Farmers Suicides Reflect Real Plight Of Andhra Pradesh
Amaravati: Farmer suicides in Andhra Pradesh are on the rise have been increasing day by day. Loan waivers in banks, increasing debts and lack of minimum support price for their crops are the main reasons for farmers committing suicide. In 2018 Kharif season, 28 members have committed suicide till now. Forget helping the families of farmers, neither the concerned political leaders or the CM seem to have no time to even offer condolences to the bereaved families.
Out of 670 revenue districts, 394 districts are drought-hit. But the state government has announced 296 districts as the drought-hit zones. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu proudly says that Andhra Pradesh stands first in terms of growth in agriculture and allied sectors. However, the NABARD report says that farmers in rural areas have huge debts because of which they are ending their lives. According to the farmer's association, more than 2000 farmers have committed suicide in the last four years of TDP government.
The Kharif season started from June 1. On June 27th, Chandrababu announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to farmers and also started a new scheme in his name. 80 days have passed since the commencement of the scheme, but not even a single family has received compensation. In Kurnool, Guntur, Krishna, Chittoor, Ananthapuram, YSR, Prakasam and Srikakulam districts, a series of suicides have been reported.
According to the announcement made by Chandrababu Naidu, Rs 2 lakh will be given to the farmers aged between 18 to 50 under the Raitu Bima scheme. Rs 30,000 compensation to the farmers aged 51 to 60. Rs 5 lakh for family of the farmer who died in an accident or to disabled farmers. But in reality, nobody is getting the compensation. Neither has anybody collected the details of victims, claims farmers associations.
According to the National Crime Record Beuro (NCRB), the suicides of farmers have been increasing since the TDP government came to power. In 2014, 160 farmers suicides were reported and in 2015, it went up to 516.
