Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Amaravati, Oct 30 (IANS) Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has termed the current farm crisis as a man-made disaster created by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, saying farmers in Andhra Pradesh have been left without any assurance since the coalition government came to power.
He held a video conference with the party’s regional coordinators and district presidents from the party’s central office in the backdrop of Cyclone Montha, reviewed the ground reality and discussed the prevailing situation in the affected districts.
YS Jagan reminded that during the YSRCP government, free crop insurance was systematically implemented, covering 85 lakh farmers and 70 lakh acres, the government paid the insurance premium on behalf of the farmers, and Rs. Compensation of Rs 7,802 crore was given to 54.55 lakh farmers in five years.
He compared this to the current situation, where only 19 lakh farmers and 19 lakh acres are insured, and that too only those who have taken loans from banks, as banks collect premium while providing loans.
He said that not a single season’s premium has been paid by the present government for two years, due to which most of the farmers have been affected and have to face severe financial crisis.
“What about the rest of the farmers? Where is the crop protection now? This is clearly a man-made disaster,” he said.
He said the agriculture sector has completely deteriorated under the TDP-led coalition in the last 16 months. The government has not given input subsidy despite paying Rs. Gave Rs 600 crore to 5.5 lakh farmers, and did not support farmers in any crop season.
He reminded that e-harvest was abolished, Rythu Bharosa centers were abolished and farmers were deprived of remunerative prices. He said that promises like purchasing chilli at Rs 20 per kg have been made. 11,781 per quintal, purchase of tobacco, purchase of mango Rs. 12 per kg and purchase of onion at Rs. The promise of giving Rs 1,200 per quintal has also been abandoned. Compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare was not given.
He said that under Annadata Sukhibhav, farmers were to get Rs. 40,000, but he was given only Rs. 5,000, calling it a blatant fraud perpetrated by Chandrababu Naidu.
He said, “Farmers faced problems in every season, and not even once did this government come to their rescue. When a government acts responsibly, lives are not lost. Their publicity during the month was at its peak, but the relief on the ground was completely weak.”
YS Jagan praised party leaders and workers for standing with the people during the cyclone and directed them to stand firmly with the farmers during crop damage assessment.
He said no farmer should face injustice in the calculations, and if the government makes any attempt to manipulate or make mistakes, party leaders should question it and ensure that the process is correct. He stressed that farmers should get fair compensation and directed the leaders to be alert and proactive so that no beneficiary is left out.
Referring to the coalition government’s attempt to privatize newly established government medical colleges, YS Jagan reiterated that the public movement against privatization will continue with full force.
He claimed that the one crore signature campaign reflects the public sentiment and rallies would be held in all assembly constituencies on November 11 after being postponed due to cyclone Montha.
–IANS
ms/and