Wednesday 27 June 2007

27/06/2007

Western Vidarbha - Nagpur - 27th June 2007

Unending saga of vidarbha farmers suicides is till continue as five more farmers suicides reported in last 48 hours ,fresh victims of on going agrarian crisis are :

1. SADASHIV ZITOBA NOBANRE OF MADANGAON IN BHANDARA
2. RAMESH BHAGWAN KURWADE OF PARAS IN AKOLA
3. BANDU NAMDEV GAWAI OF ADEGOAN KURD IN AKOLA
4. RAMHARI SADASHIV JANGAM OF SELU INWARDHA
5. MOHAN RAMESHWAR BHARI OF RAIKHED IN AKOLA

Monday 25 June 2007

NABARD Prepares List of "INELIGIBLE" Farmers

After NABARD has reduced the credit outlay to vidarbha by 40% that is Rs.1860 Crore To Rs.1230 Crore bankers have stopped giving fresh loan to illegible farmers as result six more debt trapped farmers killed themselves in last 48 hours ,

taking the toll of farmers suicide 55 in june and total 470 since jan.2007,vidarbha jan andolan samiti informed in press release today.

The decision of banker's not to give fresh crop loan has put more then 2 million cotton farmers in fix as money lenders too exploiting the situation and more & more farmers are being forced to commit suicide as they are failed to do sowing ,kishor tiwari of VJAS added In Press Note.

Earlier NABARD announced that banker will go to door step of the every farmer to give them crop loan but in fact now they have asked bankers not to give fresh crop loan to any illegible farmer where as farmers main demand of complete loan waiver has been shown the dust bin, it's really unfortunate Kishor Tiwari said.

25/06/2007

Western Vidarbha - Home State of Indian Agriculture Minister - Central UPA Coalition Government

Six more suicides in last 48 Hours :
1. EKNATH JAGANATH KOHLE OF TULJAPUR IN BULDHANA

2. GANPAT SHANKAR KHAEDIKAR OF POHARA IN BHANDARA

3. KISAN GANPAT WANKHADE IN KURHAD IN YAVATMAL

4. BHIMRAO BAPURAO ZAMARE OF DHANODA IN YAVATMAL

5. PUNJAB ANANDA TAYADE OF PATHARDI IN AKOLA

6. SANTOSH NAGORAO NEMADE OF RAIKHED IN AKOLA

After NABARD has reduced the credit outlay to vidarbha by 40% that is Rs.1860 Crore To Rs.1230 Crore bankers have stopped giving fresh loan to illegible farmers as result six more debt trapped farmers killed themselves in last 48 hours ,

taking the toll of farmers suicide 55 in june and total 470 since jan.2007,vidarbha jan andolan samiti informed in press release today.

The decision of banker's not to give fresh crop loan has put more then 2 million cotton farmers in fix as money lenders too exploiting the situation and more & more farmers are being forced to commit suicide as they are failed to do sowing ,kishor tiwari of VJAS added In Press Note.

Earlier NABARD announced that banker will go to door step of the every farmer to give them crop loan but in fact now they have asked bankers not to give fresh crop loan to any illegible farmer where as farmers main demand of complete loan waiver has been shown the dust bin, it's really unfortunate Kishor Tiwari said.

25/06/2007

MAHARASHTRA CHIEF MINISTER IS ON AMERICA TOUR : Begs Direct Investments in Killing Fields of Vidarbha

Here in Maharashtra since June -2005 there is mass genocide of cotton farmers and more than 4000 farmers suicides have officially reported by the sate administration and it has been widely published in American media too, it is ridicules for the Maharashtra chief minister to invite American MNCS for direct investment in the dying land of Vidarbha.

VJAS has urged NRIs in America to ask about Maharashtra chief minister compete failure to stop the mass genocide of vidarbha farmers, Kishor Tiwari added.

Kishor Tiwari

President

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti
Email - vidarbha@gmail.com
Blog : andolan.blogspot.com
contact : 094222108846

Monday 18 June 2007

Vidarbha Cotton Farmers Demand Bank Credit from Sensex Minister

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI -

REGD. OFFICE: 11, TRISARAN SOCIETY, KHAMALA, NAGPUR - 440 025.
PH. 2282447/457 MOBILE-9422108846. vidarbha@gmail.com

REF: - FARMER'S SUICIDES
DATED-18th June, 2007

Ø HUNDERES OF FARMERS STARTED DHARANA AGITATION BEFORE BANK FOR FRESH CROP A S BANKS REFUSED TO GIVE FRESH CREDIT TO FARMERS IN VIDARBHA .
MOHAN DHARIA SUPPORT VIDARBHA FARMERS LOAN WAIVER STIR
NAGPUR-18th June 2007

HUNDREDS OF FARMERS STARTED AGITATION FOR FRESH CROP LOAN

The reported decision of NABARD that "The decline in credit allocation targets is surprising in the context of Centre's directives to banks to double flow of credit to the agriculture sector in three years starting 2004-05," VJAS leader kishor tiwari informed .vidarbha farmers wills strongly protest and we will not only restore credit outlay to Rs.3, 300 crore but will have loan waiver too, kishor tiwari added.

Hundreds farmers of Yavatmal distt. started DHARANA AGITATION before Central Bank of India Pandharkawada Branch in Yavatmal District demanding fresh crop loan to every defaulter farmers will over due loan waiver,Kishor Tiwari said.

It is complete injustice with west dying cotton farmers as most of the growth in priority sector lending has gone to districts in Western Maharashtra and Marathwada, largely due to SHARAD PAWAR NCP base regions as compared to Vidarbha. For instance, Pune gets a 91% rise in its credit allocation target. NABARD is acting against the agriculture sector plan for six districts of Vidarbha was prepared based on the last three years' trend though an upward revision of Rs 1,275 crore was made specially under the PM's relief package during 2006-07.
"The PM's package, among other factors, rightly appreciated lack of an extensive network of formal credit in Vidarbha as one of the root causes of suicides. Cutting down on credit allocations for this reason amounts to punishing Vidarbha for being chosen for the PM's package, now cotton farmers are left at mercy of private money Leander inviting more farm suicides.

Now time has come for separating vidarbha state from maharashtra due complete contrast in fiscal condition and increasing backlog of region and we will press this demand in future too if we are being neglected and forced to kill ourselves ,kishor tiwari added.

CREDIT IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF RECENT SUICIDES
As bankers have stopped giving fresh crop loan and drop down the credit facility by 40% as per NABARD order ,debt starved cotton farmers are killing themselves, Kishor Tiwati Vidarbha Jan adndolan Samiti informed today.

When Indian finance minister submitted his annual budget for year 2007-08, it was warmly welcomed as "agriculture budget" but in result as per order of NABARD bankers association has taken decision to suddenly drop down the credit outlay for vidarbha cotton farmers .as reported the credit bonanza for farmers in Vidarbha seems to be over. After aggressive lending in the previous fiscal, the credit allocation targets set under the annual credit plan for 2007-08 for six districts of Vidarbha show a steep decline. Incidentally, these are the districts that have been reporting maximum farm suicides and where farmers' dependence on illegal money-lenders has been one of the root causes .

Credit lending targets for six districts have been revised downwards compared to last year, as per recent decision of bankers association. In 2005-06 fiscal, banks disbursed credit of Rs 765 crore in six districts. But thanks to the PM's package, the crop credit shot up to Rs 2,033 crore in the last fiscal. The current plan, however, allocates only Rs 1,683 crore for crop credit For instance, Yavatmal district, which has reported maximum suicides, has been earmarked a target of only Rs 434.96 crore which is almost a 30% decline from its 2006-07 target. Washim district shows a decline of 41%, Akola 36%, and Buldhana 38%, against the previous fiscal's targets. District credit plans have been finalised on the basis of broad guidelines prepared by NABARD.

MOHAN DHARIA SUPPORT VIDARBHA FARMERS LOAN WAIVER STIR
veteran Gandhian leader mohan dharia has in letter to VJAS supported vidarbha Cotton farmers stir for fresh credit and complete loan waiver in fact he was indefinite fast last year and Maharashtra govt. promised to fulfill is demands but then back out.VJAS leader has announced that next step of agitation will be held before bank of maharashtra patan branch on 2nd july 2007, release added.

Kishor Tiwari
President
Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti
Email : vidarbha@gmail.com
Contact - 094221 08846

Bengal Cricketers Maharashtra Ministers Indian Cattle

Graze Cattle on Indian BT Fields ? Trust Indian Dairy Products ? Think Again ! !

If you are reading this news item in English, chances are that you are lucky not to be grazing sheep and cattle on Indian BT cotton fields of Andhra Pradesh. However, if you are a non vegetarian, be ready for taking risk assessments for your health if you eat meat from sheep grazed on Indian farms.
Indian sheep have been dying of mysterious reasons, totally unexamined by Indian agricultural and scientific establishment. Maybe Indian agricultural research establishment is composed of only of scientists who are totally vegetarians.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=668d24de-52af-419a-b448-f816af6960e5&MatchID1=4469&TeamID1=2&TeamID2=4&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1110&PrimaryID=4469&Headline='Bt+cotton+fields+can+kill+farm+animals'

The Andhra Pradesh government has advised farmers not to allow animals to graze on Bt cotton fields after four institutes reported the presence of toxins in them.

Goats and sheep grazing on post-harvest Bt cotton fields were found dead in Warangal and Adilabad districts in 2006 and in the first two months of 2007.

The Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory, the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, the Western Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the department of agriculture, NG Ranga Agriculture University found the presence of nitrates and nitrites, and residues of organophosphates in Bt cotton plants.

Dr L Mohan, director, Andhra Pradesh animal husbandry department, said: “The deaths have resulted in huge economic losses for farmers.”

Andhra Pradesh, which had earlier moved the Monopolistic and Restrictive Trade Practices tribunal against the high price of Bt seeds, said no bio-safety studies of Bt cotton seeds had yet been conducted.

MK Sharma, managing director, Mahyco-Monsanto Biotech India Ltd, makers of the genetically modified Bt cotton, said: “Bt cotton is being grown in nine states, and no such complaint has come except from a few villages in Andhra. We conducted safety studies before the trials and all Bt seeds were found to be safe.”

The Andhra government has informed the union ministry of environment and forests about its findings. The ministry has ordered a probe.

Email : chetan@hindustantimes.com

Sunday 17 June 2007

Hullabol Agitation in Home state of UPA Coalition Cricket Minister

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

REGD. OFFICE: 11, TRISARAN SOCIETY, KHAMALA, NAGPUR - 440 025.
PH. 2282447/457 MOBILE-9422108846. vidarbha@gmail.com

REF: - FARMER'S credit CRY DATED-17th June, 2007



Ø As Banks Call Off Credit Honeymoon For Farmers In Vidarbha Region More Debt Trapped Farmers Commits Suicides-Thousands Of Farmers To start "HALLABOL AGITATION" FOR FRESH CROP LOAN From 18th June.

Ø Farmers' Demands Loan Waiver And Five Year Credit Plan For Farming Finance.

Ø Banks Committee Resolves To Cut Lending Finance To Vidarbha Farmers - Private Monylenders To Suck Blood Of Reeling Farmers: It's Apathy Of Mr.Chidambaram, Fm-Goi To Allow Banks To Push Farmers To Commit Sucides! - KISHORE TIWARI.


NAGPUR-17th June 2007


When Indian finance minister submitted his annual budget for year 2007-08, it was warmly welcomed as "agriculture budget" but in result as per order of NABARD bankers association has taken decision to suddenly drop down the credit outlay for vidarbha cotton farmers .as reported the credit bonanza for farmers in Vidarbha seems to be over. After aggressive lending in the previous fiscal, the credit allocation targets set under the annual credit plan for 2007-08 for six districts of Vidarbha show a steep decline. Incidentally, these are the districts that have been reporting maximum farm suicides and where farmers' dependence on illegal money-lenders has been one of the root causes.

Credit lending targets for six districts have been revised downwards compared to last year, as per recent decision of bankers association. In 2005-06 fiscal, banks disbursed credit of Rs 765 crore in six districts. But thanks to the PM's package, the crop credit shot up to Rs 2,033 crore in the last fiscal. The current plan, however, allocates only Rs 1,683 crore for crop credit For instance, Yavatmal district, which has reported maximum suicides, has been earmarked a target of only Rs 434.96 crore which is almost a 30% decline from its 2006-07 target. Washim district shows a decline of 41%, Akola 36%, and Buldhana 38%, against the previous fiscal's targets. District credit plans have been finalised on the basis of broad guidelines prepared by NABARD.

THOUSANDS OF FARMERS TO "HALLABOL AGITATION" FOR FRESH CROP LOAN FROM 18TH JUNE.


The reported decision of NABARD that "The decline in credit allocation targets is surprising in the context of Centre's directives to banks to double flow of credit to the agriculture sector in three years starting 2004-05," VJAS leader kishor tiwari informed .vidarbha farmers wills strongly protest and we will not only restore credit outlay to rs.3, 300 crore but will have loan waiver too, kishor tiwari added.

Thousands farmers of west vidarbha will start "HALLABOL AGITATION" all NABARD controlled banks demanding fresh crop loan to every defaulter farmers will over due loan waiver ,kishor tiwari said.


It is complete injustice with west dying cotton farmers as most of the growth in priority sector lending has gone to districts in Western Maharashtra and Marathwada, largely due to SHARAD PAWAR NCP base regions as compared to Vidarbha. For instance, Pune gets a 91% rise in its credit allocation target. NABARD is acting against the agriculture sector plan for six districts of Vidarbha was prepared based on the last three years' trend though an upward revision of Rs 1,275 crore was made specially under the PM's relief package during 2006-07."The PM's package, among other factors, rightly appreciated lack of an extensive network of formal credit in Vidarbha as one of the root causes of suicides. Cutting down on credit allocations for this reason amounts to punishing Vidarbha for being chosen for the PM's package, now cotton farmers are left at mercy of private money Leander inviting more farm suicides.

Now time has come for separating vidarbha state from maharashtra due complete contrast in fiscal condition and increasing backlog of region and we will press this demand in future too if we are being neglected and forced to kill ourselves, kishor tiwari added.

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti

vidarbha@gmail.com

Contact : 09422108846

Saturday 16 June 2007

13/06/2007

Vidarbha - Western Maharashtra Bt Cotton Belt Farmers / Shetkari
Four Suicides in last 24 Hours :
Details awaited -

Tuesday 12 June 2007

06/06/2007

Western Vidarbha : Home state of UPA Coalition government Cricket Minister :

With 10 more Vidarbha farmers' suicides in last three days taking toll to 432 since Jan.2007
6 June 2007 -
Agriculture growth has drastically declined, Maharashtra Govt. admits

Nagpur, June 06 : Fifteen more farmers of Vidarbha region committed suicides in last five after the Indian Government announced that Rs.250,000 million is being given to agriculture sector.
The farmers that committed suicides are:

1 Chandrabhan Shivram Jamdade At. Aregaon Ta. Pusad Dist. Yavatmal
2 Gajanan Ramkisan More At. Lehani Ta. Resod Dist. Vashim
3 Keshav Sarvaram Chaudhari At. Parditakmor Dist. Vashim
4 Udaram Mahadev Gahane At. Pandharvani Dist. Gondiya
5 Sarjerao Vasudevrao Ladi At. Savangi Dist. Wardha
6 Maroti Lakshman Madavi At. Javeli Dist. Gadchiroli
7 Samran Jhuru Madavi At. Vasmundi Dist. Gadchiroli
8 Vasudeo Pandurang Mohurle At. Murkhada Dist. Gadchiroli
9 Janrao Chandrabhan Mahalle At. Selu Dist. Akola
10 Tukaram Lingu Gadge At. Tohogao Dist. Chandrapur

January 2007 - 70
February - 88
March - 97
April - 95
May - 76
June - 10
Western Maharashtra, Vidarbha recorded Figures = 432

A Press release of Nagpur-based Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, (VJAS), said in year 2007 record 416 Vidarbha farmers suicides have been reported (January-70, February-88, March-97, April 95, May-76,AND JUNE15). The farm suicides in Vidarbha are increasing but administration is official media to mislead the world that Vidarbha farm suicides are on the decline as Maharashtra Government on it's own website http://www.vnss-mission.gov.in/docs/suicide.pdf

Indian Agriculture, Sensex Ministers and Cricket Ministers
VIDARBHA MAHARASHTRA FARM SUICIDES AND YEAR :

2001 - 49
2002 - 105
2003 - 143
2004 - 441
2005 - 560
2006 - 1427
2007 - TILL 06 JUNE - 432

In the National Development Council, (NDC), recent meeting Maharashtra Government officially admitted that farmers' suicides from west Vidarbha has shown decline in agriculture growth by record negative 27 per cent. This has dropped down the overall progress growth of Maharashtra, the release said.

According to VJAS president Kishor Tiwari there is 250 per cent growth in the population of debt trap farmers i.e from 400,000 in 2006 to now more than one million. The Maharashtra Government failed to give any proposal of foodgrain farming in Vidarbha region to the Indian Government and hence failed to receive any relief in this regard. As such this has resulted in Vidarbha region having more than 90 per cent area likely under non-grain cash crop cultivation. This will create grave economic crisis in the region, Tiwari added.

VJAS has demanded that Maharashtra Government should introduce food crop promotional policy in West Vidarbha region as National Farm Policy because of ongoing agrarian crisis is high risk and high cost cotton farming which has created this unusual distress in one million farmers. In west Vidarbha more than 30 per cent area was under cultivation of food crop but in last one decade it has dropped down to 5 per cent creating major problem of food and fodder for farmers, Tiwari informed.

He said that cotton farmers of west Vidarbha are opting for more and more cash crop due to high profile marketing and state sponsored promotion of very high cost modern chemical and genetically modified seed farming which may take agriculture to second green revolution but kill million of debt trap farmers.

From :
KISHOR TIWARI
Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti
vidarbha@gmail.com
09422108846

11/06/2007

Western Vidarbha : Home state of UPA coalition government Cricket Minister

1 Durgasing Bhoju Chawhan at.post. Kohala in Yavatamal district
2 Premdas Mahadev Pawar at.post . Tiwsa of Yavatamal district
3 Laxman Yashavant Kupre at. Post. Borisinha Tq.Dist. Yavatmal
4 Diwakar Bapurao Kadu at. Post. Dongargao Tq. Wani Dist. Yavatmal
5 Muralidhar pandurang kadu of bopapur in amaravati district.amt
6 ramdas bythu soyam of pimpari durg village in yavatmal distt.
7 damodar vishram raut of ganeshpur village in washim district
8 prabhakar balkrishnna bhalkar of village bhankheda in wardha district

YAVATMAL distt. has reported six suicides in last 72 hours and more than 1000 farm suicide in last three years where Indian president is visting on 15th june to attend private function of congress member parliament vijay darda in fact till Indian president Dr. a.p.j. kalam has not shown the any concern over these farm suicides as sine jan-2007 around 450 farmers suicides have already been reported as against 1442 farm suicide in 2006 as per maharashtra govt. official record but till date even though VJAS has sent daily e-mail of updates of farm suicides to hon.ble president of indian Dr,A.P.J.KALAM but he failed acknowledge the signle e-mail.

main cause of vidarbha agararina crisis is increase in input cost of cultivation and collapse of raw cotton prices

DUE TO WTO FREE TRADE AND U.S. SUBSIDIES TO AMRECAN COTTON FARMERS



last 31june-2006 Indian prime minister Dr. manmohan singhji has visited vidarbha and officially endorsed that vidarbha farm suicide is national problem and release rs.3750/- crore relief package to debt trap distressed vidarbha cotton farmers but since june2005 local and international media started reporting issue of farm suicides particularly of vidarbha cotton farmers it was expected that Indian president will draw the serious concern over these issue and ask Indian govt. to look in to matter but he failed to do so.
It was high time when CPI general secretary A.B.BARDHAN openly criticised indina president for it's apathy towards the vidarbha farm suicide six month back but Indian president failed respond over this serious issue after this criticism too.
now on 15th June 2007 ,he is coming to yavatmal to attend private function organised by Congress member Parliament ,VJAS has benn infomed that president office is arranging to meeting of indian president with farm widows of vidarbha provided local administration permits earlier it was decided that to protest over continuous apathy of the president to show black flag by the thousand of widows of farmers who committed suicide in this agagrarian crisis since 2005 ,informed kishor tiwari of VJAS.
In vidarbha since june 2005 daily 3 or 4 cotton farmers are committing suicides but Indian govt. failed to address this serious issue of farm crisis and main demands of cotton farmers of over due pending loan waiver and restoration cotton procurement price to Rs.3500 per quintal has been completely ignored hence farm suicide are nit being slow down ,kishor tiwari added

VJAS Letter to Rashtrapati

Ref: VJAS/POI-Visit/175/07 Date : 09/06/2007
An Open Letter to :

Respected Hon'ble President of India –
His Highness Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

It's not all well in Vidarbha to attend cultural programmes : Farmers are dying – rural economy is on the verge of collapse !
"Would you please spare few minutes to meet unfortunate widows of farmers who killed their lives in extreme distress and due to complete failure of Govt. Policies ruining the entire Indian Rural Economy in the background of so called shining india which resulted agrarian crisis witnessed by Vidarbha as a live lesson to learn!"

Ref : Your proposed visit to Farmers Suicide Epicenter – Yavatmal & Wardha Districts of Vidarbha Region in the State of Maharashtra.
Respected His Highness Dr. Abdul Kalamji,

You are well aware that, since last couple of years our organization – Vidarbha JanAndolan Samiti, is raising the issue of plight of poor farmers who are in extreme distress & suffering the heat of failure of Govt. policies, which has resulted in complete collapse of Indian Rural Economy and perhaps Vidarbha Region has been branded as Epicenter of farmers suicides and is witnessing a live lesson to learn.

From the days Your Honour occupied the coveted post of President of India, we have been keeping you informed about the plight of farmers & agrarian community in Vidarbha and their distressed conditions. We have also kept Your Honour posted regularly with the facts & figures of the ruining Indian Rural Economy and always prayed for your humble intervention in the interest of justice to the farmers & Rural India.

Hon'ble Mr. Sir, you may recall that since last two years, everyday in the morning, we have been mailing Your Honour the updated list containing names, addresses & other relevant details of the unfortunate farmers whose continued series of suicides due to extreme distress conditions prevailing in the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State, is heating the National & International news sense. We also submitted a detailed report containing the facts how Prime Minister Relief Package has failed to address the basic issues.

We are extremely sorry that we neither received any reply from your office on our various mails / fax / letters sent to you almost daily nor came to know any action is initiated by you on such a serious issue of plight of farmers in Vidarbha Region.

We regret that your office have not addressed issue in a manner it would have been, considering the gravity, seriousness & intensity of the subject. Perhaps this might be due to your busy schedule.

Now we understand that, you are visiting Yavatmal & Wardha Districts of Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State for some cultural & educational programmes as Guest of Honour. While we propose to welcome & extend best wishes to you for your proposed visit to Yavatmal & Wardha Districts of Vidarbha Region, we would like to request you for sparing few minutes for the grief ridden unfortunate families & widows of farmers who killed themselves due to continued plight & miserable life being experienced by entire Rural India, economy of which is in extreme broken condition and due to that the farmers at large are constraint to commit suicides. Vidarbha agrarian crisis is a live example of how we are proceeding in a Global Economy in which issues of Rural India & farmers have thrown to back benches. Yavatmal & Wardha are the worst heat districts and therefore, being termed as Epicenter of farmers suicides, if you refer to the reports submitted by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Former Chairman of National Commission on Farmers & your friend.

We will be highly obliged, if you could spare few minutes to meet unfortunate widows of farmers either at Yavatmal or Wardha and incorporate this meeting in your busy schedule programme and arrange to inform us accordingly.

However, we strongly feel that it is not all well in Vidarbha and therefore, it's not right time for any cultural or dancing session inauguration. Social issues are so grave that, such white collar cultural & dancing session inauguration programmes need to be discarded and we all should address thrust issues of ruining Rural Economy of India and the agrarian crisis. We feel your Yavatmal & Wardha visit must addressed these core issues and due importance may please be given on such a serious subject.

Hon'ble Mr. Sir, We hope you will understand our feelings and do the needful accordingly.

Best Regards,
Yours faithfully,
For VIDARBHA JANANDOLAN SAMITI

KISHORE TIWARI
PRESIDENT

Saturday 2 June 2007

NHRC Inspection Visit - Kolam Vidarbha Maharashtra

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)
Ref No. VJAS/PIL-HC/Kolam Deaths/175/2007, June 2, 2007

NHRC VISIT Regarding STARVATION & MALNUTRITION DEATHS OF KOLAM TRIBALS :

NHRC Team to visit vidarbha on 4th june to have on the spot of fact finding report on kolam starvation death and condition regarding Drinking Water, Health Care & BPL Benefits to Kolam Tribals

Petitioner VJAS to raise all issues of plights of Tribals and lack of support from Government before NHRC

After having very difficult task to save the Maharashtra Govt. before Nagpur Bench of Mumbai High Court in PIL pertaining to most serious issues of Starvation & Malnutrition Deaths of Kolam Tribals in Yavatmal District, Now team of NHRC(Natinal huma right commission) headed Dr.L.P.Mishra is visitng on 4th june to vidarbha .This is the NHRC special team will visit all kolam pods to see in to facts raised by the Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti regading Government Apathy & lack of timely support from Mantralaya to address the various issues involving Right to Food, Shelter – Gharkul, Health Care, Education, Drinking Water, etc. to be made available to the distressed Tribals family in the Yavatmal District by the Ground Level Administration in solving the issues and the look in to the the Officials limitations in speedy implementing the Tribal Schemes for want of budgetary supports and approvals of the State Government.

Along with NHRC team ,it is reported Amravati Divisional Commissioner Dr. Sudhir Goyal , PIL Petitioner Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti President Sh. Kishore Tiwari and Counsels Adv. Firdos Mirza, Adv. Vinod Tiwari, Adv. Ajay Somani, Asst. Govt. Pleaders Smt. Bharti Dangre & Sh. Arvind Mujumdar and host of the Government Officials from Yavatmal District including District Collector Dr. Harshwardhan Kamble, Z.P. CEO Dr. Sikar Pardesi, Additional Tribal Commissioner Sh. Hmant Limaye, Dy. Commissioner - Civil Supply Sh. Hemant Pawar, Dy. Commissioner Sh. Jaywant Choudhari, I.D.T.P. Project Officer Sh. S.N.Saidane, Dr. Rathod (District Health Officer), Dy. Director of Health Services of Akola and other Officials of Tribals Development and District Administration will visit these kolam pods.NHRC is investigating the complaint filled by Petitioner Sh. Kishore Tiwari in the year 2003, in the wake of untimely, sudden starvation deaths of 52 Kolam Tribals which rocked entire nation in the year 2003.

It may be recalled that the report of High Power Committee appointed by the Hon'ble High Court had pointed out serious issues pertaining to Poor Health-Care, Contaminated & Poisonous Drinking Water, poor conditions of Ashram Schools run by Politicians, short coming in BPL Schemes and denial of benefits to the poor & innocent tribals families residing in 710 villages of tribals belts of Yavatmal Districts. Upon perusal of the report and on the request of PIL Petitioner, the High Court had ordered State Government to take immediate steps and submit Action Taken Report on the serious points raised by the High Power Committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner, Amravati in which Top IAS Officials where the Members of the said fact finding committee who all are the part of administration governing the control of various schemes. But in the joint meeting, officials express their limitations in solving various burning problems of the Tribals inspite of knowing fully well, as they lack in getting timely support from the State Government at Mantralaya even after their repeated efforts.

According to VJAS NHRC team will certainly be shocked to note that many of the villages are forced to drink fluoride contaminated and poisonous drinking water, non availability of Doctors in Tribals area, miserable conditions of shelter and housing, mis-managed Ashram Schools run by the Politicians, non inclusion of illegible families in BPL List due to delay in finalization of BPL list at Mantralaya level, guaranteed employment to the Tribals, etc.

NHRC has been adked for urgent needs for protection of deprived Tribal families whose fundamental Rights to Live & Liberty is infringed due to negligence of State Government as the Tribals have been denied Right to Food, Shelter, Health – Care, Drinking Water & Education inspite of the directions from the Hon'ble High Court.

Limitations of timely support from Mantralaya, the results expected have not been seen effectively, even after four years of continued efforts of the District Administration. The Petitioner was very critical upon the lack of support from State Government and its apathy towards the burning issues of the Tribals in Yavatmal district for which the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti is fighting continuously since last Seven Years.

Kishor Tiwari
Vidarbha JanAndolan Samiti