BJP plans stir against DF apathy towards Vidarbaha

Strongly criticising the Congress-led government, Shivankar alleged that the DF government was indifferent to the sufferings of the farmers hit hard by a prolonged dry spell. The government not only failed to provide any relief to the drought-hit paddy and cotton growers of Vidarbha region, but also went to extent of forcibly recovering crop loan. Adding to the woes of farmers, the DF government resorted to power tariff hike, he said.

The BJP leader demanded that the DF government should declare Bhandara, Gondia and Gadchiroli districts and parts of paddy growing areas of Nagpur as drought-hit areas. Other demands include stay to recovery of loan and restructuring of crop loan to enable farmers to seek fresh loan next season, withdrawal of steep hike in power tariff and meter charges in order to help farmers, those below poverty line and the scheduled castes and tribes and opening of at least one paddy procurement centre in each ZP constituency.

Shivankar has written to the Chief Minister drawing his attention towards the plight of paddy growing farmers. While demanding that the area should be declared as drought-hit, he suggested a string of relief measures. These include taking up village roads scheme, watershed development programmes and village tank repairs programme under the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS). He has suggested that digging of tanks in individual farms should also be included under the EGS.

Speaking about the cotton growers problems, he said lack of sufficient rainfall has also adversely affected the cotton yield, hitting hard the small and marginal farmers. Taking this into consideration, the state government should make lumpsum payments promptly under the monopoly procurement scheme.