the kharif season, announced that before 15 June, all district cooperative banks would be provided with financial assistance of a total of Rs 2,000 crore from the state. This would be done to ensure the DCC banks allocate loans to the farmers.

“The CM had also instructed banks to convert short term crop loan into medium term loan. However, the MSC Bank refused to provide funds to district central cooperative (DCC) banks,” said a senior official from cooperative ministry on condition of anonymity.

DCC banks receive funds from MSC Bank and which in turn gets financial assistance from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard).

Nabard contributes 60 per cent as its share to MSC Bank whereas the state government has to provide 15 per cent as its share.

The official said that MSC bank has withheld providing funds to DCC banks until Nabard and state government deposits its share to them.

“In the last 15 years, the state did not contribute its share and ultimately MSC Bank had to suffer the burden. That’s the reason, this time, the administrator board has denied help to DCC banks,” he said.

When Opposition had critisised the state government over its handling of crop loans, the state had decided to release Rs 25 crore as its share of 15 per cent to six DCC banks. The banks include Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Akola, Parbhani, Aurangabad and Dhule-Nandurbar DCC banks.

The highest amount of Rs 16 crore has been allocated to the DCC bank at Yavatmal, which is a region fraught with cases of farmer suicide.

“The Rs 25 crore that has been sanctioned will be transfered to MSC Bank against conversion of short term agriculture loan into medium term loan. Later, MSC Bank will release funds to the enlisted DCC banks,” said the official.

Meanwhile, Kishor Tiwari, social activist from Nagpur said that due to the delay in providing fund to DCC banks, more than 18 lakh farmers from western Vidarbha region were denied crop loans by the DCC banks.

“The government’s apathetic stand has resulted into maximum farmland remaining uncultivated as farmers have no money to purchase seeds and fertilizers,” said Mr Tiwari.

Denying this criticism, minister for agriculture Eknath Khadse said that the government would take care of all farmers across the state.

“We have decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 44,000 crore to the farmers by way of crop loan from DCC and nationalised banks. The state is aware that 55 lakh farmers need agriculture loan every year and we will take care of it,” said Mr Khadse.

He further added, “Not a single farmer will be denied crop loan by any bank, we have given instructions to nationalised banks regarding this as well.”