Alleging official apathy, about 35 farmers from Wadhona village in Amravati district have sought permission from President APJ Abdul Kalam to go in for euthanasia or mercy killing, sources said.
The farmers from Wadhona, which has a population of over 2,000, have alleged in the letter to the President that a canal was damaging their crops and that there had been no response to their requests to officials for its proper canalisation and for constructing a protective wall.
The canal was also affecting nearby villages like Khashikhed, Ghusli, Nagavandi and Asegaon, the villagers claimed.
Another problem the farmers faced was that of wild boars, which damaged their crops, they said. District authorities had failed to redress their grievances in this regard too, they said.
Finally the farmers wrote a letter to the President, Prime Minister, Governor, Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.
Amravati Collector Ravindra Jadhav, when contacted, said he was unaware of any such appeal by the farmers.
Sub-divisional Officer GW Suranje, however, said that the villagers had written to the president instead of taking up the issue with local authorities. "We are exploring the possibility of including the canal work under the special package scheme of the state and Central governments," Suranje said.
{{/usCountry}}Sub-divisional Officer GW Suranje, however, said that the villagers had written to the president instead of taking up the issue with local authorities. "We are exploring the possibility of including the canal work under the special package scheme of the state and Central governments," Suranje said.
{{/usCountry}}Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited Dhamangaon railway station, which is located close to Wadhona, on June 30 during his two-day tour of Vidarbha region to assess problems faced by farmers in the area.