Guv urged to help stop suicides of farmers

Telangana State Ryotu Ikya Karyacharana Committee has appealed to Governor ESL Narasimhan to direct the TRS government to enforce two government orders to stop suicides of farmers.

In a letter addressed to the Governor, Committee chairman Justice (Retd) B. Chandra Kumar has stated as per G.O. No. 69 of 13.8.2014 issued by the State government, all farmers are eligible for waiver of loans up to Rs one lakh, irrespective of renewals of their loans. But the Director of Agriculture had instructed the Banks to give the benefit of Loan Waiver in G.O. 69 only to those farmers, who come for renewal of their loans. This was absolutely in defiance of the G.O. No. 69 of 13-8-2014, he said.

The committee chairman said so far no action has been taken by the Government even after a month. Many farmers were committing suicides because of their failure to get fresh loans due to faulty government policies on agriculture like failure in timely supply of seed, fertilizers and fixation remunerative prices to agricultural produces.

Even in the cases of farmers, who have been committing suicides since 1998, the specific GO 421 issued on June 1, 2004 meant for their families listing at least seven kinds of benefits to their families is also being implemented improperly. The seven kinds of benefits were not being provided to the victim families even in single case so far right from 1998. The main condition of the visit and enquiry by the  Three-member committee specifically laid down in the GO to certify the event of suicide is mostly ignored. (NSS)