Only 5% vidarbha tribals getting khawati benefits-Voilation of High court Directives-Hitvada ,Reports

Food to Dying Vidarbha Tribals

Only 5% vidarbha tribals getting khawati benefits-Voilation of High court Directives-Hitvada ,Reports

Staff reporter :Nagpur -12^th July 2009

Despite repeated directives by the Nagpur Bench of Mumbai high Court, the Tribal Welfare Ministry has not taken steps to check rising malnutrition and tribals in Vidarbha.

Though the government has started distribution of khawati to the tribals in the form of food and finance, only 5% of the eligible tribals are being offered the aid, specially in tribal areas in Amravati, Yavatamal, Gadchiroli districts alleged VJAS.

Due the government’s decision, as many as 9,60,000 tribals in the region will be deprived of the khawati scheme benefit.

Under khawati scheme, 70% aid is provided in the form of food grains while 30% is given in cash. “ This reflects the government’s anti-tribal policy” said VJAS’ president Kishore Tiwari.

District-wise tribal beneficiaries under Khawati scheme

District	Eligible tribals	Actual Benificiaries
Amravati Yavatamal Bhandara Chandrapur Gadchiroli	1,81,113 1,96,000 1,82,000 1,92,000 2,60,000	9,460 13,216 8,530 8,400 11,510
Total	10,11,116	51,116

A division bench consisting of Justice Dilip Sinha and Justice A.P.Bhangala while hearing a letter petition filed by VJAS regarding implementation of khawati schemes in tribal areas, has given the verdict. However due to failure of official machinery to supply adequate foodgrains before onset of rainy season, malnutrition deaths have occurred in the districts. The Court had fixed May 31 as the deadline for distribution of the benefits under the scheme. Since not even a single penny was distributed under the scheme well-past the deadline, the Court slammed the government and it latter sprung to action.

VJAS has also warned of an agitation on August 15 if the demands are not fulfilled.

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New Food Security Bill likely to increase food rate by 30-Allvoices Reports

New Food Security Bill likely to increase food rate by 30

By: chnarendra
New Delhi : India | about 19 hours ago

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3627085-new-food-security-bill-likely-to-increase-food-rate-by-30

The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) has lamented the government announcement on Monday that it will soon introduce a Bill to enact a Food Security law that will provide 25 kg of rice and/or wheat at Rs 3 to each family below the poverty line.

In a letter to the union PDS minister Sharad Pawar, it expressed fears that such a law is likely increase food rate by 30 per cent and may cut 35 per cent monthly allocation of more than 32 million poor families under existing Antyodaya scheme if proposed bill for food security is passed in the parliament as per announcement.

VJAS President Kishore Tiwari said that they expected that the government will start new scheme to poor afetr President Pratibha Patil had, on June 4, said a National Food Security Act would be formulated whereby each BPL family would be entitled by law to get 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 a kg, a promise made by the Congress before general elections 2009 .

But surprisingly, he said that while presenting the Union Budget 2009-10, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said with out giving any fund as this scheme needs more than Rs.50,000 crore allocation that the Bill will soon be introduced after consultation with different stakeholders. and it was told that so called draft Food Security Bill will be put up on the website of the ministry of food and public distribution for public debate on this issue.

Tiwari said that it's mare time consuming as BPL list is ready and at present, the Centre is providing 35 kg of rice or wheat per month to each BPL family. Wheat is supplied at Rs 4.15 per kg while rice at Rs 5.65 a kg to over four crore families living below the poverty line. Now if new food security bill is likely to reduce the monthly allocation by 10 k.g. and all all poorest of poor under existing BPL list are also likely to pay @ of Rs.3 kg in place of Rs.2 kg. Hence, new food security bill may turn in food insecurity bill , Tiwari added.

The Centre has enough food grain in its buffer stock to implement the control order 2001 as per apex court order in right to food petition of H D Dua. But , he wondered that till date state has failed to address serious issue of poverty hunger when there is the bumper foodgrain output and higher minimum support prices and the government has procured a record of over 250 lakh tonnes of wheat and over 300 lakh tonnes of rice till July 3 this marketing season.

VJAS has asked union PDS minister Sharad Pawar to take out some time from his busy schedules of cricket association elections to clear basic doubts about proposed New Food Security Bill. (EOM)

Another Tribal Starvation Death Reported as Administration failed implements Food Distribution Order of High Court to Dying Vidarbha Tribals

NAGPUR- June 14, 2009

Gond tribal of village Karegoan Punnaju Pendore found dead in maregoan forest and first hand postmortem report confirm that it’s another starvation death earlier three food starved kolam tribal v.i.z. Anand Tekam,Suresh Atram and Rama Mahadu Tekam died in day on kondi pod of tribal belt of vidarbha in farm suicide effected yavatmal district 150 K.M. south west of Nagpur , vidarbha jan andolan samiti informed here today in pres release.

press release further adds that in tribal belt of vidarbha it,s complete collapse of public distribution system that tribal are dying without food and even after repeated orders of high court to administration as they failed to provide them food security .The complete failure of National employment grantee scheme NREGA and National rural health mission NRHM has resulted in to sudden starvation death of on single day. all hospital in this tribal belt are ill managed that there is no doctor and medicine both .

This week only Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the State Government to ensure adequate supply of food grains to before June 30. Similarly the High Court has sought a list of erring officials who failed to do so during last year and current year along with postal departmental action. The High Court also asked the chief secretary to personally look into the matter and ensure scrupulous compliance of order and submit list of erring officials.

A division bench consisting of Justice Dilip Sinha and Justice A P bhangala while hearing a letter-petition filed by Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishor tiwari regarding implementation of Khawati scheme in tribal areas. Due to failure of officials’ machinery to supply adequate food grains before onset of rainy season, malnutrition deaths have occurred. Under Khawati scheme, 70 % aid is provided in the form of food grains while 30% is given in cash.

The High Court while pulling up the authorities, lamented that despite several orders issued from time to time, the officials have failed to distribute food grain. Maharashtra is considered as a progressive and better administered state and has a separate tribal welfare department, commissionerate and dedicated funds; even then the implementation of such good scheme is far from satisfactory. Amicus Curiae Firdos Mirza drew attention towards GR dated March 24, 2008 pertaining to supply of food grains to tribal and action in case of failure of concerned officials,

most of tribal villages and kolam pods are not having raod, facility of safe drinking water, electricity and they are living with out house. even after 60 year of Indian freedom.

we failed to give them food security and right to live.

Tribal are dying like animals dying in village ,there is nobody in administration to look after these death .Indian political leaders are not keen to follow up the serious issue of starvation death of these tribal, tiwari said.

."we will take up this issue at all forum so that such stravation deaths of tribal are avoided" tiwari announced today.

Administration should arrange free health care,free food and rural emplyment for these tribal as per high court orders soon VJAS demanded in memorandum to Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

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High Court directs State Govt to provide food grains to Dying tribals by June 30

Staff Reporter

NAGPUR bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the State Government to ensure adequate supply of food grains to before June 30. Similarly the High Court has sought a list of erring officials who failed to do so during last year and current year along with postal departmental action. The High Court also asked the chief secretary to personally look into the matter and ensure scrupulous compliance of order and submit list of erring officials.

A division bench consisting of Justice Dilip Sinha and Justice A P bhangala while hearing a letter-petition filed by Madhukar Gumble and Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishor tiwari regarding implementation of Khawati scheme in tribal areas. Due to failure of officials’ machinery to supply adequate food grains before onset of rainy season, malnutrition deaths have occurred. Under Khawati scheme, 70 % aid is provided in the form of food grains while 30% is given in cash.

The High Court while pulling up the authorities, lamented that despite several orders issued from time to time, the officials have failed to distribute food grain. Maharashtra is considered as a progressive and better administered state and has a separate tribal welfare department, commissionerate and dedicated funds; even then the implementation of such good scheme is far from satisfactory.

Amicus Curiae Firdos Mirza drew attention towards GR dated March 24, 2008 pertaining to supply of food grains to tribals and action in case of failure of concerned officials, Additional Government pleader Bharti Dangre fairly conceded that no instructions have been given to her despite repeated follow-up. Adv. Mukesh Samarth appearing for Tribal Welfare Corporation claimed that so far food grain had not been supplied to them and clarified that the corporation is merely distributing agency

tendupatta tribals stir continue but nobody to pay attention

Tendupatta tribal worker stir intensified- Big rally on 16th march to protest the unjust to million of tribals

Friday, March 13, 2009

Tendupatta tribal worker stir intensified- Big rally on 16th march to protest the unjust to million of tribals

Tribal stir for tendupatta bonus further intensified and Big rally on 16th march to protest the unjust to million of tribals

Nagpur-14TH MARCH 2009

Hundred of the tendu workers are meeting loni village (kolambi fata) of yavatmal forest division

on Monday 16th March tounanimously resolve to boycott the Lok Sabha elections if bonus is not distributed to them and action was not taken against the corrupt forest officials within 15 days.

According to tendupatta mazoor samiti chairman Suresh Bolenwar, over 40 lakh

tendu workers of Vidarbha and Marathwada region of the State are still waiting for their bonus of 2007-08 season. “We have been fighting for the bonus for the last several months. We staged dharna, hunger strike and took out rallies too. But nothing has materialized,” he said “If the government won’t listen to our demand, we will boycott Lok Sabha elections,” he cautioned.Tendu workers mostly tribals are on warpath to get their legimate bonus which has been milked by local political leaders and there are masive complaints of irregulerties in bonus ditribution .vrie

Earlier last week , the Vidharbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishor Tiwari led a delegation of tendu workers to chief conservator of forest Anil Mohan at his office in Nagpur and apprised him of the grave situation. In reply, Mohan promised to ensure the payment of bonus to all eligible workers within a stipulated timeframe. He also said that if the forest officials are found guilty then action will be taken against them. Later the delegation also met principal chief conservator of forest B Majumdar in his office and briefed him about corruption in bonus distribution and demanded a probe into the episode. Majumdar assured to conduct a probe but till date no action has been taken.. “The tribal tendu workers predominantly reside in Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Wardha, Nagpur, Gondia, Chimur, Buldhana and Amravati district in Vidharbha region and Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani district in Marathwada region. So if they decide to boycott the elections, it will have significant effect on the overall poll result.”tiwari said . “we want that if tribals basic issues are pending for years together and not single party to raise the serious issue then what's use of casting the votes to these corrupt politicians.we are seriously doing mass compaign on this isuue too.” tiwari added.

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Posted by vidarbha times at 10:13 PM

Tendu workers may boycott LS polls-The times of India

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Tendu workers may boycott LS polls-The times of India

The times of India

Tendu workers may boycott LS polls

Times news network

Yavatmal:

Hundred of the tendu workers, in a meeting held at Dabha village (Mankar) of

Pandharkawada on Thursday unanimously resolved to boycott the Lok Sabha elections if bonus was not distributed to them and action was not taken against the corrupt forest officials within 15 days.

According to tendupatta mazoor samiti chairman Suresh Bolenwar, over 40 lakh

tendu workers of Vidarbha and Marathwada region of the State are still waiting for their bonus of 2007-08 season. “We have been fighting for the bonus for the last several months. We staged dharna, hunger strike and took out rallies too. But nothing has materialized,” he said “If the government won’t listen to our demand, we will boycott Lok Sabha elections,” he cautioned.

Meantime, the Vidharbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishor Tiwari led a delegation of tendu workers to chief conservator of forest Anees Mohan at his office in Nagpur and apprised him of the grave situation. In reply, Mohan promised to ensure the payment of bonus to all eligible workers within a stipulated timeframe. He also said that if the forest officials are found guilty then action will be taken against them.

Later the delegation also met principal chief conservator of forest B Majumdar in his office and briefed him about corruption in bonus distribution and demanded a probe into the episode. Majumdar assured to conduct a probe.

Speaking to TOI Tiwari said, “The tribal tendu workers predominantly reside in Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Wardha, Nagpur, Gondia, Chimur, Buldhana and Amravati district in Vidharbha region and Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani district in Marathwada region. So if they decide to boycott the elections, it will have significant effect on the overall poll result.”

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Posted by VIDARBHA FARMER SUICIDE at 6:16 AM