E-Paper
Maharashtra Govt proposes scheme to help debt-ridden Vidarbha farmers
A proposal by Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister, Nitin Raut, envisages giving five cows or buffalos to a farmer so that he could generate additional income, reports Pradip Kumar Maitra.
Debt-ridden members of the farming community in Vidarbha district of Maharashtra that has seen the highest number of suicides will be given an additional revenue source under a new scheme of the government.
During the last 48 hours, three more farmers committed suicide in the region -- one each from Yavatmal, Wardha and Buldhana districts -- taking the tally for the month to 54. In November this figure stood at 82.
A proposal by Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister, Nitin Raut, envisages giving five cows or buffalos to a farmer so that they could generate additional income. The department is preparing a master plan to implement the scheme, targeted at educated unemployed youth, self-help groups, and farmers from the backward communities, like SC and ST and minorities. The proposal would be tabled at the next cabinet meeting for clearance.
Benefits flowing from the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojna, which gives loans to educated unemployed youth for providing self-employment and the Maharashtra State Mahila Arthik Vikas Mandal would be channelised to the target group.
Raut said farmers of Vidarbha were going through difficult times. "We are trying to create groups of youth, women and other communities so that such programmes can be implemented professionally," he said. "Community cattle shed, fodder bank, bulk cooling system for storage of milk would be developed in all these villages so that such schemes sustain and farmers get benefit for a longer period," he added.
Dairy development took a back seat in this region while western or northern Maharashtra reaped rich dividends through such schemes. "Daily development here will be implemented in a much better way than the western Maharashtra model," he said. The emphasis was on to give benefit to a community rather than an individual.
Every village will have a Pashu Sevak (veterinary helper) and he will be connected with a veterinary clinic through mobile for ensuring the health care of animals. Such helper should be a diploma holder in veterinary science.
The beneficiaries would be trained by officials of the agriculture and diary development department, who would monitor operation and progress of the scheme.
