New Delhi: Government on Tuesday rejected a
suggestion by members for setting up a committee to monitor
centrally funded schemes in Vidarbha, which has been
witnessing suicides by debt-ridden farmers.
"It will not be proper for the Government of India to set
up a committee. Monitoring of the implementation of schemes
has to be done by the state government," Agriculture Minister
Sharad Pawar said replying to supplementaries during Question
Hour in the Lok Sabha.
As member from Nagpur Vilas Muttemwar raised the issue of
continuing suicides by farmers in the region, Speaker Meira
Kumar voiced concern over the matter and asked the government
to find a solution to the problem at the earliest.
Pawar pointed out that the key issue in the Vidarbha
region was lack of irrigation facilities due to which farmers
have to depend on rainfall for agriculture.
The thrust of the Central package to Vidarbha was on
improving irrigation facilities and 80 percent of funds
allocated for the purpose have been spent, he said.
The minister said several projects to improve irrigation
facilities in the region were under various stages of
implementation and the ultimate fruits would be seen in two
to three years.
As many as 48 farmers in Marathwada and 154 in Vidarbha
have committed suicides this year.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 08, 2009, 14:40