Not Telangana rising, but farmer suicides rising: 442 ryots ended their lives during 15 months of Congress rule

State is feared to be on the verge of becoming as prominent as Vidarbha with almost every day, a farmer is being driven to suicide due to crippling financial strain and lack of support

Hyderabad: Telangana is witnessing a resurgence of agrarian crises, with a staggering 442 farmer suicides reported during the 15 months of Congress rule.

In 2024 alone, 376 farmers took their own lives, marking a significant increase in suicides compared to previous years. Almost every day, a farmer is driven to suicide due to crippling financial strain and lack of support.

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The State is feared to be on the verge of becoming as prominent as Vidarbha, which has historically recorded the highest number of farmer suicides in the country. This alarming trend is triggered by severe challenges faced by the agricultural sector, including government policies and natural adversities.

The financial burden on farmers is mounting due to unfulfilled promises and lack of support from the government. The Congress government in Telangana has faced criticism for its failure to fulfil key promises, including the loan waiver and Rythu Bharosa schemes. These unfulfilled promises have left many farmers feeling betrayed, contributing to the spike in suicides.

Though the issue of farmer suicides in Telangana is not new, the numbers had come down during the 10-year BRS rule, registering a remarkable decline. In 2015, the State recorded 1,358 farmer suicides, which gradually decreased in the following years.

The numbers were 632 in 2016, 846 in 2017, 900 in 2018, 491 in 2019, 466 in 2020, 352 in 2021, 178 in 2022 and 271 in 2023. However, the number once again shot up to 376 in 2024, indicating a resurgence of the agrarian crisis.

The families losing their breadwinners are left abandoned with not even the local officials reaching out to them with at least a sympathy call. Even the token gesture of sharing the grief of the bereaved family is missing, not to speak of the entitled financial help.