Farmers organise hunger strike on Maharashtra Day

Yavatmal, May 1 (UNI) The debt-ridden farmers today observed the Maharashtra foundation day as the 'Breach of Trust Day' by organising a one-day hunger strike in Pandharkawda tehsil of the district.

The strike was organised by the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, whose President Kishore Tiwari moved a resolution to observe the Maharashtra Day as Breach of Trust Day, and demanded the resignation of National Agriculture Commission Chairman Dr M S Swaminathan.

''The state government came to power on an assurance of giving Rs 3000 per quintal for cotton and all sorts of assistance to the farmers for a better tomorrow. However, it has breached the promise and the farmers are on the receiving end. Consequently, they have been forced to take the extreme step of committing suicide. Thus we have decided to observe May one as Breach of Trust Day,'' Yavatmal zilla parishad Member Tukaram Meshram told UNI here during the strike which was largely attended by the cotton growers in the region.

The toll in the farmers' suicides in the region has gone up to 500, with about 3-4 farmers committing suicide daily.

Despite the declaration of a special package of Rs 1,075 crore by the Maharashtra government during the winter session in Nagpur, the toll had not been abated.

The farmers of Vidarbha had been demanding Rs 3000 per quintal for cotton as the minimum support price and waiving off debts, besides the grant of fresh crop loans. They had also demanded a ban on the sale of Bt cotton seeds, as they were not only dearer but also unproductive.

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