WAIFAD (Wardha district) : On the way to Waifad, a large square of land is being readied as a helipad. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will land here and make a two-km trip to the big village, which has seen unprecedented activity since his visit was announced.

Dr. Singh's Vidharbha tour begins on Friday with a visit to Dhamangaon and Sewagram and later to Waifad.

Policemen are guarding every narrow lane at Waifad and metal and wooden barricades are being put up, making it a navigational nightmare for residents. Hasty attempts at road repair are evident.

Meeting with 35 select ryots

Outside the little school in the village, inaugurated in 1952 by the then Agriculture Minister Punjabrao Deshmukh, there is furious levelling of a new road and spreading of layers of crushed black stones over the sodden surface. Dr. Singh is meeting 35 select farmers from Waifad and neighbouring villages who will have to go through the mandatory security clearance. They will be given identity cards.

District officials are supervising arrangements. In a tiny, freshly painted schoolroom, with green doors and windows, a heated debate is on over whether white is the right colour to cover the chairs and tables for the VIPs.

Though Waifad has reported no suicide recently, many residents in this seemingly prosperous village are in debt. Ramdas Dhumne is overjoyed that he was sanctioned a loan on Thursday. "Though I am not one of those selected to meet the Prime Minister, I can watch [the event] on television. It's a bit of a disappointment as we thought he would have an open meeting, but anyway he seems sympathetic to farmers if he is coming all the way." Many have taken loans for agriculture and health care. Rajesh Jawandia needs to go to Nagpur regularly for dialysis. He has accumulated a loan of Rs. 2 lakh.

A few days ago 19-year-old Dilip Kondalkar died of kidney failure. "By the time the village managed to raise money for him, it was too late," says Manoj Chandurkar. People's immediate needs could not be met because they get poor amounts for cotton and credit facilities are abysmal.

Mr. Chandurkar, who owns 60 acres in his family, has to clear a loan of Rs. 2 lakh. He says everything becomes costlier but cotton prices keep going down. Dr. Singh is an economist — he should understand these issues. "On what basis is the minimum support price based," he asked, demanding like others in the village that it should be at least Rs. 3,000 a quintal.

Despite their problems, the villagers are happy that their area is witnessing some road repairs, although temporary, and their school has been chosen for a meeting. "We think the Prime Minister should visit us every two months," said one resident.

Banks turn benevolent

There are other benefits too. Banks, which have shown disdain for farmers, are eagerly approaching them to give loans as per the Maharashtra Government's package announced last year. Vishwanath Jhade is happy he has just been sanctioned a loan of Rs 20,000. "If we get decent prices for cotton, we can survive. How many packages can the State Government give us?" Mr. Jhade is among those who will meet Dr. Singh on Friday.

The Prime Ministerwill also visit the homes of three other farmers at Waifad. Kisnaji Masram's courtyard has been spruced up for the momentous occasion and a woman police constable posted there since Thursday morning. Mr. Masram said he owned about three acres of land and all he got last year was one quintal of cotton and 30 kg of tuvar dal. "How am I supposed to survive," asks the bespectacled old man. His wife Lakshmi first said she did not know who the important visitor was, but added she should ask him for a better house. "I don't even know what he looks like, I don't have television," she said, giggling.

Mr. Masram has been granted a loan now but he finds it tough to repay old loans. His sons work as daily wage labourers.

Lakshman Shinpure is all too aware and happy that he too will receive an important guest. He works on others' fields as his three-acre land is totally unproductive. Farmers here are on the brink and both immediate and long-term steps are needed to support them.

Local leaders have been protesting against the exaggerated importance to security and the restriction on the number of farmers who will meet Dr. Singh. But hopes are pinned on his announcements.

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