Curbing farmers suicide biggest challenge for us: Maharashtra CM

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday admitted that curbing farmers’ suicides in Maharashtra, particularly in Vidarbha, was the biggest challenge for the government.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday admitted that curbing farmers’ suicides in Maharashtra, particularly in Vidarbha, was the biggest challenge for the government.

The CM said they have undertaken a flagship programme, Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan, which aims at solving the water woes of 5,000 villages in Maharashtra. “The success of this abhiyaan will mark an end to farmers’ woes,” said Fadnavis.

The chief minister was addressing a farmers’ gathering at Krishi Vikas exhibition in Amravati.

“Farmers’ suicides have made Vidarbha infamous. Though the erstwhile government spent crores to present such suicides, the money went down the drain as it did not try to get to the root of the problem, which was the inadequacy of irrigation. Unless adequate water is provided to farms, change will not occur,” he said.

The CM alleged that despite allocating thousands of crores to the cause, the situation did not improve because the then ministers siphoned off the funds.

Assuring the farmers that 22,000 wells will be constructed within a year, Fadnavis said he will ensure the supply of agriculture pumps to every demanding farmer in Vidarbha and Marathwada.