15/05/2007 - PM Vidarbha Package and Farmers

Aid yet to reach Vidarbha farmers : Surendra Gangan
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1097122

A meagre number have till now received the package of Rs 25,000 -

Though the state government has been claiming the implementation of 88 per cent of its special package for debt-ridden farmers of the Vidarbha region, the package of Rs25,000 each to thousands of farmers has not reached them yet, this apart from the government's non-compliance with its crop insurance schemes.

The state had earmarked Rs150 crores, out of the entire package of Rs1,075 crores allocated by the state, to help the debt-ridden farmers of Vidarbha. But, only Rs85 crores were allocated for the package of Rs25,000 each to nearly 60,000 farmers, out of which a meagre number of farmers have received the personal help. Expenditures have reached a mere Rs49.99 crores of the allocated amount. Even the crop insurance scheme has spent only Rs9.87 crores out of the allocated Rs19 crores.

In its presentation made to the central government last week, the state claimed Rs884.32 crores were spent of the package with a layout of Rs1,075 crores under nine different heads. The centre had also announced a special package of Rs3,750 crores to be utilised over the next three years.
"We have spent Rs 1,551.66 crores in the first year, which is 102 per cent of the allotted lay out. We have been successful in bringing 17,171 hectares under irrigation," an official from the rehabilitation department said.

The state has been prompt in its compensation to cotton-growing farmers. The state had targeted Rs370 crores and allocated Rs405.15 crores for three per cent capital formation fund, out of which Rs396.59 was spent. Interest subsidy on rescheduled crop loan, had a target of Rs225 crores and allocation Rs240.98 crores, out of which Rs 239.12 crores were spent.

The report states that 2,990 cases of suicides of debt-ridden farmers were registered during January 2001 and May 5, 2007, out of which 1,333 families of the deceased farmers have received ex-gracia assistance of Rs 1 lakh each.

07/03/2007

Western Vidarbha :
1. SHAKAR INGOLE, GRAMWADHANI, WASHIM
2. RAMBHAU KHULSANGE, HIWARA, WARDHA
3. RAMDAS SAMARTHA, SHIVANI, GADCHIROLI
4. RAIBHAN PAWAR, RAI TALAO, YAVATMAL
5. SARANGDHAR MALI, WAZEGOAN, AKOLA
6. JANUSHINGH RATHODE, IJANI, YAVATMAL
7. ASHOK SATPUTE, RALEGOAN, YAVATMAL

These suicdes of GM cotton farmers in Vidarbha, occurred during the Vidarbha election tour, and media firefighting, by Shri Vilas Rao Deshmukh, NCP Congress / Maharshtra Chief Minister.
He was claiming in media that Vidarbha agrarian suicides have begun to show a declining trend.
He also claimed that the Manmohan Singh's Vidarbha package was beginning to show results.
During this election tour from Mumbai, he begged for an additional 3-4 years in political power from voters, and blamed "vested interests" for raising issue of agrarian suicides.

One farmer Sarangdhar Mali, village Wazegoan, hanged himself during a Mental Health Counselling session with Dr Udhaorao Gadekar.
Government has decided to divert money towards mental health professionals, rather than addressing agrarian distress in Vidarbha, with agriculture policies.

06/03/2007 - Uttar Pradesh

Two UP Farmers commit suicide - Banda, Uttar Pradesh :
1. Hariya, Ujaratha village.
According to his wife, he said had mortgaged his two bigha of land for Rs 5,000 for getting his daughter married, and was unable to repay the debt.
2. Farmer, Name Unknown - unable to pay the debt to the moneylender committed suicide on Monday at Emalipurwa village.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate P K Jain said an inquiry had been ordered into the incidents.
- Monday, 06 March 2007 - Press Trust of India
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1945682,000900010004.htm

22/02/2007

Western Vidarbha :
1. Rajarao Tulsiram Mate, 60, suicide in offfice of MSEB substation, Bhandaraj Amaravati distt.
2. Surybhan Mahadu Atram, Kolam tribal of village Mandawa, Zari block, Yavatmal distt.
3. Vishnu Kamble, dalit farmer of Loni(gavali) in mehkar block of Buldhana distt.
4. Vithoba Pasare, dalit farmer of village tawi in Wardha distt.
5. Pramod Manik Shinde, Usalgavan of Dhamamgoan (rly)