Lok Sabha Question No. 93 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-29
Subject: Development of Vidarbha Region
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 93* TO BE ANSWRED ON THE 29.04.2016

## Development of Vidarbha Region

## *93 Shri Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Facts Finding Committee constituted by the erstwhile Planning Commission to inquire into the causes of slow development of backward areas of Vidarbha has submitted its report;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the major recommendations made by the Committee;
- (c)  whether the Government has formulated any action plan to overcome the backwardness of Vidarbha region in the light of the recommendations made in the said report; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. *93 FOR ANSWER ON APRIL 29, 2016, REGARDING 'DEVELOPMENT OF VIDARBHA REGION'.

- (a) Yes, Madam.

(b) The  Fact  Finding  Committee  had  submitted  its  report  on  30th  May,  2006.  The  major recommendations of the Committee inter alia included implementation of the programmes for water  harvesting  and  integrated  watershed  development;  organizing  crop  insurance;  waiving outstanding loans of the farmers; improving absorptive capacity of various sectors for incurring expenditure; and improving farmers' advisory and extension services.

(c) & (d)  Based on the recommendations of the Fact Finding Committee on Vidarbha, a Special Rehabilitation  Package  amounting  to  Rs.  3873.26  crore  to  mitigate  the  distress  of  farmers  of Maharashtra in six districts namely Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim, Yavatmal and Wardha was announced by the Prime Minister on 1st July, 2006. Further, Vidarbha Intensive Irrigation Development Project' (VIIDP) was launched in 2012 with an allocation of Rs. 3250.0 crore under Rashitrya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  as  a  special  programme  to  bring    more  area  under protective irrigation. Under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), 21 major and medium irrigation projects have been taken up in Maharashtra benefiting the Vidarbha Region and a central assistance of Rs. 5,834.24 crore has been released till 2015-16.

The  Government  has  accorded  the  highest  priority  to  water  conservation  and  its management. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY)  has  been  implemented amalgamating the ongoing Schemes of  AIBP, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and On Farm Water Management (OFWM) with the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation to every field ( Har Khet Ko Pani) and improving water use efficiency ( more crop per drop). PMKSY has been approved in 2015 for implementation across the country with an outlay of Rs.50,000 crore for five years.

To provide risk cover to farmers against crop failure due to weather aberrations and natural calamities  like  drought,  flood,  etc.,  the  Government  has  unveiled  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in 2016. The farmers will have to pay lower premiums and get claim against full sum insured under PMFBY. The rainfed areas including Vidarbha region would be benefited from this scheme.

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