Krishi raths face bumpy ride in villages

As part of the mega agriculture event, Krishi Mahotsav-2005, the state government had sent out 282 Krishi raths or agricultural vans, to 18,000 villages in the state. But all is not hunky dory as claimed by the state officials.

The farmers have grabbed the opportunity to give vent their ire against the state government policies.

Farmers are mainly concerned about erratic electricity and water supply for irrigation during the summer. The villagers in certain pockets have also alleged that government officials are distributing the soil health cards without analysing the land.

The state minister for agriculture, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama agreed that the raths and the officials assisting the raths have had to face angry villagers. But he said that some of the instances were politically motivated.

"There are certain incidents where villagers were resisting due to some political pressures. But when all the 18,000 villages are taken together, the number of incidents are negligible. Even some Congressmen have participated in welcoming the Rath," said Chudasama.

But in reality, the raths and the officials are at the receiving end of the villagers anger. Last week, in Bhauchar village in Nadod tehsil of Narmada district, the district superintendent of police Nipuna Torawane and six other policemen were injured in an incident of stone pelting. Police arrested 12 persons following the incident.

Earlier, the local Congressmen and farmers had called the krishi mahotsav a publicity stunt and declared that rath will not be allowed to enter the village.

On last Friday, in Daol village in Borsad tehsil of Anand district, farmers did not allow the rath to enter the village. The farmers were expressing their anger on the irregular electricity supply.

However, the state government officials denied facing such troubles when raths are visiting the villages. The district collector for Anand, D G Jhalavadia said, "Raths are getting tremendous response from the villages and nothing wrong has happened. So far, over 150 villages have been covered in the district.

"Allegations, about the failure of the programme is galore. But farmers are happy and Raths are moving amidst pleasant atmosphere," he said sounding confident.

The Congress MP from Borsad, Bharat Solanki said, "Farmers were expressing their agony before the state government officials who have failed to solve their long pending issues. It was not a political move and Congress is not responsible for the violent protest."

However, an ever-optimistic Chudasama said, "Krishi Mahotsav is receiving extra-ordinary response and we may in fact surpass our targets. We are not compromising on anything during the mahotsav and are spending adequate time in the fields. Over all it is a satisfying experience for the state government and the farmers."