Monday, April 30, 2007


VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI
REGD. OFFICE: 11, TRISARAN SOCIETY, KHAMALA, NAGPUR - 440 025.PH. 2282447/457 MOBILE-9422108846. http://us.f431.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=vidarbha@gmail.com
=============================================================== REF: - FARMER'S SUICIDES VERY-URGENT-PRESS NOTE DATED-1st MAY,2007

THE RECORD 350 COTTON FARMERS SUICIDES IN VIDARBHA : IT’S ONCE AGAIN BT COTTON MASS SOWING IN VIDARBHA(Pl See Attached News Item)


Nagpur-1ST MAY 2007


The cotton growing area of west vidarbha under agrarian crisis has recorded 350 farm suicides in first four months of 2007 but there is no drop down in sowing of highly failure bt. Cotton in this region as it is reported locally that this year area covered under bt. Cotton sowing is likely double that from 8 lacs hector to 16 lacs hector as all seed traders cum money lenders are giving bt. Cotton seeds on credit to these debt trap farmers after as more than 95% cotton farmers failed to repay crop loan this year due poor cotton crop and drop down in market rate of cotton. banker are not giving fresh loan to defaulter cotton farmers where as Monsanto is giving huge credit and lucrative schemes to seed traders and they are in turn forcing innocent cotton farmers to purchase these failure bt. Cotton seed. local administration has reported this fact to Indian Govt. but everybody is turning blind eye as American genetically modified seed giant Monsanto has protection from US President Bush where as in India agriculture minister of India sharad pawar is patron of this company in India ,infomed by vidarbha jan andolan samiti in press note released today india. VJAS has been demanding complete ban on bt. Cotton in west vidarbha as now it’s official that bt. Cotton has been failed in rainfed area and in all most all 95% area is rain fed and farmers has to depend upon monsoon which is not regular and small and marginal farmers are suffering from massive economic losses due to frequent failure of bt. cotton and majority of 2500 cotton farmers suicides reported since June 2005 are small and marginal farmers who opted bt. Cotton seed in rain fed area, kishor tiwari vjas added. VJAS DEMANDS BAN ON Bt. COTTON BOLLGARDII IN VIDARBHA .

After mass sowing permission by GEAC in June –2005 for Bt.cotton in vidarbha more than 2230 cotton farmers suicides have been reported and govt. of maharashtra has compensated cotton growers rs.219 core and rs.210 crore in the year 2005-2006 and year 2006-2007 for the failure of Bt.cotton in rain fed area of vidarbha and maharashtra govt. on record admitted that Bt. Cotton has been failed in rain fed area of vidarbha whereas 95% area of vidarbha is rain fed. now bt.cotton manufacturing American company has introduced bollgardII seed has started it's high profile campaign that it's highly profitable and gives minimum 11 quintal yield where as according to govt. of maharashtra official report the cotton average yield has been dropped down to 120 kg per acre to hardly 50 kg per acre after introduction of Bt.cotton in vidarbha ,the claims made by the Monsanto company were resulted as fraudulent as cotton growers pesticide uses was not dropped down where cotton output was drastically effected resulting mass suicides of cotton farmers in vidarbha. kishor tiwari added.

Total failure rural health care, employment and social cum civil administration are the main reasons of farmer's suicides in west vidarbha and dr.sudhir goyal himself has asked Indian govt. that low cost sustainable farming is only solution of stop these suicides. Ban on Bt. Cotton and chemical farming is need of hour and cotton farmers should cultivate there than cotton should the programme of the state the official further demands. Restoration secondary systems like rural employment, health is also needed to stop these on going suicides but nobody is acting in this direction more over misleading press releases are adding fuel to extremely critical situation in vidarbha ,kishor tiwari in formed

Please arrange to release this press note
Yours faithfully


Kishor Tiwari
President
Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti
http://generic.f431.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=vidarbha@gmail.com
Contact-09422108846;

Friday, April 27, 2007

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Kolam deaths: HC notices to 3 more depts TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Publication:Times Of India Nagpur; Date:Apr 26, 2007; Section:Times Nagpur; Page Number:2



Kolam deaths: HC notices to 3 more depts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=TkdUT0kvMjAwNy8wNC8yNiNBcjAwMjAw&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom


Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday included department of food and civil supplies, department of tribal welfare, and department of human resources development in the list of respondents in petition on malnutrition deaths of Kolam tribals and issued notices to them.

The division bench of justices Ambadas Joshi and R C Chavan also asked the state to comment on objections raised by petitioner’s counsel on the final action taken report prepared by it till April 27, which is the next date of hearing. The petitioner had suggested some short-term and long-term remedies on the action taken report. The hearing was attended by the commissioner of tribal development and additional collector of Yavatmal, who is also in-charge of public distribution system, and district health officer. Earlier, the state government, in a significant announcement informed the court that it had included all Kolam tribals in below poverty line (BPL) list and had distributed BPL cards to 19,000 families last week. However, it claimed that due to ceiling imposed by the Centre, it can’t accommodate more families under BPL list. The claim was however refuted by petitioner’s counsel Firdos Mirza.

Giving explanation on the drinking water problems in tribal-dominated villages of Kelapur, Ghatanji, Maregaon, Ralegaon, Kalam, and Arni in

Yavatmal district due high fluoride contamination, the government informed that it is supplying water to around 32 villages out of 37 through tankers, as per court guidelines. The government also informed that it had filled all vacancies of medical officers in the state.

On Monday, the petitioner’s counsel pointed out that the scarcity of water is being increasingly felt in the tribal-dominated areas due to onset of summer. The division bench, citing example of forest department, has asked the government to provide drinking water by the way of tankers in the interior areas of the district. The court also asked petitioner Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti to add Centre concerned officials as respondents and ordered government

to direct Amravati divisional commissioner to submit details of action taken report. Last month, the court had ordered petitioner and all concerned officials of the government to implement action taken report on the Kolam tribals starvation and malnutrition deaths in Yavatmal, which is most affected due to non-implementation of various schemes for the benefit of tribal families residing in the 710 tribal villages for protection of fundamental rights of food, shelter, education, health and drinking water to be made available to tribals.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

KOLAM DEATHS-HC wants action taken report-TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Publication:Times Of India Nagpur; Date:Apr 24, 2007; Section:Times Nagpur; Page Number:2



KOLAM DEATHS
HC wants action taken report
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=TkdUT0kvMjAwNy8wNC8yNCNBcjAwMjA4&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Nagpur: Coming down heavily on the state government, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Monday while hearing a petition on malnutrition deaths of Kolam tribals, directed the government to explain as to what steps are being taken to solve drinking water woes in tribal-dominated villages of Kelapur, Ghatanji, Maregaon, Ralegaon, Kalam, and Arni in Yavatmal district.

The division bench also directed the government counsel to take the issue seriously to come up with a reply to its queries by Wednesday. "The tribals are self-dependent and they survive on minimum resources. Still, the

government authorities, taking them for granted, are reluctant to give them the basic requirements," the court observed.

Earlier, the court asked petitioner Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti to add officials concerned of the Central government as respondent and ordered the government to direct Amravati divisional commissioner to submit details of action taken by April 25.

Petitioner's counsel A Somani pointed out several shortcomings in the implementation of various schemes for the tribals. He filed a list of voters in villages of Pandharwani, Dabhadi and Dubhatipot, in Zari Jamani tehsil on the Andhra Pradesh border. The court then directed the petitioner to file separate affidavit informing number of families under BPL.

Monday, April 23, 2007

PIL ON STARVATION & MALNUTRITION DEATHS OF KOLAM TRIBALS:

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI
11, Trisaran Society, In front of Somalwar School, Khamla, Nagpur – 440 025
Tel No. (0712) 2282457 Mob No. 9422108846 / 9371137653 / 9373121947
(Regd Office: At Post: Pandharkawada-445 302, Tq: Kelapur, Distt: Yavatmal)


Ref No. VJAS/PIL-HC/Kolam Deaths/175/2007, April 25, 2007


PRESS NOTE – URGENT

PIL ON STARVATION & MALNUTRITION DEATHS OF KOLAM TRIBALS:

HIGH-COURT ORDER TAKES SERIOUS VIEW ON PLIGHTS OF KOLAM POOR TRIBALS FACING STARVATION & MALNUTRITION DEATHS IN YAVATMAL DISTRICT OF VIDARBHA REGION.


NAGPUR, DATED 23rd April 2007


Nagpur Bench of Mumbai High-Court has today taken very serious view asked PIL Petitioner to add central govt. concerned officials as respondents and ordered the State Government to direct Amravati Divisional Commissioner to submit details of action taken reports by Wednesday 25th April as high court has decided to hold urgent daily hearing in the matter PIL filed asking high court to save dying kolam tribal community due to apathy of govt. The Division Bench of the High-Court at Nagpur consisting of Justice Shri Ambadas H. Joshi and Justice Shri R.C. Chavan while hearing the Public Interest Writ Petition filed by Vidarbha JanAndolan Samiti President Shri Kishore Tiwari in the matter of infringement of fundamental rights to Live & Life of the poor tribal families in the Tribal Belt of Yavatmal District,
Earlier last month High court ordered Petitioner Vidarbha JanAndolan Samiti President Shri Kishore Tiwari & all concerned officials of the State Government to implement the Action Taken Report on the Kolam Tribals Starvation & Malnutrition Deaths in Yavatmal District of Vidarbha Region, which is most affected due to non implementation of various schemes for the benefit of poor tribal families residing in the 710 tribal villages of Nine Talukas of Yavatmal District for protection of fundamental rights of Food, Shelter, Education, Health and Drinking Water to be made available to the tribals.
The tribal families who all are deprived of basic means of life such as food, shelter, education, health & drinking water due to the apathy of the State Government in implementation the various welfare schemes, even after the report from the High Power Committee appointed by the High Court in the PIL.

It may be recalled that the PIL Writ Petition was filed way back in May 2003 when the 52 Kolam Tribals died of starvation in Yavatmal District. The High-Court Division Bench at Nagpur had appointed various committees from time to time during the period of last 3 ½ years and finally had directed the State Government to submit Action Taken Report.

Today when the matter come up for hearing the Petitioner’s Counsel Adv. Adv. Ajay Somani pointed out various shortcomings in the implementation of various schemes for the tribals.
After hearing both the sides, High-Court ordered State Government to direct Divisional Commissioner at Amravati to submit of details of action that govt. has taken so far as per as kolam tribal basic issues of food, potable water, health care and shelter is concern and nominate the responsible officer not below the rank of collector in order to fix accountability of govt. lapses in the implementation of various schemes for kolam tribal and have regular in the matter of implementation of the Action Taken Report for the welfare of the poor tribal families residing in the Nine tribal Talukas of Yavatmal District.A.G.P.bharati dangare appeared for the govt. of maharashtra.




Please arrange to release / publish the above Press Note & oblige.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Kishor tiwari
President,
Vidarbha JanAndolan Samiti

Sunday, April 22, 2007

sweden television-svt reports vidarbha farmers suicide

sweden television-svt reports vidarbha farmers suicide

Now Sveriges Television svt Sweden reported last night indepth report on vidarbha cotton farmers suicide.

you can watch it by
accessing this link:



http://svt.se/svt/play/video.jsp?a=329798

Otherwise- got to : www.svt.se - find AKTUELLT 21- programme of Friday
April 19:th ( FREDAG) and watch the news, the story appear about half way
in.

regards,
vidarbha jan andolan samiti

Friday, April 20, 2007

PM's relief package bogus

PM's relief package bogus: Bothbodan sarpanch
Ramu Bhagwat




[20 Apr, 2007 l 0853 hrs IST lTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/PMs_relief_package_bogus_Bothbodan_sarpanch/articleshow/1926435.cms


YAVATMAL: "The relief packages announced by the prime minister as well as the chief minister are bogus. They have made no difference to the life of farmers toiling hard in hope of a better life," remarks sarpanch of Bothbodan village, 10 km from here, truly the epicentre of the killing fields of Vidarbha.

The unprecedented agrarian crisis has pushed well over 3000 farmers in the region to desperation and suicide in the region in the last five years. In this single village, as many as 18 farmers or their family members have committed suicide in last two years. Says sarpanch Anup Ramchandra Chavan: "The banks have made the most of the package, their balance sheets have been spruced up with the interest waiver of over Rs 700 crore. The needy farmer still does not get adequate loan and has to depend on the moneylender or other resources to carry on with his farming and family needs."

A Church leaders' team, led by Nagpur diocese Archbishop Abraham Viruthkulangara which visited a group of villages in this worst affected of the six suicideprone districts of Vidarbha, came across harrowing tales of suffering of the farmers. Of the 18 suicide cases in Bothbodan, only seven got the compensation of Rs 1 lakh. It became startlingly clear that more and more villagers were falling prey to social vices like drinking and gambling. "I have made repeated attempts to check illicit distillation in the village, but failed because of poor support from the district authorities. Today, every second house in the village distills illicit brew and addiction rate is only rising. To some extent, acute economic distress and inability to catch up with changing lifestyle demands, could be responsible," said the sarpanch, himself an educated and well-to-do farmer with 70 acres of land.

Giving instances of package funds getting into wrong hands, Chavan says at least seven farmers in the village who got electric pumps under a subsidy have no wells in their farms and don't know what to do with the pumps they have received. "A couple of them have sold away the pumps and wasted the money in drinking. Then there are others who can not afford 25% margin money for the subsidised items scheme." A widow who has not received any compensation was found brewing liquor at home. "The increasing rate of suicides in Vidarbha is alarming. Since welfare of people is our prime concern, we at the Church saw the need to intervene and help out the distress farmers," said Archbishop Abraham, addressing the villagers.

Caritas India, the social wing of Catholic Bishops Conference of India, Western Region Social Service Forum, the social arm of the church in states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, Archdiocese of Bombay, Action for Food production (AFRO) and dioceses of Amravati, Nagpur and Chandrapur will be extending a helping hand to the farmers. "Our programme is aptly called 'campaign for Life'," said the Archbishop. The Church bodies' will focus mainly on social counselling, farmers' capacity building measures, spreading awareness about low cost farming techniques and advocacy by way of lobbying for government schemes and aid to the needy.

year 2007 reports-300 farm suicides in vidarbha india

Kishor Tiwari
Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti
vidarbha@gmail.com
Contact-09422108846300

SUB-300 VIDARBHA FARM SUICIDES IN YEAR 2007: IT’S ALL TIME HIGH TILL ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS 50% DECLINE IN FARM SUICIDE AFTER PRIME MINISTER PACKAGE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Nagpur-20th april2007

In year 2007 last 110 days record 302 vidarbha farmers suicides reported (JAN-70,FEB-88,MARCH -97 APRIL TILL TODAY 47) that has exposed local administration that package implementation has dropped down the farm suicides in vidarbha by 50% as farm suicide figure of this year since Jan to 20 April is all most double and farm suicides in vidarbha are daily increasing but administration is using official media to mislead the world that vidarbha farm suicides are on decline as maharashtra govt. on it’s own website
http://www.vnss-mission.gov.in/docs/suicide.pdf
has put the information that exposes this claims as wrong one as vidarbha farm suicides in last three year are on record high and vidarbha Jan andolan samiti has given the reference of their own web site official data which is like this

OFFICIAL FIGURE OF FARM SUICIDES IN SIX DISTRICT OF WEST VIDARBHA
http://www.vnss-mission.gov.in/docs/suicide.pdf

FARM SUICIDE AND YEAR 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
JAN TO APRIL 20TH 12 16 24 44 52 205 316
SUICIDE IN YEAR 49 105 143 441 560 1427 316



THIS FIGURE OF SUICIDE ARE FROM SIX DISTRICTS V.I.Z. YAVATMAL,AMARAVATI,AKOLA,WARDHA,WASHIM,BULDHANA OF VIDARBHA AND ARE FROM GOVT. WEBSITE- http://www.vnss-mission.gov.in/docs/suicide.pdf

RECORD SUICIDE AFTER PRIME PACKAGE ANNOUNCEMENT

Dr. man Mohan Singh Indian prime minister visited vidarbha on 1st July 2006 and announced rs.3750 package to the cotton farmers of six districts but official record says that there record increase in cotton farmers suicides after this package announcement as govt. of maharashtra has officially admitted 1534 farmers suicides after 1st July 2007 as this suicide figure is all most equal to suicide figure of last decade and this fact is known to govt. officials very welt ii they are saying that suicide are decline and after package suicide rate has come down to 50%,this is matter of shame kishor tiwari added.
Govt. of maharashtra has selected Dr.Sudhir Goyal relief commissioner to clarify this misleading suicide data as same relief commissioner has put govt. official survey which shows that 75% of 1.7 million farmers are in distress and more that 4lacs 34 thousands cotton farmers are in deep distress and their hardship are needed to be addressed has not been taken care of in these so called relief packages.
Link to survey

http://www.vnss-mission.gov.in/docs/servey.pdf

ON 10TH OCTOBER DR.SUDHIR GOYAL HAS SUBMITTED CRITICAL REPORT TO INDIAN PRIME MINISTER OFFICE THAT
1. SUDEEN DROP IN COTTON YIELD
2. TOTAL FAILURE BT. COTTON IN RAIN FED AREA OF VIDARBHA
3. WITHDRAWAL ADVANCE BONUS TO VIDARBHA COTTON FARMERS SINCE JUNE-2005 IN COTTON MONOPOLY SCHEME.
4. CREDIT CRUNCH TO THE COTTON FARMERS
5. US SUBSIDIES DROPPING THE COTTON PRICE INTERNATIONALLY
6. HIGH COST EXCESSIVE USE OF CHEMICAL FARMING METHODS

Coupled total failure rural health care, employment and social cum civil administration are the main reasons of farmer’s suicides in west vidarbha and dr.sudhir goyal himself has asked Indian govt. that low cost sustainable farming is only solution of stop these suicides. Ban on Bt. Cotton and chemical farming is need of hour and cotton farmers should cultivate other than cotton crop and food crop promotion should the programme of the state the official further demands. Restoration secondary systems like rural employment, health care, social and civil governance ,ban on liquor also needed to stop these on going suicides but noboy is acting in this direction more over misleading press releases are adding fuel to extremely critical situation in vidarbha ,kishor tiwari in formed


Please arrange to release this press note
Yours faithfully


Kishor tiwari
Vidarbha jan andolan samiti
vidarbha@gmail.com
contact-09422108846;

Friday, April 13, 2007

PMO APATHY TO VIDARBHA RELIEF PACKAGE: MAHARASHTRA GOVT.MISLEAD SUPREME COURT


VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI
REGD. OFFICE: 11, TRISARAN SOCIETY, KHAMALA, NAGPUR - 440 025.PH. 2282447/457 MOBILE-9422108846. vidarbha@gmail.com

===============================================================
REF: - FARMER’S SUICIDES VERY-URGENT-PRESS NOTE DATED-13th APRIL2007

PMO APATHY TO VIDARBHA RELIEF PACKAGE: MAHARASHTRA GOVT.MISLEAD SUPREME COURT
NAGPUR-13TH APRIL, 2007

It is reported that in order to save volte face of non functioning of PMO regarding follow up relief aid distribution as announced by Indian prime minister as vidarbha farmers relief package of rs.3750 crore, the Maharashtra government has withdrawn its allegations against the Prime Minister’s Office of delaying the release of additional funds for ex-gratia assistance to suicide-affected farmers’ families in the state.

The allegation caused a major embarrassment to Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and the Congress, as the party was a senior partner in the coalition government in Maharashtra.
This central assistance authorised district collectors to sanction Rs 10,000 for a suicide-affected family for health and education related expenses. An amount of Rs 50 lakh each was placed for disposal with the six district collectors for this purpose in August 2006.

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the state had said, "this amount has fully been disbursed to the needy families and the state government has been requesting the Prime Minister’s Office for additional funds. The State has even earmarked Rs 1.80 crore from the Chief Minister’s Fund, with a view to keep the scheme running otherwise the scheme had to be stopped for the delay in receiving grants from the PMO."

“This is completely false affidavit as relied aid has not given to affected farm widows and farmers’ families as on today” PIL Petitioner Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti President Kishore Tiwari in nagpur bench of mumbai high court in the same issue has informed today that maharashtra Govt. has given untrue and misleading information in the recent affidavit as relief data given by the on their web site does not support made in this affidavit in fact PMO was only spectators to farm suicides after 1st July 2006 and there is no action from PMO on record ,kishor tiwari added

The affidavit had come in response to a PIL filed by advocate Sanjeev Bhatnagar seeking review of the current agriculture policy in view of suicides committed by thousands of farmers in various parts of the country.

It is reported in the press today that now, Maharashtra’s Joint Secretary and OSD, Relief and Rehabilitation, Praveen Srivastava has filed an additional affidavit seeking to delete the allegations against the PMO.

Srivastava alleged that a particular sentence of the affidavit had been torn out and misinterpreted out of context by a section of press to interpret that the state government was putting the blame on the PMO for the delay in making available funds.

"I am constrained to file this additional affidavit so as to make the record clear and unambiguous and lead no manner of doubt as to the contentions of 2nd Respondent (Maharashtra) in this regard," Srivastava said in the affidavit.

Instead, Maharashtra requested the court to allow it to add two additional pages appreciating Singh’s visit to Vidarbha, announcement of package for farmers and his support to the scheme.
This is the mockery of the relief operation as more than 1000 farmers suicides have been reported by Maharashtra state Govt. on the web site officially after the announcement of the relief package by Indian Prime Minister now as face saving device both are misleading the apex court, it’s unfortunate and we will move against both Govt. at the central level and local level as matter of contempt of court, Kishor Tiwari further added.

------------------------------------------
Please arrange to release / publish the above Press Note & oblige.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,


KISHOR TIWARI
PRESIDENT
VIDARBHA JANANDOLAN SAMITI

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

LAST SAY OF VIDARBHA FARMER TO WORLD


LAST SAY OF VIDARBHA FARMER TO WORLD

(This is suicide note copy is attached herewith of cotton farmer
GOVINDA JUNGHARE age 55 of village METTIKHEDA in YAVATMAL District in VIDARBHA (India) who committed suicide on 10th April 2007)

To,
Police Station Officer,
Police Station,
Wadgoan,

I humbly submit that applicant govinda zeetruji junghare at-post- mettikheda taluka-kalamb distt.-yavatmal.
Subject-my family shocked as farm land is without being sowing any crop. Who can we live without doing farming?

I have no bullock for farming my land;
I have no money for seed, what is to be done?
I can not think more. Money lenders are daily coming to my home at abusing me I tried to arrange to money to repay but I could not arrange to money.

I did apply for crop loan case in bank but banker too has not given me the money yet.

Money Leander has threatened me to arrange the money otherwise they will take away tinplates fitted to my house.
But I am not having five paisa today how can repay my loan,

I think over this crisis lot of time and then decided I should die instead of living I should hang myself or take poison to die. Money Leander REKHA NAMDEO NIKHADE’S debt RS.5000/- has a quarrel with me and manager of money Leander nurruseth is always keeping to my house to asking for RS.4000/- to pay back this has made me mad.

No banker has given me the loan.

I have my wife two son and marriageable daughter and how to do daughter’s marriage,

I have no money at home one son is critical ill and suffering from T.B.
Nobody should trouble my family hence I have written this letter in detail

Yours faithfully
Shri Govinda Zeetruji Junghare
VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

REGD. OFFICE: 11, TRISARAN SOCIETY, KHAMALA, NAGPUR - 440 025.
PH. 2282447/457 MOBILE-9422108846. vidarbha@gmail.com

=====================================================================================
REF: - FARMER'S SUICIDES VERY-URGENT-PRESS NOTE DATED-11TH APRIL2007

8 more vidarbha farm suicides in last two days in vidarbha: VJAS urged for relief aid to dying farmers

NAGPUR-11TH APRIL2007

IN LAST TWO DAYS 8 MORE VIDARBHA FARM SUICIDES REPORTED IN VIDARBHA DUE TO DISTRESS OF AGRARIAN CRISIS MOST OF THE FARMERS ARE IN DEBT TRAP AND SMALL RAIN FED FARMERS ,THEY ARE

1.DHANRAJ HOLKAR OF PATAPANGARA IN YAVATMAL
2.MAHADEV DANAV OF PAVHNA IN CHNADRAPUR
3.BALIRAM INGALE OF AMONA IN BULDHANA
4.RAMESH HARANE OF GAVANDGOAN IN AMRAVATI
5.RAMABAI PHATE OF DIVANKHED IN AMARAVATI
6.GOVINDA JUNGHARE OF METIKHEDA IN YAVATMAL
7.JAGDIAH TIKALE OF TALEGOAN IN AMARAVATI
8.GULAB NEWARE OF BELORA IN YAVATMAL

YAVATMAL AND AMRAVATI DISTRCIT REPORTED THREE SUICIDES EACH , CHANDRAPUR AND BULDHANA REPORTED ONE EACH AS CONFIRMED IN LOCAL NEWS PAPERS TODAY .

VJAS LEADER KISHOR TIWARI TODAY VISTED METIKHEDA AND PATAPANGARA IN YAVATMAL DISTRICT AND URGED GOVT. OF INDIA TO ARRANGE URGENT RELIEF AID TO THESE FARMERS WHO ARE DEEP DISTRESS AND FACING STARVATION.VJAS REQUESTED TO INDIAN GOVT. TO START DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD GRAIN UNDER PDS ANTYODAYA AND ANNAPURNA SCHEMES.
TIME HAS COME TO SAVE THESE DYING FARMING COMMUNITY OF VIDARBHA AS MORE THAN 5000 FARM SUICIDES HAVE BEEN REPORTED SINCE 2004 AND DAILY 3 TO 4 FARMERS KILLING THEMSLEVES AND GOVT. OF MAHARASHTRA AND INDIAN GOVT. HAS BEEN WATCHING AS THIRD PARTY SPECTETOR ,KISHOR TIWARI ADDED.

EARLIER ON 7,6, AND 5 APRIL 10 FARM SUICIDES REPOTED FROM YAVATMAL FIVE SUICIDES, WASHIM THREE, AMARAVATI TWO AND NAGPUR ONE OFFICIAL SOURCES CONFIRMED IN LOCAL NEWS PAPERS TOO.

ON 7TH APRIL TWO FARMERS KILLED THEM SLEVES THEY ARE


1.SHYAMRAO KALBANDE OF GRAMKATKHEDE IN WASHIM

2.ANIL JADHAV OF MORAD IN WASHIM



FOUR FARMERS WHO KILLED THEM SELVES ON 6TH APRIL ARE



3.SHARAVAN RATHODE OF ASOLA IN YAVATMAL

4.BHAURAO MESHRAM OF LOHARA IN YAVATMAL

5.RAISINGH CHAVAN OF BHULAI IN YAVATMAL

6.RAMRAO UIKE OF PITHORI IN NAGPUR



ON 5TH APRIL FOUR MORE FARMERS' SUICIDES WERE REPORTED



7.SURYABHAN CHAVAN OF YAWALI IN YAVATMAL

8.DEVIDAS WADE OF KHURHA IN AMARAVATI

9.YOGESH PARIKHE OF KISANAPUR IN AMARAVATI

10.GAJANAN POHANE OF KAWTHAL IN WASHIM



TAKING TO THESE 10 MORE VIDARBHA COTTON FARMERS KILLED THEM SELVES ON 7TH, 6TH AND 5TH APRIL 2007 FARM SUICIDE TOLL HAS GONE TO 269 IN LAST THREE MONTHS AS IN APRIL 15,MARCH 97, FEB.88 AND JAN.70 FARM SUICIDES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, INFORMED VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI TODAY, KISHOR TIWARI OF VJAS ADDED.

IN THESE 10 FARMERS ALL AFRMERS ARE MARGINAL SMALL FARMERS BELONGING TO BACKWARD CLASS, TRIBAL AND BANJARAS, IT'S SHOWS THAT PREVAILING DISTRESS THAT KILLING FARMERS WHO ARE DEPRIVED OF ALL RELIEF AID, KISHOR TIWARI VJAS INFORMEDTODAY.

THE RECENT REPORTS OF BANK RECOVERIES UP TO 31ST MARCH SHOWS THAT COTTON FARMERS ARE IN DEEP ECONOMICAL CRISIS BECAUSE COTTON CROP FAILURE AND POOR MARKET RATE FOR COTTON. THIS SITUATION TOO CRITICAL TO EXPLAIN AS ACCORDING TO MAHARASHTRA GOVT. OFFICIAL REPORT THE AGRARIAN CRISIS IN THE WEST VIDARBHA IS VERY CRITICAL AND 1. 2 MILLION FARMERS OUT OF 1.7 MILLION FARMER IN THE REGION ARE UNDER DISTRESS AND MORE THAN 4,35000 ARE SUICIDE PRONE AND UNDER MAXIMUM DISTRESS, NEEDS FOOD SECURITY, HEALTH SECURITY AND COMPLETE SOCIAL PROTECTION BUT THESE BASIC ISSUES ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN THESE ANNOUNCEMENT, KISHOR TIWARI ADDED.

VJAS HAS URGED MAHARASHTRA CHIEF MINISTER VILASRAO DESHMUKH TO ADDRESS THE BASIC ISSUES OF AGRARIAN CRISIS IN WEST VIDARBHA. IN LETTER VJAS LEADER KISHOR TIWARI REQUESTED HIM THAT THE RESTORATION OF ADVANCE BONUS IS MUST AND STATE SHOULD PURCHASE THE COTTON FROM COTTON GROWER AT THE RATE @2500/- AT ALL 550 PROCUREMENT CENTER AND ALL PENDING DEBT SHOULD WRITTEN OFF SO THAT FARMERS CAN START FRESH FARMING .BAN ON CHEMICAL FARMING AND DIRECT SUBSIDY FOR FOOD CROP PROMOTION MUST BE INTRODUCED. HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND RURAL EMPLOYMENT ARE MUST AND STATE SHOULD PROVIDE THE SAME IMMEDIATELY. VJAS URGED CHIEF MINISTER THAT ISSUE OF FARM SUICIDE IS NOW BEYOND POLITICS AND ALL SHOULD WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO SAVE THE FARMERS VIDARBHA, KISHOR TIWARI ADDED.



Please arrange to release this press note

THANKING YOU,
YOURS TRULY,
KISHOR TIWARI

PRESIDENT
VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI
CONTACT-MOBILE-09422108846

Monday, April 09, 2007

10 More Farmers Kills Themselves

10 More Farmers Kills Themselves
http://mynews.in/newsdetail.aspx?news_id=700
In last three days, 10 more Vidarbha farm suicides have been reported. Five farmers from Yavatmal,three from washim, two from Amravati and one from Nagpur are said to have committed suicides.Their named are as follows: 1.Shyamrao kalbande of gram katkhede in washim 2.Anil Jadhav of morad in washim four farmers who killed them selves on 6th april are 3.Sharavan Rathode of asola in yavatmal 4.Bhaurao Meshram of lohara in yavatmal 5.raisingh Chavan of bhulai in yavatmal 6.Ramrao Uike of Pithori in nagpur On 5th april four more farmers’ suicides were reported 7.Suryabhan chavan of yawali in yavatmal 8.Devidas wade of khurha in amaravati 9.Yogesh parikhe of kisanapur in amaravati 10.Gajanan pohane of kawthal in washim These 10 farmers were small farmers belonging to backward class, tribal and banjaras, it shows that prevailing distress that killing farmers who are deprived of all relief aid.The recent reports of bank recoveries up to 31st march shows that cotton farmers are in deep economical crisis because failure of cotton crop and poor market rate for cotton. This situation is too critical to explain, official report from Maharashtra State Givernment reports that the agrarian crisis in the west Vidarbha is very critical and 1. 2 million farmers out of 1.7 million farmer in the region are under distress and more than 4,35,000 are suicide prone and under maximum distress, needs food security, health security and complete social protection. We urge Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to address the basic issues of agrarian crisis in west vidarbha.We ask then for restoration of advance bonus and state should purchase the cotton from cotton grower at the rate @2500/- at all 550 procurement center and all pending debt should written off so that farmers can start fresh farming .The ban on chemical farming and direct subsidy for food crop promotion must be introduced.Also, health care, education and rural employment are a must to save farmers lives in Vidarbha.

Shekhawat spoils party

Shekhawat spoils party
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1089699
Ganesh Kanate
Monday, April 09, 2007 02:27 IST

It was supposed to be a cosy function held in the honour of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. The Man, A Vision, Beyond Tomorrow, a photo-biography was released to commemorate the NCP leader's 40th year in active politics by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat at Bhabha Auditorium on Sunday. But instead of singing praises of the veteran leader, Shekhawat seized the opportunity to bring to the minister's notice the ever-increasing farmer suicides in India and Vidarbha.

"Pawar has said he would not share the dais as everybody would only praise him and that would make him feel embarrassed. In that case, I will not only praise him, but also criticise him. Later, he might just repent his decision, as he would not be able to answer my criticism," he said. Having said that, Shekhawat actually went on to indirectly criticise not just the country's agriculture policy, but also described farmers' suicides in Maharashtra as a blot on the country's reputation.

Despite the fact that he did not criticise or hold Pawar directly responsible for the grim reality, Shekhawat did not mince words while pointing out that the suicides were a clear failure of the system that does not guarantee fair market price to its agriculture produce. "There is no system of marketing that will ensure that the farmer gets what he has invested or deserves," said Shekhawat before pointing out that he too was a farmer and therefore, understood the community's woes. "Efforts must be made to put into place a modern marketing system that will directly help the farmers and Pawar will take initiative in this regard," Shekhawat announced.

Stating that the Indian economy was growing, the Vice-President said, "The gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening like never before and this might create unrest. Therefore, it must be ensured that the wealth that is being generated should percolate and the poor get to taste the fruits of a growing economy." In fact, it is the corporate houses operating in the country that enjoy both, direct and indirect benefits of the economic growth, he added.

Another concern was the burden on the country's agronomy. Shekhawat said agronomy was being burdened with 60 per cent of country's labour force. "While population is burgeoning and the overall land-holding of marginal farmers is decreasing below one acre per farmer, it must be ensured that either population stabilises or the dependence on agronomy is immediately reduced." Demanding a rethink on the 26 per cent population below the poverty line, Shekhawat said, "It cannot, and should not, be accepted as it stands."

Governor SM Krishna presided over the function while Union MoS for Civil Aviation Praful Patel and RR Patil were the guests of honour. Former LS Speaker Manohar Joshi, industrialist Anil Ambani and a host of senior politicians were present at the function. Sanju Hinge, who has authored Pawar's photo-biography was felicitated as well.
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Saturday, April 07, 2007

All Parties Shed Crocodile Tears in Vidarbha but nobody to look at dying vidarbha farmer

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

REGD. OFFICE: 11, TRISARAN SOCIETY, KHAMALA, NAGPUR - 440 025.
PH. 2282447/457 MOBILE-9422108846. vidarbha@gmail.com

================================================================================================
REF: - FARMER'S SUICIDES VERY-URGENT-PRESS NOTE DATED-7TH APRIL2007


All Parties Shed Crocodile Tears in Vidarbha but nobody to look at dying vidarbha farmer
VIDARBHA FARM SUICIDE AT SIX HOURLY AT THE TIME OF ROAD SHOW OF THE CHIEF MINISTER AS FOUR MORE SUICIDES REPORTED ON 6TH APRIL



NAGPUR-7TH APRIL2007

ON GOING FARM SUICIDE SPIRAL SINCE JUNE 2005 IN VIDARBHA (INDIAN) AGRARIAN CRISIS IS CONTINUED AT THE RATE OF ONE FARM SUICIDE IN EVERY SIX HOUR AS FOUR MORE COTTON FARMERS COMMITTED SUICIDES IN LAST 24 HOURS IN VIDARBHA WHEN MAHARASHTRA CHIEF MINISTER WAS BUSY IN HIS "ROAD SHOW" IN PARLIAMENT BY ELECTION OF NAGPUR RURAL SEAT.



ALL PARTIES ARE SHEDING CROCODILE TEARS ON FARM SUICIDES BUT NOBODY IS KEEN TO LOOK AT THE DYING FARMING COMMUNITY AS ONE TRIBAL FARMER RAMRAO UIKE WAS COMMITTING SUICIDE IN VILLAGE PITHORI IN NERKHED TALUKA IN NAGPUR DISTRICT WHEN CHIEF MINISTER WAS MOVING IN NARKHED ONLY SURPRISING APPOSITION PARTY LEADER OF SHIV SENA AND BJP ALSO TOOK BIG RALLY OF THEIR CANDIDATE IN EVENING IN THE TOWNSHIP OF NERKHED AND CRYING AGAINST APATHY OF UPA GOVT. AGAINST COTTON FARMER BUT NO ONE SPARE TIME TO VISIT VILLAGE PITHORI TO SEE THE FAMILY OF DECEASED FARMER WHOSE CORPUS LYING TILL MID NIGHT FOR THE WANT OF MONEY FOR THE FUNERAL, KISHOR TIWARI LOCAL FARM ACTIVIST REPORTED TODAY.

FOUR FARMERS WHO KILLED THEM SELVES ON 6TH APRIL ARE



1.SHARAVAN RATHODE OF ASOLA IN YAVATMAL

2.BHAURAO MESHRAM OF LOHARA IN YAVATMAL

3.RAISINGH CHAVAN OF BHULAI IN YAVATMAL

4.RAMRAO UIKE OF PITHORI IN NAGPUR



EARLIER ON 5TH APRIL FOUR MORE FARMERS' SUICIDES WERE REPORTED



5.SURYABHAN CHAVAN OF YAWALI IN YAVATMAL

6.DEVIDAS WADE OF KHURHA IN AMARAVATI

7.YOGESH PARIKHE OF KISANAPUR IN AMARAVATI

8.GAJANAN POHANE OF KAWTHAL IN WASHIM



TAKING TO THESE 8 MORE VIDARBHA COTTON FARMERS KILLED THEM SELVES ON 6TH AND 5TH APRIL 2007 FARM SUICIDE TOLL HAS GONE TO 267 IN LAST THREE MONTHS AS IN APRIL 13,MARCH 97, FEB.88 AND JAN.70 FARM SUICIDES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, INFORMED VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI TODAY, KISHOR TIWARI OF VJAS ADDED.

THE RECENT REPORTS OF BANK RECOVERIES UP TO 31ST MARCH SHOWS THAT COTTON FARMERS ARE IN DEEP ECONOMICAL CRISIS BECAUSE COTTON CROP FAILURE AND POOR MARKET RATE FOR COTTON. THIS SITUATION TOO CRITICAL TO EXPLAIN AS ACCORDING TO MAHARASHTRA GOVT. OFFICIAL REPORT THE AGRARIAN CRISIS IN THE WEST VIDARBHA IS VERY CRITICAL AND 1. 2 MILLION FARMERS OUT OF 1.7 MILLION FARMER IN THE REGION ARE UNDER DISTRESS AND MORE THAN 4,35000 ARE SUICIDE PRONE AND UNDER MAXIMUM DISTRESS, NEEDS FOOD SECURITY, HEALTH SECURITY AND COMPLETE SOCIAL PROTECTION BUT THESE BASIC ISSUES ARE NOT ADDRESSED IN THESE ANNOUNCEMENT, KISHOR TIWARI ADDED.

VJAS HAS URGED MAHARASHTRA CHIEF MINISTER VILASRAO DESHMUKH TO ADDRESS THE BASIC ISSUES OF AGRARIAN CRISIS IN WEST VIDARBHA. IN LETTER VJAS LEADER KISHOR TIWARI REQUESTED HIM THAT THE RESTORATION OF ADVANCE BONUS IS MUST AND STATE SHOULD PURCHASE THE COTTON FROM COTTON GROWER AT THE RATE @2500/- AT ALL 550 PROCUREMENT CENTER AND ALL PENDING DEBT SHOULD WRITTEN OFF SO THAT FARMERS CAN START FRESH FARMING .BAN ON CHEMICAL FARMING AND DIRECT SUBSIDY FOR FOOD CROP PROMOTION MUST BE INTRODUCED. HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND RURAL EMPLOYMENT ARE MUST AND STATE SHOULD PROVIDE THE SAME IMMEDIATELY. VJAS URGED CHIEF MINISTER THAT ISSUE OF FARM SUICIDE IS NOW BEYOND POLITICS AND ALL SHOULD WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO SAVE THE FARMERS VIDARBHA, KISHOR TIWARI ADDED.



Please arrange to release this press note

THANKING YOU,
YOURS TRULY,
KISHOR TIWARI

PRESIDENT
VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI
CONTACT-MOBILE-09422108846

Thursday, April 05, 2007

VJAS urged Indian Prime Minister to Reject the Report of the Technical Expert Group on Patent Law Issues

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

REGD. OFFICE: 11,TRISARAN SOCIETY, KHAMLA,NAGPUR - 440 025.
PH.2282447/457 MOBILE-9422108846. vidarbha@gmail.com

===========================================================================================
REF: Patent Law Issues VERY-URGENT DATED- 4th APRIL,2007


( LETTER THROUGH LAWYERSCOLLECTIVE.ORG BANGLORE)




Dr. Manmohan Singh

Hon'ble Prime Minister of India

The Prime Minister's Office

South Block, Raisina Hill,

New Delhi 110011
Tel: 91-11-23018939; Fax: 91-11-23019334



Re: Rejection of the Report of the Technical Expert Group on Patent Law Issues




Hon'ble Prime Minister,



We write to you to express our concern over the constantly changing stand of the Government on the Technical Expert Group on Patent Law Issues (Expert Group). We are disturbed to read media reports that the Ministry of Commerce has yet to take a firm stand on a report that has been withdrawn by the Head of the Expert Group, Dr. R.A. Mashelkar who has since resigned from the Group in the face of the plagiarism of key recommendations of the report. The plagiarism indicated not only the lack of integrity in the preparation and presentation of the report but more importantly the lack of application of mind on an issue that will affect the ability of millions of Indians to access life saving and life prolonging medication.



Plagiarism apart, the recommendations of the Expert Group have been widely criticized by public health experts, legal experts and even the domestic pharmaceutical industry because of its failure to reason its conclusions and its cursory dismissal of other provisions of the TRIPS Agreement and the Doha Declaration. The Terms of Reference of the Expert Group required it to submit an expert opinion on the issues referred to it.



Contrary to expectations of the Group, the Report did not even attempt to offer any legal analysis to justify its conclusions. Further, as per Dr. Mashelkar's letter withdrawing the Report, it abdicated its responsibility of drafting the Report—a task entrusted to it and it alone. The report was drafted by a Drafting Sub-Committee, whose membership is unknown, both to members of the public and Parliament.



The Expert Group was established as part of the commitment of the Indian Government to the representatives of the people over serious concerns of the impact of the new patent law on access to life saving medications for millions of Indians. At the heart of the issue is the obligation of the Indian government to ensure the right to life and health of its citizens.



The credibility and objectivity of the Expert Group has been seriously undermined and the stand of the Government can only be to reject it in totality. It is of grave concern that the Government is still considering whether to accept or adopt, even in part, any of the recommendations of the Expert Group. Accepting the report of the Committee whose moral and intellectual integrity is in grave doubt will only undermine the Governments own position and stand that it is to ensure medicines for all, a commitment it has repeatedly made at both national and international forums and is legally bound by.



We call upon the Government to immediately reject this Report and to refer the matter to the representatives of the people – the Indian Parliament, a Select Committee or any other Specialized Committee, which must ultimately ensure the right to life and health of all persons is fulfilled – an obligation in law far higher than any international agreement to protect commercial interests.



Regards,

Kishor tiwari

PRESIDENT


Vidarbha jan andolan samiti

Nagpur-440 025