CHENNAI THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015 NEWS | 13 CLIMATE TALKS Double whammy for debt-hit U.P. farmers wants funding, OMAR RASHID BUNDELKHAND (U.P.): Moolchand Kumar Prajapati and Jaidevi broke down as they spoke of their son Sunil, 24, who tech in Paris text hanged himself last week. The past year was excep- tionally difficult for the Praja- The pact will have framework on pledges by countries pati family, which owns bare- ly 1.5 bighas (about half an G. ANANTHAKRISHNAN acre) of land at Gehra village of Mahoba district in the PARIS: As talks on the text of heart of Bundelkhand. After the Paris agreement began on two successive crop failures, Tuesday, Indian negotiators the rabi crop this year looked said they were introducing promising, but a few spells of provisions in it for a technolo- hailstorm dashed all hopes. gy and financial mechanism Reeling under a debt of Rs. 2 that will make it possible to lakh, the fresh stretch of raise low-cost capital and drought, the third year in a widely deploy renewable row, proved to be the crip- BITTER HARVEST: A farmer on his drought-hit field at Gehra village of Mahoba district in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh technologies. pling blow for a dispirited Su- on Tuesday; and the wife and mother of a young farmer, Sunil Prajapati, who hanged himself, at the village.— PHOTOS: RAJEEV BHATT On Tuesday, the focus was nil. He left behind his wife on making technological col- and a month-old infant. “He tricts, one is met with vast Distressed farmers Many farmers even aban- tre even as a team from New laboration written into the lost his mental balance under swathes of parched agricul- lose all hope as doned their land and migrat- Delhi is on a tour of the Paris deal, Ajay Mathur, Di- this stress,” Moolchand says. tural land. Dry crops lie wast- ed to other States to take up parched region to assess the rector-General, Bureau of En- As thousands of families in ed on acres and acres of farm- their rabi crops farming on smaller plots. The situation. ergy Efficiency, told the People walk by a poster outside the France pavilion reading Bundelkhand hit by severe land. For miles, there is little are hit by spells sources of irrigation have The officials also claim they media. “We have solutions!” during the conference on climate change drought, Moolchand’s family sign of green. Canals and of hailstorm failed and power supply does are disbursing Rs. 4,500 for The agreement to be reac- on the outskirts of Paris. — Photo: AFP struggles for survival. They ponds have dried up. Since not last more than 12 hours a non-irrigated land and Rs. hed in Paris would be in the could grow only 25 kg of oil- the terrain is rocky, tube day. Farmers are forced to 9,000 for irrigated land as form of a framework that 100 gigawatts by 2022 would 4 tonnes, as against 1 tonne for seeds in the season and have wells are difficult to dig. Offi- there have been starvation spend money on diesel compensation to each farmer. gives recognition to the vol- require the creation of ba- India, Mr. Mathur said. to travel 10 km on a broken cials admit that with sinking deaths in Bundelkhand in the pumps to irrigate land. “One untary pledges lancing technologies to Pursuing the question of path to the nearest market to groundwater levels, the wa- current season, they admit to bigha of land requires 10 Long wait made by countries handle the transition responsibility for historical buy basic food items. This is ter crisis will get worse. In reporting an increase in litres of diesel,” says Nandku- However, when it was (described as In- and fluctuations. emissions, India has said it fa- the worst crisis faced by the the absence of resources, deaths due to sadma (shock). mar Dwivedi, a farmer. While pointed out to them that many tended Nationally These concerns make vours the stocktaking of car- family, which received just farmers are forced to feed farmers blame natural calam- farmers had complained that Determined Contri- it imperative for the Pa- bon on a global scale. As Rs.750 as compensation for husk to their animals, which Suicides and migration ity and government apathy they were yet to receive the butions). It has to ris agreement to incor- countries cut the greenhouse damage to crops but have not are starving to death. In Padui village in Banda for their extended woes, Mr. compensation, Suresh Kumar, contain provisions porate suitable provi- gases over the years, and a re- received a penny as drought “I have never seen such a district, on November 27, a Sagar says the crisis has District Magistrate of Banda, on finance and tech- sions, Mr. Mathur said. view is done every five or 10 relief yet. The Prajapati fam- poor monsoon. We did not farmer, Devi Deen Sahu, died worsened due to the “de- said: “We have given out relief nology, which are In the government's years, nations would get more ily’s woes typify the agrarian need an umbrella. Even pot- of a “heart attack” while he struction of the natural in- to 4.5 lakh farmers through central to goals to view, not enough atten- ambitious with future targets. crisis in the Bundelkhand holes did not get filled,” said was in the field. Villagers be- frastructure” of the region. transparent means. Some ex- reduce carbon emis- tion is being paid to In- Even with all voluntary ac- region. Ashish Sagar, an environ- lieve he was in despair be- “Forests have been depleted ceptional cases may be there sions for developing coun- dia's proposed scaling up of tions, the rise in temperature The Samajwadi Party gov- ment activist based in Banda. cause of repeated losses of and hundreds of ponds are where people have not re- tries as they grow. The quan- generation from renewable over the pre-industrial era ernment has declared 50 dis- In the district which is at the crop and a Rs. 1.7-lakh debt. dying or are encroached up- ceived the full amount.” tum of reductions that sources a staggering seven would be not be able to meet tricts drought-affected. From centre of the crisis, less than Padui has achieved notoriety on. Rampant illegal sand Officials say they are identi- countries make and the time times, while it was receiving the targeted 2 degrees C. June to September 30, the 10 per cent of sown land was for farmer suicides over the mining and corruption have fying families with members frames would be part of allied criticism for stating that it Asked about the Indian po- State received only 53.5 per harvested this season, M. past decade. The limelight at- ruined rivers and pastures unable to work under instruments of the would continue to use coal, sition on taxing carbon to re- cent of the average rainfall. In Venkateshwarlu, Divisional tracted politicians and many are vanishing,” Mr. Sagar MGNREGS and providing framework. which represents 160 GW to- flect its true price, as several 33 districts, the figure was be- Commissioner, says. relief measures for the re- said. The State has suspend- them one quintal of wheat and Currently, investors in re- day. Coal is expected to dou- speakers including French tween 40-60 per cent, while Due to the distress, farm- gion. But little has changed in ed all revenue collection till 50 kg of rice. “Our priority is newables have to borrow cap- ble in capacity. By 2030, India President Francois Hollande in 16 districts, rainfall was be- ers are forced to take loans in Padui. Its farmers struggle March 31 and has intensified to make sure they don’t starve ital at high rates of interest, plans to have solar and wind suggested on Monday, Mr. low 40%. Most of these dis- the hope that the government for a living and locals say a drive to extend employ- to death. We are ensuring that and this would not enable a generation touching 200 GW. Mathur said India was already tricts are in Bundelkhand and would waive their debts. over 400 young men have mi- ment under MGNREGS to fair price shops work effi- quick scale up or reduction in What is not realised is that levying Rs.200 a tonne on adjoining regions. However, they are caught in a grated to Gujarat, Madhya 150 days. The Samajwadi Par- ciently. We are seeking help the real cost of power, Mr. even in 2030, the per capita coal, and price of transport Driving through Banda, debt-trap and are struggling Pradesh and in ty government has also from NGOs to provide coun- Mathur said. Moreover, in- use of coal in the United fuels was high to consumers Mahoba, Kanpur Dehat, Fa- to make ends meet. Though search of a living, in the past sought a relief package of selling to farmers,” said ducting solar of the order of States would be an estimated due to taxation. tehpur and Chitrakoot dis- officials cannot confirm if few years. Rs.2,050 crore from the Cen- Mr.Venkateshwarlu. Medicated mosquito nets Andhra Pradesh Peter remanded in judicial custody IS recruit : A court here on Tues- given any ‘deceptive reply’ day remanded former media during the polygraph test to fight malaria in Tripura Rahman’s links baron Peter Mukerjea in judi- conducted on him on Satur- cial custody till December 14 day and Sunday. SYED SAJJAD ALI found in Libya in the Sheena Bora murder The agency had also told case, ending his 11-day CBI the court that it was expecting AGARTALA: The Tripura gov- RAJULAPUDI SRINIVAS custody after his arrest on No- information from Interpol on ernment has procured nearly vember 19 during which he the details of an account nine lakh medicated mosqui- VIJAYAWADA: Intelligence was subjected to sustained opened by , to nets from the UNICEF agencies tracking Tulfizur grilling and a polygraph test. prime accused in murder and the Union government Rahman, an engineer hail- After the proceedings in case, in a bank in Hong Kong. for free distribution in ma- ing from Machilipatnam the court, Mr. Mukerjea was Mr. Mukerjea, 59, husband laria-prone areas. Health of- who is suspected to have taken to the high-security Ar- of Indrani, was arrested on ficials said the long-lasting developed contacts with thur Road Jail here, where November 19 for his alleged insecticidal nets (LLIN) are the terror outfit Islamic other two accused in the case role in the murder case and helpful to contain the disease State (IS), have traced his — Sanjeev Khanna and Shy- had been in CBI custody since that often erupts in hills and links to Libya. amvar Rai — are also lodged. then. He was on Friday taken interior locations of the Intelligence authorities “The accused is remanded to Delhi for a polygraph test State, claiming several lives. said the suspected IS sym- in judicial custody till Decem- and brought back to Mumbai. “The Government of India pathiser travelled to Sirte, a ber 14,” Magistrate N.B. Sheena (24), Indrani’s has contributed 8 lakh LLIN. A file photo of an insecticidal mosquito net.— FILE PHOTO: G.N. RAO town in Libya that fell to the Shinde said, after the probe daughter from an earlier rela- On the other hand, the Trip- IS earlier this year. agency submitted that it did Peter Mukerjea being taken to jail from the Esplanade Court tionship, was allegedly stran- ura government purchased deadline despite receiving the State last year. Around Informed sources said not want his further custody. on Tuesday.— PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE gled in a car and then her 50,000 LLIN from the UNI- the full amount of Rs. 90 lakh 100 people, mostly tribals the IS terrorists are target- CBI counsel Kavita Patil body burnt and dumped in a CEF,” Dr. Sandeep Mahatme, in advance. Prior to placing from interior hamlets, died ing educated youths with told the court that the agen- jection to the extension of his he would soon move a bail ap- forest in Raigad, about 84 km State Project Director of the the order, the government and over 50,000 fell ill in offi- technical capabilities. An cy’s investigation for now was CBI custody for the complete plication in the sessions from Mumbai. Indrani (43), National Health Mission and the UNICEF had signed cially the worst health situa- graduate in Computer Sci- over and Mr. Mukerjea may satisfaction of the agency. court. her former husband Sanjeev (NHM), told The Hindu on an MoU. tion in three decades. ence and Engineering, Mo- be remanded in judicial cus- Meanwhile, Mr. Mukerjea’s On Monday, the CBI had se- Khanna and her ex-driver Tuesday. Both the UNICEF and the Dr. Mahatme said health hammad Athif Vaseem, a tody. Taking a dig at the agen- brother Gautam told report- cured Mr. Mukerjea’s custody Shyamvar Rai have been Distribution of the UNI- Health Ministry of the Union staff and volunteers were native of Adilabad district cy, Mr. Mukerjea’s lawyer ers outside the court that, “Pe- by one more day (till Tues- charge-sheeted in the case. CEF consignment, however, government were ap- distributing LLIN. Teams are in Telangana, died fighting Kushal Mor said in the court ter is innocent and truth will day) on the ground that it Indrani is lodged in Byculla was delayed after the agency proached after the malaria regularly conducting blood for the IS in Syria in April. that they didnot have any ob- prevail” even as Mr. Mor said needed to ascertain if he had prison. — PTI failed to comply with the epidemic caused havoc in tests and health camps. The jihadist group sent a message to Athif’s family confirming his death. Officials are apprehen- Hizbul militant sive that the new recruits Men’s rights group Wheat sowing apace in Punjab may leak information on held, hideouts the topography of major in- VIKAS VASUDEVA and Punjab State Farmers stallations, power genera- busted in J&K seeks ‘fair’ legislation Commission adviser P.S. Ran- tion units, ports, airports, NEW DELHI: Wheat sowing has gi said: “Wheat is a winter rocket-launching centres SHOUMOJIT BANERJEE constitution of “men’s PEERZADA ASHIQ vigilance cells” in every picked up in Punjab and Ha- crop, a prolonged winter spell and other critical infras- PUNE: Even as incidents of district to address the ryana, after initial sluggish- is always beneficial for the tructure to the terror group. SRINAGAR: Three persons, in- injustice against women domestic woes of men. ness due to slightly warm crop’s yield. Now we are ex- Intelligence officials have cluding a Hizbul Mujahi- continue unabated in According to the PHSS, weather in the past month periencing a little warmer intensified vigil on Deen- deen's militant, were arrested Maharashtra, a Pune-based these cells would forward and delayed harvesting of weather for this time of the dar Anujuman, the banned in Kashmir valley on Tuesday outfit championing the complaints to the family kharif crops including rice year. And if such weather con- Students Islamic Move- Two ammunition stores of rights of men, has passed a court or the Bombay High and sugarcane. tinues for a longer period ment of India (SIMI), the militants were also busted in rash of resolutions as it is Court. In Punjab around 90 per then there is always a chance Students Democratic Front parts of the State. feeling “threatened” by the “In many cases, women cent of sowing has been com- wheat yield could see a drop.” of India (SDFI), the Popular “Based on the information laws enacted to protect abruptly leave their pleted and the rest is likely to A prolonged winter spell is beneficial for wheat yield. However, it is too early to Front of India (PFI) and regarding the presence of a women. husbands or stay with their be completed in another fort- — FILE PHOTO: K. K. MUSTAFAH say if output will be impacted, other organisations that op- terrorist in Harmain village of An organisation calling parents, but still file a night. In neighbouring Harya- he added. erate in the open or Shopian, a joint operation of itself Purush Hakka petition in court na also the pace of sowing has has been sown in over 32 lakh Even as sowing has picked In Punjab last year wheat underground. the Army and the police ap- Sanrakshan Samiti (PHSS) demanding compensation picked up with wheat being hectares till now. We are opti- up, agriculture experts are was sown in over 35 lakh hec- “An alert has been sound- prehended a Hizbul Mujahi- held its all-India summit in or alimony. In such cases, sown in over 17 lakh hectares mistic that in the next 10 to 15 concerned about the warm tares and it saw a production ed in the State. The intelli- deen terrorist Nawaz Ahmad Kolhapur district and the husband must be area till now. days wheat sowing will be weather conditions that have of 152.75 lakh tonnes. In Ha- gence officers in all the dis- Najar, a resident of Harmain demanded an amendment granted a special “We are expecting farmers completed across the State,” been prevailing in parts of the ryana, meanwhile last year tricts have been instructed Shopian,” said Army spokes- to Section 354 of the Indian compensation to be paid by to sow wheat in around 35 Gurdial Singh, Director, Pun- wheat-growing States of the total area under wheat to keep tabs on sympathis- man Colonel N.N. Joshi. Penal Code (IPC) that deals either the wife or the lakh hectares during this rabi jab agriculture department, north India. was 26 lakh hectares and it ers of the SIMI, the Deendar Two hand grenades and with crimes related to government. Moreover, season. And out of this wheat told The Hindu. Senior agriculture expert produced 103 lakh tonnes. Anjuman, the PFI and the one Chinese grenade were re- outraging a woman’s Section 125 of the Criminal other groups,” said a police covered. “The terrorist has modesty. Procedure Code (CrPC), officer. been involved in subversive The PHSS demanded dealing with maintenance According to reliable activities since August this that the section ought to awarded to wives, needs to Bihar govt. recommends CBI probe into idol theft sources, eight Deendar An- year in Shopian area,” said the include a provision on men be amended or a juman and three IS activists spokesman. being molested as well and corresponding clause AMARNATH TEWARY has the expertise in cracking up Mr. Kumar and enquired was stolen from Baretha Tha- were traced in AP and a In north Kashmir, the secu- said it would press the pertaining to men must be such cases, I’ve asked our po- about the progress of the in- kurbari temple in Katihar dis- constant vigil has been kept rity forces busted a funding Devendra Fadnavis-led added,” said Santosh PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister lice chief to speak to the CBI vestigations. Jamui Lok Sabha trict, and three idols were sto- on their movements. A high module of the Lashkar-e-Tai- government to make the Shinde, president of the Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said Director to take up the mat- member and Lok Janshakti len on May 14 from a Jain alert has been sounded in ba (LeT) and arrested two required amendments in PHSS. that the State government had ter”, said Mr. Kumar. Party leader Chirag Paswan temple in Thakurganj, Kish- Machilipatnam and other persons. “Fake Indian curren- the upcoming session of the He said that a man being recommended a CBI inquiry The ancient idol of Mahavi- too had met Mr. Singh. anganj district. towns in East and West Go- cy had come from Bangladesh Maharashtra legislature. humiliated by a woman into the theft of the Mahavira ra, the 24th Tirthankar of the The Jain community across “Nearly 175 precious idols davari districts. for subsequent conversion in- The group also sought should also be considered a idol, believed to be over 2,000 Jains, weighing 250 kg and the world has also expressed and statues have been stolen The Union Home Minis- to genuine currency and compensation for a molestation victim. years old, from an ancient Jain worth several crores of ru- deep concern over the theft. from temples in Bihar in the try and the intelligence au- funding of LeT in north Kash- husband “whose wife has “Section 354 is applied only temple in Jamui district on the pees, was stolen from Lach- Meanwhile, State officials past four years,” the officials thorities are trying to get mir,” said the officer. stopped living with him or when a woman files a night of Friday last. huar village in Jamui. The told The Hindu that this was said. Such theft of precious key information from the Two militant hideouts were has left for her parents’ complaint. There should be “In such theft cases of pre- black stone statue was under the third such theft of pre- idols are meticulously execut- Indian Embassy in Tripoli, busted in Poonch, in the Pir place without seeking his an extension of the law for cious antique idols, there’s a the protection of the Archae- cious idols reported this year. ed by some professional Libya on arrivals in Tunisia Panchal Valley and Baramul- consent”. men’s benefit,” he pointed possibility of the involvement ological Survey of India. On January 17, an ancient as- gangs with links to national and the neighbouring air- la, where a huge cache of am- The outfit mooted the out. of an inter-State or interna- Earlier, Union Home Minis- thadhatu (an alloy of eight and international markets,” a ports and other updates, in- munition was recovered. tional gang, and since the CBI ter Rajnath Singh had called metals) idol of Rama and Sita police official said. telligence sources said.

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