Dasha Disha : Search for solutions to farmers' suicides

The recently launched Rythu Rakshna Vedika has organized a programme in Nirmal on the burning topic of farmers' suicides in the State. While the government's attitude towards the issue is apathetic, experts blame it on the agrarian policies pursued by the State. What do the farmers feel is the subject of 'Dasha Disha,' HMTV's most popular programme dealing with the hot topics that concern the common man.

'Dasha Disha on Agriculture' held on Sunday received an overwhelming response from farmers and various organizations concerned with the farm sector. Focusing on farmers' suicides, participants discussed ways to prevent farmers from taking the extreme step and provide succour to the families of those who committed suicides, simply because they were unable to wriggle themselves out of a vicious debt-trap.

The programme was jointly organized by Rythu Rakshana Vedika �an initiative of The Hans India and HMTV to address the agrarian crisis in Andhra Pradesh � AP Rythu Sangham, Agrarian Crisis-Farmers' Suicide Prevention Committee. The nearly three-hour programme held at Divya Gardens from 6 pm saw activists working on farmers'issues, intellectuals and scientists unequivocally calling for collective efforts to address farmers' grievances.

Dasha Disha of farm sector begins

• Nirmal programme focuses on farmers' suicides
• Farmers' bodies, concerned citizens deliberate ways
• Families of farmers, who committed suicide, pour out woes

On the dais Nagendranath, P Padma, N Venkateswar Rao,Satish (HMTV), K Ramachandra Murthy, Sajaya, Jalapathi Rao, Sai Reddy and Dusharla Satyanarayana

Various leaders from farmers' bodies participating in the 'Dasha Disha' programme organised by HMTV-The Hans India at Nirmal in Adilabad district on Sunday

'Dasha Disha' programme convener K Ramachandra Murthy read out a manifesto prepared by Rythu Rakshana Vedika for pursing farmers' welfare. The Vedika aims at bringing out such manifestos in every region

Nirmal: 'Dasha Disha on Agriculture' organised by Rythu Rakshna Vedika here on Sunday received an overwhelming response from farmers and various organizations concerned with the agriculture. The Sunday programme focused on the suicides of the farmers and discussed the ways to prevent farmers from taking the extreme step of suicide and also provide succour to the families of those farmers who committed suicides, unable to wriggle themselves of a vicious debt-trap.

The programme was jointly organised by Rythu Rakshana Vedika �an initiative of The Hans India and HMTV to address the agrarian crisis in Andhra Pradesh � AP Rythu Sangham, Agrarian Crisis-Farmers's Suicide Prevention Committee. The nearly three-hour programme held at Divya Gardens from 6 am saw activists working on the issues of farmers, intellectuals and scientists unequivocally call for collective efforts towards redressal of farmers' grievances.

Activists like Sajaya and Nagendranath expressed grave concern over the fact that though the country's growth was dependent upon agriculture, the farmers were not able to able to protect their interests. That was why the Rythu Rakshana Vedika came into existence to bring the farmers together and strive to put pressure on the government to address their issues, they noted.

Earlier in the day, a delegation comprising The Hans India-HMTV Editor-in-Chief K Ramachandra Murthy, Agrarian Crisis-Farmers Suicide Prevention Committee Convener Vainala Govardhan, Caring Citizens Connective representatives Sajaya and Kondal Reddy, Jala Sadhana Committee State President D Satyanarayana, Rythu Sangham leader Pasya Padma, Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University's former registrar Jalapathi Rao, Lok Satta leader Satyanarayana, Sarvejana Sukhinobhavanthu representative D Ashok Kumar, TDP leader Nallamala Venteshwara Rao, an organic farmer Vasireddy, Nagendranath, Ekalavya Foundation representative Venugopal Reddy and others visited the families of the farmers who committed suicides and consoled them.

Later, initiating the discussion in the evening, Ramachandra Murthy stated that the main reason for the woes of the farmers in the State was the indifferent attitude of all including the government towards farmers' issues at all levels. Citing an example, he pointed out that though senior agriculture and revenue officials like MRO and RDO were invited to the programme to pay attention to the grievances of the farmers, they did not turn up. "This shows how serious they are towards the problems of farmers and their suicides," he lamented.

Ramachandra Murthy read out a manifesto prepared by Rythu Rakshana Vedika for pursing farmers' welfare. The Vedika aims at bringing out such manifestos in every region. Finally, a comprehensive State-level farmers manifesto would be worked out. It would be taken to the notice of all political parties before next general elections so that the latter can spell out their action plans to end the recurring agrarian crisis in the State and ensure overall development of all farmers, he added. The meeting observed a minute's silence to pay respects to the dead victims of the flood ravage that it Uttarakhand State.

Deceased farmers' kin recount untold hardships

• Members of Rythu Rakshana Vedika visit hapless families
• Vedika comprising a number of agriculture-related organisations is an initiative of The Hans India and HMTV

Members of Rythu Rakshana Vedika at the house of Elasaram Chandrakala at Beeravelly village

Members of Rythu Rakshana Vedika consoling Tokala Lakshmi and other family members of Tokala Sayanna at Beeravelly village.

Nirmal (Adilabad): The agrarian crisis in the district of Adilabad is wreaking havoc in the lives of farmers. The persisting crisis has been causing deep despondency to the distressed farmers who are killing themselves in dozens. Thus, their families are rendered destitute and faced with huge debts. Alarge number of of intellectuals, agrarian activists, and members of social organisations on Sunday visited such hapless families in Sarangapur mandal in Adilabad district. The delegation heard more or less similar tales of woes and distress from the affected families which had lost their livelihood.

The Hans India and HMTV Editor-in-Chief K Ramachandra Murthy, Agrarian Crisis-Farmers Suicides Prevention Committee Convener Vainala Govardhan, Caring Citizens Connective representatives Sajaya and Kondal Reddy, State President of Jala Sadhana Committee, D Satyanarayana, Rythu Sangham leader Pasya Padma, former Registrar of Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University, Jalapathi Rao, Lok Satta leader Satyanarayana, Sarvejana Sukhinobhavanthu representative D Ashok Kumar, TDP leader Nallamala Venteshwara Rao and an organic farmer Vasireddy are among those who visited and consoled the deceased farmers' families.

The delegation first visited the residence of Elasaram Bhumanna, a farmer who committed suicide as he was unable to bear the burden of debts caused by crop failure at Beeravelly village. His death forced his wife Elasaram Chandrakala to become an agriculture labourer and forced his 14-year-old son Naresh to become a child labourer to support the family. The boy studies Class IX and works at a medical shop on a part-time basis. Chandrakala informed the delegates that they used to cultivate two acres of government land and sank a borewell for irrigating the cotton crop, it failed.

As a result, Bhumanna became a tenant a farmer and took up cotton cultivation in four acres. After his death, his wife had to sell away their house to repay the debts. Chandrakala informed the revenue officials had not completed the mandatory enquiry into the death of Bhumanna to issue compensation to his widow. The local MLA too failed to look into the matter and help the affected family. Notably, the officials refused to recognize it a case suitable for compensation. "None cared to help us" lamented Chandrakala, narrating her tale of woes. Another woman in the same village, too, poured out similar grief following the suicide of her husband following crop losses. Tokala Lakshmi now struggles to bear the burden of supporting three girls. Of them one was married while still being a minor but became a divorcee soon.

The other girls are pursuing graduation. Her husband Tokala Sayanna had taken Rs 2 lakh loan for arranging the marriage of his daughter. He also took another Rs 1 lakh towards investment in cotton crop, which failed subsequently. Sayanna's daughters Swapna, Sangita, Kavita and their mother share a common fate that befell them following faulty agricultural policies of the government and its lack of concern towards the families of the farmers who ended their lives due to debt-trap. Lakshmi has also taken up cultivation, and is pinning the same hopes as her husband had.

Not very far from Beeravelly village in the same mandal, the tale of Barla Shanker's death is heart-rending. His death took place one-and-a-half months ago. It came to light only after a week; the family members came upon the badly decomposed body in the forest. The shock was so shocking that his father Bhimanna consumed pesticide and ended his life. Though the police FIR says the death was caused due to failure of crop, the officials concerned did not care to give him compensation.

Bhimanna was initially an agricultural labourer. Later, he paid Rs 3.75 lakh towards tenant fees for the 15 acres in which he sowed cotton. Crop failure caused huge losses and plunged him in a debt-trap. The members of the delegation vowed to take all such issues to the notice of the officials concerned and ensure justice to the affected families.