Widows to conduct jagran yatra for Vidarbha state

Nagpur, Jan 11: In line with the demand for separate statehood, around 300 widows of Vidarbah will go on a two-day 'jagran yatra' (awakening procession) in eastern Maharashtra.

Briefing about the procession, Bebitai Bais, president of the Vidarbha Farm Widows Association (VFWA) said that the 180-km march on Jan 20 will begin from the Kosara village and end at Both-Bodan village both in Yavatmal district the following day.

"During the procession, our convoy will halt in different villages and drum up support for the cause of Vidarbha, draw people's attention towards the apathy of the Maharashtra government and the plight of the 7,300-plus farmland widows and other urgent socio-economic issues plaguing the region," Bais said.

Bais added that the widows will present bangles opponents of a separate Vidarbha states, particularly the Shiv Sena as gifts.

Citing the demands for Vidarbha as the focus of the procession, Bais accused the state government of failing to provide over 2 milion farmers, who are reeling under the heavy debts in the region, with basic eminities as promised.

"Our focus will be on the long-pending demands of the dying Vidarbha, which has been exploited for over six decades by different political parties," Bais said.

The procession will form part of the agitation for bandh called on Jan 20 by the political parties and social groups.

Vidarbha has the highest number of farmers suicides in the country.

OneIndia News