The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Free power supply

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Free power supply

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's observation that free power supply to farmers is an obstacle to making the country self-reliant (May 29) does not seem to be in keeping with the ground reality. Many farmers committed suicide between 2000 and 2004 because of the hopeless situation they were in. Some lenient measures are necessary to alleviate the sufferings of farmers.

C. Ananth Krishna,
Hyderabad

* * *

Free power supply is more abused than used. If the State Governments have the will, it should not be difficult to evolve a policy by which free power is enjoyed only by the poor.

V.R. Rajamani,
Chennai

* * *

Dr. Singh's observation stems from a realistic assessment of the grim power scenario. Electricity boards in several States are in the red. Farmers have to accept the ground reality and desist from demanding free power; instead, they should utilise electricity judiciously.

N.K. Vijayan,
Kizhakkambalam, Kerala

* * *

Nothing comes free of cost. If it does, there is always a chance of its being misused. Without ensuring accountability, we cannot expect power to be utilised economically and judiciously.

R. Rajendar Goud,
New Delhi

* * *

The Prime Minister's words are those of a far-sighted, mature statesman who acknowledges the ground realities of a developing nation. India cannot afford free power supply when it is confronted with a serious energy crisis.

V.P. Ramesan,
Kochi, Kerala

* * *

The UPA Government should consider CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat's suggestion of grading beneficiaries among farmers before withdrawing free power.

India is primarily an agricultural country. A majority of the farmers are poor and marginal. They need subsidies such as free power for some more time.

K.P. Ashok Kumar,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

Had free power supply to farmers been an obstacle to making the country self-reliant, the UPA would not have been in power. The Congress rode to power in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, promising free power. If the provision is to be withdrawn to overcome losses and pilferage, elections should be held in the States again.

David Peniel,
Tiruchi, T.N.

* * *

Thousands of farmers have committed suicide in recent months and years in Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere in India because: they were cheated by traders with spurious seeds, spurious pesticides, fake electrical motors, etc.; they spent a fortune sinking borewells in vain; they were permanently debt-ridden; monsoon failed in successive years; there was tremendous wastage of water and electricity in the agricultural sector; there was a steep rise in the cost of farm production; and farmers were exploited by middlemen while selling their produce.

Free power alone cannot prevent suicides.

R.P. Rammohan,
Hyderabad

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