HOW THE FARMERS & THEIR FAMILIES WERE KILLED BY MICRO-FINANCE IN ANDHRA PRADESH

Please read the whole story in the link below:

http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/india/1080980-ap-impact-lenders-probe-links-to-suicides.html#.671836-stage-hero1-4

THE GROUND REALITIES

What one reads on the newspapers is not what one faces on the ground realities... they are an experience that is seldom similar or rosy... ground realities can be unnerving at all times with endless procedures of the administration and system of the land... yes, one gets frustrated even with all the patience in the world!

The "Journey of Destiny" which started as per the destiny... had never made me think even once about all the ground realities that I will be facing day after day. I presume if I had known, maybe I wouldn't have taken the step... everything is the first time learning just like a child who is born into this world. While the first year made me see how the system of administration takes its own sweet time to grant your wish to float a trust with unending trips to the office, month after month, with no result... frustration seeped in and at one given point I even lost my patience and faith in my Sai Baba... somewhere down the line I knew that it was destined, so why was I pushing so much to get frustrated... things happened and after one and a half year, the Trust got its registration with good people's blessings and prayers.

The first obstacle was overcome but there are more to come... and it did come for sure as soon I was joyful! The next step is to get the 12 A Certificate (Income Tax Exemption for the funds to be raised by the Trust) and believe me... the procedure seems unending... and since I am all alone here in Wardha, I have to do all the running around for everything! The Audit, the forms filling, various documents to provide etc etc... this process is expected to take 6 long months and only after you get the 12 A Certificate, you can apply for 80 G Certificate (so that the Trust can give IT Exemption Certificate to individuals who will donate in the Trust funds)... another 6 months...

As you all know I started the movement with zero budget and kind help from the TEN BEAUTIFUL ANGELS... I have even invested part of my little savings to survive. Without the required funds, nothing seems possible on the grounds as everything needs money. The Ground Realities are surely making me to realize - 'wish I had thought about all these before I started the movement on the 12th of March 2010... but destiny prevailed as I am learning...' I  know learning is an unending process and it is very easy for the world to expect miracles happening without anything, sitting at home... 

I have struggled the first year to survive in the second year, with my passion still intact and the will that come what may, I will surely help few of our nation's farmers' families. With so many worries, I have been having sleepless nights for weeks now... but each day, I am progressing slowly and steadily towards what destiny has in store for me... it has taken a toll on my health and certainly it is not an easy task to still be sane and trying your level best to generate awareness all around the world, connecting with like-minded individuals. With no money at hand, I wish the world to know that it is not an easy task but I know, somehow, my Sai Baba will send me a few more 'Beautiful Angels' to see things being done on the real grounds... as the right moment arrives.

Yes, I really need a break after two years of struggle, so that I am able to keep my mind and heart intact... however, I know I can never be far away from the issue... because 24 hours I am living and breathing the farmers' crisis in our land... the situation allover the world is the same... Australian farmers are facing floods, British farmers are facing drought situation with no ground water available, European farmers are facing heavy snow, Philippines farmers are facing floods and earthquake, French and Japanese farmers are heading towards extinction because farming is not able to even feed their families... and along with faulty government policies against agriculture in respective countries and evil MNCs greed, even the nature is against the farmers' community. But the devoted selfless farmers' community of the world have not surrendered themselves and they continue to feed the world, even when their own families have to live in hunger and their lives succumbing to suicide... HATS OFF to all the farmers of the world for their undying spirits in feeding the world! I salute you all from the bottom of my heart and am really proud of you all... YOU ALL are the REAL INSPIRATION behind my movement!

Cuidate :)

WHAT THE FARMERS’ NEED? – PART XII

MANDATORY PENSION FOR FARMERS

Looking back at my blog posts, I realized that I forgot to write about the last very important point in the series – WHAT THE FARMERS’ NEED? – about the Mandatory Pension for the farmers, who deserve more than any one else in the nation... sadly and ironically, they have been deprived from this aspect by the nation, for whom they shed their sweat and blood all their lives growing food grains...

PATHETIC! Yes, that is what the State Affairs reveal to exploit the farmers of the nation to the hilt till the last drop of blood is sucked from their lives. I strongly feel that more than the army, navy, air force and central government employees – the farmers of the nation rightfully deserve the PENSION of the State of India... or in that matter in any country of the world! Because if there were no farmers, who would feed the nation? While the defence forces devotedly try to safegaurd the nation from external aggression of the neighbouring countries, if not for the farmers, the nation would be a dead nation!

A farmer starts very early in life... at a tender age, he follows his father or grandfather into the fields, first playfully removing the weeds from the crops and gradually helps them with carrying various tools and at times food and water... as he gradually grows, he is made aware of the market – buying and selling... and all these while, while he is deprived of going to a school, his education about life’s most important aspect is nurtured by his grandfather and father as to how to grow various crops and take care of various aspects of farming. All his life till the mature age of 75 plus... he keeps up the ancestral profession alive while feeding the nation... and many a times, the nation doesn’t even bother to help the farmers during his time of distress, while his family members are somehow surviving bouts of hunger or sickness.

Right from the Nature to the Policies of the Government to the Traders’ Lobby to the International Organization... everything goes against him and he is still pushed to grow more food... HOW? Will someone explain as to how a farmer is supposed to grow more food for the nation when the Nation doesn’t provide proper Irrigation System even after six plus long decades? He is supposed to grow more foods while all his hard work goes in vain when there is no proper Storage System and Planning in place? While food grains worth billions of rupees are purposely and systematically allowed to rot in the open storage under the FCI – Food Corporation of India, so that those rotten grains can be bought cheap by the breweries owned by the kith & kins of corrupt politicians... He is supposed to grow more food grains when he doesn’t even gets the break even prices...

Well, in spite of all the odds against him, the selfless and hard working farmer, come rain, hot summer or else chilly winter... the farmer never cease to work to feed the nation... but what do they get for their devoted life from the nation? The farmers of the nation deserves State Pension and they should be given all the privileges that the Central Government Employees get... I do wonder many a times as to there is not even a single political leader in the nation of 1.21 Billions who will make sure that the farmers get the Rightful Pension from the State? My heart cries and I often have sleepless nights thinking about the hardships of the farmers’ life... I have seen them toil in the hot sun, heavy rains escaping the wrath of the devastating nature (lightning) and in chilly winter... they don’t complain at all when they are in their fields and dedicatedly they sweat and shed their blood to feed the nation even if their own families have to survive with hunger...

Is it really impossible to provide State Pension to the farmers who are the backbone of the economy of the nation? I just pray that some able leader should come forward to fight for the rights of the farmers... only if the State will look after the farmers of the nation well, there will never be shortage of food for the nation... but I know... WHO CARES? Within the next two decades when there will be no farmers’ community left in the world... the world will turn carnivorous to eat each other... because the future that we all are heading towards will have no fertile lands, water to drink or irrigate fields, no farmers... and remember the pace has already picked up momentum at a break neck speed!

2011: THE YEAR IT WAS!

The gradual and steady progress ever since I started the movement on 12^th of March 2010, understanding the ground realities, interacting with villagers, analyzing various issues, trying to find simple solutions, generating awareness among the busy Indians and the world, and making important connections all over the globe with some of the very outstanding leading activists of various countries and last but not the least – connecting the world (as many as 90 countries worldwide) through the blog... certainly the year 2011 have been an eventful year for the movement – support 4 suicide farmers families.

Depressions, joy, happiness, sorrows, the dejection, love, hate, pain, frustrations... not even a single emotion has really escaped from my daily life... and yet I had to have a very high level of patience to keep my passion intact and alive, to keep it all above else... for many all over the world, the ‘journey of destiny’ is trying to revive a glimmer of hope and expectations... for me, the every day battle to survive yet another day to keep the hope alive has been a passionate affair with my Sai Baba... who has been sending me beautiful angels from all across the world... reminding me to keep walking... and that HE will always be beside me along with the beautiful departed kind soul of my Mamman (Late Mrs. Pratibha Jaiswal), who adopted this orphan as her own son!

In February 2011, I started the series in my blog – WHAT THE FARMERS NEED? – discussing various important issues that are directly related to agriculture and farmers of the world. I am indeed glad that the local politicians of Vidarbha took notice of the first and the main point – Irrigation Infrastructure – and since February, they have been active to demand the State Government about the failure and completion of various irrigation projects in Vidarbha. I have been in Vidarbha since April 2010 and in the last 11 months (since then) no one had even bothered about the completion of various irrigation infrastructure... irrigation projects in Vidarbha has seen many Chief Ministers come and go since the last 30 long years... many projects are still incomplete and many are just on the papers while the project costs keep escalating to a new high in billions of dollars or crores in rupees... none of the past CMs have completed even one big irrigation projects for Vidarbha.

Needless to say, corruption is very-very high and the will to provide succour to the farmers by providing water for irrigation through efficient infrastructure is lacking big time among our politicians and the ruling government... while all the rivers’ water are diverted for the heavy industries and various private thermal power projects, there are remote villages in Vidarbha, where villagers have still not seen proper drinking water or electricity and are digging wells with bare hands and simple tools... in the age of the 21^st Century, where our corrupt Prime Minister is claiming for stupendous economic growth of the nation amidst 120 plus scams worth billions and billions dollars... who really do we blame for our inefficiencies?

MSP (Minimum Support Price) of various crops too was one of the points that was covered in the series – WHAT THE FARMERS NEED? – and this year, even though Vidarbha saw some protests by various politicians (because of local assembly elections)... the farmers didn’t get the benefits... that they so much deserve! Once the elections were over, all the protests died down... the will to help the farmers of the nation is lacking big time... I often wonder what will happen to the nation when there will be no farmers and no fertile lands to cultivate crops?

Every night I have sleepless hours thinking about the dangerous future that we are heading towards... and none of the leaders of the world are really bothered about it... and so also are the citizen of respective nations. I have to fight bouts of depression month after month, all alone as I have lost many good friends, who don’t have time to listen to or suggest me as to what I should do... the ‘journey of destiny’ is certainly a very lonely journey and only I have to keep walking come what may... as days have turned into months and months are turning into years... I have to smile, cry, make new friends, forget the lost ones and keep working slowly and steadily. At times, I do wonder as to what am I doing here in Vidarbha leaving everything in my life? After all, the demonic myth of farmers’ suicide and malnutrition deaths have been created by the system to milk the billions of dollars... Out of the 1.21 Billion Indians, even if half the population will work for the welfare of the poor... the system will not allow the problems to cease... such is the magnitude of these demonic myth and crisis in the nation. The world may end but these problems are certainly not going to cease on its own or those who are dedicatedly working to achieve the unexpected...

Often I ask Sai Baba as to why at all YOU created such a world... where the poors are exploited, killed, raped, beaten, their houses burnt, their fertile lands acquired in the name of economic growth and every facilities snatched away... I know I will never get the answer from HIM! The only thing I feel so blessed about is that HE gave a new meaning to my life in serving the poor farmers of my nation and to do something worthwhile for the future of the children of today!

After 18 months of struggle and frustrations, finally on the 1^st of December 2011 the movement got the registration of the Trust – support 4 suicide farmers families, wardha – certainly, it is the first big step in years to come by... I cannot express my joy in words and no one will even understand what I have gone through visiting a number of times the office of the assistant charity commissioner of Wardha. I did lose my patience but then as I slowly regained my momentum... the patience was in its place. Devotion and Patience – Shraddha aur Saburi – as Sai Baba always had preached, has seen me growing from strength to strength to keep moving ahead in the ‘journey of destiny’ to face all adversities.

The ‘journey of destiny’ surely is an unending journey and there are many ground works to be done slowly and steadily in an effective manner to achieve great results in coming future... as we all move from one year to another... I must confess without strong financial background... we have certainly covered a very small distance so far... as the years will come by, I will be needing great help from one and all... so that we can achieve some good results... I really don’t know where this journey will take me... but I know that till my last breath I will be working for the farmers of my nation.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish to thank everyone all over the world, who have been instrumental in lending me great help and support to pursue the ‘journey of destiny’. Be it the 20 Beautiful Angels with their yearly financial help or all the angels who have been contributing in their own ways to support the movement... it may be monetary, medicines, clothes, encouraging words or else to make me feel that they are always behind me... I truly appreciate each help that has made this movement build a strong base! Sai Baba bless you all always and forever!

Cuidate :)

AGRICULTURE FORCE OF INDIA - AFI... Cont'd

As we all know that India has been an Agriculture dominated nation with almost 70 % (now 60 %) of the population are still dependent on the unorganized sector. While the nation has grown in leaps and bounds to see the Multiplex-Mall Culture taking precedence with MNCs dominating to milk the nation's economy, the Agriculture sector has deteriorated from bad to worse. All the factors leading to agriculture have seen or made sure to exploit the farmers of the nation to somehow survive under all circumstances... irrigation infrastructure takes decades to remain incomplete with billions of dollar  spent (God know where all the billions land up), the ever-increasing prices of seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, labour cost, traders' lobby controlling rates of all the crops and not to forget the erratic nature of nature year after year...

All the factors compel the rural population to migrate to cities in search for survival and better pastures... more migration means increase of unemployment escalates and thereby increases poverty to a new high! Every policy, act or law are rewritten to exploit the poor farmers and the sorry state of the unorganized sector is courtesy - the Central Government, the State Government, the Planning Commission, Greedy Rich Corporate Companies and needless to say, the corrupt politicians.

While the poor farmers are pushed to the edge to succumb to suicide (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharastra, Kerala, Punjab, Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat) or else sell their wives (three villages in Bundelkhand, UP in 2009) to feed their children in extreme drought-hit situation - the rich and all the other sectors have benefited at the expense of the farmers' community. The need of the hour, before it is too late, is a well-planned creation of the Agriculture Force of India to benefit and secure the future of the generation today (tiny-tots).

The Agriculture Force of India like the Defence Sector will comprise of various departments

Management

Research & Development

Work Force

Marketing

Production

Storage

Processing

Maintenance & Servicing etc etc

Under each department, various sections will be looked after for a flawless operation and day-to-day functioning... just like it is done in the Defence sector.

This may seem like a foolish dream of mine, but it is high time now to create the Agriculture Force of India to secure the future of the tiny-tots of today before every thing cease to exist... the nation will benefit and even though I know the corrupt leaders of my nation will never dare to think for a long term solution to overcome the problems of the nation, unless it is served on the platter from the Western world with a hidden agenda. Agriculture has to be treated like all the important sectors in a systematic manner for the nation to benefit at large.

Will some country (reading the post) create the National Agriculture Force to secure the future of the coming generation to shape it as the industry of the FUTURE?

I look forward for your reaction... so please send me your feedback... acchaka!

AGRICULTURE FORCE OF INDIA - AFI

CAUTION: If not now, the generation today (the tiny-tots) will be eating each other to survive in coming future, when there will be no fertile land left, water to irrigate or food grains to eat!

The TIME is not so far from all of us HUMANS! BEWARE!!!

"Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan!" Lal Bahadur Shastri had so aptly coined the tagline for a strong nation!

The only Prime Minister of India that every Indian so wish was still alive to lead our nation once again... sadly, his sudden demise in Russia is still a mystery! Was he eliminated by vested interest of greedy politicians and corporate world or did he really succumbed to his destiny? The Russian cook was held and as per various reports, he was believed to have poisoned (the food) of India's brilliant Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri - the true beloved son of the soil!

For any nation to be strong, its defence forces and its farmers' community should be strong and well looked after! While the defence forces will defend the nation from internal and external aggression / invasion, the farmers will look after the nation's food grains. While the world all over have spend billions and billions of dollars on defence (WARS), ironically, none of the countries have really bothered to spend an equal amount, if not more, on Agriculture or on farmers' needs!

While all those, who serve the defence (army / navy / air force / police) to protect the motherland are entitle for pension after 56 years in service, sadly, a farmer even at the age of 75 plus have to fend for self and his family, while continue growing food for the nation. I have often wondered, while our democratic nation states Equal Rights to every citizen - these two main forces - the Defence and the Peasants - have two different policies by the nation's constitution... so tell me, where exactly is the EQUALITY?

No one, I repeat, no one has ever pointed out this point for two different treatments of the two major forces of the nation. Both the Defence Forces and the Farmers' Community selflessly dedicated their lives to serve the nation (unlike all the other professions) for the safety and betterment of the motherland and its citizen. While the Defence Forces is a well-organized force, the peasants have been left on their own to defend for themselves and at the mercy of nature!

As I have put a CAUTION right in the beginning of the post, it is still not late to build Agriculture Force of India (AFI) for a better secure future for the generation of today's tiny-tots! If the AFI is built or created by the nation's leaders and government, the nation will benefit at large. The AFI will employ all the farmers of the nation, who will serve as the Defence personnel on a monthly salary + perks + privileges + benefits as being provided to the Defence Forces. So farmers will become a collective force under the government, that means - the State will cut on all the middlemen / traders' commission, thereby keeping a check on the prices of food grains / vegetables / fruits and every product associated with agriculture (juices / cereals / jams just to name a few). Unlike the Defence Forces' 56 + 5 Years reserve retirement age, the government can let the farmers serve till 60 + 10 years to be eligible for State Pension!

Needless to say, since farming will be under the State, all the agriculture land will belong to the State. So it will be mandatory for the government to make sure the protection of all the fertile lands. Since farmers know better than all the white-collar planners of the Planning Commission, they can plan and guide better to cultivate and grow respective crops for the nation to benefit. Under the State, proper plan of action for various sectors under AFI can and should be developed by using the expertise of farmers. The AFI can become the force to reckon with, for the the nation to benefit and be secure of the future.

The farmers' community will be too happy if AFI is created to benefit the nation and their community. The farmers can concentrate zealously like any other factory workers or soldiers without worrying about the infrastructure because the State will have to make sure that everything is in proper order just like we all see in Defence Forces - from irrigation infrastructure to seed banks to electricity to harvesting to labour problems to marketing to feeding the citizen of the nation in a healthy manner... once their jobs are secured, their families can reap the benefits for a better future with proper health care, education for children and their lifestyle too, will improve automatically. This way, the State will be solving various problems simultaneously:

Unemployment

Rural-Urban Migration

Eliminate Poverty

Control Rising Prices

Check wastage of food grains -

just to name a few of the major problems haunting the nation's government constantly! Also by checking all the never-ending problems, the nation will strengthen self with a proper Economic Growth in the real manner!

... to be continued...

चमन मेरा / GARDEN OF MY LIFE

(English translation is below the Original)


बिखरा हुआ था चमन मेरा कुछ इस तरह
अहले-दिल में मगर हौसला था हर पल मेरे
पल-पल सिंचता रहा मैंने ज़मीन को दिल से
आज पहले अंकुर की लालिमा ने जन्म लिया है
नन्ही सी, प्यारी सी, उम्मीद की ये नई लहर
चमन उजड़ा सा जो था कभी मेरा दुनियावालों
कल इस चमन में होगी हरयाली जज़बातों के
खिलेंगे रंग-बिरंगे फूल खुशियों के 'डी' चमन में


--- स्वरचित ---
१ - १ - २ ० १ २  
     
GARDEN OF MY LIFE

In ruins, such was the garden of my life
My brave heart though was courageous at all times
Every second I irrigated the garden with all my heart
Today the first flush of seedlings originated by
Tender, sweet, this new wave of hope
O' citizen of the world, the garden that was in ruins
Tomorrow there will be greenery of emotions in plenty
Colorful flowers of happiness will bloom 'D' in the garden


--- Johnny D ---
1 - 1 - 2 0 1 2

Happy-Happy DOZEN 20!

Wish one and all a...

Wonderful-Wonderful DOZEN 20!

May Joys in every life be of plenty

Happy-Happy DOZEN 20!

FARMERS NEED HIGHER M. S. P TO SURVIVE, NOT RELIEF PACKAGE

Last year in December CM Prithiviraj Chavan announced Crop Damage AID of 1,088 crores (billions) for Vidarbha Farmers, as crops were damaged due to unseasonal rain in October 2010...

No one really knows what happened to the AID money? Farmers in Vidarbha are clueless if some State Government Officials has ever entered their villages to disburse the AID...

Yes, the 1,088 billions surely has earned 60 % interest (because even after a year, it has not been disbursed to the affected farmers of Vidarbha) on the principal amount to make the CM and Congress coffers overflowing with more black money...

This year, once again 2,000 crores Relief Package have been announced yesterday (14th December 2011) by CM Chavan for farmers of Vidarbha, Marathawada and Northern Maharastra... for Cotton, Soyabean and Paddy crops...

An approximate 58 Lakh (million) farmers is likely to get the relief package but there is a condition, MIND YOU!

If a farmer has damage 25 % of its crops, only then the relief will be given... not otherwise!

I wonder, how many days more it will take the State Government Officials to disburse this amount, if at all it will be released in the first place by the CM, to 58 Lakh farmers?

So what will happen to marginal farmers who own just 1 to 2 acre of land growing cotton? Will the meagre amount of Rs. 1,000/- per acre help them in any which ways? Will they even get the AID?

Mr. CM, the farmers of the nation doesn't need RELIEF PACKAGE or AID, they rightfully need HIGHER MSP for respective crops to keep farming for the nation and somehow feed their hungry families...

If Pharmaceutical Companies can demand a higher price of cotton to the tune of Rs. 50,000/- Per Quintal for their product, why are the poor farmers of nation capped and exploited at being paid a controlled MSP (set by the Government), who actually should get all the benefits for all the hard work in their fields... for the benefits of the nation's economy? 

Last year, because of floods in China, Bangladesh and Pakistan... the rates of cotton went upto Rs. 7680/- Per Quintal from Rs. 4,000/- onwards... so this year, the price should get higher than what the farmers got last year... imagine, the government was paying just Rs. 3,000/- Per Quintal as the MSP in 2010... after all prices of everything has been increasing on a yearly basis... if companies can increase the petroleum based products almost every month, then why farmers cannot demand a suitable rate for their product? Here the Government Policies FAIL miserably!!!

Farmers of the nation should get their rightful due and a Higher MSP, so that they will not succumb to suicide instead will continue farming for the nation to benefit at large.

Without supporting the farmers' community with FARMERS BENEFIT POLICIES, how can the government insist that farmers should use new technology to grow more....

When the farmers grow more, the government along with the traders' lobby and WTO drop the price and not forgetting the billions of worth food grains are allowed to rot in the open FCI godowns... all the selfless hard work put in by the farmers' community of the nation goes in vain...

In spite of almost negligible Irrigation Infrastructure in the nation, High Price of Seeds, Fertilizers, Pesticides and Labour Wages, Nature's Fury... the Indian Farmers have kept their dedication towards the nation to feed the nation even when they have had to sell their wives to feed their children or else take their own lives... the Nation's Government have been exploiting them to the hilt and pushing them towards the edge to end their lives, so that their fertile lands can be grabbed in the name of economic development...

Sad to say, the opposition is just not bothered as well... they are raising the issue but will ultimately give in, once they get their share from the CM, to keep their protest silent! The media will highlight some other scams or disaster to forget the real issues (please read the series - WHAT THE FARMERS NEED? in the blog) of the poor farmers of the nation....

Statistics will be quoted by vested interest to be in limelight as farmers will succumb to take their own lives... their families will continue endless suffering living in miseries and poverty all their lives... DO WE REALLY CARE FOR OUR FARMERS' COMMUNITY IN THE REAL SENSE?

HIGHER MSP should be the only DEMAND by all the opposition political leaders for the farmers of the nation to benefit and survive... but will it ever HAPPEN?

HOW THE GOVT IS CHEATING AND LOOTING THE COTTON GROWING FARMERS OF THE NATION

Did you know that a packet of 400 grams of Medicated Cotton costs Rs. 200/-?

That means 1 Kg of Medicated Cotton will cost Rs. 500/-

So if one calculates the Medicated Cotton at this rate @ Rs. 500/- per kg, a quintal of cotton will cost Rs. 50,000/-

Now, imagine the Nation's Government fixes the MSP (Minimum Support Price) of Cotton @ Rs. 3,300/- per Quintal.... for the poor farmers.

From raw cotton to finished and Medically treated cotton, the price by Pharma Companies is totally unbelievable... I was honestly shocked to calculate the per quintal rate!

Tell me citizen of the world, where is Rs. 3,300/- Per Quintal and where is Rs. 50,000/- Per Quintal??? So right from the policy makers to ministry of agriculture to Nation's government to traders' lobby to middlemen to big traders to the finished product sold by various companies... each one of them are making money in thousands while the poor farmers, who has to first buy seeds at a higher price because the market creates artificial shortage during sowing season to buying short supplied high priced fertilizers and pesticides to physical labour of the whole family to paying exhorbitant wages to labour for weeding and plucking to finally take the yield to the government procurement centre... all that the poor farmers are paid is just Rs. 3,300/- per quintal....

Mind you, apart from all the hardships mentioned above, the farmers have to face the nature's fury year after year... one year, it may rains cats and dogs, and the next, there may not be any sign of any rain... not to mention the unseasonal rain, which often damages the cash crop... The meagre amount of just Rs. 3,300/- per quintal for the poor farmers' community as the MSP, which puts its heart and soul to grow cotton for the nation's economy to benefit is being LOOTED by the Government in the most bizarre fashion without anybody's knowledge...

Yes, before the packet landed in my hand, even I had never had thought about such a huge difference is there between Raw Cotton and Medicated Cotton... there is certainly the HUGE DIFFERENCE of Rs. 46, 700/- per Quintal... but I was always researching to get the price of cotton at the international market and the price of cotton being exported from India to other countries.

Is this JUSTICE the Government of my NATION??? PLEASE-PLEASE this is certainly not a fair treatment... the farmers' community badly needs a suitable MSP for their selfless hard labour... now looking at the above mentioned rate, I feel even Rs. 15,000/- Per Quintal is really less for the laborious farmers. Time the government and all the political leaders to wake up from their misconception that what is being paid (MSP) by the Government of India is certainly a case of cheating and looting the Cotton Growing Farmers to push them towards the edge to succumb to suicide!

FARMERS are the ORPHANS the NATION always IGNORE!!! - Johnny D

The greatest son of the soil Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri is and will always be the only Prime Minister of the Independent India, which duly gave the rightful place to Bhartiya Kisaan (Indian Farmers) and Fauji (Army) with his effective slogan - "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan"!

Yes! For every nation in the world to flourish in the real sense, the Defence and the Agriculture Sectors are the two most essentials... while the first protects the nation from all the invasion (external & internal), the second feeds the nation! Unfortunately, before and post Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri's rule, none of the Prime Ministers of India have really bothered about these two sectors in the real sense... while Defence Expenditure have been increased because of neighbouring countries aggression since 1947, sadly, the Agriculture Sector Expenditure has seen drastic drop as decades have vanished in oblivion...

Farmers are the orphans the nation always ignores but farmers' community also happens to be the LARGE CHUNK of MEAT for everyone to exploit and suck the last drop of blood from their bodies - from greedy corrupt politicians to corporate companies (fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, farm machinaries etc) to moneylenders, micro-finance and banks (giving loans to buy all the lavish items like motorcycles, tractors, Dish TV etc) to the media (to encash and highlight farmers' suicide without really writing about the ground realities) ... well, till the last drop is sucked from their poverty and selfless act to feed the nation... everyone seems to be busy with various plans of action!

Irrigation Infrastructure takes decades to remain INCOMPLETE, faulty government policies make sure that MSP of various crops are kept so low that farmers will never be able to come out of the debt cycle, the market lobby along with the government make sure that during sowing season the rates of the seeds, fertilizers and pesticides are raised by creating the artificial shortage, and in the name of Economic Growth their fertile lands are grabbed by everyone, water which should actually go for irrigating farms are diverted to private thermal power projects and heavy industries by government... and if this is not, even the nature doesn't leave the farmers with its swinging moods - either there is heavy rainfall or else drought...

So what does an orphan do in such a situation? Succumb to suicide?

The selfless act of the farmers' community to grow food grains and cash crops for the nation in extreme conditions - be it heavy rains, hot sun, high and low temperatures... they forget about their family's hunger to work for the nation... BUT... what does the Nation gives in return to these selfless hard working community? 

No water to irrigate their farms;

No electricity supply when there is the real need to operate their pumps to irrigate their farms;

Suicide;

Debt Trap;

No proper godowns to store the food grains (as billions worth food grains are allowed to rot by ministry);

Improper MSP for crops by government;

They have to sell their wives (in Bundelkhand in 2009) to feed their children;

No Pension for their efforts till the ripe old age of 75 plus;

Their fertile lands are grabbed in the name of economic growth;

No proper Medical Aid;

No proper education for their children;

No alternative of employment during off season of farming;

Anti-export policies;

No proper subsidy;

Well, life of a farmer is certainly not a rosy one in our nation, a nation that is supposed to be dominated by the Agriculture as near about 70 per cent of the population live in the rural India... just like an orphan who is often thrashed by anyone and everyone in the society, the farmers' community have really no one that will stand for them to benefit in the real sense... everyone exploits them to benefit out of them!

It is certainly high time the NATION should take due notice if it wish to secure the future of today's generation... because the future ahead is heading for a big catastrophe with:

No Sufficient water;

No Sufficient fertile land;

No Farmers to grow food ( as farmers are quitting farming for better pastures);

No Sufficient Natural Resources will be left;

Farmers are the orphans that needs love, care and every help possible that should make this wonderful laborious community to keep growing food for the nation... by supporting them and their families... and not exploiting them for the greed!

रोटी का पेड़

(English translation is given below the Original)

"माँ!
जैसे होता है आम का पेड़,
क्यों नहीं होता है वैसे 'रोटी' का पेड़?"

"मैं क्या ज़ानू बेटा,
बनाया क्यों नहीं भगवान ने ऐसा कोई पेड़!"

"होता!
तो कितना भला होता ना
हम गरीबों का माँ?
जब कभी लगती भूख मुझे,
फट से एक तोड़ कर खा लेता
और पेट भर जाता अपना! (मुस्कुराते हुए )
तुमको और हर माँ को
होता फिर कितना आराम ना माँ?"

"हाँ मेरा प्यारा भोलू,
अच्छा ही होता
गर रोटी का पेड़ होता तो!"

"चूल्हे के धुऐं से कैसी हो गयी है
तुम्हारी सूरत माँ!
कितना कष्ट होता है तुम्हें
माँ रोटी बनाने में!

बोलो ना माँ, बोलो ना माँ,
क्यों नहीं भगवान ने बनाया
रोटी का पेड़?"

"भगवान को शायद पता था,
कि किस तरह अमीर
छिनकर सब कुछ हमारा, शोषण करते हैं!
शायद इसी कारण से, नहीं बनाया
भगवान ने रोटी का पेड़!"

"पर माँ,
हम गरीब तो उनसे कुछ लेते ही नहीं!
बल्कि,
कुछ ना कुछ तो देते ही रहते हैं उन्हें!
फिर भला अमीर क्यों 
छिन लेता हमारा रोटी का पेड़?

रोटी का पेड़ होता तो...
कोई गरीब भूखा नहीं सोता कभी,
कोई भूखा नहीं मरता दुनिया में,
कोई माँ तुम जैसी काली नहीं होती,

हर कोई सुखी रहता!

माँ, तुम भगवान से कहो ना
वो जल्दी से हमें एक रोटी का पेड़ दें!

नहीं माँ, नहीं!" (ज़ोर से चिल्ला कर )

"क्या हुआ भोलू?
क्या हुआ बेटा?" (हैरान हो कर)

"कुछ नहीं माँ!
भगवान से कहना
कि वो हमें ही नहीं
बल्कि,
हर गरीब को एक रोटी का पेड़ दें,
ताकि,
कोई भी गरीब
भूखा नहीं रहे दुनिया में!

तुम बोलोगी ना माँ,
बोलोगी ना माँ भगवान से?"

(आसूँओं से भीगे नयनों ने अपने पाँच वर्षीय भोलू की नादानी से
माँ का दिल पसीज कर रख दिया! भोलू तो रोटी खा कर सो जाता है, पर माँ?)  


--- स्वरचित ---


CHAPPATI TREE

“Mother
Like there is Mango tree
Why there is no Chappati (Indian bread / Roti) Tree?”

“What do I know son,
Why God didn’t make such a tree!”

“If there were
how wonderful it would have been Mother
for the poor like us?
Whenever I would be hungry,
I would just pluck one to eat
And my stomach would be filled! (Smiling)
You and all mothers
Would be in so comfort no Mother?”

“Oh yes, my lovely Bholu,
It would be so nice
If there were Chappati Trees!”

“With the smoke of the firewood
How your face have become Mother!
To make chappatis
You have to work so hard Mother!

Tell me Mother, tell me
Why God didn’t make Chappati Trees?”

“Guess God knew very well
How the Rich
Have snatched everything we own to exploit us!
Maybe for these reasons
God didn’t make Chappati Tree!”

“But Mother,
We Poor don’t take anything from the Rich
Instead,
We always give something or the other!
So why
Would the Rich snatch away our Chappati Tree?

If there were Chappatis Tree...
Not even a single poor would sleep hungry,
Not even a single human would die of hunger,
No Mother would be dark complexioned like you,
Everyone would be content!

Mother please tell God
To give us one Chappati Tree!

No Mother, NO!” (Shouting aloud)

“What happened Bholu?
What happened my son?” (Anxiously)

“Nothing Mother!
Tell God
That He should not only give us one
But also one tree to every Poor
So,
Not even a single Poor
Would remain hungry in the world!

You will tell na Mother,
You will na Mother to God?”

(With teary eyes Mother’s heart is broken with her five-year Bholu’s innocence!
Bholu goes off to sleep after eating but Mother?)

--- Johnny D ---