Farmers Movement Archive

Single women farmers seek loan waiver from Maharashtra

PUNE: Nearly 1,000 single women farmers from across the state have sought loan waiver from the government, expansion of provsions under the universal public distribution system to include jowar, bajra, oil and sugar and compensation for loss of daily wages in the last three months. These concerns have emerged in a study of 946 women farmers from Vidarbha, Marathwada and Western Maharashtra conducted by Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch (Makaam), a group working for women farmers. The overall findings suggested that women farmers were in distress and needed immediate support by way of cash, agricultural inputs and nutritious food. They have placed their concerns before MLC Neelam Gorhe. The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown on single women engaged in cultivation and to assess the access to measures under the government scheme and the challenges likely to be faced by them during the upcoming kharif season. "The key concerns that have emerged from our study relate to the difficulties faced by women farmers, such as hunger, lack of cash and inputs for economic activities, looming uncertainity of work etc. We will placing these concerns before the government," said Seema Kulkarni from Makaam. The study found that overall food consumption had declined due to shrinking of income, while about 45% of women did not get a single day off from work during the lockdown. Others who did get a few days' off from work received less than Rs 2,000 as wages in 50 days. About 91% of women, who participated in the study, were widows belonging to diverse caste groups and 28% were from farm suicide-affected households. While most of them received ration in April, those without ration cards were deprived of it. "We are hoping that the government ensures that income transfers are made, work on NREGS sites commence and free seed and other inputs provided with immediate effect," said Kulkarni.

The Times of India

2020-06-21

Pune