Nagpur: In all, 639 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra in three months since March to May a result of erratic monsoon, crop failure or mounting debt. It was informed by public works and revenue minister Chandrakant Dada Patil on Friday in a written reply to a query by Leader of opposition in council Dhananjay Munde, Sunil Tatkare, Amarsinh Padit, Kiran Pawaskar and Rahul Narwekar.
The minister stated that 188 of them were declared eligible for compensation as per government schemes on January 23 for crop failure, debts and failure to pay back bank loans. The compensation was actually received in 174 cases. In all 122 cases were rejected as those were not fitting the norms for granting compensation to the victims’ families. In remaining 329 cases, enquiries were pending, Patil said.
The members had sought to know number of farmers’ deaths in the state and compensation amount awarded to kin. They also asked about steps taken by the government to provide help to victims’ families.
In reply to another query by same members on farmers’ grievances, the minister informed the government had declared a partial drought in eight towns in Yavatmal, Washim and Jalgaon districts. “Compensation and other help were extended to the affected farmers in these places as per government resolution (GR) of April 25 for Rabi crops in cases that fitted rules.”
Patil informed the Centre had made some amendments in rules governing declaration of drought-hit areas after taking into consideration suggestions made by the states. These changes were conveyed to state through a letter of May 29. Accordingly, the state Revenue and Forest Department came out with a notification on June 28 as per amendments suggested by the Centre for declaration of drought-hit areas.
Action against moneylender for grabbing farmer’s land
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said action would be taken against a moneylender from Chandur Bazaar of Amravati district for forcibly seizing a poor farmer’s land, despite the fact that he had paid his loan under the government’s loan waiver. MLC Vidya Chavan raised the issue of farmer Prakash Savarkar whose land was seized by the moneylender in collusion with officials from State Cooperatives Department. The CM informed the action would be taken after conducting enquiry through a probe panel.
