Updated on April 1, 2016: The sit-in agitation that started since Tuesday by the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha (ABKS), the farmer wing of CPI (M) in city has been temporarily called off after successful meeting with the state Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis.
A delegation of ABKS met the chief minister yesterday, and discussed various demands of adivasi and farmers.
The CM assured the Kisan Sabha leaders that union government's help will be taken for blanket loan waiver to farmers.
Updated on March 31, 2016: Apart from hot and sultry weather conditions, Nashik has also been witnessing massive traffic jams and vehicle disruptions.
And no, this has nothing to do with the traffic woes in the city. In fact, the problem is much bigger than that.
Drought struck farmers in Nashik have taken to the streets asking the state government to meet their specific demands.
As per media reports, these farmers have not only been demanding a loan waiver, but they have also been asking for drought relief measures which include a requirement of Rs 50,000 per acre of destroyed crops. These farmers have also been pressing on receiving land rights for tenant farmers.
While the police have reached the site, these farmers say that until their demands are taken into consideration, the protest will continue. Currently, due to insufficient rains in Maharashtra, several areas have been reeling under drought.
Just about ten days ago, section 144 was imposed in Latur, Maharashtra due to water shortage. The imposition was implemented to avoid any violence related to water. Educational institutions and administrative offices were also declared closed for a month.
As per reports, about three days ago, a 48-year-old debt-ridden farmer committed suicide by consuming poison after he was unable to pay a loan of Rs. 1 lakh.
Every year, at least, a thousand farmers commit suicides in Maharashtra alone due to drought in the state. While several drought years have passed by, the state governments have not been able to address the needs of the farmers.
Image Credit: arshi_yasin (twitter)
