Joshi made this announcement while launching the state-wide `Bhagwa Saptah' (Saffron Week) at Gadchiroli to explain to the people the Shiv Sena-Bjp government's policies and achievements.

The purchase centres of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Cotton Growers' Marketing Federation start functioning normally after Diwali, depriving the farmers of money to celebrate the festival or driving them towards private traders and money lenders.

In Vidarbha, the main cotton-growing area of the state, cotton comes to the market by Dassehra festival time.

Joshi said during the `Saptah', Sena functionaries and ministers would go to all towns and villages, listen to people's grievances, especially about malpractices and corruption, and take necessary steps.

Meanwhile, the cotton farmers of Vidarbha have decided to observe fast on Diwali day in frontof the village community centres or temples from 1100 hours to 1600 hours, it was announced on Saturday.

The Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti president Kishore Tiwari told a press conference that during the agitation in 1000 villages, the farmers would mail one lakh post cards to the chief minister demanding payment of Rs 2,500 per quintal as the price for cotton to be purchased under the scheme.Tiwari said the purchase price of cotton had not been raised for the last three years, while farmers were hit by two consecutive years of bad crop leading to suicide by 168 of them earlier this year.