Five more vidarbha farmer killed themselves commits suicides reported in 48 Hours – Maharashtra Govt. apathy adding fuel to vidarbha agrarian crisis

Five more vidarbha farmer killed themselves commits suicides reported in 48 Hours – Maharashtra Govt. apathy adding fuel to vidarbha agrarian crisis

Nagpur- Dated 29^rd July 2011

Five ill fated vidarbha farmers’ suicides reported in last 48 hours giving serious indication of another trigger of farm suicide spiral as 17 more debt trapped farmers suicides already reported in last ten days taking official toll 453 in year 2011 alone, Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press release today.

As per national media report in last two days five farmers namely

1.Babaulal Pawar of Sakha-Tanda in Yavatmal

2.Divakar Wankhede In Gond Buranda in Yavatmal

3.Sudam Rathode Of Vargandi in Yavatmal

4.Anil Dhonge of Bhilapur in Amaravati

5.Onkar Paraskar of Talki in Buldhana

Earlier in last seven days farm suicides reported are

6.Natthu Zade of Village Wadgoan in Yavatmal

7.Kisan Rathode of Village Pophali in Yavatmal

8.Raju Sangale of Village Arada in Amaravati

9.Mohan Bhakare of Vadner in Amaravati

10.Krupalu Nareddy of Village Mangatola inGondia

11.Kisan Mane of Village Chatari in Yavatmal

12.Pushottam Galaskar of Chavsala in Amaravati

13.Tukaram Ingale of Alegoan in Akola ,

14.Anil Tandilkar of village Ukapati in Amaravatit

15.Subhash Kasdekar of village Ranamalur in Amaravatit

16.Ramesh Jumade of Achalpur in Amaravati

17.Anandrao Khande of viallge Tawashi In Bhandara

In these 17 farm suicides main cotton growing area of west vidarbha Amaravati and Yavatmal include 7 and 6 as these ill-fated farmers have been debt trapped and denied legitimate bank credit too ,most of farmers were forced to do re sowing due bogus seed and erratic delayed rain, Tiwari informed

“Even after vidarbha farm suicide spiral restarted administration has failed to provide any relief to dying vidarbha farmers, as per Govt. order collector of respective district has visit family of farmer who committed suicide and submit it’s report to state administration but till today non of officer has visited the door step of ill fated farmer ,leave apart the collector that very unfortunate ”Tiwari said.

“In Maharashtra ginners and traders are holding more than one million cotton bales as Govt. has put export cap cotton and price are much below the Minimum Support Price

(MSP) which is Rs.3300/- per quintal where ruling congress party and it’s partner NCP has demanded Rs.5000/-per quintal along with lifting all export restriction on cotton but central UPA Govt. has completely ignored vidarbha cotton farmers demand resulting in more and more farm suicides hence on going farm suicides or not simple suicide they are mass genocide done by where civil society is completely salient ”Tiwari alleged

The reason of despair and distress which has forced these farmers for committing suicides is the delayed erratic rain and frequent re-sowing, economic losses due to cotton price rescission and NBARD action to Stall the Agri. Credit to under section 11 to district coop banks (DCB) through ill-fated and bankrupt MS co-op Bank .

‘day by day ground situation is getting gloomy but non of senior official has visited the ill-fated families more over administration failed to address crisis and provide any relief to these dying vidarbha farmer’s families hence we heavy asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithiraj Chavan to visit vidarbha and provide relief to distressed farmers in order to stop these on going farm suicides which can be avoided to healing touch from Govt.,but nobody is giving any serious attention to our repeated appeals for the same” Tiwari added.

‘It was July 2006 when Indian Prime Minister visited agrarian crisis prone western vidarbha and announced special relief package of Rs.3750 crore in which the interest waiver of Rs.1080 crore and gave extended Agri. Credit of Rs.2500 crore promising to make it double in next three years but all promises were kept on paper and bankers reduced Agri. Credit for short crop loan has been further reduced to 50% forcing Indian to announce complete loan waiver of Rs.71,000 crore in march 2008 but vidarbha farmers were intentionally kept out this loan waiver and farmers suicides in the cotton cultivating region till continued as non-professional attitude and non-cooperation of bankers the complete exercise of loan waiver has been failed and crop loan amount in last five year reduced to 50% whereas cultivation cost has increased in multifold thanks to skyrocketing prices of Bt.Cotton Seed ,Fertilizer and pesticides and labor ” Tiwari said

As per district administration reports now it’s official crop loan disbursement is less than 50% in comparison to last year disbursement .there is huge cry in vidarbha for fresh crop loan to all illegible farmers but bankers are facing liquidity crunch due to insufficient fund sanctioned by apex bank NABARD even after Dr.Sudhir Goyal promised us as credit flow in Rs.510 crore in first week of July and another installment of Rs.500 crore since 12th July but nothing has happened and crop loan is till standstill due technical issues after RBI twisted the irregularities and scam of existing directors of MSC Bank .vidarbha farmers suffering due default of western Maharashtra sugar lobby this is most unfortunate hence we demand intervention of central Govt. arrange crop loan disbursement to dying vidarbha farmers” Tiwari added.

“We have urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithiraj Chavan visit the vidarbha and look at the integrated agrarian problems of cotton grower which is related to credit, minimum support price(MSP) and stringent export restrictions which is accumulating the distress sand despair resulting in farmers suicides ” Tiwari added.

आत्महत्याग्रस्त शेतकर्‍याची मुलगी होणार पत्रकार- आसवांच्या ताटव्यात फुलले अंबर..-लोकमत

आत्महत्याग्रस्त शेतकर्‍याची मुलगी होणार पत्रकार- आसवांच्या ताटव्यात फुलले अंबर..-लोकमत

(29-07-2011 : 2:08:37)

http://onlinenews1.lokmat.com/php/detailednews.php?id=NagpurEdition-2-2-29-07-2011-9f78c&ndate=2011-07-29&editionname=nagpur
जितेंद्र ढवळे। दि. २८ (नागपूर)-पाच वर्षांची असताना वडिलांनी आत्महत्या केली. छत्र हरविले. कुटुंबावर कर्जाचा डोंगर. घरात चार मुली. दोन वेळच्या जेवणाची भ्रांत. घरातील कोपरा नि कोपरा अंधाराने भरलेला. आई सरस्वतीच्या आभाळाएवढय़ा मायेने जगण्याचे बळ मिळाले अन् आसवांच्या या ताटव्यात अंबर फुलले!

हे चित्रपटातील कथानक नसून यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यातील तेलंग टाकळी या खेड्यातील आत्महत्याग्रस्त शेतकर्‍याच्या कुटुंबातील गुणवंत लेकीची ही कहाणी आहे. कर्जाच्या पाशात अडकलेल्या दिवंगत रामदास अंबरवार यांच्या मंजूने आता हातात लेखणी घेत तिच्यासारख्याच आत्महत्याग्रस्त शेतकरी कुटुंबाचे वास्तव जगापुढे मांडण्याचा संकल्प केला आहे. यासाठी तिने राष्ट्रसंत तुकडोजी महाराज नागपूर विद्यापीठाच्या जनसंवाद विभागात बॅचरल ऑफ र्जनालिझम अभ्यासक्रमाला प्रवेश घेतला आहे.

१९९८ मध्ये यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यातील तेलंग टाकळी या खेड्यातील रामदास अंबरवार या शेतकर्‍याने कर्जाच्या जाचाला कंटाळत देह त्यागला. मात्र त्याच्या जाण्याने पत्नी सरस्वती आणि चार मुलीचा आधार हरविला. काळोखाच्या या विश्‍वात सरस्वतीने उंबरठा ओलांडला. शेती आणि रोजमजुरी करून कुटुंबाला आधार दिला. १२ वर्षाच्या या वनवासात सरस्वतीच्या सुषमा, मीनाक्षी, जयश्री, मंजू या चार मुलींमुळे घरात विद्या नांदू लागली. मात्र किडनीच्या आजारामुळे ग्रस्त असलेल्या आणि उपाचारासाठी पैसे नसल्याने जयश्रीचा डाव अध्र्यावरच मोडला. सुषमा आणि मीनाक्षीने बारावीपर्यंत शिक्षण घेतले. वडील गेल्यानंतर आत्महत्याग्रस्त कुटुंबाचे वृत्तांकन करणार्‍या पत्रकारांच्या प्रश्नाला उत्तरे देताना आईचे अर्शु टिपणार्‍या मंजूने बी.ए.ची परीक्षा पांढरकवडा येथून उत्तीर्ण केली. मात्र आयुष्याच्या परीक्षेत पास होण्याचा संकल्प गाठणार्‍या या मुलीने काही दिवसांपूर्वीच नागपूर गाठले. विद्यापीठाच्या जनसंवाद विभागाची प्रवेश परीक्षा उत्तीर्ण केली आणि जनसंवाद पदवी अभ्यासक्रमात प्रवेश घेतला. पत्रकारितेची पदवी पूर्ण केल्यानंतर विदर्भातील खेड्यापाड्यात जाऊन शेतकर्‍यांचे विदारक वास्तव जगापुढे मांडत विकासाचा अंबर फुलविण्याचे ध्येय मंजूने डोळ्यासमोर ठेवले आहे. आपल्या बापासारख्या हजारो दुर्दैवी शेतकर्‍यांचे प्राक्तन मंजूला जगासमोर मांडायचे आहे. नागपुरातील शिक्षणाचा खर्च, राहायचे कुठे, हा खर्च झेपेल का? असे अनंत प्रश्न तिच्यासमोर सध्या आहेत. पण कर्जाच्या ओझ्याखाली कोणत्याही शेतकर्‍याने आपला जीव गमावू नये, यासाठी काही मला पत्रकारितेच्या माध्यमातून करता येईल का? हा प्रश्न मात्र मंजूला मोठा वाटतो. रामदास अंबरवार या शेतकर्‍याला कुणाचाच आधार नव्हता.

ना समाजाचा, ना सरकारचा म्हणूनच त्याने आत्महत्या केली. आज या दिवंगत शेतकर्‍याची लेक हजारो शेतकर्‍यांचे प्राण वाचविण्यासाठी काही तरी करू इच्छिते. तिच्या वडिलांना आपण मदत करू शकलो नाही. तिच्यासाठी काही करता येईल का? मंजू अंबरवार : ९५५२७२६९५२

Now, Manju wants to write about farmers’ Agonies-Experience of their distress -TIMES OF INDIA

Now, Manju wants to write about farmers’ Agonies-
Experience of distress -TIMES OF INDIA


Manju has first hand experience of their distress

Now, Manju wants to write about farmers’ agonies-

Ramu Bhagwat

Nagpur: In 1998 Ramdas Ambarwar, a farmer at Telang Takli village in Kelapur taluka of Yavatmal district, committed suicide unable to bear the piling debt burden. He was the only bread-earner and with his death the world came crashing down for his widow Saraswati and four daughters. Their youngest daughter, Manju, was just over five then. Since that day, life has been an endless struggle for the Ambarwar family.

For Manju, now 19, Wednesday brought a ray of hope as she secured admission in journalism course of Nagpur University. "I want to pursue journalism. That way I can chronicle life and times of Vidarbha farmers. As the daughter of a farmer who committed suicide, I have seen it all from close quarters and suffered every moment," Manju told TOI. She wants to sensitize people and the government about the miserable conditions in which farmers depending on vagaries of nature and mercy of policymakers have to live.

"After father’s death, mother had to look after the farming work and also run the family. She did not buckle down and gave us all strength to get along in life. She arranged for marriage of two of my elder sisters Sushma and Meenakshi after they had studied up to Class XII. My third sister, Jayshree, was in XII when a serious kidney ailment struck her. Mother wanted her to pursue a professional course as she was a science student. But Jayshree could not survive. Another of my mother’s dream was shattered," said Manju. The already distressed family could hardly afford the costly medical treatment and got into even more financial trouble.

Amid all this, the youngest sibling continued her studies. After primary education in the village, she went to nearby Umri to study up to XII and then commuted daily by ST bus to Pandharkawda for the college. This year she graduated in arts. Visibly happy after securing admission to bachelor of mass communication course at the University campus here, she feels she is a step closer to her ambition of being a journalist. "As a kid, I was impressed by the reporters who regularly visited our home to write about farmer suicides in Yavatmal district. I made up my mind to be a journalist and write on the issue from my personal experience of pain and sufferings," said Manju.

"I remember, soon after father’s suicide the then chief minister Narayan Rane came to our village. At a function organized to hand over compensation cheque of Rs 1 lakh several promises for welfare of farmers were made. Among the promises that were never kept was the one providing free education for children of farm suicide victims," she recalled.

"Thank god for the grit and courage of my mother that we survived the hard times. Also Kishore Tiwari and his Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti came to our rescue and stood by my mother. I have no idea how I will meet the cost of studying and living in a big city like Nagpur. I only hope I realize my ambition and lend a helping hand to my mother back in the village," says Manju.

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12 vidarbha farmer commits suicides reported in a this week – Govt. urged to stop Vidarbha farm suicides

12 vidarbha farmer commits suicides reported in a this week – Govt. urged to stop Vidarbha farm suicides

Nagpur- Dated 23^rd July 2011

Five ill fated vidarbha farmers suicides reported in last 48 hours giving serious indication of another trigger of farm suicide spiral as 12 more debt trapped farmers suicides already reported in this week and till two days are left taking official toll 448 in year 2011 alone, Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press release today .

As per regional media report in last two days five farmers namely

1.Natthu Zade of Village Wadgoan in Yavatmal

2.Kisan Rathode of Village Pophali in Yavatmal

3.Raju Sangale of Village Arada in Amaravati

4.Mohan Bhakare of Vadner in Amaravati

5.Krupalu Nareddy of Village Mangatola inGondia

earlier in this week only reports of 7 farmers suicides were surfaced v.i.z.

6.Kisan Mane of Village Chatari in Yavatmal

7.Pushottam Galaskar of Chavsala in Amaravati

8.Tukaram Ingale of Alegoan in Akola ,

9.Anil Tandilkar of village Ukapati in Amaravatit

10.Subhash Kasdekar of village Ranamalur in Amaravatit

11.Ramesh Jumade of Achalpur in Amaravati

12.Anandrao Khande of viallge Tawashi In Bhandara

reason of despair and distress which has forced these farmers for committing suicides is

the delayed erratic rain and frequent re-sowing, economic losses due to cotton price rescission and NBARD action to Stall the Agri. Credit to under section 11 to district coop banks (DCB) through ill-fated and bankrupt MS co-op Bank .

‘day by day ground situation is getting gloomy but non of senior official has visited the ill-fated families more over administration failed to address crisis and provide any relief to these dying vidarbha afrmer’s families hence we heavy asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithiraj Chavan to visit vidarbha and provide relief to distressed farmers in order tostop thses on going farm suicides which can be avoided to healing touch from Govt.,but nobody is giving any serious attention to our repeated appeals for the same” Tiwari added.

‘It was July 2006 when Indian Prime Minister visited agrarian crisis prone western vidarbha and announced special relief package of Rs.3750 crore in which the interest waiver of Rs.1080 crore and gave extended Agri. Credit of Rs.2500 crore promising to make it double in next three years but all promises were kept on paper and bankers reduced Agri. Credit for short crop loan has been further reduced to 50% forcing Indian to announce complete loan waiver of Rs.71,000 crore in march 2008 but vidarbha farmers were intentionally kept out this loan waiver and farmers suicides in the cotton cultivating region till continued as non-professional attitude and non-cooperation of bankers the complete exercise of loan waiver has been failed and crop loan amount in last five year reduced to 50% whereas cultivation cost has increased in multifold thanks to skyrocketing prices of Bt.Cotton Seed ,Fertilizer and pesticides and labor ” Tiwari said

As per district administration reports now it’s official crop loan disbursement is less than 50% in comparison to last year disbursement .there is huge cry in vidarbha for fresh crop loan to all illegible farmers but bankers are facing liquidity crunch due to insufficient fund sanctioned by apex bank NABARD even after Dr.Sudhir Goyal promised us as credit flow in Rs.510 crore in first week of July and another installment of Rs.500 crore since 12th July but nothing has happened and crop loan is till standstill due technical issues after RBI twisted the irregularities and scam of existing directors of MSC Bank .vidarbha farmers suffering due default of western Maharashtra sugar lobby this is most unfortunate hence we demand intervention of central Govt. arrange crop loan disbursement to dying vidarbha farmers” Tiwari added.

“We have urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithiraj Chavan visit the vidarbha and look at the integrated agrarian problems of cotton grower which is related to credit, minimum support price(MSP) and stringent export restrictions which is accumulating the distress sand despair resulting in farmers suicides ” Tiwari added.

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भाजप नेत्यांचे प्रकल्पही शेतकऱ्यांच्या जमिनीवर-विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचा दावा-लोकसत्ता

भाजप नेत्यांचे प्रकल्पही शेतकऱ्यांच्या जमिनीवर-विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचा दावा-लोकसत्ता

भाजप नेत्यांचे प्रकल्पही शेतकऱ्यांच्या जमिनीवर-विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचा दावा-लोकसत्ता नागपूर, २१ जुलै / खास प्रतिनिधी http://loksatta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=171824:2011-07-21-18-49-45&catid=45:2009-07-15-04-01-33&Itemid=56 भारतीय जनता पक्षाचे माजी अध्यक्ष राजनाथसिंह यांनी विदर्भाच्या आत्महत्याग्रस्त भागातील प्रकल्पग्रस्त शेतकऱ्यांच्या व्यथा, वेदना जाणून घेतल्या आणि सरकारने शेतकऱ्यांसाठी धोरण जाहीर करावे, अशी मागणी केली. तथापि, भाजप नेत्यांचेच अनेक प्रकल्प शेतकऱ्यांच्या जमिनीवर उभारण्यात येत असल्याने शेतकऱ्यांबाबत आधी त्यांनी धोरण स्पष्ट करावे, अशी मागणी विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीने केली आहे. भाजपचे राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष नितीन गडकरी यांच्या उद्योग समूहाचा वीज प्रकल्प यवतमाळ जिल्ह्य़ात उभारण्यात येणार आहे. त्यात हजारो शेतकरी भूमीहिन होणार आहे. भाजपशासित मध्यप्रदेशमध्ये अदानी समूहाचा प्रकल्प येत असून नागपूरला पाणी पुरवठा करणाऱ्या पेंच प्रकल्पाचे पाणी त्या प्रकल्पाला देण्यात येणार आहे. अशा स्थितीत भाजपच्या राष्ट्रीय नेत्यांनी सोयीच्या ठिकाणी शेतकरी हिताच्या वल्गना करणे आणि स्वत:चा पक्ष व सरकारकडून खाजगी प्रकल्पांना शेतकऱ्यांच्या जमिनी मिळवून देण्याची भूमिका दुटप्पी आहे. भाजपने विदर्भ व मध्य भारतातील प्रस्तावित ११६ वीज प्रकल्प आणि प्रकल्पग्रस्तांबाबत आधी भूमिका स्पष्ट करावी, अशी मागणी समितीचे नेते किशोर तिवारी यांनी केले आहे. राजनाथसिंह यांचा चंद्रपूर आणि यवतमाळ जिल्ह्य़ांचा दौरा पूर्णत: व्यक्तिगत होता. त्यांचे शेतकरी प्रेमही देखावा होते, असे ठाम मत कोलुरा व बिजोरा येथील प्रकल्पग्रस्त शेतकरी व आदिवासींचे झाले आहे. भाजपचे उत्तम इंगळे व मदन येरावार यांचे हे प्रकल्प आहेत. पक्षाध्यक्षांच्या पुढाकाराने शेतकऱ्यांना विस्थापित करण्यात येत आहे. त्यामुळे राजनाथसिंह यांनी यवतमाळमध्ये बसून राहुल गांधी यांना सल्ला देण्याऐवजी पक्षाच्या कार्यकारिणीत चर्चा करून धोरण तयार करावे, असेही समितीने म्हटले आहे. महाराष्ट्रासह मध्यभारतात ११६ हून अधिक औष्णिक वीज प्रकल्प येत आहेत. ४० हून अधिक प्रकल्प मध्यप्रदेश व छत्तीसगडमध्ये प्रस्तावित आहेत. या वीज केंद्रांच्या उभारणीत पूर्ती समूहाचा सक्रिय सहभाग असल्याचा आरोप तिवारी यांनी केला आहे. ही गंभीर बाब असल्याने पक्षाने आधी राष्ट्रीय कार्यकारिणीत या मुद्यावर चर्चा करावी. विदर्भातील कापूस उत्पादक शेतकऱ्यांच्या आर्थिक संकटास राजनाथसिंहदेखील जबाबदार आहेत. केंद्रात कृषी मंत्री असताना सिंह यांनी राबवलेले आयात-निर्यातीचे खुले धोरण आणि बियाणे क्षेत्रात विदेशी कंपन्यांना मुक्त प्रवेश देण्यात आल्याने शेतकरी संकटात आले. ज्यांच्या धोरणामुळे शेतकऱ्यांनी आत्महत्या केल्या तेच आता विधवांच्या पुनर्वसनासाठी सरकारला विनंती करत आहेत, यासारखे शेतकऱ्यांचे दुर्दैव नाही. भाजपने त्यांचे धोरण स्पष्ट केल्याखेरीज शेतकरी त्यांच्या पाठिशी उभे राहणार नाहीत, असा दावाही किशोर तिवारी यांनी केला आहे.

“Come clean on farmers”-Farmer Activist Kishore Tiwari critises BJP –TIME OF INDIA

“Come clean on farmers”-Farmer Activist Kishore Tiwari critises BJP –TIME OF INDIA

Yavatmal, Jul 20,2011

Time news service

President of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), an NGO working for farmer welfare, today demanded that the BJP should declare its National Policy on farmers. Tiwari who proactively advocates cotton growers spoke at a press conference here

Tiwari severely criticized that whirlwind vidarbha tour of former BJP president Rajnath Singh at the behest of sitting LS member Hanraj Aher from chandrapur and sid that singh should have persuaded his party high command to come out from before nation over farmer issue .

Tiwari suggested that the former BJP president should instead of wasting time in rhetoric ,try to end the suffering of the farmers and their widows .he went to extend that of saying that singh should rather take to rahul Gandhi.

It is notable in june chandrapur MP Hansrak Aher organized a day Dharna opposite to Yavatmal District collector against price rise and shortage of seed fertilizers surprisingly former district president Divakar Pande and his splinter group did not participate in it .

‘it is fact that at least six districts of western vidarbha are till under the grip of natural calamities followed by the organized exploitation of illiterate farmers at the hands of unscrupulous moneylenders’ Tiwari said who wondered why a party like BJP overlooked the ailing farmers

He alleged that the BJP leadership has not uttered a single word about 116 thermal power plants projects of private energy producers proposed to come up in central India whih involves acquisition of fertile land running in to thousands of acres .

‘the BJP leaders sympathy and concern toward the the farmers in the country is nothing but a crocodile’s tear’ Tiwari said adding that none of the local leaders has gound time to visit the project affected villagers in get themselves acquainted with the problems of the affected farmers.

Thousand of acres land has to be acquired from farmers for the proposed energy projects at the villages Bijora (Mahagoan) and Kolura(Ner) of Yavatmal District and the affected villagers have strongly protested it.

Yet former BJP MLAa MadanYerawar and Uttam Inagle and former MLC Divakar Pande did not find time to visit affected areas.

Tiwari alleged that BJP president Nitin Gadkari owned Purti industries have grate interest in these projects and Gadkari’s salience stands testimony to it. BJP is playing double role for political gain as earlier it passed resolution of separate vidarbha in it’s national executive meet and now it is in trumpeting over it’s deep concern over farmer issues.

VJAS chief said."I, therefore, demand on behalf of the debt-ridden farmers and farm widows of Vidarbha that the BJP high command make public its national policy on farmers,”

Printed from

Nabard blocked credit flow to vidarbha :4 farmer suicides in 48 hours-TIMES OF INDIA

TNN | Jul 18, 2011, 10.07pm IST
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/
4-farmer-suicides-in-48-hours/articleshow/9274905.cms

***"The piling of NPAs of defaulting sugar factories of western Maharashtra led to the state-run Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank to go bankrupt last month. This is a major hurdle in crop loan disbursement to suicide-prone farmers in Vidarbha as NABARD has suspended agriculture credit for want of counter-guarantee by the state administration,"****

NAGPUR: Highlighting the precarious situation of farmers in the region, four farmer suicides were reported in last 48 hours in Vidarbha. Of the latest victims, three are from cotton-growing district of Amravati and one from the paddy belt of Bhandara, Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti which keeps a track of such incidents claimed on Saturday.

The four victims were identified as Anil Tandilkar of village Ukapati, Subhash Kasdekar of Ranamalur, Ramesh Jumade of Achalpur (all three in Amravati district) and Anandrao Khande of Tawashi in Bhandara district.

After playing hide and seek for over a month, rain gods may have finally brought some cheer to farmers in Vidarbha. However, the institutional lenders are yet to disburse crop loans to needy farmers. "Probably inability to raise resources in time is leading them to despair and driving cash-starved farmers to end their lives," said Kishore Tiwari of VJAS. With these latest suicides, the farmer suicide toll in the current year has gone up to 440, he claimed

"The piling of NPAs of defaulting sugar factories of western Maharashtra led to the state-run Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank to go bankrupt last month. This is a major hurdle in crop loan disbursement to suicide-prone farmers in Vidarbha as NABARD has suspended agriculture credit for want of counter-guarantee by the state administration," said Tiwari.

He claimed that district administrations have indicated in their reports that crop loan disbursement till date is less than 50% as compared to same period last year. "Farmers eligible for fresh crop loans are left waiting as bankers are facing liquidity crunch with NABARD freezing credit facility of the state apex bank. The state administrator Sudhir Goyal had promised a credit flow of Rs 510 crore in first week of July and another tranche of Rs 500 crore in July second week. But nothing has happened and crop loan disbursement is at standstill," alleged Tiwari

"After the interest waiver of Rs1080 crore in 2006 followed by complete loan waiver of Rs 71,000 crore in March 2008 besides state government's extended loan waiver of Rs 6208 crore in December 2008, it was expected that credit woes of three million Vidarbha farmers would end. But non-professional attitude and non-cooperation of bankers has proved it wrong," said Tiwari. Meanwhile, huge rise in input costs have added to the farmers' burden," he summed up.

Four more Credit starved vidarbha farmer commits suicide in 48 hours-Merinews.com

Four more Credit starved vidarbha farmer commits suicide in 48 hours : scanty water and credit restarted farm suicide spiral vidarbha

http://www.merinews.com/article/4-more-credit-starved-vidarbha-farmers-commit-suicide-in-48hrs/15855109.shtml

Nagpur- Dated 18^th July 2011

Massive NPA due defaulting sugar factories of western Maharashtra state owned MS cop. Bank which was declared bankrupt in last month by RBI has created major problem of crop loan disbursement in farm suicide prone district of vidarbha as NBARD has Stalled the Agri. Credit to under section 11 in which state administration failed to proper counter grantee, resulting in more four credit starved farmers suicides in last 48 hours taking official toll 440 in year 2011 alone, debt trapped farmers as per media reports are identified as

1.Anil Tandilkar of village Ukapati in Amaravatit

2.Subhash Kasdekar of village Ranamalur in Amaravatit

3.Ramesh Jumade of Achalpur in Amaravati

4.Anandrao Khande of viallge Tawashi In Bhandara

Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed in press release today .

As per district administration reports now it’s official crop loan disbursement is less than 50% in comparison to last year disbursement .there is huge cry all vidarbha fresh crop loan to all illegible farmers but bankers are facing liquidity crunch due insufficient fund sanctioned by apex bank NABARD as agriculture credit has been frozen after the apex MSCB has declared ill and appointed Dr.Sudhir Goyal as it’s administer ‘

“even after Dr.Sudhir Goyal promised us as credit flow in Rs.510 crore in first week of July and another installment of Rs.500 crore since 12^th July but nothing has happened and crop loan is till standstill due technical issues after RBI twisted the irregularities and scam of existing directors of MSC Bank .vidarbha farmers suffering due default of western maharashtra sugar lobby this is mast unfortunate hence we demand intervention of central Govt. arrange crop loan disbursement to dying vidarbha farmers” Tiwari added.

‘After the interest waiver of Rs.1080 crore in 2006 followed by complete loan waiver of Rs.71,000 crore in march 2008 added to maharashtra Govt.’s extended loan waiver of Rs.6208 crore in December 2008 ,it was told that in vidarbha at least 3 million farmers will get farm credit from financial institutes but non-professional attitude and non-cooperation of bankers the complete exercise of loan waiver has been failed and crop loan amount in last five year reduced to 50% whereas cultivation cost has increased in multifold thanks to skyrocketing price of Bt.Cotton Seed ,Fertilizer and pesticides and labor ” Tiwari said

“We want vidarbha farm suicide saga as part of history and we don’t want to count further farm suicide in vidarbha but corrupt officials and non-functional public leaders are not allowing us to do so .It’s very much humiliating and disturbing to count the farm suicide and then put it of international radar but in order to save dying farming community ,we will continue to do” Tiwari added.

Protecting Textile Industry at cost on Going Cotton Farmer’s suicide is Unjust

Protecting Textile Industry at cost on Going Cotton Farmer’s suicide is Unjust

Nagpur – July 15, 2011

Vidarbha cotton Farmers who are under deep distress and despair due to debt are forced to commit suicide have flayed Indian Govt. policies of protecting finger counting textiles mill owners to arrange to raw cotton at the throw away price to them by restricting the export of cotton bales even after there is record surplus 7 million cotton bales are available even after the 6.5 million quota permitted due to cotton production as Indian Govt. official figure is 33 million bales as against last year 29 million where as Govt .has allowed 8.4 million cotton bales last year which is higher than 2 million bales than this year hence in era of free trade and globalization ,innocent victimization resulting mass genocide of poor cotton farmers should be stopped, Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti urged today.

"Textiles industry should not used state run policies and restrictions to get cheaper cotton from the dying farmers and attempts of textile ministry the revival of Tirupur" at cost lives of cotton farmers in unjust and violation of human rights hence we have ben demanding the detail probe in to unfair trade practices in the raw cotton trade of the India and wants lifting of all restriction of export and imposition heavy import duty of raw cotton bales to save Indian cotton farmers ”Tiwari added.

It was lifting of quantitative restrictions in 2004 for free cotton import by the NDA Govt. which allowed dumping of cheapest 20 million cotton bales resulting in economic recession and start of cotton farmers’ suicide spiral in vidarbha and now once again it has re-imposed in 2009 when present UPA Govt. introduced stringent cotton export both the time to protect the interest of handful textile mills owners who want cheaper raw cotton at cost of 1 billion dying cotton farmers and this is highly unfair trade practices protected and promoted by state hence vidarbha cotton farmers who are suffered maximum losses and reported more than 10000 farmers suicides after wrong policies of cotton export and import in introduced has written to new powered Indian textile minister Anand Sharma to lift all quantitative restrictions of on raw cotton and provide export incentive to farmers’ so that their economic interest is protected as done by US Govt. in America, Tiwari said today.

“India has reported more than 2 lakhs 34 thousands farmers suicides in last decade which largest genocide in the history of mankind and 90% of farmers who killed themselves are manly cotton growers and wrong Govt. policies related to export and credit and faulty cultivation pattern and input are the main causes of despair and distress which is killing the innocent farming community in India .this is blot to all human kind in the world and fact is much more humiliating the nation like America is manly responsible for the farm genocide” Tiwari informed

Letter written by Vidarbha cotton growing farmers advocacy group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS) has urged New Textile Minister Anand Sharma to examine the fact that there is surplus stock of at least 50 lakhs bales and textile ministry has given it’s node to the demand of agriculture and commerce ministry recommendations of additional permission of 50 lakhs bales in order to protect the financial interest of Indian cotton farmers who are committing suicides as prices of cotton slashed to 50% in month where as uncertainties and unjust quantitative restriction has always allowed the textile cartel to get cheaper cotton by 30% . this is part of textile lobby to get cotton export curtail so that they can exploit the situation .it’s unfortunate that textile minister is playing on direction of this textile cartel that has ruined around one billion cotton farmers to tune of Rs.20,000 crore and losses are likely to be more if Indian Govt. function with anti farmer policies ”Tiwari added

“Indian textile lobby has managed the Indian Textile minister initially to restrict cotton bales export to 55 lakhs bales from earlier year 84 lakh bales even when country cotton production is higher by another 25 lakhs bales then ban export of cotton yarn and now surprisingly as per Quota Policy of Cotton items now added Cotton Waste ( Comber Noil) H. S. Code No. 5202 as Cotton Waste is a ‘By-product’ of Cotton Yarn. when plenty of quota of Cotton Yarn lying unutilized the hostile functioning of ex-Union Textile Minister Dayanithi Maran whowas party to a textile cartel to include the by-product banned ” Tiwari said..

“we have asked New Textile Minister Anand Sharma on the baseless arguments of textile loddy which has ignored tha fact Cotton prices have increased from Rs 30000/candy in April 2010 to Rs 60000/candy April 2011 which is an increase of about Rs 70-75 per kg and immediately Spinners increased the price of yarn from rs 150/- per kg in April 2010 for 30s combed to Rs 230/- per kg in April 2011. increase of Rs 80 per kg which reflects in cotton value to Rs 30000/per candy minimum. Fabric weavers too have increased prices of grey fabric of 40 x 40 counts 124 x 64 with 200 gm per mtr which is quoted at about Rs 70/- per sqmtr as against Rs 38 in April 2010. There s an increase of Rs 32/mtr which is Rs 160/- per kg which in terms of candy is about Rs 58/60000 and present ban on export has brought back cotton prices to the level of April 2010 which is artificial an stage managed and ex-Union Textile Minister Dayanithi Maran is directly involved in this scam ” Tiwari added.

‘New Textile Minister Anand Sharma should admit that Cotton production has grown from a low of 225 lakhs bales to 330 lakhs bales in last 5 years the undue protection to Local textile mills benefiting of buying Indian cotton at prices which are at least lower by 30% as compared to its competitor in Bangladesh, Pakistan and other countries who buy from other growths which is reason behind the present restriction of cotton export and when Indian cotton after lot of hard work and promotion by exporters have found a very stable and regular market of its cotton in foreign countries and Govt. should ensure that the markets created are not lost to competition due to faulty Govt. policies to protect handful textile mill owners .” It is alleged.

‘We need the urgent central intervention and demand to lift all export restriction of cotton bales and yarn too so that farmers get higher price to cotton ‘’Tiwari urged.

Farmers urge Anand Sharma to lift restriction on raw cotton -merinews.com

Farmers urge Anand Sharma to lift restriction on raw cotton

http://www.merinews.com/article/farmers-urge-anand-sharma-to-lift-restriction-on-raw-cotton/15854872.shtml

Farmers have urged new Textile Minister Anand Sharma to lift all quantitative restrictions on raw cotton and provide export incentives to farmers, so that their economic interest is protected as done by the US govt

IT WAS imposing of quantitative restrictions in 2004 for free cotton import by the NDA government, which allowed dumping of cheapest 20 million cotton bales, resulting in economic recession and start of cotton farmers’ suicide spiral in Vidarbha. It was once again re-imposed in 2009 when present UPA government. introduced stringent cotton export measures. The purpose of such measures was to protect the interest of the handful of textile mill owners, who wanted cheaper raw cotton despite knowing that it was an unfair trade practice and would come at the cost of 1 billion dying cotton farmers.

Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed today that the Vidarbha cotton farmers, who suffered major losses and reported more than 10,000 farmers suicides after wrong policies of cotton export and import, have written to new Textile Minister Anand Sharma to lift all quantitative restrictions on raw cotton and provide export incentives to farmers, so that their economic interest is protected as done by the US government.

“India has reported more than 2 lakhs 34 thousands farmers suicides in the last decade, the largest genocide in the history of mankind, and 90% of farmers who killed themselves are mainly cotton growers. Wrong govt. policies related to export and credit and faulty cultivation pattern and input are the main causes of despair and distress which is killing the innocent farming community in India. This is a blot on the face of mankind, and the fact that a country like America is mainly responsible for the farm genocide,” Tiwari said.

The letter written by Vidarbha cotton farmers’ advocacy group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) has urged new Textile Minister Anand Sharma to examine the fact that there is a surplus stock of at least 50 lakh bales and that his ministry has given it’s node to agriculture and commerce ministry’s demand for additional 50 lakhs bales in order to protect the financial interest of Indian cotton farmers. This is part of textile ministry’s effort to get cotton export curtailed so that it can exploit the situation. It’s unfortunate that the textile minister is involved in this textile cartel that has ruined around one billion cotton farmers to tune of Rs.20,000 crore. The losses are likely to be more if Indian govt. continues with anti-farmer policies.

“Indian textile lobby initially managed to convince textile minister to restrict cotton bales export to 55 lakhs bales from last year’s 84 lakh bales though the country’s cotton production is higher by another 25 lakh bales. Now surprisingly as per Quota Policy of Cotton items has added Cotton Waste (Comber Noil) H. S. Code No. 5202 as Cotton Waste is a ‘By-product’ of Cotton Yarn,” Tiwari added.

“New Textile Minister Anand Sharma should admit that cotton production has grown from a low of 225 lakh bales to 330 lakh bales in last 5 years... and when Indian cotton after lot of hard work and promotion by exporters has found a very stable and regular market in foreign countries, the govt. should ensure that the markets created are not lost to competition due to its faulty policies to protect handful textile mill owners,” he further said.

“We need the urgent central intervention and demand that all export restriction on cotton bales and yarn be lifted so that farmers get higher price for cotton,” Tiwari concluded.

==================================================================

New Textile Minister Anand Sharma urged to bring raw cotton under Open General License (O.G.L.)

New Textile Minister Anand Sharma urged to bring raw cotton under Open General License (O.G.L.)

Nagpur – July 13, 2011

It was lifting of quantitative restrictions in 2004 for free cotton import by the NDA Govt. which allowed dumping of cheapest 20 million cotton bales resulting in economic recession and start of cotton farmers’ suicide spiral in vidarbha and now once again it has re-imposed in 2009 when present UPA Govt. introduced stringent cotton export both the time to protect the interest of handful textile mills owners who want cheaper raw cotton at cost of 1 billion dying cotton farmers and this is highly unfair trade practices protected and promoted by state hence vidarbha cotton farmers who are suffered maximum losses and reported more than 10000 farmers suicides after wrong policies of cotton export and import in introduced has written to new powered Indian textile minister Anand Sharma to lift all quantitative restrictions of on raw cotton and provide export incentive to farmers’ so that their economic interest is protected as done by US Govt. in America, Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed today.

“India has reported more than 2 lakhs 34 thousands farmers suicides in last decade which largest genocide in the history of mankind and 90% of farmers who killed themselves are manly cotton growers and wrong Govt. policies related to export and credit and faulty cultivation pattern and input are the main causes of despair and distress which is killing the innocent farming community in India .this is blot to all human kind in the world and fact is much more humiliating the nation like America is manly responsible for the farm genocide” Tiwari informed

Letter written by Vidarbha cotton growing farmers advocacy group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS) has urged New Textile Minister Anand Sharma to examine the fact that there is surplus stock of at least 50 lakhs bales and textile ministry has given it’s node to the demand of agriculture and commerce ministry recommendations of additional permission of 50 lakhs bales in order to protect the financial interest of Indian cotton farmers who are committing suicides as prices of cotton slashed to 50% in month where as uncertainties and unjust quantitative restriction has always allowed the textile cartel to get cheaper cotton by 30% . this is part of textile lobby to get cotton export curtail so that they can exploit the situation .it’s unfortunate that textile minister is playing on direction of this textile cartel that has ruined around one billion cotton farmers to tune of Rs.20,000 crore and losses are likely to be more if Indian Govt. function with anti farmer policies ”Tiwari added

“Indian textile lobby has managed the Indian Textile minister initially to restrict cotton bales export to 55 lakhs bales from earlier year 84 lakh bales even when country cotton production is higher by another 25 lakhs bales then ban export of cotton yarn and now surprisingly as per Quota Policy of Cotton items now added Cotton Waste ( Comber Noil) H. S. Code No. 5202 as Cotton Waste is a ‘By-product’ of Cotton Yarn. when plenty of quota of Cotton Yarn lying unutilized the hostile functioning of ex-Union Textile Minister Dayanithi Maran whowas party to a textile cartel to include the by-product banned ” Tiwari said..

“we have asked New Textile Minister Anand Sharma on the baseless arguments of textile loddy which has ignored tha fact Cotton prices have increased from Rs 30000/candy in April 2010 to Rs 60000/candy April 2011 which is an increase of about Rs 70-75 per kg and immediately Spinners increased the price of yarn from rs 150/- per kg in April 2010 for 30s combed to Rs 230/- per kg in April 2011. increase of Rs 80 per kg which reflects in cotton value to Rs 30000/per candy minimum. Fabric weavers too have increased prices of grey fabric of 40 x 40 counts 124 x 64 with 200 gm per mtr which is quoted at about Rs 70/- per sqmtr as against Rs 38 in April 2010. There s an increase of Rs 32/mtr which is Rs 160/- per kg which in terms of candy is about Rs 58/60000 and present ban on export has brought back cotton prices to the level of April 2010 which is artificial an stage managed and ex-Union Textile Minister Dayanithi Maran is directly involved in this scam ” Tiwari added.

‘New Textile Minister Anand Sharma should admit that Cotton production has grown from a low of 225 lakhs bales to 330 lakhs bales in last 5 years the undue protection to Local textile mills benefiting of buying Indian cotton at prices which are at least lower by 30% as compared to its competitor in Bangladesh, Pakistan and other countries who buy from other growths which is reason behind the present restriction of cotton export and when Indian cotton after lot of hard work and promotion by exporters have found a very stable and regular market of its cotton in foreign countries and Govt. should ensure that the markets created are not lost to competition due to faulty Govt. policies to protect handful textile mill owners .” It is alleged.

‘We need the urgent central intervention and demand to lift all export restriction of cotton bales and yarn too so that farmers get higher price to cotton ‘’Tiwari urged.

Monsanto officials beaten up by Cotton farmers as Bt.cotton seed failed: Bogus Bt.cotton seed creates havoc in vidarbha

Monsanto officials beaten up by Cotton farmers as Bt.cotton seed failed: Bogus Bt.cotton seed creates havoc in vidarbha

Nagpur- July 11, 2011

American cotton seed MNC giant Monsanto of having international monopoly of notorious killer BT. cotton seed has never even dreamed in 2005 when he was first commercial cultivation permission of it’s controversial Bt.cotton seed that it sale will jump from 1million hector to record 15 million hector in India that too more than 5 million hector in agrarian crisis hit Maharashtra itself that has crossed the turn over of Rs.15,000 crore as farmers are buying 11 packets of 450 gm per hector as per company’s guide for recommended “population method” but the sudden demand and ill-managed Indian sub agents have brought company in big trouble as 50% of the Bt.cotton seed failed to germinate even after it’s second sowing and now cry has been started in other part of India too ,hence Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti farmers advocacy group has approached local state Govt. of Maharashtra to arrange high level probe in to all complaints received from farmers of west vidarbha where more than 10,000 cotton farmers have committed suicide since june 2005 after the introduction killer BT. cotton seed in this region and around Rs.10,000 crore has been pumped by Indian and state Govt .to bailout cotton farmers from the agrarian crisis which is likely to be get more fuel if corrective action are taken immediately ,Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti informed today.

Monsanto Bt.cotton seed crisis early June when all bt.cotton seed ordered by Maharashtra dealers sold out it to the adjourning Andhra farmers and there was no seed available to cater to local market and Monsanto sub-agents were failed to respond to state Govt. request suddenly Bt.cotton seed were freely available in market in third week of June but source supply has discovered immediately by Yavatmal police when the raided house of Nerendra Indurkar in the very small village Munjala and caught raid handed packing local cotton seed in the pocket of branded Bt.cotton .police have sealed the very advance imported pocket packing machines and thousands of packets of all popular brands BT. cotton seed being sold on the premium but culprit Nerendra Indurkar were allowed to go with out any interrogation but officials of American BT. cotton seed giant in India were called and facts were told but they denied any link with such bogus BT. cotton seed supply racket.

Monsanto officials beaten up by Cotton farmers as Bt.cotton seed failed

When news of arrival Monsanto senior official from Mumbai are in near village munjala cotton farmers of village karanji 140 K.m. from Nagpur has taken him to their field where complete failure of ‘Paras Sudarshan’ BT. cotton seed was shown to him when he failed to admit the lapse he was severely beaten up even local agriculture officer has not came to his rescue as per reports published in regional news papers .daily all regional papers in vidarbha and marathwada region of Maharashtra where more than 4 million hector are in under bt.cotton cultivation are reporting the flood of bogus seed supplied local agents of American cotton seed MNC giant Monsanto giant is being reported but administration has failed to take any action of this serious issue hence Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prathiraj Chavan to order judicial enquiry in the supply racket of bogus BT. cotton seed in Maharashtra and arrange to start criminal action against culprit,Tiwari added.

Posted by vidarbha times at 11:28 PM

''Maran''s cotton export policy resulted in losses to farmers'' -PTI via YAHOO

''Maran''s cotton export policy resulted in losses to farmers''

Fri, Jul 8 09:14 PM

Nagpur, Jul 8 (PTI) An association of cotton farmers has accused former textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran of pursuing a wrong policy of clamping a ban on cotton exports that has hurt farmers. The present cotton crisis in the country is a result of wrong policies enforced by the former textile minister to protect the interests of handful textile mill owners. It has denied best available price of cotton to farmers and resulted in losses of an estimated Rs 20,000 crore to farmers and local ginners and traders, Kishore Tiwari, president of Vidharbha Janandolan Samiti, said. A complete ban on export from January to May this year has forced them to offload the cotton or cotton bales at half the price which was prevailing till March this year, he added. Tiwari said if the Centre fails to take action on this, he would approach the Bombay High Court for relief.

''Maran''s cotton export policy resulted in losses to farmers''-PTI

''Maran''s cotton export policy resulted in losses to farmers''

http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5275029
Nagpur, Jul 8 (PTI) An association of cotton farmers has accused former textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran of pursuing a wrong policy of clamping a ban on cotton exports that has hurt farmers.
The present cotton crisis in the country is a result of wrong policies enforced by the former textile minister to protect the interests of handful textile mill owners. It has denied best available price of cotton to farmers and resulted in losses of an estimated Rs 20,000 crore to farmers and local ginners and traders, Kishore Tiwari, president of Vidharbha Janandolan Samiti, said.
A complete ban on export from January to May this year has forced them to offload the cotton or cotton bales at half the price which was prevailing till March this year, he added.
Tiwari said if the Centre fails to take action on this, he would approach the Bombay High Court for relief.

NABARD aid to help restart farm loan disbursement-Times of India

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NABARD aid to help restart farm loan disbursement

Ramu Bhagwat, TNN | Jul 8, 2011, 01.07am IST

NAGPUR: Farm loan disbursal in Vidarbha, which was virtually at standstill for the last three weeks, may get kick started again, thanks to the decision of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to bail out the troubled Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB). Top sources in MSCB have indicated that NABARD would release Rs 500 crore this week.

The state apex bank controlled by the Nationalist Congress Party ran into trouble just few months before the onset of the kharif season. With the government appointed administrators replacing the bank board, the clean-up got top priority. Adding to the cash-starved bank's woes, the state government headed by the Congress refused to stand guarantee to fresh loan liabilities of MSCB. The bank administrators tightened the leash on district central cooperative banks which were found diverting funds to non-agriculture purposes, though recovery from farm sector was good.

"The situation came to such a pass that since June 15, the district cooperative banks almost stopped crop loan disbursement. So, farmers had to rush from pillar to post for cash to buy seeds and fertilizers. DCCBs through village level credit societies make up for 80% of institutional credit. The chief minister requested nationalized banks to be more proactive this year but for want of clear instructions from RBI, nationalized banks are yet to come a big way on crop loans," said Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti.

"The Rs 500 crore from NABARD will be too meagre an amount as Yavatmal district alone has a demand of Rs 300 crore from farmers. Irregular monsoon has added further strain as resowing may have to be taken up in large tracts of land," said Tiwari. With costs of all inputs and preferred Bt cotton seeds available only on premium, the cash needs are going to rise in farm sector.

"More worrying is the state's stance of not regulating microfinance organizations which are fanning in the countryside offering liberal loans at usurious rates of 36%. If the crops fail because of erratic monsoon, the fallout will be disastrous for farmers," warned Tiwari
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Vidarbha leaders keenly watch Telangana situation-TIMES OF INDIA

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Vidarbha leaders keenly watch Telangana situation

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Vidarbha-leaders-keenly-watch-T-situation/articleshow/9114890.cms

***"We are hopeful that Vidarbha statehood demand would not be ignored this time. Most people of the region support the demand. If they are not on the streets fighting for it like in Telangana, it is because of the failed political leaders of the region who have time and again betrayed the cause," said Kishor Tiwari. "It is now beyond doubt that the developmental backlog of Vidarbha can not be removed as Maharashtra faces financial crunch. A new state is the only solution," ****

Ramu Bhagwat, TNN | Jul 6, 2011, 03.54am IST

NAGPUR: With Telangana burning again, following en masse resignations of MLAs, MPs and ministers, pro-Vidarbha leaders are watching the situation in the neighboring state keenly. The Congress leaders in this region are hoping that the demand of statehood for Vidarbha, which is older, is tagged along and the Centre takes a holistic view on smaller states.

A day after Telangana resignations, frontline leaders of all parties in Vidarbha preferred to keep a studied silence but non-political activists and social leaders supporting the cause of a separate state from Maharashtra came together under the banner of Vidarbha Rajya Nirman Samiti (VRNS). This new organization was floated by some non-political persons after the all-party entity Vidarbha Rajya Sangram Samiti formed last year went defunct.

A day-long 'dharna' (sit-in) organized by the VRNS on Tuesday was a big draw with supporters joining in batches. Prominent leaders of VRNS including Dr Govind Verma, Haribhau Kedar, Shrinivas Khandewale, Rajkumar Tirpude, Ram Neole, B C Bhartiya, Kishore Tiwari, Ghanshyam Panpaliya later went in a delegation to submit a memorandum to the district collector. The memorandum addressed to prime minister Manmohan Singh stressed that the demand for Vidarbha was a century old and reasons for it were relevant today. Developmental aspirations of people of this region could be met only when a separate state of Vidarbha was created, the memorandum stated.

"The first states reorganization committee had supported creation of Vidarbha because of the region's distinct identity in central India. The Congress is unwilling as separate Vidarbha does not suit it politically," said Dr Verma. He said top leaders of all political parties in the region had lost credibility and that was the reason the statehood movement lost the mass appeal it had in the late 70s when Jambuwantrao Dhote led the agitation.

A VRNS delegation was leaving shortly for New Delhi to meet president Pratibha Patil, the prime minister, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari as well as all parties supporting the cause of smaller states. "We are hopeful that Vidarbha statehood demand would not be ignored this time. Most people of the region support the demand. If they are not on the streets fighting for it like in Telangana, it is because of the failed political leaders of the region who have time and again betrayed the cause," said Kishor Tiwari. "It is now beyond doubt that the developmental backlog of Vidarbha can not be removed as Maharashtra faces financial crunch. A new state is the only solution," said another VRNS leader.