Centre urged to ensure early distribution of aid to Vidarbha farmers

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) MP from Maharashtra Datta Meghe today demanded that centre ensure that the drought assistance anounced by the Prime Minister for farmers of the Vidharbha region reached them without any delay.

Taking part in the continued discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the farmers suicide, Mr Meghe said the money has reached the Maharshtra Government and now there should be no delay in its distribution.

He said it was unfortunate that the reports about the situation in Vidarbha sent to the Centre from time to time had not been implemented.

Moreover, Mr Meghe said the drought package has been announced only for six districts while a total of eleven districts were affected.

Mr V Narayanswamy (Congress) called for making strategic investment in agriculture infrastructure to solve the problem of frequent drought.

He also said there should be monitoring mechanism for credit sanctioned for farmers. Besides, cooperative marketing should be improved and more money and effort should be put into agricultural research.

MP from Punjab Varinder Singh Wadhwa said the situation in Punjab was equally bad, as more than 5000 farmers had committed suicide there. He called for declaring the state as drought-affected.

MP from Orissa Rudranartain Pani (BJP) said the problem was very grave and it should be discussed outsides partylines.

''In every Parlaiment session, we discuss the matter of farmers suicide as a routine, but let us pledge to eradicate the problem so that was no need to discuss the issue in the next session.

UNI NAZ VD GC1506