Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Ashok Chavan has announced a package worth Rs. 10,000 crore envisaging various development schemes and programmes for the Vidarbha region. He made identical statements in both the houses in response to a marathon debate on the Vidarbha specific issues during the last two days in the Winter Session of the State Legislature in Nagpur yesterday.<br/><br/>AIR correspondent Sunil Dabir reports from Nagpur that Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Ashok Chavan has announced a package worth Rs. 10,000 crore envisaging various development schemes and programmes for the Vidarbha region. The relevant amount would be made available during the span of three years under different schemes and programmes, he said. These measures include development of irrigation facilities especially in the six districts more prone to farmers’ suicides, processing industries for the farm and forest produce, road and railway development, augmentation of the civic amenities in this region.<br/> <br/>Mr. Chavan assured that an allocation of Rs. 1,383 crore would be given for rural development works in the Naxal-affected districts and efforts would also be made to increase the educational and employment opportunities.<br/> Later, the Chief Minister informed while briefing the reporters that a regional cadre would be formed to fillin the vacant posts in various Govt. departments in Vidarbha region. He also said that a social audit of the financial packages of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister meant to bail out farmers from an agrarian crisis would be done and he would personally monitor the implementation along with the Chief Secretary.<br/> <br/>Mr. Chavan called the three-week long session a success poiting out that ten bills were passed in the session among other business.<br/> <br/>The Opposition members created uproar in the house saying there was no prominent measure included in the said package and it did not have any formidable assistance for the distressed farmers and staged a walkout.The Leader of Opposition Mr. Eknath Khadse and Shivsena Group Leader Mr.Subhash Desai critcised the Democratic Front Govt. alleging that it did not have the political will to help the people of this backward region.<br/> <br/>Meanwhile, the Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislature concluded in Nagpur. The Presiding Officers of both the houses, read out the Governor’s order, while making the declaration in this regard and informed that the next session of the State Legislature would begin on March 18 next year in Mumbai.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><br/>