Farmer relief package turns suicidal: CAG

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Farmer relief package turns suicidal: CAG Narendra Ch 27 April 2008, Sunday THE GOVERNMENT has pumped in Rs 5,000 crore in the suicide belts of Vidarbha over the last two years. Yet, farmers continue to kill themselves. Now, a performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has exposed the futility of the package.. A report titled Performance Audit of Farmers Package by the CAG of India, has concluded that the package has failed in its basic purpose, that of reducing the agrarian crisis in the six affected districts of Vidarbha. The districts are Yavatmal, Amravati, Wardha, Akola, Buldhana and Washim "Reduction in farmers distress in Vidarbha does not inspire confidence,” the report emphatically states. Adding that unless corrective measures are taken, "The agrarian distress would start rising again in the closing years of the package. Such distress could increase significantly particularly after the moratorium of loan repayment expires," cautions Sunil Dadhe, the accountant general (audit) in his concluding remarks. A survey, covering 41,663 farmers in 383 villages of the six districts worst hit by cotton failures in Vidarbha, was part of the CAG audit of the farmers packages announced by the state and central governments in 2006. It found that 36 per cent of farmers were not even aware of the state and central government packages. The audit slams the government for weak monitoring, delays in payments of compensation and lack of coordination in implementing the packages. The audit conducted between March and June 2007 highlights some glaring deficiencies. It is the first report evaluating implementation of the packages since they were announced two years back. The CAG report says that government directives for moneylenders to free farmers lands were turned down by the High Court when moneylenders approached it. Neither did the government challenge the court ruling nor did it strengthen the existing laws in favour of the farmers. A door-to-door survey in 2006 by the state showed there were 13.48 lakh distressed and 4.34 lakh very distressed farmers in these six districts. But they were not considered when benefits were handed out. Short-term measures like help-lines and rescheduling loans were ineffective for most farmers. The report also questioned long-term goals, like creating irrigation potential and subsidiary occupations for farmers. As per CAG report, it is now official that all claims made by the state administration as per as implementation of relief packages are concern were misleading and far away from the ground reality that has killed more innocent distressed Vidarbha farmers. Here is the detail of CAG report officially released by Maharashtran government. Suicides by debt-ridden Vidarbha farmers have actually accelerated after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the multi-crore relief package in 2006. The state administration is blamed for lack of co-ordination and a faulty implementation of plans. The CAG statistics reveal that the suicide graph has been on the rise. From 712 farmers in 2005-06, to 1414 suicides in 2006-07 the total suicide deaths reported from April-July 2007-08 stood at 608. The report was tabled in the state legislature on Friday, hours before the seven-week budget session was prorogued. Dadhe has demolished the state government’s claim, that alls well after funds flow from the relief package. In fact the CAG team has asserted that there is no monitoring of the implementation of the packages. "Though the state created the Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swawalamban Mission (VNSSM) for monitoring of the implementation of the packages, it had no dedicated staff apart from its director general and a driver. Consequently, it failed to even watch the expenditure incurred by the implementing departments under various components,’ ’ the report said. The auditors, who surveyed 363 villages covering 41,663 farmers, said the state failed to implement its announcements that farmers who took loans from unregistered moneylenders can treat themselves free from that loan. In fact, the CAG survey revealed that 75 per cent of their respondents were unaware of this announcement in absence of adequate and effective publicity. The CAG report reveals that illegal money lenders have got relief from the courts after the assistant registrars of the cooperative societies (ARCS) declared the farmers free from debts. In 18 writ petitions filed by the money lenders the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court passed orders setting aside the orders of the ARCS. "The government neither appealed against the orders (in the Supreme Court) nor took any remedial action like amendment of the relevant acts to secure the interests of the indebted farmers. Consequently the affected farmers did not get the intended benefit of the government decision of December 2005,’’ it said. A scrutiny of the state government records in Amravati by the CAG has revealed that 224 eligible farmers were deprived of the compensation of Rs 2.14 lakh due to non-availability of funds, speaking volumes about the state administration’ s handling of the issue. The report said that many banks claimed interest without extending fresh loans to the distressed farmers. Of the 17.64 lakh farmers in the six districts, 9.29 lakh cases of loan having outstanding principle amount of Rs 1,369 crore were proposed to be rescheduled after waiver of interests. However, fresh loans of Rs 673 crore (43 per cent) were given in 4.84 lakh cases. "The waiver of interest in all these cases did not help the families of the farmers concerned in income augmentation since loan was not rescheduled. Further the government waived interest on 1.92 lakh farm workers, though the packages did not envisage assistance to those who were not farmers,’’ the report said. The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) president Kishor Tiwari urged UPA government to order CBI. inquiry in this matter as issue of huge malpractices in more than Rs.5000 crore. This failure of relief package has resulted to more than 3000 suicides of farmers. In fact VJAS has demanding that due to total apathy of administration and causal attitude, coupled with massive corruption has made this condition of rural Vidarbha so pathetic and aggravated that the agrarian crisis grew more after the announcement of relief package;as the relief did not reached the dying farmers in time even after the lapse of two year. It is the need of the time to provide food security health care to minimum 4.34 lakh farming families who are identified by administration as farmers in deep distress, Tiwari added. Print Close

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The Comptroller And Auditor General (CAG) Of India says -PM's Vidarbha Farmer Relief Package Flopped- VJAS demands C.B.I. Probe on cag report

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

11,Trisaranagar,Khamala,Nagpur-440025

Mobile-09422108846, 0712-2282457 email-vjasamiti@gmail.com

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Ref-Vidarbha Farm Crisis PRESS-NOTE Dated-26/04/2008

The Comptroller And Auditor General (CAG) Of India says -PM's Vidarbha Farmer Relief Package Flopped- VJAS demands C.B.I. Probe for Criminal Prosecution

1. PM's package for farmers to no avail

2. No Reduction In Suicides Since Package Announced

3. Moneylenders going scot-free

4. No compensation for farmers, banks falter

NAGPUR-April 26, 2008

The government has pumped in Rs 5,000 crore in the suicide belts of Vidarbha over the last two years. And yet, farmers continue to kill themselves. Now, a performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India explains why.A survey, covering 41,663 farmers in 383 villages of the six districts worst hit by cotton failures in Vidarbha, was part of the CAG audit of the farmers' packages announced by the state and Central governments in 2006. It found that 36 per cent of farmers were not even aware of the state and Central government packages.The audit slams the government for weak monitoring, delays in payments of compensation and lack of coordination in implementing the packages.The audit conducted between March and June 2007 highlights some glaring deficiencies. It is the first report evaluating implementation of the packages since they were announced two years back.The CAG report says that government directives for moneylenders to free farmers' lands were turned down by the High Court when moneylenders approached it. Neither did the government challenge the court ruling nor did it strengthen the existing laws in favour of the farmers.A door-to-door survey in 2006 by the state showed there were 13.48 lakh distressed and 4.34 lakh very distressed farmers in these six districts. But they were not considered when benefits were handed out.Short-term measures like helplines and rescheduling loans were ineffective for most farmers. The report also questioned long-term goals, like creating irrigation potential and subsidiary occupations for farmers.

(as reported by- HT-mumbai)

THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL (CAG) OF SURVEY REPORT ON FARM RELIEF PACKAGE

As per CAG report ,It is now official that all claims made by state administration as per as implementation of relief packages are concern were misleading and far away from the ground reality that's has killed more innocent distressed vidarbha farmers,here is details of CAG report officially released by maharashtra govt..

1. PM'S PACKAGE FOR FARMERS TO NO AVAIL

It is now official. Suicides by debt-ridden Vidarbha farmers have actually accelerated after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the multi-crore relief package in 2006, with the state administration blamed for lack of co-ordination and a faulty implementation plan. A report titled "Performance Audit of Farmers Package'' by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, has concluded that the package has failed in its basic purpose, that of reducing the agrarian crisis in the six affected districts ― Yavatmal, Amravati, Wardha, Akola, Buldhana and Washim ― covering 13.48 lakh farmers under distress and another 4.34 lakh categorised as maximum distressed. The CAG statistics reveal that the suicide graph has been on the rise. From 712 farmers in 2005-'06, to 1414 suicides in 2006-'07 the total suicide deaths reported from April-July 2007-'08 stood at 608. The report was tabled in the state legislature on Friday, hours before the seven-week budget session was prorogued

2. NO REDUCTION IN SUICIDES SINCE PACKAGE ANNOUNCED

"Reduction in farmers distress in Vidarbha does not inspire confidence,'' the report emphatically states, adding that unless corrective measures are taken, "the agrarian distress would start rising again in the closing years of the package. Such distress could increase significantly particularly after the moratorium of loan repayment expires," cautions Sunil Dadhe, the accountant general (audit) in his concluding remarks.
Dadhe has demolished the state government's claim that all's well after funds flow from the relief package. In fact the CAG team has asserted that there is no monitoring of the implementation of the packages. "Though the state created the Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swawalamban Mission (VNSSM) for monitoring of the implementation of the packages, it had no dedicated staff apart from its director general and a driver. Consequently, it failed to even watch the expenditure incurred by the implementing departments under various components,'' the report said. The auditors, who surveyed 363 villages covering 41,663 farmers, said the state failed to implement its announcements that farmers who took loans from unregistered moneylenders can treat themselves free from that loan. In fact, the CAG survey revealed that 75% of their respondents were unaware of this announcement in absence of adequate and effective publicity.

3. MONEYLENDERS GOING SCOT-FREE

The CAG report reveals that illegal money lenders have got relief from the courts after the assistant registrars of the cooperative societies (ARCS) declared the farmers free from debts. In 18 writ petitions filed by the money lenders the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court passed orders setting aside the orders of the ARCS. "The government neither appealed against the orders (in the Supreme Court) nor took any remedial action like amendment of the relevant acts to secure the interests of the indebted farmers. Consequently the affected farmers did not get the intended benefit of the government decision of December 2005,'' it said.

4. NO COMPENSATION FOR FARMERS, BANKS FALTER

A scrutiny of the state government records in Amravati by the CAG has revealed that 224 eligible farmers were deprived of the compensation of Rs 2.14 lakh due to non-availability of funds, speaking volumes about the state administration's handling. of the issue. The report said that many banks claimed interest without extending fresh loans to the distressed farmers. Of the 17.64 lakh farmers in the six districts, 9.29 lakh cases of loan having outstanding principle amount of Rs 1,369 crore were proposed to be rescheduled after waiver of interests. However, fresh loans of Rs 673 crore (43% were given in 4.84 lakh cases. "The waiver of interest in all these cases did not help the families of the farmers concerned in income augmentation since loan was not rescheduled. Further the government waived interest on 1.92 lakh farm workers, though the packages did not envisage assistance to those who were not farmers,'' the report said.

(as reported by- TIMES NEWS NETWORK)

VJAS leader kishor tiwari urged UPA Govt. to order C.B.I. enquiry in this matter as issue of huge malpractices in more than Rs.5000 crore and all responsible

for failure of relief package has resulted more than 3000 farm suicides. In fact VJAS has demanding that due to total apathy of administration and causal attitude coupled with massive corruption has made this condition of rural Vidarbha so pathetic and agrrivated the agrarian crisis more fater relief package announcement as relief has not reached to dying farmers after lapse of two year. It is the need of the time to provide food security health care to minimum 4.34 lakh farm families who are identified by administration as farmers in deep distress, Tiwari added.

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Please arrange to publish this press note

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

For VIDARBHA JANANDOLAN SAMITI

KISHORE TIWARI

PRESIDENT.

kishortiwari@gmail.com

contact-09422108846

FARM LOAN WAIVER -Pawar’s remark shocks Vidarbha farm activists -TIMES NEWS NETWORK

FARM LOAN WAIVER

Pawar's remark shocks Vidarbha farm activists
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Nagpur: Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar's statement that the Centre cannot take additional responsibility for fresh farm loan waiver package until the Rs 60,000 crore package announced earlier in the general budget was implemented, has come as a shock for farmers and agriculture activists in Vidarbha.

Reacting sharply to Pawar's statement in Parliament on Monday, Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) president Kishore Tiwari said the decision was unfortunate. "Pawar's statement will trigger a fresh spate of suicides in Vidarbha where farmers are acutely distressed and have not benefited from the earlier announced loan waiver because of the twohectare ceiling," said Tiwari.

Finance minister P Chidambaram had announced waiver of Rs 50,000 crore-worth of loans granted to small and marginal farmers and a one time settlement scheme of Rs 10,000 crore for other farmers. Chidambaram had said that the scheme would be implemented by June 30 this year.

"The loan waiver scheme has failed to cover more than 5 per cent debt-trapped distressed farmers in Vidarbha region. That is the reason it has failed to stop the ongoing farm suicides. Over 30,000 cotton farmers have committed suicide since 1997," Tiwari said in a statement issued to media on Monday.

By rejecting the demand made by Rahul Gandhi to relax the two-hectare ceiling and cut-off date in order to cover Vidarbha farmers, Pawar has also made it clear that the UPA government has no specific scheme to cover loans taken by farmers from moneylenders or to deal with distressed dryland farmers with larger land holdings, Tiwari claimed.

VJAS has urged UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to intervene in the matter as issue of providing credit and cost cover to dying cotton farmers was vital. Tiwari reminded that during his recent visit Pawar had mentioned that the RBI and the finance ministry were working on a fresh loan waiver package which would be based on a certain quantum of loan specially in rain-fed areas like Vidarbha. Although Pawar had said the new package may take some more time to be finalised and could be taken up only after the waiver of Rs 60,000 crore was implemented, statement in Parliament on Monday did not even mention this aspect.

Tiwari has also said that looking to the high costs of farm inputs and cultivation costs, a price stabilisation fund is the need of the hour. VJAS has been demanding inclusion of Vidarbha in National Food Security Mission and special outlay of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana along with a comprehensive policy for land rights to landless, marginal farmers and tribals cultivating barren land.

He also stressed the need to allocate dedicated funds for farm ponds, community tanks and incentives to farmers harnessing rainwater. Tiwari has reiterated that special measures to arrange food security, health security and employment opportunities are needed to to address the unending problem of farmers suicide in western Vidarbha.

Loan waiver remains on paper

Printed from The Times of India -Breaking news, views. reviews, cricket from across India

Loan waiver remains on paper 18 Apr 2008, 0250 hrs IST,Radheshyam Jadhav,TNN PUNE: Despite the Rs 60,000 cr loan-waiver announced by the Finance Minister, as many as 316 farmers in Vidarbha, 40 in Marathwada and 31 in western Maharashtra have ended their lives since January this year. Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti says, "All these announcements have remained only on paper. Banks are after farmers to repay their loans. They are telling the farmers that they have not received any official communication from the government on the loan waiver. The government is looking at ad hoc measures, not permanent solutions. There is a wave of resentment among the farmers in Vidarbha." Farmers from the sugar belt echo Tiwari's feelings. "Congress president Sonia Gandhi held a massive rally in Sangli recently, but paid no heed to our suffering. Seventeen farmers have ended their lives in Sangli this year," says farmer Baba Sawant. Apart from 17 cases in Sangli, six farmers have ended their lives in Satara, three in Solapur and one in Pune. When contacted, a revenue official said the families of nine farmers in western Maharashtra have received help from the government. "The other cases are under consideration," he added. The farmers point out that despite the loan waiver, what is haunting their fraternity is the crumbling of the co-operative movement due to corruption involving political bigwigs, incomplete irrigation projects, insufficient institutional finance, inadequate inputs such as seeds and fertilisers, lack of marketing facilities and hold of money-lenders. Package can't 'waive' suicides

7 Farm Suicides in a Day taking Tally to 116 on the Eve of Sharad Pawar First Visit to Vidarbha after Rs.60,000 Crore Farm Loan Waiver

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

11, Trisaran Society, In front of Somalwar School, Kamala, Nagpur – 440 025

Tel No. (0712) 2282457 Mob No. 9422108846 / 9371137653 / 9373121947

(Regd Office : At Post : Pandharkawada-445 302, Tq : Kelapur, Distt : Yavatmal)

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Ref-Vidarbha Farm Crisis-2008 URGENT- PRESS-NOTE Dated-13^TH APRIL,08

7 Farm Suicides in a Day taking Tally to 116 on the Eve of Sharad Pawar First Visit to Vidarbha after Rs.60,000 Crore Farm Loan Waiver

Nagpur-13th april 2008

Today 7 farm suicides reported in the vidarbha as Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is visiting first time vidarbha after Indian govt. announced Rs.60,000/- crore farm loan waiver to stop on going suicides of distressed farmers of west vidarbha ,he is coming to vidarbhafor opening new airport terminal in Nagpur

Those who have committed suicides in last 24 hours are

1.NARESH KHANDARE IN YAVATMAL

2.ISHAWAR RATHODE IN YAVATMAL

3.SACHIN TIMANE IN YAVATMAL

4.RAMBHAU KALE IN CHANDRAPUR

5. VINOD SADASHIV IN WASHIM

6.RAMESH BHONDE IN AMARAVATI

7. PRAKASH KIRNAPURE IN BHANDARA

Taking toll to 116 After Indian govt. announced Rs.60,000/- crore farm loan waiver, kishor tiwari president of vidarbha jan andolan samiti informed in a press release.

Earlier in a shocking incidence yesterday one debt-ridden farmer in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra on Friday immolated himself by leaping into a pile of burning hay.

One Baban Jeughale had taken a loan of Rs 1.75 lakh rupees to cultivate his 10 hectares of land. When he couldn't repay the debt, he committed suicide.

Vidarbha is witnessing continuing farmer suicides despite the Prime Minister's 3,750 crore-rupee relief package as well as the 60,000 crore-rupee farm-loan waiver announced in the Budget and in last four days 15 more farm suicides identified as ,other than seven listed above

8.BABAN JUGGALE IN BULDHANA

9.HARISH GAUTAM IN AMARAVATI

10. SHYAMRAO WAGHATRE IN AMRAVATI

11 SADASHIV WAT IN AMARAVATI

12.LILADHAR GAIKWAD YAVATMAL

13.WAMAN RAJURKAR IN YAVATMAL

14.MURLIDHAR KAKADE IN YAVATMAL

15.HARIDAR BALKI IN CHANDRAPUR.

Over 282 farmers have been reported to commit suicide there since January as month jan -80.feb.- 86 ,march- 80 and till date april 27 farm suicides have reported, kishor tiwari president of vidarbha jan andolan samiti informed in a press release.

VJAS has requested union minister for agriculture sharad pawar to visit farm families instead of attending fanfare function in Nagpur , informed kishor tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS).

Once again Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS) has urged Indian govt. to provide minimum food security and health care and rural employment or direct subsidy to dying farmers in order to stop these on going farm suicides but nobody is ready even look at our demands, tiwari added.

VJAS has asked Indian Prime Minister Dr.Mammohan Singhji to have integrated formula to tackle vidarbha agrarian distress which is like wise

DEMANDS OF VIDARBHA DYING FARMERS

1-Resotretion of cotton advance bonus that price of Rs.2700/- per quintal as promised by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the time of Maharashtra assembly election 2004 as congress-Ncp govt. stopped advance bonus and brought down cotton price from rs.2500/- per quintal to rs.18oo per quintal in year 05-06 and 06-07.

2-Providing fresh credit from institutional bank to all debt trapped farmers mostly from private money lenders and to provide 5 year credit cycle as asked by NCF.

3-Provide food crop promotion INCENTIVE to vidarbha cotton farmers.

4-Complete ban on chemical advance genetic farming methods as it’s failed to give feasible and profitable cash crop pattern moreover it’s high cost high risk has increased distress in vidarbha farmers resulting much more farm suicide prior to GM cotton seed commercial trials permission that before year 2005 in vidarbha.

5-There is no concrete investment plan both from Indian and Maharashtra govt. To provide value addition to cotton crop at local level ,more option for secondary support system revival, not a single plan of agro processing network .

6-There is no paln to have direct protection from market forces to the cash crop cultivating farmers on cost stabilization front.

7-No plan to set up the regulator to control cost and quality of input and exploitation from forward trading in commodity market .

8-There is no relief is given as per food security and health care and educational fees help to ward of distressed farmers, direct govt.employment to one person from distressed farming family .

"We demand urgent step to provide food security and health care facilities to these dying farmers before making arguments over farm suicides being agrarian or non-agrarian. Now the time has come to give complete loan waiver and price protection on all agriculture produce from free trade in WTO era to Vidarbha dying farmers", Tiwari added.

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Please arrange to release this press note

Thanking you,

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For VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

KISHORE TIWARI

PRESIDENT

kishortiwari@gmail.com

contact-09422108846

Thousands of farmers commit suicide in India every year-BBC reports

More India farmers commit suicide

Officials in the western Indian state of Maharashtra say nine farmers have committed suicide over the past week.

Reports said the farmers from the Vidarbha region killed themselves because they could not repay debts.

Farm activists say despite recent government aid packages, over 200 farmers have committed suicide in the region since January.

At least 10,000 debt-ridden farmers have committed suicide in India each year over the last decade.

Drought, a fall in crop prices and an increase in the cost of cultivation are cited as reasons for the farmers' plight.

Many farmers have been forced to take out loans to buy necessary supplies, but these have left them heavily in debt.

Some turn to moneylenders, who charge much higher rates of interest.

The government recently announced a $15bn waiver of farmer loans.

But correspondents say the waiver may not help a large number of farmers who have taken loans from private lenders.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/7333911.stm

Published: 2008/04/07 06:10:54 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

9 more vidarbha farm suicides in april too:distressed farmers failed to get relief ,

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

11, Trisaran Society, In front of Somalwar School, Khamla, Nagpur – 440 025

Tel No. (0712) 2282457 Mob No. 9422108846 / 9371137653 / 9373121947

(Regd Office : At Post : Pandharkawada-445 302, Tq : Kelapur, Distt : Yavatmal)

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Ref-loan waiver Crisis-2008 PRESS-NOTE Dated-06th april 2008

9 more vidarbha farm suicides in april too:distressed farmers failed to get relief ,

Nagpur- Dated-6th april2008

http://kishortiwari.blogspot.com/

The announcement of Indian finance Minister P.chitambram to provide loan waiver up to 2 hector has brought despondency and gloom in vidarbha cotton region as most effected debt trapped 90% farm families are not being covered in loan waiver package due to 2 hector limit cap as average land holding on record in rain fed and dry land farming area of west vidarbha is 2.4 hector resulting 9 more farm suicides in last three days of april-2008 ,recent victims are

1.PANDURANG SURPAM IN YAVATMAL

2.SANTOSH GOPAWAR IN YAVATMAL

3.ARUN NAMDEO HADE IN BULDHANA

4.SURSHABHAN RATHODE IN YAVATMAL

5.DHYANABA BORKAR INWASHIM

6. UDHHAO SIRASKAR IN AKOLA

7.RAMDAS CHINCHOLKAR IN AKOLA

8.SURESH LONAGARE IN BULDHANA

9.RAJESH TEKADE IN AKOLA

Taking this 9 farm suicides in total 255 have committed suicides as per reports published in local media kishor tiwari of vidarbha jan andolan samiti informed in a press note today.

vidarbha grarian crisis which has reported around 36,600 cotton farmers suicides since 1995 after the free trade era has started . Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS) who are the unsung custodian of agrarian crisis has asked has apposed the condition of 2 hector in laon waiver package and urged to give loan waiver to all farmers with out any limit of land or crop loan limit as this will cover all debt trapped distress farmers and VJAS also demanded that only loan waiver will not address that issue unless and until the fresh five credit cycle is given to all farmers and income base package to farmers hence cost of cotton is as important as debt crisis are hence cotton price is the issue is too important ti address the vidarbha agrarian crisis,kishor tiwari added.

VJAS to urged integrated relief package to vidarbha agrarian crisis

Recently it was told by UPA chairperson smt.sonia Gandhi that loan waiver limit of 2 hector will be increased up to 5 hector for vidarbha cotton farmers but now it is learnt that union agriculture minister sharad pawar ,finance minister P.C. and monteksingh aluwalia has been trying level best not make any changes in announced loan waiver as govt. is finding difficlu to fulfil the first one which already announced hence main denad of distress cotton farmers for complete loan waiver of in rain fed suicide porn district of west vidarbha alongwith food security ,health security,rural employment,value addition project and market facility with govt. intervention on price front are likely to be shown dustbin,tiwari added.

VJAS has been demanding since 2006 that cotton belt of vidarbha should be decleared "GM free" organic zone as recommended by national commission of farmer (NCF).Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS) in letter to Indian finance minister p.chidambram asked to provide special budgetary allocation to redress hardship of dying farmers and provide solution to agrarian crisis in light with new national farmer policy .Issue of prevailing distress in the agrarian community is very serious as year 2007 has reported much more farm suicides in other region of Maharashtra too, kishor tiwari of Vidarbha Jan andolan Samiti informed today in press note.

VJAS urged FM the issue of providing credit and cost cover to dying cotton farmers are vital due increase in higher subsidies and instability in cost hence price stabilization fund is needed along with complete loan waiver and regulated credit supply from state controlled Banks. the step to reduce the input cost of cultivation the regulator for seed and pesticide is must.

The provision to provide insurance cover to cash crop on village level ,the direct food security ,health care security and rural employment growth in agrarian crisis prone should be given special budgetary allocation in order to stop on going farmers suicides.

VJAS has apposed administration's another formula to giving interest waiver and short loan waiver to small marginal farmers land holding up to 2 hector or so . "this will be mockery of loan waiver demand of debt trapped distressed cotton farmers as this loan waiver will not cover more than 60 thousand farmers out of 12 lacs 80 thousands debt trapped suicide prone farmers" kishor tiwari of vidarbha jan andolan samiti informed today in press note.

VJAS has requested finance minister to start NFSM (National food security mission) and special outlay of RKVY(Rashtriya krishi vikas yojana) along with a comprehensive policy for land rights to landless, marginal farmers and tribals cultivating barren land for vidarbha and the demand to allocate dedicated funds on the lines of AIBP for farm ponds, community tanks and give incentives to farmers/villages who/which harness water but nobody in the administration is serious over the vidarbha agrarian crisis ,tiwari added. .

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Please release this pres note

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

For VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

KISHORE TIWARI

PRESIDENT

kishortiwari@gmail.com

contact-09422108846

86922 farmer suicides in 2001-05: UN- The Statesman,

86922 farmer suicides in 2001-05: UN- The Statesman, India

The farmer’s debt trap to death

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=3&id=224389&usrsess=1


Can’t escape Escap

The report of the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) is critical not merely because of a piece of statistic ~ 86,922 suicides by farmers during 2001-05. It has been able to establish the link between farm debt and the overwhelming crisis in agriculture. The national government may have been complimented for trying to address the issue by announcing a loan-waiver; yet the subtext of the Escap report reinforces the dangerous deficiencies of the system of fiscal support to the farmer. And the issues raised have never been addressed by the government.

If the interest rates for home and car loans is lower than those for farmers, there can be little doubt over which category the Centre caters to. The report has highlighted the fact that banks and micro-finance institutions charge between 18 and 24 per cent on farm loans. Indeed, there is a lesson to be drawn from the experience of Bangladesh; for all the gift-wrapping of micro finance, the country remains mired in poverty. The indebtedness of farmers is particularly high in the agriculturally developed states where the sources of debt make a difference. Institutional credit is the major factor in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha belt where suicides by cotton-growers has assumed endemic proportions. At another remove, two-fifths of the debt across the country is owed to non-institutional agencies, specifically the money-lenders and mahajans.

As in other spheres of social welfare, Escap has offered more data than any government survey would have established. It will serve to fill the gaps in the periodic studies conducted by Yojana Bhavan. Escap has established what the home-grown planners have never had the nerve to try. And the data is irrefutable. Overwhelming are the ramifications of the crisis. The Rs 60,000-crore loan-waiver is at best a quick-fix solution intended primarily to yield dividend at the hustings. For the agricultural sector, however, it might mitigate the distress only very partially.

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