Farmers stage hunger strike over PM's package

Nagpur, Jan 17 (UNI) Farmers from Yavatmal district in Vidarbha region stripped to their waists before resorting to a hunger strike at the divisional headquarters in Amravati to press their demand for proper implementation of the Prime Minister's relief package and loans for the Rabi cultivation season.

Amravati Deputy Divisional Commissioner Hemand Pawar told UNI that the farmers began their hunger strike at the office of the Divisional Commissioner here last evening.

However, the farmers ended their agitation after they were assured that a meeting of representatives of the banks in Yavatmal district would be convened in Amravati on January 20 to discuss the issue, Mr Pawar said.

Earlier, one of the agitating farmers, Prakash Pande, said the Rs 3,750 crore relief package announced on June 1 last year by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for six districts of Vidarbha was not being implemented properly and banks were not giving loans at low interest rates to farmers inspite of instructions from the government.

UNI