Mumbai: The chairman of Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavalamban Mission, a government body to empower farmers, Kishor Tiwari has slammed the state government for the alleged lack of concrete steps to prevent farmers’ suicides. He said that the suggestions given by his institution are being allegedly dumped into the dustbin.
He also said that the government’s explanation for suicides as owing to the lack of irrigation is also false as one of the most irrigated districts in Marathwada has seen the highest number of suicides.
Mr Tiwari has been working for the families of the farmers who have committed suicides for many years. He was given post of the new body formed by state government to empower the farmers for self-employment.
“We are giving various suggestions to prevent the farmers suicides. We are asking government for the immediate release of compensations to the farmers who suffer loss due to pink ball-worm. Now three months has been passed but where is that relief?” asked Mr Tiwari.
Marathwada has seen 155 farmers suicide till March 4 this year. Beed district has seen highest suicides i.e. 36 farmers whereas Osmanabad has seen 33 farmer’s suicides.
“Ususally there is tendency to cite less irrigation as reason for the farmers suicides. But in Parabhani district, which is highly irrigated up to 24 per cent with the help of river, Godavari’s water has seen 24 suicides.
In comparison to Beed, it is smaller district still seen so many suicides. So, not just irrigation but the government’s approach to deal with the issue is basic reason,” said Mr Tiwari.
He also said that the announcements regarding minimum support price to crops like Tur, Cotton need to be implemented on ground. “Today farmers are getting less money than Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the Tur and Cotton. A minister keeps announcing the decisions and rates but the situation on ground is completely different. In such cases, farmers’ suicides are the unfortunate result of the situation.” said Mr Tiwari.
