Civil rights and farmers groups demand support for tenant farmers

Civil rights groups and farmer organisations demanded immediate action from the Telangana government to recognise tenant farmers. They formed a joint committee to intensify protests and called for implementation of the Licensed Cultivators Act and issuance of recognition cards

Hyderabad: Civil rights organisations and farmer groups have stepped up pressure on the Congress government in Telangana, demanding immediate action to recognise and support tenant farmers. They accused the administration of failing to honour its promises. They warned that unless the government initiates concrete steps, a farmers’ movement will be launched across the State.

At a round-table meeting, rights activists, intellectuals and farmers leaders decided to work under the umbrella of a new organisation “Telangana Kaulu Rythula Gurthimpu Sadhana Samithi” (Telangana Tenant Farmers’ Recognition Achievement Committee) to be led by renowned economist Prof D Narsimha Reddy. The meeting resolved to intensify agitation through a joint action plan, including village-level outreach, surveys and protests to force the government to act.

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Participants included rights activist Prof Haragopal, Telangana Jana Samithi president Prof M Kodandaram, Justice Chandrakumar, Kodaveeti Satyavathi of Bhoomika, P Shankar of Dalita Bahujana Front, Prof Aribandi Prasada Rao of Telangana Rythu Sangham and others. Speaking on the occasion, they discussed the worsening condition of tenant farmers. They criticised the Congress government for failing to implement assurances given during elections to extend all schemes to tenant farmers.

The participants demanded immediate implementation of the 2011 Licensed Cultivators Act and issue of recognition cards to tenant farmers. They said these cards will enable access to crop loans, subsidies and compensation. The organisations also called for clear directions to banks to extend loans based on these cards.

They urged the government to ensure that tenant farmers receive payments directly during the ongoing crop season and are not denied benefits due to lack of land ownership documents.