Harish Rao credits KCR era reforms for sharp drop in farmers’ suicides

Former minister T Harish Rao credited the KCR-led Telangana government for the steep drop in farmer suicides from 11.1% to 1.57% between 2015 and 2022, citing NCRB data and attributing the decline to several pro-farmer and welfare initiatives.

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao credited the decade-long K Chandrashekhar Rao government for a sharp drop in farmers’ suicides between 2015 and 2022. He said the implementation of pro-farmer policies brought a fundamental transformation to Telangana.

Citing NCRB data from 2015 to 2022, the BRS legislator shared on X a comparative analysis of farmers’ suicide shares among key States in the country. While Maharashtra’s share rose from 34.05 per cent to 37.62 per cent, Karnataka from 12.45 per cent to 21.18 per cent, and Andhra Pradesh from 7.26 per cent to 8.12 per cent, Telangana recorded a drastic decline from 11.1 per cent to just 1.57 per cent within a span of seven years.

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“You may agree or disagree, but the fact remains that the 10-year KCR regime has transformed Telangana remarkably and reduced farmer suicides to an all-time record low. Kudos to KCR’s visionary leadership,” he said.

Harish Rao listed a series of landmark initiatives that not only improved rural livelihoods but also significantly reduced agrarian distress. These included the Rythu Bandhu direct benefit scheme, two rounds of farm loan waivers, construction of major irrigation projects like Kaleshwaram and Palamuru-Rangareddy, assured supply of urea and quality seeds, and mechanisation support.

He also underlined the appointment of agriculture extension officers for every 5,000 acres, the establishment of over 2,500 Rythu Vedikas, the revival of tanks under Mission Kakatiya, and 24-hour free power for the farm sector. He felt that social welfare schemes like Aasara pensions, Kalyana Lakshmi for marriage support, timely fee reimbursement, and residential education institutions for marginalised communities, especially SC/ST girls, also aided farmers indirectly.