Former MLA and chairman of Forum to Support KCR Konda Lakshmaa Reddy here on Sunday appealed to the State government to initiate awareness programs to wean the farmers away from committing suicides, as a precautionary measure.
In a statement, while hailing the Chief Minister’s assurance that his government would go to the rescue of the distressed farmers, Lakshma Reddy stated that the KCR cabinet’s decision to pay enhanced compensation to the farmer’s kin after their suicides was unreasonable and unpalatable. “Even if any amount of money was given to the kin, the deceased farmer would not come alive. Therefore, the State government, as a precautionary measure, should form grievance committees from village to district levels to know the problems of the toiling farmers and take appropriate steps to help them by providing needed fertilizer, seed, water, power supply and bank loans”, he added.
Lakshma Reddy stated that the grievances committees should try to find lasting solutions to the problems of distressed farmers apart from organizing awareness programs for them. The State government should take measures to prevent the farmers from ending their lives under any circumstances. As Chief Minister KCR was frequently proclaiming that his government was wedded to farmers’ welfare, should initiate measures towards this end, he added. —NSS