IN PROTEST MODE: APRS activists raising slogans after gatecrashing into the collectorate seeking solution to farmers' problems.

ANANTAPUR: Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham (APRS), affiliated to the CPI(M), laid a siege to the Collectorate on Thursday demanding implementation of 1997 Famine Code in the districts and review of Prime Minister's relief package to farmers.

Leaders of APRS urged the Government to waive loans of farmers, issue fresh loans, and supply seed and fodder. State deputy secretary of the organisation V. Subba Rao, district secretary P. Peddi Reddy, president M. Venkatarami Reddy, district horticulture farmers' union president V. Siva Reddy and others led the protest for more than three hours.

The activists gatecrashed into the collectorate by overpowering the police but stopped short of resorting to any act of damage on the premises with the timely intervention of the police. Speaking at the protest camp, they said the district had been suffering drought for the last 10 years and the farmers suffered Rs. 1,500-crore crop loss during 2006 kharif.

The Government had not initiated any measures as per the Famine Code. Some 200 farmers had committed suicide in the district over the last eight months, but it did not even bother Ministers from the district.

The Prime Minister's relief package of Rs. 9,650 crores was also not being implemented in the district for the last six months.

The concern of the farming community over the interest on crop loans taken in 2004, which were rescheduled due to drought, were also not attended so far, they said and urged the Government to waive the interest.

They urged the Government to announce a Rs. 5,000-crore special package to the district to free it from the clutches of drought, supply of 14 essential commodities through fair price shops, crop loss compensation of Rs. 2,500 per acre among others. Later, they submitted a memorandum to District Collector D. Kadmiel.

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