In a short span of 12 days, 25 farmers have committed suicide in the cotton-growing region of Vidarbha, thus exposing the failure of the state government in tackling the agrarian crisis effectively.
The farmers’ crisis has been underplayed both in terms of policy and presentation during the 2010-11 budget. After presenting the budget, chief minister Ashok Chavan and finance minister Sunil Tatkare had emphasised that the government’s initiatives in the last two years have transformed the face of Vidarbha. However, information from the six distressed districts of the region paints a grim scenario. Officials in the revenue department confirmed:
“Despite the Rs11,800-crore loan waiver package from the Centre-state, life remains miserable with the region reeling under power and water crises. The systematic loopholes coupled with circumstances (crop failures) have further compounded the problems.”
Devendra Fadnavis, MLA, said, “The loan waiver package was limited to one-time favour. But the larger concern of a small or a medium farmer is that unless they fetch income proportionate to their investments, they will continue to remain in debt.”
A senior cabinet minister said, “The reason for suicides in the region is not economic alone. There are social aspects as well and these should also be looked into. The government cannot sustain loan waiver policies forever.”
Of the total Rs33,934-crore annual budget for 2010-11, the allocation set aside for agriculture and allied services is Rs1,462 crore. A senior government officer said: “Even if 40% of the funds reach the needy, things would change.”
The state economic survey shows that despite the decline in license holders from 7,801 (2008) to 6,863 (2009), the number of people relying on private money lenders across the state has increased from 4,23,213 (2008) to 5,74,046 (2009). The trend in the cotton-growing region is not different. Exploitation of farmers there by private money lenders is not new.
Farmer activist Kishore Tiwari said, “The Centre’s intervention to improve the farmer’s plight in Vidarbha cannot be a one-time scheme. It has to be a sustained policy till it makes a marked difference.”
