VJAS urged special economic package to Dying Vidarbha

Vidarbha Jan andolan Samiti (VJAS) has drawn the attention of the finance minister Pranab Mukherjee toward pathetic condition of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra...
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VJAS urged special economic package to Dying Vidarbha

By: chnarendra

Nāgpur : India | about 12 hours ago

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Vidarbha Jan andolan Samiti (VJAS) has drawn the attention of the 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 .

VJAS alleged that massive corruption and hostile administration has made ground condition too critical to define. Stating that Vidarbha is the completely ignored region in Maharashtra that has resulted this economic crisis, it said that the region needed to be addressed with special economic package by the central budgetary sanctions.

VJAS president Kishore Tiwari has recalled the visit of prime minister Dr.Manmohan singh to vidarbha and announcement of Rs.3750 crore farmers relief package which has turned to be hoax followed by loan waivers series given by union and state Government as it failed to raise Agriculture growth rate in the region.

Moreover, he said that there is no respite to economic hardships of 3 million distressed farmers of Vidarbha. He lamented that theMaharashtra government’s attitude toward the Vidarbha is so negative that the state failed to address the basic issues of food security and health care of distressed and dying farmers though there are numbers high court orders ,human rights commissions and special panels recommendations. So, he said that they need union government’s intervention by way of budgetary special economic package.

He said that the finance minister Pranab Mukherjee should look at the problems of dry-land farmers of where farmers have to face vagaries of the nature as well as the market forces. Neglect of the dry-land farmers has led to cultivators’ growing dependence on cash crops and giving up food crops.

Tiwari said that special incentive food crop promotion is long pending demand of Vidarbha region. He also urged the finance minister to look into urgent need for setting up an Agricultural Price Stabilisation Fund. In the last five years, he said that prices of farm produce have been volatile. For instance, soyabean prices have swung from Rs 1200 to Rs 4000 a quintal and pluses price Rs 24,000 to Rs 74,000 a quintal.

Due to this a farmer seldom makes money. It is the middleman who gets the big cut while the consumers have to face the brunt of price rise. A stabilisation fund could be the answer to this problem, he added. VJAS has demanded that the government should pump more funds into rural system.(EOM)

VJAS urged indian Govt. to protect vidarbha cotton farmers from misleading bogus Bt.cotton seed Advt.

VJAS urged indian Govt. to protect vidarbha cotton farmers from misleading bogus Bt.cotton seed Advt.

Nagpur-30th june 2009

Here is Advt. of one of leading marathi news paper in vidarbha this looks like news item ,this ADVT. is at front main news item .There is massive ADVT.s are being published in all dailies of vidarbha by hundreds of companies very toll claims ,may trigger another agrarian crisis as it is just inviatation to fresh spirel of farm suicides in west vidarbha.
Here in this Advt. which is reproduced from front page lead story is hoax,publishing bogus misleading ADVT. as news item is it fair and correct,VJAS urged mediA community.
Earlier VJAS has alleged that maharashtra Govt. is protecting bogus Bt.cotton seed companies ,here is marathi version of news item,VJAS has urged administration to stop these bogus ADVT. to protect innocent farming community of vidarbha who are committing suicides due debt and huge financial crisis.
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जाधव समितींच्या शिफारशींवर तातडीने अंबलबजावणी करण्यात यावी- किशोर तिवारी

जाधव समितींच्या शिफारशींवर तातडीने अंबलबजावणी करण्यात यावी- किशोर तिवारी

अत्यंत अडचणीतील साडेचार लाख शेतकरी कुटुंबांतील दुर्दैवी आत्महत्या थांबविण्यासंबंधीचा महत्वपूर्ण अहवाल धूळखात पडला :
डॉ- नरेंद्र जाधव पोहचले योजना आयोगात :
जाधव समितीच्या शिफारशी मात्र थंडया बस्त्यात !

विपन्नावस्थेतील साडेचार लाख शेतकरी कुटुंबांना
अन्न, औषधी व शिक्षण आदी मूलभूत सुविधा देण्यासंबंधी जाधव समितीच्या शिफारशींवर अंबलबजावणी कोण करणार ?
किशोर तिवारी यांचा मुख्यमंत्री अशोक चव्हाण यांना सवाल!

नागपूर, दि- २२ (आशिष बडवे) डॉं- नरेंद्र जाधव यांचे योजना आयोग सदस्यपदी बसवुन पुन:र्वसन करण्यात जी तर्त्पता कॉंग्रेस आघाडी सरकारने दाखविली तीच तर्त्पता आता जाधव समितींच्या शिफारशींवर तातडीने अंबलबजावणी करण्यात यावी अशी मागणी किशोर तिवारी यांनी केली आहे.
विदर्भातील हवालदील शेतक-यांच्या दुदैवी आत्महत्यांच्या प्रकरणात आत्महत्याग्रस्त भागातील शेतकरी पॅकेजच्या अंमलबजावणीच्या समिक्षेसाठी सरकारने स्थापन केलेल्या डॉं- नरेंद्र जाधव समितीचा अहवाल महाराष्ट्र सरकारला सादर होऊन अकरा महिन्यापेक्षा जास्त कालावधी होऊन सुध्दा शेतकरी हिताच्या महत्वपूर्ण शिफारशींवर अजूनही अंमलबजावणी करण्यासाठी महाराष्ट्र सरकारने आदेश न काढल्याने नौकरशाहीच्या वेळ काढू धोरणामुळे विदर्भातील वैफल्यग्रस्त शेतक-यांत कमालीचे नैराष्य पसरले आहे- पूणे विद्यापीठाचे तत्कालिन कुलगुरू डॉं- नरेंद्र जाधव यांच्या एकल सदस्यीय समितीच्या अहवालात महाराष्ट्र सरकारची तोंड भरून प्रशंसा करण्या सोबतच विदर्भातील शेतक-यांच्या विदारक परिस्थितीवर विस्तृत प्रकाश टाकण्यात आला असतांना सुध्दा त्या अहवालातील शिफारशींवर तात्काळ अंमलबजावणी करण्याचे सोडुन मात्र सरकारने डॉं- नरेंद्र जाधवांची योजना आयोग सदस्यपदी वर्णी लावुन विशेष ‘‘सत्कार‘‘ केला आहे- जाधवांचे तर पुन:र्वसन झाले, मात्र दुर्दैवी शेतकरी आज ही शिफारशिंच्या अंमलबजावणीची वाट पाहत आहेत- विपन्नावस्थेतील साडेचार लाख शेतकरी कुटुंबांना अन्न, औषधी व शिक्षण आदी मूलभूत सुविधा देण्यासंबंधी जाधव समितीच्या शिफारशिंवर अंबलबजावणी कोण करणार ? असा सवाल जाधव समितींच्या शिफारशींच्या अंमलबजावणीसाठी सातत्याने पाठ पुरावा करणा-या विदर्भ जनआंदोलन समितीचे अध्यक्ष किशोर तिवारी यांनी मुख्यमंत्री अशोक चव्हाण यांना पाठविलेल्या पत्रात केला आहे- नरेंद्र जाधव यांचे योजना आयोग सदस्यपदी बसवुन पुन:वसन करण्यात जी तर्त्पता कॉंग्रेस सरकारने दाखविली, तीच आता जाधव समितींच्या शिफारशिंवर तातडीने अंबलबजावणी करण्यात दाखवावी असे आवाहन ही तिवारी यांनी केले आहे-

श्री तिवारी यांनी आपल्या पत्रात मुख्यमंत्री श्री चव्हाण यांना आठवण करून दिली की डॉ- नरेंद्र जाधव समितीने महाराष्ट्र सरकारला सादर आपल्या अहवालातील शिफारशित म्हटले आहे की, महाराष्ट्र सरकारच्या सर्व्हेनुसार विदर्भातील अत्यंत अडचणीत सापडलेल्या 4 लाख 34 हजार 291 शेतकरी कुटुंबांना तातडीची मदत देणे आवक्यक आहे- कारण गेल्या तीन वर्षात झालेल्या दुदैवी शेतकरी आत्महत्या या याच वैफल्यग्रस्त शेतक-यांच्या परिवारातून होत आहेत- या 4 लाख 34 हजार 291 परिवारांना विशेष बी-पी-एल- कार्ड देऊन प्रतिमहा 25 किलो गहु व तांदूळ सवलतीच्या दरात देण्यात यावा, त्यांच्या पाल्यांना मोफत शिक्षणाची व्यवस्था व्हावी, याच प्रवर्गातील 93 हजार दुर्धर आजारी रोग्यांना मोफत आरोग्य सुविधा पुरविण्यासाठी विशेष कार्ड देण्यात यावे, त्यांच्या पाल्यांना मोफत शिक्षणांची व्यवस्था व्हावी आदी महत्वपूर्ण शिफारशी जाधव समितीने केल्या असुन त्या अकरा महिन्यापासुन सरकार दरबारी धूळ खात आहेत- त्याची अंमलबजावणी तात्काळ होणे आवश्यक असल्याचे सांगून तिवारी यांनी आपल्या निवेदनात म्हटले आहे की शेतक-यांच्या मालाला उचित भाव मिळणे अत्यंत आवश्यक आहे- कापसा सोबतच सोयाबीन, धान, तूर व ज्वारी या पिकाचे हमीभाव सरकारने वाढवावे अशी जाधव समितीने शिफारस केली आहे, मागीलवर्षी सोयाबीन व कापसाचे उत्पादन अत्यंत कमी झाले आहे- खाजगी व्यापारी हमी भावपेक्षा कमी रकमेत कापसाची खरेदी करीत होते- बारदाना नाही हे शुल्लक कारण पुढे करून नोकरशहा सरकारी यंत्रणा खरेदी बंद पाडुन खाजगी व्यापा-यांचे घर भरत होते- त्यामुळे शेतकरी अत्यंत अडचणीत सापडला- विदर्भातील दुदैवी शेतकरी आत्महत्या थांबविण्यासाठी सरकारने ताबडतोब उपाययोजना म्हणून डॉ- नरेंद्र जाधव यांच्या समितीने केलेल्या शिफारशी लागू करण्यात व अत्यंत अडचणीत असलेल्या परिवारांना मदतीचा हात त्वरीत देण्यात महाराष्ट्राचे कॉंग्रेस आघाडी सरकार वेळ कां लावत आहे ? असा प्रश्न श्री तिवारी यांनी उपस्थितीत करून नरेंद्र जाधव यांचे योजना आयोग सदस्यपदी बसवुन पुन:र्वसन करण्यात जी तर्त्पता कॉंग्रेस सरकारने दाखविली, तीच आता जाधव समितींच्या शिफारशींवर तातडीने अंबलबजावणी करण्यात दाखवावी असे कळकळीचे आवाहन तिवारी यांनी आपल्या निवेदनात केले आहे-

मुंबई उच्च न्यायालयाच्या नागपूर खंडपीठात शेतकरी आत्महत्यांच्या प्रश्नावरील मागे सुरू असलेल्या जनहित याचिकेच्या सुनावनी दरम्यान डॉ- नरेंद्र जाधव समितीच्या शिफारसीसंबंधी अहवाल सादर करण्याचा उच्च न्यायलयाने आदेश देवुनही सरकारने चालढकल केली होती, ही बाब अत्यंत दुदैवी असल्याची खंत तिवारी यांनी व्यक्त केली आहे- नौकरशाही वेदना शुन्य असल्यानेच अहवालातील महत्वपुर्ण शिफारशी धुळ खात आहेत-

विशेष म्हणजे शेतकरी आत्महत्यासंबंधी महत्वपूर्ण विषयांच्या या अत्यंत नाजुक प्रश्नावर सत्ताधारी कॉग्रेस - रा-कॉ तसेच विरोधी-पक्ष शिवसेना - भाजपा चा कुणीही नेता चालु अधिवेशनात आता पर्यंत आवाज उठवितांना दिसला नाही, याचे आश्चर्य व्यक्त केले आहे- या विषयावर राजकीय नेते किती गंभीर आहेत ? याची आता पुन्हा प्रचिती होत आहे- डॉं- नरेंद्र जाधव यांचे योजना आयोग सदस्यपदी बसवुन पुन:र्वसन करण्यात जी तर्त्पता कॉंग्रेस आघाडी सरकारने दाखविली तीच आता जाधव समितींच्या शिफारशिंवर तातडीने अंबलबजावणी करण्यात दाखवावी, यासाठी विरोधीपक्ष शिवसेना-भाजप कोणती भुमिका घेतात, या कडे हवालदिल शेतक-यांचे लक्ष लागले आहे

VJAS Urged Maharashtra Govt. to “National Food security mission” for food crop promotion in farm suicide effected area of vidarbha

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Appeal to donate for promotion of desi food crop cultivation campaign

Nagpur- June 17, 2009
The advertisement published by Govt. of Maharashtra (reproduced here) has not covered single farm suicide effected district of vidarbha and marathawada under central Govt.’s “National Food security mission” for food crop promotion as per details in Govt. advertisement only Pune ,Nashik,Chandrapur ,Bhandara,Gondia and Gadchiroli districts have been covered as agriculture depttt. restricted this year “Rice” as food crop for national food crop security campaign –khariff 2009.
It has been main reason of agrarian crisis that the farmers of west vidarbha has shifted for mono crop cultivation that is cotton or soybean and area under cultivation has increased from 50% to almost 95% which is one of the main reason of increasing distress and debt due to high cost of cultivation of these cash crop hence VJAS has been demanding introduction of “National Food security mission” in west vidarbha .

VJAS has highlighted importance of the mixed crop pattern and urged the government to set up better targets for food suitable for delayed monsoon crops such as pulses, legumes and oil seeds: safflower, mustard, tur, jowar, bajra, ground-nut, chana, sun-flower and it is nee of hour to regulate high risk high cost cultivation of cash crop in agrarian crisis effected area at least for small and marginal farmers (up to three or four acres) could be encouraged to have go for 50-50 (cash crop plus the food crop). There are desi seed till available that grow without much water.

VJAS urged vidarbha cotton farmers not to cultivate more than 50 per cent land should be under cash crop (Soya or cotton or whatever),it is also suggested that they should have at least 10 square meters for water pond (not above the land, but beneath the surface model),the remaining land should be divided between legumes and pulses

The boundaries (dhura) could be used for dry land fruits and seasonal vegetables: such as custard apple (sitafal), lemon, mango (long term fruit), drum-sticks (advisable for tribal farmers with shallow land), jack-fruit, beans, bhopla, Aamla (One need not plant these trees in big numbers but sufficient enough for domestic consumption and little marketable produce in the seasons).All of this does not need financial inputs or water use in big way, but saves on spendings on buying food from outside,VJAS added.

VJAS urged the government to include Vidarbha in the food-crop incentive programme as the food crop prices, despite huge subsidies in the worldt, the prices are touching the sky and sustainable food crop cultivation is the best targeted low cost solution for Vidarbha agrarian crisis in the long term but Govt. is not ready to opt these policies as to protect the financial interest of MNCs manufacturing seeds and pesticide, VJAS alleged.

Bt cotton has failed in Vidarbha: study

Bt cotton has failed in Vidarbha: study

Axis of Logic

Finding Clarity in the 21st Century Mediaplex

Science/Nature

Bt cotton has failed in Vidarbha: study
+ YouTube video

By Special Correspondent

hindu.com

Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009
http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_56043.shtml

`Its high input costs have increased farmers' indebtedness'

The hybrid Bt.cotton

MUMBAI: A new study on the introduction of Bt cotton in Vidarbha reveals that it has failed in the region. Suman Sahai, Director of Gene Campaign, told journalists on Wednesday that despite specific knowledge that Bt cotton would not work in rainfed areas, the government had introduced it in Vidarbha. The result was that in an area with a history of indebtedness, the high input costs of Bt cotton had increased indebtedness. The study had shown that 70 per cent of small farmers had already lost their landholdings as collateral for loans that they could never repay.

The Gene Campaign study, which will be ready in four to five weeks, consisted of a technology adoption study to look at how Bt cotton was adopted in Vidarbha. It is based on interviews with around 500 cotton farmers from Amravati and Yavatmal districts. Preliminary data shows that farmers who had adopted Bt cotton had a net lower income than non-Bt cotton farmers.

Dr. Sahai said that Bt cotton did better in irrigated areas and that it was a mistake to introduce it in an area like Vidarbha. It did not perform well in the region because inputs costs were high, including the cost of the seeds, there was an abundance of spurious seeds and the technology had been adopted without any preparation of the farmers for the complex management practices that were needed. Seed dealers, she said, encouraged farmers to buy far more fertilizer and pesticide than was needed, thereby raising their input costs. They promised farmers that they would get between 12 to 15 quintals per acre when the actual production was in the range of three to five quintals per acre. At the same time cotton prices came down with the import of Chinese cotton. The study reveals that on average, farmers who adopted Bt cotton lost Rs. 1,725 per acre. "Such economics cannot work," she said.

The study revealed that many farmers adopted Bt cotton because they believed it was a "government seed" and did not know that it was privately produced and marketed. They also accepted it because the government was actively promoting the technology. While local officials, like the Agriculture Commissioner of Amravati, were aware of the failure of Bt cotton, the state agriculture department continued to promote it. "The role of the government has been irresponsible and damaging," said Dr. Sahai.

Dr. Sahai also pointed that Bt was a limited time technology. In the United States, where it has been introduced 10 years ago, it had already developed resistance. This was also happening in China. In India, she said, "we are seeing resistance earlier because of rampant proliferation of illegal seeds and the wrong techniques being used."

The Bt technology was not need driven but supply driven, said Dr. Sahai.

She stressed that cotton farmers had not demanded it and that in any case, the expression of the Bt cotton gene worked for only 90 days while Indian cotton took 160 days to mature. In other words, during the crucial period when the crop needed protection from pests, it remained unprotected.

Side effects

The study had also collected anecdotal evidence about other side effects of Bt cotton on plants and animals.

For instance, cattle deaths had been reported in areas where they grazed in harvested Bt cotton fields, women working in cotton fields had complained of rashes, and there were reports that mango trees were not flowering.

Despite such reports, the government had not conducted tests to establish whether any of this could be attributed to the introduction of Bt cotton. The impact of cotton oil, extracted from Bt cotton, on human and animal health had also not been considered.

Dr. Sahai said it was essential to conduct safety tests and also put in place a regulatory system before any new technology is introduced.

Hindu.com

Also see YouTube video

Bt Cotton adoption in Vidarbha

Centre asks MADC to explain favouritism in land allotment

Centre asks MADC to explain favouritism in land allotment

16 Jun 2009, 0638 hrs IST, Ashish Roy, TNN

NAGPUR: The Union ministry of corporate affairs has sought an explanation from Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) regarding a complaint lodged by the Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS). The samiti has alleged that there was favouritism by MADC in allotment of land to big companies, including allotment of land before it was acquired by MADC and causing loss to the exchequer by giving land at discounted prices.

MADC, a state government-run company, is developing Mihan and a special economic zone (SEZ) near the city. The assistant registrar of companies, Mumbai, has said in a notice sent to MADC that the complaint lodged by VJAS prima facie shows that "there is material indicative of violation of Companies Act, 1956."

The ministry has warned in the notice that if it does not receive a reply or if the reply received was not relevant to the points raised by the complainant, or was haphazard or evasive in nature, then it would have no option but to take legal action against the company and its directors.

VJAS president Kishor Tiwari has alleged that MADC exhibited favouritism in allotment of land to big companies. Many companies were given land at throwaway prices, thus causing huge loss to the public exchequer, Tiwari alleged. He also claimed that allotment of land was started before completion of the acquisition process, and land was 'reserved' for certain companies without following due process of law.

Tiwari has said that many of these companies also raised bank loans amounting to crores of rupees by showing ownership of land allotted by MADC, even though at that time MADC itself had not become the lawful owner of the land.

Incidentally, land in SEZ was allotted to First City project of Reatox Ltd, which was later disallowed by Ministry of Commerce.

VJAS claimed that most IT companies got land in the SEZ disproportionate to their requirements. Most IT companies do not need more than 20 hectares, however MADC allotted them between 50 and 350 hectares., Tiwari said.

Tiwari also charged MADC vice chairman and MD R C Sinha with joining the board of directors of Maytas Ltd, which was owned by a son of Satyam chief B Rama Raju. Satyam had been allotted 330 hectares by MADC. Many of the companies that received land from MADC too had started giving contracts to Maytas, said Tiwari. Sinha was also a director in Ambuja and Indu Projects, which were direct and indirect beneficiaries of Mihan project.

Tiwari alleged that MADC officials were working in collusion with political bigwigs of the region and the livelihood of hundreds of farmers had been destroyed by the company.

MADC vice chairman R C Sinha said that he would send a reply to the assistant registrar of companies when he receives a communication in this regard.

Posted by vidarbha times at 4:55 AM

Colombian cotton growers want to sue Monsanto

Colombian cotton growers want to sue Monsanto

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/economy/4472-colombian-cotton-growers-want-to-sue-monsanto.html

Wednesday, 10 June 2009 08:38 Albeiro Rodas

Colombian cotton growers want to sue U.S. agricultural company Monsanto for selling them a bad genetically engineered seed that caused damage to crops.

According to the cotton growers, the seed caused damage to 13 percent of the cotton crops in the north of Colombia, resulting in a 7 million dollar loss, economic magazine Portfolio reported Wednesday.

Conalgodón, the Colombian federation of the cotton growers, declared that Monsanto gave the seed, stating that it was strong enough to resist plagues and the effects of the glyphosate herbicide. At the same time, Monsanto did not give an appropriate information about the variety that would be planted for the first time in the region.

The seed, known as DP 164, was three times more expensive than the traditional one, but did not resist the plagues as promised.

Monsanto offeed to compensate the growers with 640 thousand dollars, but put conditions on the compensation the growers find hard to accept. Morever, this is not the first time Monsanto has a similar problem in Colombia. In 2008 same situation was in the Tolima department with Monsanto seeds.

High Court directs State Govt to provide food grains to Dying tribals by June 30

Staff Reporter

NAGPUR bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the State Government to ensure adequate supply of food grains to before June 30. Similarly the High Court has sought a list of erring officials who failed to do so during last year and current year along with postal departmental action. The High Court also asked the chief secretary to personally look into the matter and ensure scrupulous compliance of order and submit list of erring officials.

A division bench consisting of Justice Dilip Sinha and Justice A P bhangala while hearing a letter-petition filed by Madhukar Gumble and Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishor tiwari regarding implementation of Khawati scheme in tribal areas. Due to failure of officials’ machinery to supply adequate food grains before onset of rainy season, malnutrition deaths have occurred. Under Khawati scheme, 70 % aid is provided in the form of food grains while 30% is given in cash.

The High Court while pulling up the authorities, lamented that despite several orders issued from time to time, the officials have failed to distribute food grain. Maharashtra is considered as a progressive and better administered state and has a separate tribal welfare department, commissionerate and dedicated funds; even then the implementation of such good scheme is far from satisfactory.

Amicus Curiae Firdos Mirza drew attention towards GR dated March 24, 2008 pertaining to supply of food grains to tribals and action in case of failure of concerned officials, Additional Government pleader Bharti Dangre fairly conceded that no instructions have been given to her despite repeated follow-up. Adv. Mukesh Samarth appearing for Tribal Welfare Corporation claimed that so far food grain had not been supplied to them and clarified that the corporation is merely distributing agency

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