The Hindu : Farmer on a `do or die' mission

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 08, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Others

Farmer on a `do or die' mission

By S. Ramu

YERASANIGUDEM (NALGONDA DT.), FEB.7. Muppidi Bhadraiah, a 68-year-old farmer, who launched indefinite hunger strike at his home for a noble cause on the evening of January 31, was admitted to the government hospital in the district headquarters hospital in the wee hours of Saturday -- a posse of policemen descended on his house and hospitalised him forcibly as his health condition deteriorated. Mr. Bhadraiah, who was village sarpanch from 1973 to 1981, has a single demand: "Remove silt in the Asifnahar canal and help farmers and villagers.''

However, a determined Mr. Bhadraiah declared on the hospital bed that his fast would continue till the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababau Naidu, gave an assurance on his demand. He said it would benefit thousands of farmers in Kattamgur mandal in the Nakrekal Assembly constituency. "The police brought me here forcibly and the doctors are administering saline. I do not drink a drop of water or eat a morsel,'' he said.

When a team of reporters visited his colony, villagers expressed concern over his health condition. Mr. Bhadraiah, father of two and owner of

four-acre land, is a victim of fluorosis. Lingaiah, his neighbour and suffering from the same disorder, said this was Mr. Bhadraiah's third satyagraha for the same cause.

Mr. Bhadraiah said, "Removal of silt will help in storage of water for the fields and improve the ground water level and it can reduce the fluorine content in the water.''

The village secretary, Sayyad Nabi, said 100 acres would be provided irrigation if the silt in the Yerrakunta tank near Mr. Bhadraiah's colony was removed. "He has sent umpteen petitions to the officials in this regard but to no avail."

In a petition submitted to officials, Mr. Bhadraiah said there was a mass migration of farmers from 15 villages to the Andhra area due to lack of work. "If silt is removed, migrating people will stay here working on the fields. The burden of power bills will also be reduced since they do not use motors,'' he said.

Mr. Bhadraiah, a Telugu Desam Party activist, has reservations against the Neeru-Meeru, a pet programme of the Chief Minister. "How can farmers participate in it in the face of drought? The Government should take the full responsibility and provide water facility to the farming community.''

Mr. Bhadraiah threatened that he would burn the yellow shirt he bought to participate in party affairs if the Government failed to respond to his demand.

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