Andhra Pradesh   

BJP demands immediate relief

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 26. In a bid to create confidence among farmers and prevent further suicides, the BJP leaders -- Ch.Vidyasagar Rao and K. Laxman -- have urged the State Government to enforce within 24 hours the Rural Indebtedness Relief Act, 1977 and announce as "deemed to have been paid" the private loans taken by ryots, agriculture labour and artisans.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, they described the spurt in suicides as "alarming" and said mere appeals, statements and editorials would not serve the purpose as people wanted immediate relief. They urged the Government to notify the provisions of the act by having a cut off date up to August 15, 2004, for the loans to have been deemed as paid.

Stating that this kind of "frightening situation" was not witnessed in the past, they also wanted the Government to implement the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to prevent migration of farm labour and others as huge stocks of foodgrains were available. The BJP leaders said people should be made to register with respective MROs and provided foodgrains in 15 days, irrespective of giving employment to them. Such a scheme was successfully implemented in Maharashtra some years ago, they added.

Urging the Government to initiate steps to prevent suicides on a war- footing, the BJP leaders also wanted the Government loans taken by farmers re-scheduled and cooperative loans written off so that a majority of them were benefited. It would not cast any burden on the State exchequer. After implementing all these measures and creating confidence among the farming community, the State Government should formulate a new agricultural policy.

They said all political parties should also work towards preventing suicide by farmers.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• CM pledges support to distressed ryots
• More students clear EAMCET
• Eight Ministers assume charge
• Government begins irrigation year on bright note
• BJP demands immediate relief
• Five more farmers commit suicide
• Mahanadu to examine causes for party defeat
• LAWCET on June 6
• APCC chief likely to be replaced
• Former IAS officer dead
• Priority to reducing revenue deficit: Rosaiah
• CPI(M) rules out linkage to incentive package
• Briefly

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu