Expressing concern over drought situation in Madhya Pradesh, Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha Jyotiraditya Scindia today alleged that the BJP government in the state has failed to make serious efforts in providing relief to farmers.
“Almost entire Madhya Pradesh is reeling under drought situation and condition of farmers is worsening with many of the being forced to commit suicides in the absence of any serious efforts by the state government to provide relief to them,” Scindia said in a statement issued here.
He also demanded declaration of entire Madhya Pradesh as “drought-hit” in view of scanty rainfall and damage caused to crops.
He alleged that the farmers who were already in distress were forced to pay their bank dues and were slapped with hefty electricity bills and claimed that these conditions forced a farmer in Shajapur district to end life.
Referring to his Parliamentary constituency, Guna, the senior leader claimed that due to farm woes, farmers in Nai Sarai, Pachavali and Bamori villages have committed suicide.
“Though the state government has stated that it will conduct survey of the damaged crop, farmers are still waiting since last month for it to happen and despite their pleas to officials, nobody is ready to listen to them,” he said.
Congress will soon launch a state-wide agitation to highlight the problems of farmers and will fight for them at roads and also in Parliament, he added.
Scindia also demanded immediate disbursal of relief to farmers for affected crops, compensation and insurance money, and to suspend recovery of bank loan and power dues for them.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over farmers’ plight, Madhya Pradesh government has deployed IAS officers to assess the actual situation arising out of drought due to deficient rainfall by holding village-level discussions and through spot inspections, an official of Public Relation Department said.
Each officer has been assigned two development blocks each and they would submit reports in prescribed forms by October 30, after assessing situation in 8-10 villages each.
During the period, Ministers and Ministers of State will also assess the situation by visiting villages under their charge, the official said.
