Ongole : Lokesh demands compensation to cyclone-hit farmers

Ongole : TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh on Tuesday demanded the Jaganmohan Reddy government to fulfil its election promise of ensuring minimum support price to buy damaged crops in order to rescue farmers in times of natural calamities.

Lokesh deplored that the heavy rains, floods and cyclone ravaged crops during kharif season since August causing heavy losses and debts to farmers.

The farmers themselves were complaining that they had no choice but to commit suicides whole families together as the YSRCP government was not purchasing their damaged crops.

On the second day of 'Rythu Kosam' programme, the TDP leader visited agricultural fields and interacted with the farmers at Dornala, Yerragondapalem, Santamaguluru and other places in Prakasam district. He expressed concern over unexpected huge losses to the farmers of chilli and horticulture crops. The farmers have lost all trust in this government which was the reason why so many suicides took place place during thepast 19 months.

Addressing a press conference at Dornala, Nara Lokesh said that a chilli farmer incurred Rs 8 lakh debt and once again the crop was totally damaged in recent rains. The farmer was asking what other choice was there except to end his own life now. When such grief-stricken farmers are raising questions, the YSRCP leaders are taking vengeance against them.

In the Minister's own Yerragondapalem Assembly constituency, current was stopped to chilli crop when a farmer opposed smart meters. It led to drying up and total loss of the crop.

Lokesh said that the Chief Minister was running a fake rule without fulfilling any of the countless fake promises he made at the time of elections. If he had any conscience, Jagan Reddy should announce remunerative prices and purchase all the damaged crops in heavy rains.

He himself demanded Rs 25,000 compensation per acre before the elections. Now, the Jagan regime should pay not less than Rs 30,000 per hectare for normal crops and Rs 50,000 per hectare for horticulture crops. Chilli farmers suffered severe losses as they spent Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000 per acre on cultivation.

Stating that false claims would not help farmers, Lokesh said that if the government extended Rs 62,000 crore benefits to farmers, then each farmer in the State should have received Rs 1 lakh by now.

But there was no instance of any farmer getting that relief so far. Without giving any assurance to the farmers, the CM is preferring to fly in air aimlessly while the Agriculture Minister was entertaining himself at recording dances.

Lokesh said that very alarmingly, four farmers committed suicide in Avanigadda segment where the farmers usually withstand losses and natural disasters.

Over 787 farmers ended their lives so far but the YSRCP regime was not still making any efforts to create hope for the farmers. The CM made false claims on insurance premiums which had caused losses to the farmers. The Chandrababu regime paid Rs 4,000 crore insurance and also Rs 3,760 crore input subsidy.

The TDP leader asserted that the so called Rythu Bharosa Kendras or volunteers or promises had not helped in preventing the farmers' suicides. The TDP is undertaking Rythu Kosam tours to every corner but the CM and his Ministers are not bothering to visit damaged crops in Prakasam district or any other place.

Lokesh accused the YSRCP government of washing its hands off farmers' woes by releasing just Rs 600 crore even though the farmers suffered a huge crop loss of Rs 10,000 crore spread over 50 lakh acres.