Since the formation of Telangana state and the Government of TRS, during the last 4 to 5 months, more than 319 farmers have committed suicide. The agriculture in Telangana is mainly dependent on rain water and bore wells. There is a huge deficit in the rainfall leading to the drying up of the fields and loss of crops. In addition to this, there are huge electricity power cuts. This has further made the farmers at loss. Ultimately credits taken by farmers have increased. All these have demoralized poor and middle farmers and drove them to commit suicides.
The government of Telangana is not timely responding to the needs of the farmers. It is not taking actions which provide succor to the farmer community. Even as the rate of farmer suicides has reached around 5 to 6 per day, the government has not action to help farmers. TRS had promised to waive the farmer loans during their election campaign but has not taken any decision on those lines after they came to power. Rather, it has taken a u-turn on this after its promise of waiver. No decision supporting the farmer’s needs has yet been taken.
With the demands of taking up the action against the suicides of farmers, demanding the removal of power cuts, providing 9 hours power supply to the farmers for agricultural usage, giving support prices for all the crops, compensating the lost crops and other issues, All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) , Telangana State Executive conducted a Dharna at Indira Park, Hyderabad on 30.10.2014. More than 1000 peasants participated in this Dharna. This Dharna continued from 11:00 AM to 3.00 PM.
The state President V. Koteswara Rao has presided this Dharna. Vemulapalli Venkataramaiah [CPI(ML) ND], Prof. Kodandaram, Prof. K.R.Chowdary, Sajaya, B.Chandra Reddy, CPM Rythu Sangham, Pagya Padma, CPI Rythu Sangham, AIKMS leaders Gummadi Narsaiah, Ketchela Rangaiah, K.G. Ramchander, V. Prabhakar, G. Venkateswara Rao and others participated in this Dharna.
The speakers expressed that the corporate has taken the agriculture into their iron grip and trying to run it under their control, the policies which are favouring the MNCs are forcing the agriculture sector into deep losses. The Policies of state and central governments are the main reasons for the present situation. The speakers felt that the India is occupying the prime position in terms of number of farmers committing suicides, and in India, Vidarbha is occupying the first position and Telangana is in the second position.
The speakers felt “TRS is claiming to convert Telangana into Golden Telangana but at least it is its duty not to make it burial ground and Telangana of suicides”. They requested the farmers not lose their confidence and appealed to them fight against the corporate policies of state and central governments. They strongly criticized that the TRS government has forgotten all its election promises, more particularly the loan waiver that it had announced for the farmers.
It is strongly felt that a united struggle is necessary for preventing the suicides of farmers.
The artists of Arunodaya gave cultural performances at the Dharna.