The Vidarbha region of Maharashtra has been much in the news in recent years, due to the unprecedented number of suicides by indebted peasants of the area, unable to pay off their debts. While the government has clearly not come up with any solution to the crisis, it may be recalled that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the peasants of the region and offered a relief package, amidst much media fanfare.

A recent response to a RTI query by a social activist, regarding corruption in relief funds meant for the poor, bereaved families of Yavatmal district in the Vidarbha area, has revealed that several politicians of the ruling alliance in the state have shamelessly helped themselves with these funds.

According to news reports, one of the relief schemes provides for 50% of the cost of a cow or buffalo to be subsidised by the government, in order to help those indebted families whose sole breadwinners had committed suicide. This scheme is also meant to benefit other poor peasant families living in the state's dairy procurement area, by providing them an additional source of income, as agriculture has become uneconomical for the peasants of this largely unirrigated cotton growing region.

The response to the RTI has revealed that a six time former MP, relatives of a sitting MLA and several former MLAs were among some of the politicians and other influential people, who had used these relief subsidies to benefit themselves. 

For the poor and distressed people in various parts of the country, victims of drought or floods, communal and terrorist violence, for those displaced from their land and forests by the “development” projects of the bourgeoisie and left to fend for themselves, this comes as no surprise. Disasters that affect large sections of our people time and again, due to the utter inability of the state to provide security of life and livelihood, are always occasions for various politicians, contractors and other influential people to rake in huge profits. Preying like vultures on the miseries of the people, they polish off even the meagre government aid and subsidies, while many of the affected people are actually denied the aid and relief that is promised to them. 

This is yet another example of the thoroughly anti-people nature of the big bourgeoisie that rules our country and the political parties that faithfully serve its interests.