Farmers angry at Neral society meet over loan waiver, e-crop survey; drought plea to be submitted

The annual general meeting of the Neral Vividh Vikas Karyakari Society, considered the largest such society in Karjat taluka, was held at the Shetkari Bhavan in Neral. The meeting ended without farmers getting answers to their questions. It was, however, assured that the old problems would not recur at the next meeting.

As soon as the meeting began, farmer members complained that they were not getting the agenda of the annual meeting. The farmers took the position that the meeting was illegal because the report and annual balance sheet were not being given along with the agenda. Meeting chairman Savlaram Jadhav accepted the society's mistake. He announced that from the next annual meeting, the report and balance sheet would be given to all farmer members.

While the minutes were being read, farmers Maruti Virle and Sandeep Masane complained that many items had not been implemented. They expressed displeasure that the decisions and resolutions of the previous annual meeting were not being carried out.

Chairman Jadhav said the board of directors had decided to buy land owned by the society, which is to be used to build a warehouse. Pundlik Shinare said the board could certainly look at the land, but should not complete all the dealings. He demanded that a meeting of all member farmers be held before the land is bought.

A demand was made at the meeting that a memorandum be submitted to the Karjat tehsildar because the e-crop survey (e-peek pahani) was not being carried out. It was stated in reply that the chairman had written to the tehsildar on this last year. Maruti Virle and other farmers nonetheless expressed displeasure that the survey was still not being done. They wanted the board of directors to take a firm stand.

Sandeep Masane complained that farmers have to obtain the signatures of landowners to take a loan, and as a result they do not get loans. Many farmers and landowners demanded that this condition be relaxed. It was assured that the board and the chairman would take a decision after seeking guidance from senior officials. No decision was made, however.

Farmers complained that the government's loan waiver is not reaching everyone and demanded that the list of beneficiaries be read out. The secretary avoided reading the list, saying there was no time. In the end, only the list of farmers whose documents were incomplete was read out. Asked why those farmers had not received the loan waiver, chairman Savlaram Jadhav assured that their incomplete documents would be completed.

Those present included Rajendra Virle, president, vice-president Ravindra Zanje, former Zilla Parishad member Nago Gawali, directors Shashikant Mohite, Yashwant Karale, Vishnu Kalekar, Narayan Tare, Sanjay Shinde, Vaibhav Bhagat and Ghodu Akhade, women directors Archana Shelke and Kunda Sonawale, and secretary Shrikant Pingale.

The question of rain also came up at the meeting. If there is no rain for another week, the time will come to declare a drought, so it was decided to submit to the government a memorandum demanding that a drought be declared. Savlaram Jadhav, the meeting chairman, said: "A drought has been declared in the state, and if there is no rain in Karjat taluka for another 8 days, conditions for a drought will arise in our taluka too. It has been decided at this meeting to submit a memorandum to the Karjat taluka tehsildar."