CPI Demands Drought Declaration and Compensation for Rain-Deficit Hit Farmers in Warangal

WARANGAL: CPI Warangal district secretary Shaik Bhasha Mia has demanded that the State government immediately come to the rescue of farmers who suffered crop losses due to severe rainfall deficit conditions caused by the El Nino effect. He sought the declaration of five mandals as drought-affected and adequate compensation for the affected farmers.

The CPI Warangal district committee organised a rally from Ekashila Park to the Collectorate on Tuesday, followed by a dharna in front of the office. A memorandum was later submitted to Additional Collector Y.V. Ganesh.

Addressing the gathering, Shaik Bhasha Mia said that despite severe rainfall deficit conditions prevailing in the district, the exclusion of five mandals—Geesukonda, Nallabelly, Khanapuram, Rayaparthy and Wardhannapet—from the list of drought-affected mandals was unjust. He alleged that drought-affected mandals were being selected merely on the basis of statistics without assessing actual crop conditions on the ground, depriving affected farmers of government assistance.

He said paddy, cotton and maize crops raised by farmers after investing lakhs of rupees had withered due to lack of water, pushing them into a severe financial crisis. Farmers who had taken loans for cultivation were unable to recover even their investment, he added.

Compensation Sought

The CPI leader demanded compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre for paddy and Rs 50,000 per acre each for cotton and maize crops. He also sought recognition of tenant farmers and provision of government assistance to them.

He demanded a comprehensive crop-loss survey village-wise and extension of crop insurance and input subsidy to all eligible farmers. He further sought rescheduling of agricultural loans to provide relief to farmers.

Demands to Centre, State

Shaik Bhasha Mia demanded that the Union government recognise the drought situation prevailing in Telangana and sanction a special drought relief fund of Rs 20,000 crore to the State. He also sought distribution of 14 essential commodities through ration shops in drought-affected areas.

He said both the Centre and the State should shed negligence and take emergency measures to protect the farming community.

CPI State committee members Panjala Ramesh and Syed Valli Ulla Khadri, district assistant secretaries Panasa Prasad and Dandu Lakshman, district committee members, Rythu Sangham leaders Netam Narayana and Chukka Mogili, and several others participated in the programme.

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KOTHA RAMESH

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