-PTI
Four cotton growers in Vidarbha committed suicide in the last three days as the local administration has stopped distribution of relief aid to crisis-ridden farmers because of the code of conduct in place for coming local bodies elections. This was an observation made by a local organization fighting for farmers’ cause on Sunday.
"All the officials are busy because of the ensuing local body election and the State Election Commission has stopped relief aids for farmers which has aggravated the crisis in the cotton belt of Vidarbha," alleged Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti.
The farmers who committed suicide were identified as Gajanan Kale of village Nandura, Mahadeo Chavan of village Khopari, Pundlik Ade of village Pathri and Narendra Thakre of village Sarfali, all from Yavatmal district.
Around 300 distressed farmers committed suicide in 2011 in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. According to the data,the state has the second lowest yield at 355 kgs per hectare, which works out to around 1.50 quintals per acre.