Lacunae in packages for Vidarbha farmers: Panel

"There had been lacunae in both design and implementation of the state government and prime minister's packages announced for suicide stricken farmers from six districts of Vidarbha. That is why a committee under my chairmanship was appointed to pinpoint these loopholes and suggest methods to rectify them," admitted Pune University vice-chancellor and noted economist Narendra Jadhav.

Talking to mediapersons after a two-hour meeting with Shiv Sena working president Uddhav Thackeray, Jadhav said, "I have toured the Vidarbha region twice and interacted with representatives of farmers, local NGOs, state officials and leaders of various political parties. We also plan to meet experts including M S Swaminathan and P Sainath."

In December 2005, the state government announced a package of Rs 1,075 crore for the farmers, while in July 2006, a Rs 3,700 crore package was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

But even after the announcement and implementation of these packages, there is no substantial reduction in the number of suicides from this region.

In fact, this menace is spreading across other regions of the state, Jadhav pointed out.