Government Flayed For Neglect Of Drought-Hit Farmers

Former minister and Nalgonda MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy asked the Telangana government, which increased the salaries of the employees last year and now the salaries of the MLAs and MLCs, why it was not doing anything for the farmers.

"What sin have the farmers committed?" he questioned.

Participating in a debate in the short discussion on drought in the State in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Komatireddy said that the drought situation in the State was severe even when compared with the 1999-2004 drought conditions, and Telangana stood second in the severity of the drought conditions after Maharashtra. But the TRS government had not taken up any drought relief works yet, he alleged.

The government was doing a lot for all sectors but not doing anything for the farmersm, he claimed. Alleging that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of farmers' produces was not increased, Komatireddy asked the government to see the agriculture sector as an industry. He also demanded that the government appoint a special officer to every village to help the residents face the conditions.

It was not correct on the part of the government to pass the time on the sentiment of Telangana, he said. "The government has already completed 23 months. The situation in the villages is severe. We have to feel ashamed seeing the pain of the farmers. The situation existing in the villages should make us commit suicides, not the farmers," Komatireddy emotionally added.

Earlier participating in the debate, lone YSRCP member Payam Venkateshwarlu asked the government to take up drought relief works immediately. He said that there was a need to link the NREGS works with agriculture. He also asked the government to arrange mid-day meals for the NREGS workers.

Lone CPM member Sunnam Rajaiah alleged that about 400 mandals were facing severe drought conditions in the State, and it was the failure of the government. He asked the government to provide fodder to the domestic animals and drinking water to them on a war footing. "Don't wait for the Centre, start relief works immediately," he said, and demanded that the government waive off the fees of the students in the drought-hit mandals.

CPI lone MLA R Ravindra Kumar demanded that the government announce the total State as drought-hit, and also announce Rs. 5 lakhs in ex-gratia to the families of the persons who died due to sunstroke. He asked the government to take an all-Party delegation to Delhi for drought-relief funds.