This was disclosed in a report submitted to the State Government by the district authorities, who conducted a survey of the damage caused to rabi and kharif crop in the tehsil due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms.

Earlier, the cheques from the Government for the storm-hit farmers were handed over to the beneficiaries at Pimprigavli village in the presence of MLA Shinde. Interestingly, some farmers drew Shinde's attention to the fact that villagers Gajanan Sakharam Jungale and Bhika Tukaram Pawar, who did not own any agricultural land, also received cheques of Rs 2,500 each.

Shocked with this disclosure, Shinde wrote to State Revenue Minister Narayan Rane demanding a probe into the irregularities concerning sanction and distribution of Government aid toaffected farmers. Shinde has urged the Minister to take stringent action against the officials and employees found guilty.Meanwhile, farmers from all over Sangrampur tehsil took out a morcha to the tehsil office recently to register their protest against the great disparity in distribution of government aid to the farmers.

The morcha, led by Keshav Tatya Ghate, tehsil president of the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Janaandolan, and Vishwanath Patil Zadokar, chairman of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee, first reached the Sangrampur Panchyat Samiti Office where a delegation led by the duo submitted a memorandum to Group Development Officer Narayanrao Ingle. Later, the morcha reached the tehsil office and a meeting was organised there.

Later, addressing the meeting, Ghate said that while India was celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Independence, the farmers were leading a life of slavery. The farmers were finding it difficult day-by-day to get their works done at the Government-level, he said.

Ghateaccused the Government of ``making fun of farmers'' by paying a compensation of Rs 5,000 to a farmer having two acres of land while paying just Rs 100 to an owner of 10 acres of land.