Maharashtra proposed ‘Bail-Out’ package is Peanut :Vidarbha farm widows to join Stir from 24th Nov. tomorrow

Maharashtra proposed ‘Bail-Out’ package is Peanut :Vidarbha farm widows to join Stir from 24^th Nov. tomorrow

Rampur(Yavatmal):23^rd November 2011

‘Maharashtra Govt. on going negotiations and proposed ‘Bailout Package ‘for 5 million cotton farmers is peanut and is nothing but another eyewash like earlier packages when administration is aware of short term and long term solutions to vidarbha cotton farmer’s agrarian crisis as crisis are policy driven and now farmers will force them to take corrective action to restore rural economy of maharashtra which is completely collapsed ’ Kishore Tiwari Farm activist of farmers advocacy group Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti(VJAS)announced today while addressing before two

thousandstrong protest ofcotton farmers by blocking the state highway chandrapur-Yavatmal near village Rampur 120 K.M. from Nagpur .This is seventh day in row that allover vidarbha road are being blocked by cotton farmers demanding higher procurement price for raw cotton @ Rs.6000/- per quintal whereas market price is Rs.4000/- per quintal ,demand supported by all the political parties in state including ruling NCP-Congress alliance too but the state Govt. is unmoved adding fuel to on going stir .

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan called an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue which failed to decide any relief package for dying farmers.

"There is no question of raising MSP at this stage, because small and needy farmers have already sold around 20 lakh quintals of produce. They will be the losers now."

Farm activist and Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishore Tiwari has already met the chief minister on Sunday and suggested that a subsidy of Rs20,000 per hectare for cotton and Rs15,000 for soya be paid to farmers to compensate for 40% loss of crop this year.

"Crop damage has burdened farmers who have already spent 40% more on inputs this season, including labour costs and fertilizer," said Tiwari. "But I am sceptical about any package. I am told the bureaucrats are asking the CM to announce a paltry relief of Rs1,000 per acre. This will be too little, too late and only fuel the farmer suicide crisis in Vidarbha," warned Tiwari

"Moreover, if they announce MSP higher than current market price of Rs4,300 to 4,500, it will be suicidal for the government as farmers and traders from neighbouring states will also flood procurement centres here. So, the best way out would be a blanket relief package for all cotton growers at a rate rs.20,000 per hector . Moreover, farmers will also need to be protected from any further collapse in open market rates in the coming days. Traders are known to manipulate the situation to their advantage and government should protect interests of farmers," Tiwari added.

In order to bring pressure on the Maharashtra hundreds of vidarbha farm widows will start hunger strike from tomorrow 24^th November in the leadership of Rahul’ Kalvati and KBC fame Aparna Malikar ,Tiwari said.