The Hindu : TDP's neglect drives ryots to suicide: Azad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 26, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP's neglect drives ryots to suicide: Azad

By Our Staff Reporter

KADIRI, JAN. 25. Total neglect of the farming sector and farmers by the Telugu Desam Party Government is leading to suicide of farmers on a large scale, the All-India Congress Committee secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh, Gulam Nabi Azad, has observed.

Addressing a mammoth gathering of farmers, farm workers and party workers gathered from all over the district here today, Mr. Azad assured that the Congress would take up welfare measures for the farming community if it was voted to power in the elections.

He mentioned that Indira Gandhi had helped the farming community by providing irrigation facilities and sinking borewells for the poor and by constructing major irrigation projects. Congress Governments at the Centre had given subsidies for farmers.

But, farmer welfare measures were being withdrawn by the National Democratic Alliance Government at the Centre and the Telugu Desam Party Government in Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Azad promised that the Congress would re-introduce welfare measures for farmers and restore the subsidies on agriculture inputs. The Congress would also provide employment opportunities to the youth on a large scale. He accused the TDP Government of giving a raw deal for farmers.

The hunger deaths and suicide by farmers were the result of TDP's anti-farmer policies, he alleged.

The Pradesh Congress Committee president, D. Srinivas, reiterated the party's promises to provide free power supply to the farming sector, 10 tmcft of water for the Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir, completion of the Handri-Neeva project, provision of Rs. 2 lakhs ex gratia amount each to the families of farmers who had committed suicide, changes in the crop insurance scheme, among others.

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