Farmers relief packages need to be relooked: into Patil

Nagpur, Oct 29 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today said there was a need to re-examine the relief packages for farmers by the state Government as they continued to commit suicides.

Mr Patil was here on a day-long visit to the region and was talking to reporters at Wardha. Mr Patil visited the family of Mohan Urade, a farmer who had commited suicide following crop failure in July this year in the Chikhli village of Wardha district.

Mr Patil spoke to Vandana, the widow, and sought to know the reasons behind her husband's suicide. He also interacted with villagers who narrated their woes to him. Mohan Urade had a joint family land holding of ten acres of which his share was three acres.

However, Mr Patil opined that Mohan Urade may not have committed suicide due to indebtedness. He said the reason for the suicide was not clear as there was no old loan on the farmer. Mohan Urade had availed a fresh loan only three months before his suicide and no one had troubled him for recovery, Mr Patil said while adding that the State Government had still paid a compensation of Rs one lakh to his family.

Since there has been no halt to the suicides despite two packages announced by the Maharashtra Government, it appears the packages are not enough and some more issues need to be addressed, Mr Patil admitted.

Mr Patil, meanwhile, lauded BJP leader Nitin Gadkari fpr convening an all-party meeting to deliberate on the farmers' issue.

Mr Patil said that the issue was a humanitarian one and if good suggestions are placed before the State Government, they would be considered.

UNI XR MAZ RL VC2140