KTR seeks Rs 25 lakh compensation for families of farmers who died by suicide

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao criticised the Congress government over farmer distress in Adilabad, distributed Rs 2 lakh each to bereaved families and demanded higher compensation, a drought declaration and measures to address crop losses

Adilabad: The BRS working president KT Rama Rao rebuked the Congress government saying it was not paying attention to challenges faced by farmers. He consoled bereaved family members of farmers who died by suicide due to financial crisis and crop failure triggered by El Nino before extending financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to each family on behalf of the party in Boath Assembly constituency on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, Rama Rao faulted the government for spending Rs 1.50 lakh crore to beautify Musi rivers at a time when agrarian community was reeling under crisis. He alleged that it failed to store 1000 tmcs of floodwater in Godavari and Krishna rivers flowing unused into Bay of Bengal.

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The working president further said that El Nino had taken a serious toll on the district, which recorded 33 percent of deficient rainfall with seeing 680 mm of rainfall as against the normal rainfall 1,033 mm. As a result, cotton which reached the stage of harvesting was withered due to adverse climate, causing distress among farmers.

He said that he was stirred by suicides by four farmers within a week. He demanded the government to offer an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh to each farmer and to extend a compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre by declaring Adilabad as drought affected region.

Earlier, Rama Rao was accorded a grand welcome by cadres of the BRS on his arrival at Neradigonda toll plaza. He later attended a meeting titled Raithu Garjana organized in Adilabad town. He was accompanied by Boath MLA Anil Jadhav and BRS leaders.