Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Vidarbha MPs join hands, write to PM on Adani mine issue-Times of India - Ramu Bhagwat

Vidarbha MPs join hands, write to PM on Adani mine issue

Times of India - Ramu Bhagwat
NAGPUR: A day after Chandrapur city rallied in total support of environmentalists protesting the proposed coal mines threatening one of the last remaining tiger havens in the country, seven members of parliament from Vidarbha joined hands to show their support to the cause. What mattered most was these MPs are from desperate parties who rarely see eye-to eye on any issue.

Forgetting their political affiliations, Congress MPs led by Vilas Muttemwar (Nagpur), Datta Meghe (Wardha), Marotrao Kowase (Gadchiroli), BJP's Hansraj Ahir ( Chandrapur), Sanjay Dhotre (Akola) and Shiv Sena's Anandrao Adsul (Amravati) and Pratap Jadhav (Buldhana) wrote a joint letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh drawing his attention to the colossal damage that the Adani mines would cause in the vicinity of the famous Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).

"Adani Power Ltd has been allocated 1,750 hectares of rich forest land having coal reserves at Lohara neat Tadoba. We are of the considered view, based on incontrovertible information, that operation of the proposed opencast coal mine will cause irreparable damage to the rich biodiversity in and around TATR and seriously endanger the very existence of the tiger. There are 45 tigers in the reserve forest, rated as the best in the country in terms of tiger density," the letter signed by the seven MPs read. The letter was handed over to the PM by Muttemwar and Meghe, two seniormost leaders from Vidarbha.

A whopping 1,600 hectares of the land allocated to the private company supports rich forest from which over 12 lakh full grown trees will be cut down for the mining work, The biodiversity mainly comprises 18 animal species, nine of which including tiger and leopard are endangered species, 75 species of trees, 35 species of shrubs and herbs, 16 species of bamboo and grass and 21 species of climbers. As per the environmental impact analysis, the environmental cost would be a mind boggling Rs 2.78 billion, the letter has mentioned. The mining operation sp close to a protected forest negates the government's very own conservation policy on which billions are spent to protect tigers, the letter has noted.

The MPs have also suggested that Adani could be given an allocated some alternatives mining blocks where there is no damage to forest and wildlife. "Or the company may be advised to use coal which it regularly imports for the proposed power plant to come up at Tiroda in Gondia district. This way power can be produced without sacrificing rich forests, rare biodiversity and endangered tiger," the letter concludes.

ENVIRONMENT
Coal mining threatens tigers in Maharashtra reserve
Proposals for mining in the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve are pending at New Delhi for environmental clearance. Conservationists have warned against proceeding, while the state's politicians are for the mining. Jaideep Hardikar digs deeper.

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15 March 2009 - Chandrapur, March: For the wild life lovers and conservationists, the news could not have been more heartening. Junona, a tiny hamlet 15km east of Chandrapur tucked in the old and pristine forests of the district, has got a new tiger family: a tigress with three cubs; and if the villagers are to be believed, the robust male (perhaps the father of the cubs) is keeping the company.

Just last month, three abandoned two-month-old cubs found in the same jungle had to be shifted to the Nagpur zoo where they'll now spend rest of their life in cage. There's no news of their mother still. But the new family of the wild cat brings hope for the country's fast-shrinking tigers. This is the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), and that's where the happy news ends. In a matter of days, the last of tiger havens could be disturbed and eventually destroyed to pave way for the nation's still unmet thirst for electricity. This jungle sits on rich coal reserves, about to be mined.

Coal mining to choke tiger reserve

"We are staring at a disaster," says Mukesh Bhandakkar, a field assistant with the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). If the mining proposals get the nod from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), India should better forget tigers. Mukesh's fears do not seem exaggerated. The wild cat's future could only then be a caged existence like that of the three cubs. "I fear the new tiger family will meet the same fate too," says Mukesh. Junona's wilderness may be lost forever.

As many as 21 new opencast coalmines are threatening to transform Chandrapur city and district into one big coal quarry and overburden dumping ground. Four of these, argue conservationists, would cut the crucial tiger corridors that link the north and south Chandrapur forest divisions. Three of the four captive mines � Lohara-Lohara Extension, Lohara (west) and Agarzari � are in buffer zone of the TATR.

If the proposals get the MoEF nod, the TATR would be rendered an island, where tigers would perish within years. A tiger requires approximately 10 square km of territory to exist, and if that space shrinks, the wild cat doesn't breed; something that only nature could explain. Currently, tigers from TATR have vast stretches of corridors to go places in north and south Chandrapur divisions during the breeding season. If the mines come up several kms of corridors would be snapped east-west forever.

The road piercing the forests with the demarcation of Adani Mine project area. Pic: Jaideep Hardikar.

The first one to come to the area is the Adani Mining Company, a sister concern of the Adani Power Company that has bagged 1750-ha of captive coalmine blocks in Lohara (west) and Lohara extension for its thermal power project in Gondia. Part of the Wardha valley coalfields, the blocks bear an estimated 170 million tons of coal deposits, of which 140 Mt is extractible. Man and machine would go to the depths of 350 metres to extract the coal round the clock. Already, the Lohara village, which would be acquired for the project, is ready to move with hefty cash compensation being offered by the company.

Nitin Desai, western India head of the WPSI, says that every single tiger left with now is a percentage of the population; Chandrapur has 80 tigers. The mining projects are only going to negate all that conservationists did for years, he points out. �The fact that there's a tigress with three cubs four months old apart from other wildlife indicates that it's a flourishing tiger habitat. At what cost are you handing over such inviolate forests to the mining projects then?"

Company ready to minimise impact, damage may be irreparable

In a presentation that the Adani group made on December 22, 2008 before the forest officials and NGOs in Nagpur, the former admitted to the destruction through direct and indirect impacts. The presentation was based on the Environment Impact Assessment study. The company noted that the project would destroy forest and the habitat of wild animals, which include of tigers, leopards, sloth bear, wild dogs and some 70 other species. The Lohara forests have a measured density of 0.7-0.8, forest officials say. This, in the forest conservation parlance, is sacrosanct � you cannot touch it.

Sanjeev Dokey, the general manager of Adani Mining, says the company is open to all that would help reduce the impact of mining activity. "The mine life is 40 years; we are dividing it into two halves. We'll dig western side first and start filling the mined area by the overburden simultaneously, so that no more than 800 hectares of area is under use at one time," he argues.

Fact file: Chandrapur is home to Maharashtra's nearly 60 per cent forest

By 2007 census, there are over 80 tigers in the protected and reserve forests of the district, about 8-9 per cent of the existing tiger population of the country 21 new coal mines are in pipeline in the district apart from 10 existing ones.

Three of these open cast mines are in buffer zone around the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, one of the last remaining havens for Indian tigers.

The allotted coal blocks sit on TATR buffer zone, or reserve forest that is a rich tiger corridor linking north and south Chandrapur forest divisions.

It has an estimated 300 species of trees and about 70 wild animals.

The biodiversity that will perish is irreplaceable and invaluable.

The Lohara and Lohara (Extension) blocks are allocated to the Adani Mining Ltd as captive source of proposed thermal power plant to come in Tiroda, Gondia.

The Rs.1200 crores project over 1750-ha of forest (with an estimated 0.7 and 0.8 density) will be one of the biggest opencast coalmine in the country.

The company has got a lease of 40 years with an ultimate working depth of 350 metres.

The mine has estimated 140 million tones of extractible coal deposits and a total of 170 million tones of geological reserves.

The company will pay Rs.170 crore in compensation for the forestland.

Murli Agro has bagged the adjoining 700-ha Lohara East coal block, which, if cleared by the MoEF, would along with the Lohara West snap the tiger corridor and kill the last remaining forest reserves.

The coal block in Agarzari spread over 700-ha of forest has been allotted to the Maharashtra State Mining Company (MSMC). It will be an extension to the existing Padmapur coalmine, which has already destroyed vast stretches of forest.

Mines will not only snap the corridor forever, it'll render the TATR an island; it means a quick death of tigers and other extinct flora and fauna in the zone.

The company would regenerate the mined area immediately, he explains, and adds that not the entire area would be required for mining activity. While admitting that the rigorous round-the-clock mining activity would not only destroy the forest wealth, but also impact the wild life habitat, the Adani Mining Company has shown its commitment to reduce the impact and go to any extent to do conservation.

"India will have to decide now. Either we protect forests or go ahead with the irreparable destruction of something that only nature can create."
Mohan Hirabai Hiralal, Chandrapur's frontline conservationist and thinker.


Tiger terror in Chandrapur
Resettling people for the tiger

"The company," Dokey had said during the public hearing in Lohara last year, "is equally concerned, and a detailed survey of flora/fauna and wildlife management from reputed organization, Environsearch Pune has been undertaken. The report of wildlife management will be finalised in consultation with the chief wildlife warden, Maharashtra state, and further it will be submitted to the MoEF for the further decision." Only, there won't be any forest or wild life left to manage.

Key politicians and officials are in support

The issue has also exposed powers-that-be and local politicians, the MLAs and the MPs, who first bitterly opposed it, but later dropped their anti-project stand.

The chairman of the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation (MSMC) and former MLA from Chimur, Avinash Warjukar, believes power, steel and cement are the top priorities before the country. "Unless you give coal fuel to these sectors you can't generate employment. It's time we decided if man is important or tiger."

The allotment of coalmine blocks bang in the sensitive buffer zones around the TATR to companies having the backing of powerful politicians has come as a shocker to the conservationists. The open and vocal support to some of these companies, particularly to Adani Mining Company, by Maharashtra forest minister, Babanrao Pachpute, only deepens the fear of the nature lovers.

Pachpute is evidently in favour of the projects. "We'll do our best to reduce its impact," he told a meeting of conservationists last month in Nagpur, where he openly backed the Adani project and issued a veiled warning to the conservationists to toe his line. The minister instead set up an informal study committee to recommend steps to reduce the impact of mining.

But a top forest official, admits on the condition of anonymity: "If the proposed coal mines get clearance, na bachega bagh, na rahega jungle." His concern: "Even if you pay crores of rupees in compensation for the trees lost or wildlife killed, you can not recreate this forest, which is not man made but a nature's gift." The biotic interference has grown to such extent that forest won't grow in the future.

Graphic on mines in buffer zones cutting the tiger corridors. Pic: Jaideep Hardikar.

Not all government-controlled bodies are toeing the minister�s line. In a written reply to a query under the RTI Act filed by Swanand Soni, convenor of Ekjut, a local platform of 25 environmental groups, the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) said on 3 December 2008 that the environmental damage that the mines would cause would be irreparable. It will also create huge amount of pollution, which, in the district, has already reached hazardous levels.

"At best they can build a garden but can't recreate forest wealth and wild life, which is only the nature's gift," says Soni. He however adds that Ekjut is not opposed to any project or a company, but merely activity in tiger tracts. "We have no objection if the government allots them mining blocks at some other place that does not fall on forest land," he says and adds that the company should finalise its report on impact on wildlife pre and post-mining activity in consultation with some of India's best-known experts given the gravity of the issue. "You can't bank on the opinion of only wildlife warden when the issue is of such gravity and covets a decisive policy direction."

Past experience and environmental clearance rejection is basis for hope

Experience however is that forest conservation and mining don't go hand in hand. The Padampur coalmine, along the Agarzari block allotted freshly to the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation (MSMC) in Chandrapur is an example. The mining has destroyed huge tracts of forest along the TATR boundary apart from dramatically increasing the biotic pressures on the other reserve forests.

Ekjut has demanded that a comprehensive study be undertaken to gauge the impact of all the 21 mines on forests, bio-diversity and human settlements. Soni says the cluster of mines would cut one contiguous forest corridor into several patches, which eventually would perish with the growing biotic interference. "All the country's experts must study the combined impact of all the mines than the impact of just one mining project of the Adanis," propose the Ekjut members.

Conservationist Bandu Dhotre warns: "Destruction of these forests by the mines will set the ecological time bomb. We'll lose forever the only oxygen cylinder." That's not all. The mines would eventually destroy Asia's only teak germ-plasm bank, started 40 years ago, with about 300 varieties of teak plants. If conserved, India would be able to clone all the teak varieties 60 years from now.

Mohan Hirabai Hiralal, Chandrapur's frontline conservationist and thinker, says the issue is not local; it's global, and most importantly, national. "India will have to decide now. Either we protect forests or go ahead with the irreparable destruction of something that only nature can create."

He warns generations would be haunted by an ecological disaster following the destruction of forests. "It's not just the tiger's." What's at stake is ecologically rich forest with an irreplaceable, invaluable biodiversity, which can't be valued in cash. The allotted blocks are home to over 300 species of centuries-old trees, official data shows. Some of the trees are such that they can't be re-planted now due to changing climate and growing human interference, forest officials say.

The conservationists are ready for a protracted battle with the government and the private companies. They have hope from two precedents.

One, exactly ten years ago, the MoEF had rejected the ACC Ltd's proposal of the Lohara (East) coalmine, the 700-ha forest block now allotted to Murli Agro Ltd adjoining the proposed coalmine of the Adani group. Refusing to issue the crucial environment clearance, the MoEF had then said: "The proposed Lohara (East) coalmine project falls close to the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary and Tadoba Tiger Reserve and would adversely affect the wildlife and bio-diversity of the area."

Two, Indira Gandhi, the then prime minister of India, had in the late nineteen-seventies and early eighties dropped the Bhopalpatnam and Silent Valley projects, for the reason that they would destroy the vastly rich bio-diversity that man could not recreate. Three decades on, conservationists wonder if her vision could come in handy to save the wild cat from near extinction. Or push them into a caged existence forever.

Jaideep Hardikar
15 March 2009

Jaideep Hardikar is a Nagpur based journalist. He has also been a recipient of several national media fellowships and was the winner of the 2003 Sanskriti award from Sanskriti Foundation, New Delhi, and a 2005 scholarship to research the agrarian crisis in Vidarbha from the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust, New Delhi.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Vidarbha JanAndolan Samiti

Regd. Office: 11, Trisaran Society, In Front of Somalwar School, Khamla, Nagpur – 440 025.

Contact Office at Post Pandharkawada – 445 302. Dist. Yavatmal (M.S.)

Ph : 07235 – 227564 / 227387 Mobile – 9371137653/ 9422108846

President –

Kishore Tiwari,

B.E. (Mech.Engg.), M.B.A., LL.B., M.A. (Pub. & Admn.), M.A. Sociology,

M.I.S. (USA), Fellow - I.E.H., Fellow – Institution of Engineers (India)-

Chartered Engineer

Ref: VJAS/MLA-LADF/175/2009 20.07.2009.

To,

His Highness Shri S.C. Jamir

Hon’ble Governor,

Govt. of Maharashtra, Raj Bhavan, Malbar Hill,

Mumbai-400001.

Sub : Request to Cancel & Withdraw Government Resolution extending illegal State Largesse & Extra Ordinary Illegal Favor to MLAs & MLCs : Local Area Development Funds meant for entire Financial Year -2009-10 is being allowed to be spent in Six Months Time as the MLAs term is expiring in October 2009 :

New MLAs will not have any Local Area Development Funds for Six Months as entire funds of F.Y. 2009-10 will be spent by outgoing MLAs to suit their favors.

Ref : Govt. Resolution No. LAD-2009/CS No. 85/Ka/1445 dated 16th June, 2009 issued by Planning Department of Govt. of Maharashtra, Mantralaya, Mumbai, extending State largesse to MLAs & MLCs – Local Area Development Funds meant for entire Financial Year -2009-10 is being allowed to be spent in Six Months Time as the MLAs term is expiring in October 2009.

Dear Sir,

Pl. refer to the Govt. Resolution No. LAD-2009/CS No. 85/Ka/1445 dated 16th June, 2009 issued by Planning Department of Govt. of Maharashtra, Mantralaya, Mumbai, under the orders & authority in the name of Your Honor, through which Government of Maharashtra has surprisingly extended State Largesse & Extra Ordinary Illegal Favor to MLAs & MLCs – Local Area Development Funds meant for entire Financial Year -2009-10 is being allowed to be spent in Six Months Time as the MLAs term is expiring in October 2009. This has been done contrary to the general practice being adopted by all State Governments and Central Government to allow only proportionate quantum of Local Area Development Funds to MLAs – MPs considering the balance tenure in the respective Financial Year especially when the legislature / parliament term is ending mid of the Financial Year.

But to the utter surprise of all, totally arbitrary and malafide decision has been taken by the Govt. of Maharashtra to extend extra ordinary and illegal favour to MLAs by allowing them to spent entire fund of Rs. 100.00 lakhs meant for F.Y. 2009-10 in 4-5 months time so that they can enjoy the fruits out of this. This is highly objectionable and illegal, as the State largesse & Extra Ordinary Illegal Favor has been provided to MLAs & MLCs – Local Area Development Funds meant for entire Financial Year -2009-10 is being allowed to be spent in Six Months Time as the MLAs term is expiring in October 2009. As such the GR issued is bad in the eyes of law because it is causing direct loss to the State Treasury.

In view of above, we request you to please to arrange to withdraw & cancel the above referred GR to save the public funds being spent lavishly without any moral & lawful authority due to the said GR.

We hope you will take immediate steps to protect the interest of State Public Funds.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

KISHORE TIWARI

PRESIDENT

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI.

Cc : Shri Johny Joseph, Hon’ble Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra, Mantralaya, Mumbai-400032.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir's visit to dying field of Vidarbha :VJAS urged Jamir to Provide Integrated Development Plan to remove back log of Vidarbha.

Nagpur- July 24, 2009

Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir today visited pandharkawada ,place known as dying field due on going cotton farmers suicides due to agrarian crisis and starvation death of kolam tribals .Delegation of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) has desicussed the problems of west vidarbha and submitted the memorandum detailing the hardships of vidarbha and urged Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir and quote -




To,

Shri SC Jamir ,

Hon,ble Governor ,

Govt. Of Mahrashtra

Camp-Yavatmal

Ref-Problems of vidarbha need urgent attention for integrated development of region.

Most respected sir,

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, a committee fighting for the justice to poor citizens, Tribals and Dalits. The samiti has successfully persuaded the cause of Malnutrition and the serious issue of Starvation deaths of tribals which rocked the Yavatmal District in the year 2003,we are internationally known advocacy group fighting for right of cotton farmers and raising voice against toxic food promoted through GM seeds in India. We have been raising issue of unwed mother and plights of vidarbha farm widows .we want to drow your attention to following systematic failure of vidarbha leading to agrarian crisis and has made pathetic condition of vidarbha region.the major area we want to draw your attention v.i.z.

1.Complete failure of NREGA(maharashtra rajya EGS)

Even maharshtra is pioneering state to introduce rural employment guarantee scheme ,the response and performance of NREGA is under big scanner as work offered to villagers they are not willing to work hence man days made available in last years are speaking the successes of this scheme it needs urgent modification to have rural masses involvement ,you are kindly requested to appoint stake holders committee to suggest proper modification

2.Failure and poor implementation of NRHM (National Rural Health Mission).

The present staff and services available speaks regarding complete failure of NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) in vidarbha as health services from top to bottom are too poor to explain .we are ready to show you the pathetic condition of health services that needs critical intensive care as it is virtually on ventilation. All provisions of expert to super specialty are on paper as there is no 24+7 doctor in any PHC ,state has failed to provide qualified staff nurse and pathologist in 90% of tribal health centers and rural hospitals .

3.Failure and poor implementation of NFSM(National Food Security Mission).

We are happy to inform you that all kolam tribal have already been covered under antyodaya scheme but other tribals are till not covered under antyodaya scheme hence please ask maharashtra to provide food security to every tribal family in vidarbha

4 Failure and poor implementation of INDIRA AWWAS YOJANA for tribals.

Till date more than 75% tribals have not been provided the shelter under Indiara Awwas Yojana hence to provide house to every tribal family in vidarbha

5.Failure and poor implementation of ICDS in tribal belt of vidarbha .

presently the ICDS is being implemented by state on temporary basis hence anagwadi and balwadi staff is not paid proper salary ,the mid day meal through SHG has been failed hence urgent review is need of ICDS in tribal part .

6.Failure and poor implementation of Prime Minister Farmer Relief Package in west vidarbha.

Presently relief package given by prime minister of India in order to tackle agrarian crisis and to stop farmers suicide is not been implemented properly due to massive corruption high level committee report on failure of relief package is pending with maharashtra govt. please arrange to review the report and order C.B.I. probe in to irregularities in farmers relief packages.

7.Failure and poor implementation of farmer loan waiver relief due to poor response from nationalized banks.

All loan waiver provided by central and state Govt. failed to bring out debt trap of farmers from exploitation of private money lenders hence agriculture credit review after loan waiver is must and state should provide regulator for farm credit to every cultivator .

8. Failure and poor implementation of various Governors directives to states for clearing backlog of vidarbha in the field of irrigation and education.

All earlier directives given by you in order to remove existing backlog of irrigation and education is not implemented hence corrective action is needed to address the unrest in west vidarbha.

9. Failure and poor implementation of ITDP and mass diversion of tribal fund .

The implementation of integrated tribal development programme is not serious iisue for the administration as state has not created regular cadre and staff to implement the long term plan of tribal development hence failure of ITDP has lead to this pathetic condition of tribals in vidarbha.

10. issue of farm widows and unwed mother

The region is in the grip of agrarian crisis, tribal starvation that created various social problems and there are thousands of farm widows and hundereds unwed mothers mostly from tribal community needs rehabilitation ,you are kindly requested to arrange to provide the relief to farm widows and unwed mothers.

11. Deforestation and land less farmers issue .

The region is facing serious problem of deforestation by land less farmers that has created serious climate change to ecological problem hence hence preservation of forest is must

unquote

--------------



“the ground condition in rural vidarbha is pathetic,it not only issue of farmers suicides and tribal starvation deaths,the region is going through the complete system failure .peopel need urgent steps to remove the darkness , Governor SC Jamir will certainly arrange to give us relief under his constitutional powers of section 371-372 to remove over back log of vidarbha”Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) urged Governor SC Jamir today.


VJAS delegation of vidarbha farm widows,unwed mothers and cotton farmers today met Governor SC Jamir in the village akoli in Yavatmal District provided administration is ,Kishore Tiwari informed today .
Governor SC Jamir was informed abput the major issues of backwardness of mainly Irrigation backlogs of vidarbha which has increased whopping Rs 24265 crore from Rs.405 in 1982 according to a survey done by the Dandekar Committee thanks to the casual and step-motherly approach of western Maharashtra politicians who have always had an upper hand in state politics and always ignored governor directives under constitutional powers of section 371-372 .

“such visits of VIP to vidarbha is works as salt rubbing to our burns due to political indifference suffered by Vidarbha since it became a part of Maharashtra, darkness of vidarbha can only be removed by giving separate statehood to vidarbha ”tiwari added.
Vidarbha since it became a part of Maharashtra it has been given a colony status as Maharashtra Govt. failed give fund planned in state outlay allotted to spent on removing development backlog of backward vidarbha even after it was officially accepted by the then government since 1960.It is always alleged that politicians from western Maharashtra take away all benefits for development of western Maharashtra after formation of Maharashtra .

VJAS urged Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir to provide integrated development plan to remove back log of vidarbha. With time bound solution to address agrarian crisis, issue of irrigation and power crisis and justice to tribals ,tiwari informed.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir to see darkness Vidarbha :VJAS urged Jamir to Provide Integrated Development Plan to remove back log of Vidarbha.

Nagpur- July 22, 2009

Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir is on five days tour to vidarbha from 21st July to 25th July and it is learnt that he wants to under stand basic issues of related to farmers suicides, tribals starvation and malnutrition ,irrigation backlog and existing power crisis . SC Jamir veteran politician is visiting hospital, schools and police station along with other institutes where administration has arranged stage managed show cum visits, he has already visited naxalite effected Gadchiroli District and attending washim today then he will visiting farm suicide capital of vidarbha that tribal belt of west vidarbha part of of Yavatmal district to know the hardships of hundreds farm widows,unwed mothers, starved kolam tribals but it is unlikely that local administration will make his visit possible with these people in order to avoid humiliation due to it’s complete failure to implement NREGA,NRHM,Indiara Awwas Yojana ,ITDP,ICDS,control order 2001 to provide food security to poor under BPL families.

“the ground condition in rural vidarbha is pathetic,it not only issue of farmers suicides and tribal starvation deaths,the region is going through the complete system failure .peopel need urgent steps to remove the darkness , Governor SC Jamir will certainly arrange to give us relief under his constitutional powers of section 371-372 to remove over back log of vidarbha”Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) urged Governor SC Jamir today.

VJAS delegation of vidarbha farm widows,unwed mothers and cotton farmers is visitng Governor SC Jamir on 24th afternoon in the village akoli in Yavatmal District provided administration is granting the permission ,Kishore Tiwari informed today .
The major issue in fact is the Irrigation backlogs of vidarbha which has increased whopping Rs 24265 crore from Rs.405 in 1982 according to a survey done by the Dandekar Committee thanks to the casual and step-motherly approach of western Maharashtra politicians who have always had an upper hand in state politics and always ignored governor directives under constitutional powers of section 371-372 .

“such visits of VIP to vidarbha is works as salt rubbing to our burns due to political indifference suffered by Vidarbha since it became a part of Maharashtra, darkness of vidarbha can only be removed by giving separate statehood to vidarbha ”tiwari added.
Vidarbha since it became a part of Maharashtra it has been given a colony status as Maharashtra Govt. failed give fund planned in state outlay allotted to spent on removing development backlog of backward vidarbha even after it was officially accepted by the then government since 1960.It is always alleged that politicians from western Maharashtra take away all benefits for development of western Maharashtra after formation of Maharashtra .

VJAS urged Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir to provide integrated development plan to remove back log of vidarbha. With time bound solution to address agrarian crisis, issue of irrigation and power crisis and justice to tribals ,tiwari informed.

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

Pulse crisis-Tur prices still high-Times of India Reports

Printed from

Tur prices stable but still high

*****
Farm activists Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) on Sunday claimed retail rates have crossed Rs 100 a kg in markets around Yavatmal. Tiwari, who operates from Yavatmal, one of the highest Tur growing centre of the state, says that the government must begin sale of the pulse through public distribution system. Moreover, the state must also bring into place quantitative restrictions on storage of tur dal capping it at 5,000 quintals. "While the centre had issued guidelines in this regard it has been only implemented in Andaman and Nicobar while Tur growing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh should also have implemented the rule," added Tiwari.
****
NAGPUR: The spiralling prices of tur dal seem to have finally taken a pause. Good monsoons and a better crop outlook have eased the rates by around Rs 500-800 in the wholesale market in the last one week. But even then it remains much above the common man's reach.

Wholesalers say that the rates have come down to Rs 8,000 a quintal for best variety while for others they are up to Rs 7300-7000. This would translate to a rate of around 75 to 85 a kg in the retail market where prices had already touched Rs 90-92 per kg, added Suresh Bhojwani, former president of Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce (NVCC). The drop in demand due to high prices is also one of the factors for the rates to come down, he added. Till last week wholesale rates had seen an average daily rise of Rs 100 a quintal.

A section of traders brush calls it just a correction in the market and are uncertain about trend in the future. A quick survey by the TOI revealed that Tur dal was being still sold at Rs 84 to even Rs 90 a kg in the grocery shops. Retailers acknowledge that wholesale prices have come down. They say it may not bring down retail rates but would certainly arrest further rise. "I am selling dal at Rs 90 a kg but I think this is the end of upward movement," said a store-keeper.

Farm activists Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) on Sunday claimed retail rates have crossed Rs 100 a kg in markets around Yavatmal. Tiwari, who operates from Yavatmal, one of the highest Tur growing centre of the state, says that the government must begin sale of the pulse through public distribution system. Moreover, the state must also bring into place quantitative restrictions on storage of tur dal capping it at 5,000 quintals. "While the centre had issued guidelines in this regard it has been only implemented in Andaman and Nicobar while Tur growing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh should also have implemented the rule," added Tiwari.
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Pulse (Tur Dal) prices crossed Rs.100 per kg : VJAS urged Indian Govt. for urgent intervention to off load stock

Nagpur-JULY 19TH 2009

Now as predicted by VJAS Pulse (Tur Dal) prices has crossed Rs.100 per kg today but till today neither state PDS or central PDS official has taken any step to off load the stock of pulses and arrange to provide 10 k.g. of pulses @Rs.10 under public distribution system(PDS) to all BPL families as demanded earlier .

VJAS alleged Indian PDS minister sharad pawar’s active involvement in Pulse (Tur Dal) prices unprecedented volatility as this is pure artificial speculation of prices created few big traders and dal mill owners in central India.

“There is no justification for this pulse price rise as there is no change in national stock and supply imported lemon tur is also smooth but after loksabha election price rise is daily at alarming rate as it started with Rs.34 per kg. at the time of polling day and is now already being traded at Rs.102 per kg. that’s 300% rise in Pulse (Tur Dal) prices is last 50 days and we are till awaiting the central Govt. intervention but no relief yet which is very unfortunate” alleged Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS)who are running right to food movement in Vidarbha .

“It’s high time for union minister for food supplies sharad pawar to break the silence over Pulse (Tur Dal) prices as now Pulse (Tur Dal) prices have crossed Rs.100 per kg and till increasing on a daily basis due to unwarranted panic in the market as Govt. is giving political protection to few traders of pulses who are holding half of the national stock of Tur Dal . it’s urgent need to crack down these mafia operation to bring down artificial prices rise of Pulse (Tur Dal)” Kishore Tiwari urged the Indian Govt.

Tur dal, the staple diet of billions, has now gone off the platter of all poor due to its spiraling prices and the sales of tur dal, ruling close to Rs 102 kg, have come down almost 45% as not only the poor but also a section of middle class refusing to buy it.

Hence VJAS urged Indian Govt .to provide 10 k.g.of pulses @Rs.10 under public distribution system(PDS) to all BPL families along with strong penal action against all dal mill owners who are creating artificial shortage and hedging of price in open and commodity market too, Tiwari added.

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Saturday, July 18, 2009

Pathetic condition of Private Engg. Colleges in Maharashtra –VJAS urged Indian Govt. to nationalise all private Engg. Colleges

Pathetic condition of Private Engg. Colleges in Maharashtra –VJAS urged Indian Govt. to nationalise all private Engg. Colleges

Nagpur-19TH JULY 2009

Vidarbha Janandolan samiti (VJAS ) has drawn the attention of Indian Govt. towards the pathetic condition and ill management of Private Engg. Colleges running degree courses in

advance courses of Engg. And technology as non of college has got technical qualified staff ,more over the laboratories and libraries and either are in a dying stage or most of institutes are having it on papers as per recent AICTE inspection report done for accreditation as more than 98% institutes are till not officially approved by apex body of central govt. monitoring the quality of these qualities but role of AICTE has been very doubtful as all the time inspection team is being bribed by the management to get time lease for up gradation ..

Here is actual in take capacity of these private colleges in Maharashtra and the metros like Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur are having 80% of these bogus Engg. Colleges run by politicians

CITY

ENGG COLLEGE

IN TAKE CAPACITY(Including management quota)

PUNE

66 (New Addition 8)

28,810

MUMBAI

54 (New Addition 6)

24,800

NAGPUR

52 (New Addition 5)

22,800

AMRAVATI

23 (New Addition 3)

8,400

MAHARASHTRA

284 (New Addition 56)

1,12,312

STAFF

Out of 284 state permitted Engg. only 22 has got regular qualified principal as person holding master degree with Ph.D. with more than 10 years teaching experience are not available and most of colleges are showing names of persons who working in corporate houses or out side India and are being paid huge amount to attend AICTE inspection .the condition of lower staff at the level of professor and asst. Professor is too worst to explain as most of the ex-students who failed to complete the degree even after 7-8 years are being offered the job teachers in the name of some other person working in US or in the industries.

‘Even Girl friend of owner of college with out having basic Master Degree and experience all most nil ,is working as principal of one best ranked Engg. Institutes in Nagpur. ‘when illiterate Minister can be the vice-chancellor of our deemed university then what’s wrong ’ innocent student of B.E.(I) Mona Agrawal asked “frequency of change of teacher is so fast that this year our external examiner has given us internal marks at the time of final exam as in the whole session ,there were change of teacher in every fortnight and no practical performed , but thanks to the external as he has given Fullmark’s to every body’ she added.

‘there is always a fear of final year students as most of them are likely to be our faculty member for next academic year, as it is happening since 2001 ,we are being threaten by senior accordingly, when we try to report eve teasing ’ she said.

‘It’s mockery of education and innocent victimisation of our parents as we have to join private tuitions classes right from first semester to last one by paying very heavy fees. state should stop this exploitation ’mona urged.

“there are outdated computers mostly given to college under from his MP/MLA LAD fund by owner of the institute ,all equipments are either faulty or there is no operator to show it’s functioning ,when we ask for the text books in the library then Liberian gives name bookstall suggesting purchase it”

Vidarbha Janandolan samiti (VJAS ) has asked Indian Govt. to nationalize and regulate these mass mushrooming of private Engg. College in Maharashtra in order to stop degradation of standards of technical education in India.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Climate change: Indian farmers driven to suicide-Guardian Weekly,UK.

Climate change: Indian farmers driven to suicide

Wednesday July 15th 2009

http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/?page=editorial&id=1165&catID=4

Founder of the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti group, Kishor Tiwari turned away from a career in engineering to defend the rights of farmers – a group known for high suicide rates – in the Vidarbha area of Maharashtra state, India. He describes how lives are being torn apart because climate change has led to failed monsoons, drought and unnaturally hot summers


Wednesday July 15th 2009

Lead article photo

An Indian farmer looks towards the sky, while standing amidst his drought-stricken crop. Photograph: Dipak Kumar/Reuters

In 1997, at the peak of my 16-year career as an electrical engineer, I left my lucrative job to perform social work. I began cultivating cotton, and quickly realised that such a life was very different from that of people living in big cities.

The survival of an ordinary farmer, on an agricultural income, depends on many factors – higher crop seed yield, procurement of superior seeds and fertilisers at subsidized rates, the availability of banks loans, cheaper repayments of interest and most of all a good monsoon.

In 1999 I started Jan Andolan Samiti, an organisation to fight for the rights of local farmers and tribal people, focusing on the issues of human rights and the environment. In 2005 I began to protest against farmer’s suicides, because those unable to pay off debts had begun to kill themselves in my region of Vidarbha.

Vidarbha has become renowned for farmer’s suicides. Farmers traditionally lead a poverty-stricken and miserable life, but this has become worse since the collapse of the area's rural economic system.

One of the most worrying factors affecting our community is climate change. The Met department had predicted an excellent monsoon this year. Now, the threat of El Nino looming large over India may prove the weather pundits wrong. Due to El Nino, central India will get only half the expected amount of rain this year. Northern India will be the worst affected by this non-activity.

Indian farmers have always been dependent on the monsoon and its benefits for the harvest. Those in Vidarbha mainly grow cotton and pulses. Crops were sown before the onset of the monsoon, so when it arrives late the seeds are damaged, slashing income. Whatever rain we do receive is scant.

Western Vidarbha, which normally gets 40mm of rain during a good monsoon, received only 12-13mm this year. Eastern Vidarbha received a poor 3-4mm against the normal 60mm. We have lost a good month of monsoon though there is another two months left to rain.

As river and dam water fall below normal levels, irrigation dries up. Lack of potable water is becoming another big problem. One of the suggestions I made to farmers is to shift from water-dependent crops, like paddy and cotton, to less thirsty crops such as Jowar and Bajri.

In 2009, Vidarbha received the smallest amount of rain in five years. On the other hand, sometimes we experience unseasonal rains during non–monsoon season which destroy our crops. Excessive rains flood our fields. During summer we see abnormal rises in the daily temperature and the heat often becomes unbearable for farmers working in open fields. Sun stroke is now common.

It is farmers in Vidarbha who will be the worst affected by monsoon failure this year. It will bring back memories of past suicides. Most farmers here have not benefited from loan waiver schemes introduced by the government, and still have huge debts to pay off. Crop failure has made them even poorer and scant rainfall has pushed the prices of all essential items extremely high. Poor farmers have no money to care for their family.

Cows are considered holy animals to a Hindu family. Lack of grass and the high price of fodder has made their rearing expensive, so farmers are increasingly selling them and using the money for household expenses. I am concerned that this grim situation will drive more to suicide.

Vidarbha has seen rampant deforestation, which I believe contributes to the odd weather. Landless farmers clear forest to cultivate crops and officials turn a blind eye to illegal lumber operations. The thinning of forest trees and plants has crippled forest density and heavy deforestation in Central India has created ecological imbalances.

Farmers using chemicals and pesticides are affecting the flora and fauna of the region. My organisation is doing its best to educate people about this but the government also has to play a role in stopping damage to our environment.

Farmers are conducting religious rites, looking up at the sky and praying for rainfall. The government is even planning to use cloud seeding. So I am keeping my fingers crossed for a monsoon revival.

Kishore Tiwari was speaking to journalist Rajen Nair

Comment on this article

Friday, July 10, 2009

'Food security law may hit the poor'- Times of India

Printed from




'Food security law may hit the poor'

10 Jul 2009, 0141 hrs IST, TNN


NAGPUR: The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) has expressed apprehensions that the proposed food security law may increase essential foodgrain prices by 30 per cent. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had in his budget speech proposed to introduce a Food Security Act under which every family below poverty line would be provided 25 kg rice or wheat at Rs 3 per kg.

In a letter to the union agriculture and PDS minister Sharad Pawar, VJAS president Kishore Tiwari has expressed fears that the proposed law may spike food rates up by 30% and may cut monthly allocation of more than 32 million poor families under existing Antyodaya scheme by 35%. The proposed Bill was imminent following the UPA government's poll promise of subsidized foodgrains to the poor. President Pratibha Patil too in her address to Parliament on June 4 said a National Food Security Act would be formulated under which each BPL family would be entitled to get 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 a kg, said Tiwari. Surprisingly no allocation has been made for this in the budget 2009-10.

Tiwari wondered how the scheme will be implemented without any funds although it would cost several thousand crore rupees. The draft Bill will be put up on the website of the ministry of food and public distribution seeking public opinion. He pointed out that already the Centre was providing 35 kg of rice or wheat per month to each BPL family. Wheat is supplied at Rs 4.15 per kg while rice at Rs 5.65 to over four crore families below the poverty line.

If the same is distributed under the proposed law it will reduce the monthly allocation to the poorest of the poor by 10 kg who will also have to pay Rs.3 a kg in place of Rs 2 that they now get under Antyodaya scheme. Hence, new food security law may turn end up hitting the poor, he said. The Centre has enough buffer stocks to implement the control order 2001 as per apex court order in right to food petition of H D Dua. But till date, the state had failed to address the serious issue of hunger even though there is a bumper foodgrain output and the government procured over 250 lakh tonnes of wheat and over 300 lakh tonnes of rice till July 3, he said.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

New Food Security Bill likely to increase food rate by 30% but may cut 35% monthly allocation of more than 32 million poor families under existing Antyodaya scheme-VJAS

NAGPUR-8th Jul 2009,

** "SCHEME FOR POOR WITHOUT ANY BUDGETARY PROVISION IS MOCKERY OF POORS'

The government announcement on Monday that it will soon introduce a Bill to enact a Food Security law that will provide 25 kg of rice and/or wheat at Rs 3 to each family below the poverty line is likely increase food rate by 30% and may cut 35% monthly allocation of more than 32 million poor families under existing Antyodaya scheme if proposed bill for food security is passed in the parliament as per announcement ,VJAS expressed it's fear in letter to union PDS minister sharad pawar.

Afetr Hon,ble President Pratibha Patil had, on June 4, said a National Food Security Act would be formulated whereby each BPL family would be entitled by law to get 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 a kg, a promise made by the Congress before general elections 2009 ,It was expected that Govt. will start new scheme to poor as per prez. speech but while presenting the Union Budget 2009-10, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said, with out giving any fund as this scheme needs more than Rs.50,000 crore allocation that the Bill will soon be introduced after consultation with different stakeholders.and it was told that so called draft Food Security Bill will be put up on the website of the ministry of food and public distribution for public debate on this issue.
It's mare time consuming as BPL list is ready and at present, the Centre is providing 35 kg of rice or wheat per month to each BPL family. Wheat is supplied at Rs 4.15 per kg while rice at Rs 5.65 a kg to over four crore families living below the poverty line.now if new food security bill is likely to reduce the monthly allocation by 10 k.g. and all all poorest of poor under existing BPL list are also likely to pay @ of Rs.3 kg in place of Rs.2 kg hence new food security bill may turn in food insecurity bill ,VJAS leader kishore tiwari added.

The Centre has enough foodgrain in its buffer stock to implement the control order 2001 as per apex court order in right to food petition of h.d.dua but till date state has failed to adress serious issue of poverty hunger when there is the bumper foodgrain output and higher minimum support prices and the government has procured a record of over 250 lakh tonnes of wheat and over 300 lakh tonnes of rice till July 3 this marketing season.

VJAS has asked union PDS minister sharad pawar to take out some time from his busy schedules of cricket association elections to clear basic doubts about proposed New Food Security Bill , VJAS urged.

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Monday, July 6, 2009

Million crore Rupee mega Indian budget received mix reaction of Vidarbha cotton farmers

Million crore Rupee mega Indian budget received mix reaction of Vidarbha cotton farmers

NAGPUR: -6th July 2009,

first ever Indian union budget for year 2009-10 of more than one million crore rupees has received mix reaction of dying vidarbha farmers of farm suicide affected west vidarbha as it has not given any special economic package to the region but Vidarbha Jan andolan Samiti (VJAS) has welcomed union Govt. decision to give direct fertilisers subsidy to the farmers and announcement of special task force for looking farm debt issue of private money lender in Maharashtra."farm debt of private lender is the serious issue and is also one of the region of farm suicide in west vidarbha for the first time Indian Govt. has officially recognised it now this debt waiver will be major task in future after the recommendation of of task force as more tahn 3 million cotton farmer are in debt trap of private money lender"kishore tiwari of VJAS informed today while reacting to indian budget .

VJAS has also welcomed the union Govt. decision to increase budgetary allotment to National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme NREGA and Notional Rural Health Mission NRHM "now Govt. should see that it is implemented and made operational in agrarian crisis effected vidarbha as earlier it failed to give any relief to distressed cotton farmers"tiwari added.

Earlier VJAS had drawn the attention of Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee toward pathetic condition of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra which is known as farm suicide capital of India.It's agrarian crisis but massive backwardness in the infrastructure developments,lack of industrialisation coupled with regular power cut-load shedding ,tribal starvation death ,malnutrition and complete failure of NREGA and NRHM in vidarbha has made this region as colony of salves of western Maharashtra and mumbai .Massive corruption and hostile administration has made ground condition too critical to define ,Vidarbha is the completely ignored region in Maharashtra that has resulted this economic crisis ,needs to be addressed with special economic package by the central budgetary sanctions ,urged by VJAS in letter to FM before the budget.

VJAS president Kishore Tiwari has also hailed Finance Minister announcement of giving extention to the OTS scheme of Rs.71,000 crore from 30th june 2009 to 31december 2009 now maharashtra Govt. should also extend their OTS scheme under extended loan waiver of Rs.6208 crore ,tiwari demanded.
food Security to Poor
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announcement to make act to give 25 k.g. of wheat or rice @ of Rs.3/- will certainly benefit more than 40 million poor families having BPL card and till covered under any food security scheme of public distribution system."we demand early implementation of this food for all poor scheme as starvation and hunger is very burning issue of tribal part of vidarbha."Tiwari said .
"Extension of National Rural Health Scheme to every Indian under BPL is good step but implementation is always problem due to corruption in administration.the decision to give 1% interest rate is not enough in fact rain fed farmers needs interest free crop loan.
we are happy that interest on educational loan of all students of weaker section studying in recognised professional institute will waived off but it is long pending demand to for free ship to all economic weaker section student for MBBS ,B.E. or M.B.A. education "Tiwari added.

VJAS demands for setting up a agricultural price stabilisation fund and the government should pump more funds into rural system restoration, NREG and National Rural Health Mission monitoring to control corruption is must,” demands Tiwari
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Sunday, July 5, 2009

Bankers attrocities forced farmers to kill himslef with wife-shocking report of deshonnati,Nagpur

Banker's attrocities forced farmers to kill himslef with wife-shocking report of deshonnati,Nagpur

Nagpur-5th july 2009

Having lost all hopes to get crop loan from nationalised bank cotton farmer has committed suicide alongwith his wife in a villiage varna-bori of jitnoor taluka in parbhani district of marathwada from where chief minister of Maharashtra ashok chavan hails .now a days it has been impossiable for farmers to get crop loan from any bankers due credit crunch as NABARD has failed to give agriculture credit to all banks in maharashtra and in the process total loan waiver given UPA Govt. has been futile .
last night as per report published shripat ambhure(40) having fed up with attoricites of local bankers have consumed the pescticide alongwith his wife kiran anbhure(35) as he himself died but his wife is till critical,having left his marriagble daughter and three kids for starvation.here is shocking report





VJAS has demanded the complete judicial probe of this farm couple suicide alongwith immidiate relief and compensation to family.
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