Fed up with cold response from district administration to their demand to declare Devbhoomi Dwarka in Ahmedabad as drought-hit, farmers on Tuesday knocked at the God's door for help and submitted a memorandum to Lord Krishna seeking divine intervention to alleviate their sufferings.
Dozens of farmers led by NGO Khedut Hit Rakshak Samiti submitted the memorandum to the high priest of the famous Dwarkadhish Temple in Devbhoomi Dwarka district, about 400km from Ahmedabad, dedicated to Lord Krishna.
In the memorandum addressed Lord Krishna, the farmers pleaded for help and said they have come to him "as a last resort" after getting tired of approaching government officials with their list of demands.
They listed their demands before the God, which included declaring the district as drought-affected, setting up cattle camps, providing water for drinking and irrigation and reducing power connection tariff.
Recently, the BJP government in Gujarat declared parts of district as drought-hit.
"We have come to you as a last resort...the present government, elected from farmers' votes, is working for the industrialists. The government invest crore of rupees to organise farmer programmes but refuses to address our problems. Leaders and government officials are corrupt, and we farmers are crying for help," the memorandum stated.
"The government is not thinking of waiving interest on crop loan for the current year. Nothing is being done to ensure water supply for irrigation...the CM calls herself farmer's daughter, but makes hollow promises in the name of farmer welfare," it stated.
President of Khedut Hit Rakshak Samiti, Palbhai Ambaliya, said the local administration has been apathetic to their plight.
"Farmers in Devbhumi Dwarka district have approached government offices several times with their demands. We submitted several memorandums stating our demands to collector and other officials and even held rallies but nothing happened. So we decided to knock at the God's door," he said.
