Unwed mothers: Rights panel seeks ATR from Mah govt-Hindustantimes

Monday, February 23, 2009

Unwed mothers: Rights panel seeks ATR from Mah govt-Hindustantimes

Pradip Kumar Maitra, Hindustan Times

Email Author

Nagpur, February 23, 2009

First Published: 20:43 IST(23/2/2009)

Last Updated: 20:45 IST(23/2/2009)

Unwed mothers: Rights panel seeks ATR from Mah govt

The state human rights commission has asked Maharashtra government to submit action taken report (ATR) over the unwed tribal mothers in Vidarbha region.

Responding to a writ petition, filed by Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti, the commission asked the government to spell out the rehabilitation measures it took to help the victims. Samiti's convenor Kishore Tiwari expressed concern over the rise of unwed mothers in tribal areas in the region, particularly in Yavatmal district, and requested the rights panel to direct the state to provide shelter and livelihood for a better life to such unwed mothers and their children.

Tiwari drew the rights panel attention of the over the rising trend of unwed mothers in the region and alleged that the police and administration were protecting the accused responsible for such heinous act. "In most cases, the prime accused hail from influential family with political connection. These people are sexually exploiting poor tribal girls," he alleged.

The petitioner demanded the integrated rehabilitation programme of all unwed mothers by providing them regular financial aid and restoration land rights and rights in property of the accused fathers of kids of these unwed mothers. "The government should also provide free education of these kids, along with all facilities, including better healthcare and food security," he said.

The cases of unwed mothers in tribal areas were first reported in 2005. Five tribal unwed mothers of Sushri, Matherjune, Kundi and Kelapur villages in Yavatmal district gave birth babies during the period. The VJAS later filed a petition before the state human rights commission and insisted helps for them.

The Samiti claimed that as per recent survey of district administration in Yavatmal, the cases of unwed tribal mothers have been increased phenomenally. Now such cases were reported over 300 in Yavatmal district alone while as many as 52 cases were reported in Jhari Tahsil. "It has now become a great concern for the society," says Tiwari.

The rights panel has fixed the next hearing on the issue on March 3.

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Vidarbha farmers feel let down-DNA reports on Interim Budget

Vidarbha farmers feel let down

'The interim budget has failed the rain-dependent farmers, especially in view of the severe drought in the state'

Jaideep Hardikar. Nagpur

The interim budget has failed to cheer up farmers in Vidarbha. There has been a dip in farm income, but the interim budget has failed to acknowledge this, farm leaders said. Recession has hit agriculture spending too, they said. The Bharat Nirman scheme is nothing new, the leaders said. It is the same programme announced after the 53rd National Development Council meeting in May 2007, when each state was told to submit district-wise plans to push up agricultural growth. Sources said farmers in state have suffered due to bad monsoon in 2008. In the western parts, Rabi crop could be saved because of late rains, but the farms in Vidarbha and Marathwada are in a bad state. "How will a farmer who cultivates a single crop and is dependent on good rains survive in an inflationary economy," wondered Vijay Jawandhia, a farm expert. The interim budget has offered no price guarantee for soybean, paddy or cotton farmers, who have been affected by volatile markets. The interim budget has failed the rain-dependent farmers, especially in view of the severe drought in the state, Jawandhia said. The government talks of 300% rise in farm credit outlay in the last seven years, but fails to mention a gradient dip in lending post waiver, said Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. In 2007-08, nationalised banks lent Rs4,400 crore and cooperative banks lent Rs4,800 crore as crop loan in Maharashtra. The figure for 2008-09 is only Rs4,400 crore, or just 50% of the previous year, he said. A senior officer with Maharashtra State Central Cooperative Bank admitted that crop loan disbursement would take a major hit. "Marathwada and Vidarbha would be the worst-hit regions," he said. This year, the Cotton Corporation of India and the Maharashtra State Cotton Growers' Cooperative Marketing Federation procured cotton from farmers in the state at minimum support prices between Rs2,700 and Rs3,000 (depending on quality), when the global prices were lower. The Centre should have declared an export subsidy on cotton and raised import duty to ensure there's no glut. Cotton procurement system will collapse in the state next year if the federation suffers huge losses, its officials feared.

PIL on Farmers suicides:Govt. failed to inform HC regarding ATR on Jadhav Committee recommendations.

NAGPUR:Feb 03, 2009

Maharashtra Govt. once again failed place the copy Dr Narendra Jadhav Committee report before hon,ble high court in matter of PIL on vidarbha afrmers suicides filed by VJAS .This was third time that Govt. pleader has requested HC to grant one week time for submitting the copy of report ,having asked for four.week and two week time earlier now high court has given one week time and case has been fixed for hearing after two weeks.A division bench of Justices Dilip Sinha and A P Bhangale, while hearing a PIL of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti president Kishore Tiwari, expressed concern on the unbated farmers suicide in Vidarbha.

Counsels for petitioner Firdos Mirza and Vinod Tiwari brought to the notice of court that state government had appointed Vice-Chancellor of Pune University Dr Narendra Jadhav, who had submitted his report on July 19 last year, but no action has been initiated by the respondent state government as it was expected that Maharashtra Govt. should take urgent steps to implement Dr Narendra Jadhav Committee recommendations, but most of recommendations are till unattended ,kishore tiwari , alleged in the recent application before the high court.

In a plea to the Hon,blr HC, president of the Samiti Kishor Tiwari has alleged that the institutionalised corruption and redtapism in implementation of Rs 5,000 crore special package is the main cause of the government's failure to arrest the ever growing suicides of distressed farmers in the most backward Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

Citing the efforts made by his organisation since 1999, Kishor Tiwari drew the attention of High court towards the probe report and recommendations by Dr Narendra Jadhav Committee.

The Committee submitted its report to the government on July 19 ,2008 and urged Maharashtra Govt. to take immediate remedial measures to avert further suicides of the distressed farmers and their families,but after lapse of 7 months ther is relief order from Govt.

A detailed survey by Government controlled Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swawlamban Mission states that the farmers 'in extreme distress' (Column 9 of the Survey Chart) are 4,34,291 and the farmers' families suffering from serious illness are 92,456 in six districts of Vidarbha.

The detailed survey was conducted by the Mission at Amravati under the guidance of Divisional Commissioner of Amravati in 8031 Villages of six districts of Vidarbha comprising of Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim and Wardha in which 17,64,438 families were surveyed by the Mission.
Dr Narendra Jadhav Committee recommendations are based on this report have asked to provide subsidies food to all distressed farmers and free health care to critically ill farm family members but till ther is no action hence there is ATR.
Petitioner has requested high court to arrange the implemntation of Dr Narendra Jadhav Committee recommendations but administration has not been able to give copy of report to HC ,kishor tiwari informed.