Banks will be held responsible for farmer suicides over debt, says Bawankule after Jalgaon drought review

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has said that if a farmer dies by suicide because of the burden of debt, banks will be held responsible. Bawankule, who is also chairman of the drought relief sub-committee, visited Jalgaon on Sunday to review the drought situation in the district. He spoke after the inspection.

He said measures would be taken in the coming period to deal with fodder shortage and to hold back water that runs off during the monsoon. He also said fodder for livestock in the district is enough for only four months, and described the measures being taken for it.

Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse, Guardian Minister Gulabrao Patil and Ministers Girish Mahajan and Sanjay Savkare were present. MP Smita Wagh and MLAs Suresh Bhole, Mangesh Chavan, Anil Patil, Amol Jawale, Nandkishor Mahajan, Kishor Patil and Chandrakant Patil also attended. District Collector Rohan Ghuge, Superintendent of Police Shrikant Dhivare and CEO Karishma Nair were also present.

Bawankule said the entire fund of the District Planning Committee would be spent on drought. Schemes to provide employment to farmers, women and the unemployed will start soon. Efforts are on to ensure farmers get crop insurance, and problems relating to crop sowing records and farm roads will also be resolved, he said. He added that 1,000 transformers will be made available.

He directed that action under MCOCA be taken against criminals who steal farmers' electric pumps, power lines, cables and transformers. He also appealed to the administration to take every precaution so that farmers suffer no financial loss during the drought.

He also raised the issue of illegal moneylending. Many complaints about illegal moneylending have come from Raver and Yawal talukas of the district. Bawankule said cases would be registered against anyone harassing citizens through such moneylending. Appealing to people to complain to the government about such moneylenders, he assured them that their backs would be broken.

Saying these moneylenders push families into distress and so should be put in distress themselves, the Revenue Minister said 40 representations on moneylending have been received so far. He put forward his position on drought inspection, fodder, funds, theft and moneylending during the tour.