Rythu Vedika to prepare Agri Manifesto

• To urge parties to make it part of poll manifestos
• Panels formed to conduct programmes in five regions
• Committee set up to intensify agitation against farmers' suicides

Hyderabad: The newly constituted 'Rythu Rakshana Vedika', a conglomeration of farmers' organizations in the State , on Thursday resolved to prepare an 'Agriculture Manifesto', aiming to make the farming sector a profitable profession and instill confidence among the distressed farmers by taking up supportive measures. The manifesto will be submitted to all political parties urging them to include the agenda in their respective election manifestos in 2014 general elections and also mount pressure to implement the same.

At a three-hour meeting, presided over by its Convener, HMTV and The Hans India Editor-in-Chief K Ramachandra Murthy here on Wednesday, the representatives of farmers' associations made valuable suggestions to prepare the manifesto. All the associations raised voice against the government's "lopsided" agricultural policies and expressed serious concern over increasing farmers' suicides in the State.

A nine-member Manifesto Committee was constituted at the meeting. Agricultural expert, former Rajya Sabha member and Virginia Tobacco Growers' Association Honorary President Yalamanchili Sivaji, agricultural scientist L Jalapathi Rao, Rythanga Samakhya President Y Nagendranath, Bharatiya Kisan Sabha (BKS) Secretary M Sridhar Reddy, Professor KR Chowdry, Grama Bharathi President Stambhadri Reddy, Chetana Society member Dr Donthi Narasimha Reddy and AP Rythu Sangham State President Pasya Padma are in the committee.

To intensify the movement against farmers' suicides and campaign in villages, a four-member committee comprising Dr Ramanjaneyulu, All India Kisan Sabha Vice President S Malla Reddy, BKS State Vice President P Anji Reddy and Caring Citizen Collective President Sajaya was constituted. The Vedika also formed committees to take up regular programmes in all the five regions of the State. They are: Bojja Venkat Reddy, Agricultural Foundation Chairman; B Dasaradha Rami Reddy (Rayalaseema); Rythu Swarajya Vedika leader Ashalatha and Padma (South Telangana), Jalapathi Rao (North Telangana), BKS State Secretary J Kumara Swami (South Coastal Andhra) and Anjaneyulu, Muralikrishna and M Nagedra Prasad ( North Coastal Andhra).

The Vedika Convener urged the Manifesto Committee to submit the report before the meeting to be organized in Adilabad on June 16. Forum for Good Governance President M Padmanabha Reddy has been asked to study the Government Orders issued to provide relief to the families of the victims who committed suicides and make suitable suggestions.