By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal : After NABARD has reduced the credit outlay to Vidarbha by 40 per cen i.e. Rs.1860 crore to Rs.1230 crore bankers have stopped giving fresh loans to illegible farmers since June 30 this year as result of which eight more debt-trapped farmers have killed themselves in last 48 hours, .
The farmers who committed suicides are: Bajirao Fulaji Ingale of Gourkheda, Waman Maroti Dewan of Dewulwada, Janrao Bapu Warahde Phiggoan Suresh Shankar Pande of Valruli (all four in Amaravati District), Pandurang Shivram Ingole of Wadavi in Washim, Shankar Govind Nange of Sawara in Akola, Ekanath Maroti Kale in Korada and Vikas Keshao Punwatkar of Ramwaki (both in Yavatmal District).
According to a Press release of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, (VJAS), today the death toll due to suicides of farmers has thus galloped to total 506 since January this year, .
Recent floods damage in Amaravati district and Government's apathy to give relief aid even though it was already announced by Maharashtra Chief Minister has resulted in more than 10 farmers' suicides, Kishor Tiwari, president of VJAS, stated In the Press release.
The decision of bankers not to give fresh crop loan has put more than two million cotton farmers in a fix. Money-lenders too are exploiting the situation and more and more farmers are being forced to commit suicide as they have failed to do sowing, Tiwari added. .
Earlier, NABARD announced that bankers will go to doorstep of every farmer to give them crop loans but in fact now they have asked bankers not to give fresh crop loans to any illegible farmer whereas farmers' main demand of complete loan waiver has been thrown into the dust bin. It's really unfortunate, Tiwari remarked. ([email protected])