South India farmers unions demand all States to implement Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima
Hyderabad: Impressed with the farmer-friendly policies being implemented in Telangana, leaders of South India Farmers Associations have resolved to exert pressure on the governments in their respective States to implement similar welfare programmes.
In a first such effort, the leaders of farmers associations called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Chennai on Saturday and submitted a representation to replicate the farmer welfare schemes being implemented by the Telangana government. They urged the Tamil Nadu government to consider implementing Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima schemes and uninterrupted supply of free power to agriculture sector on a priority basis.
Stalin is said to have responded positively and assured to examine the feasibility of implementing majority of these schemes.
Following their deliberations held in Chennai on Saturday, the leaders of various farmers unions from Telangana, Karnataka, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have jointly urged all the State governments to implement farmer-friendly policies of Telangana in their respective States and support the farmers. They have decided to meet the Chief Ministers of all the South Indian States.
Participating in the South India Farmers Associations earlier,Turmeric Farmers Association of India vice-president Kotapati Narasimham Naidu said the Telangana government’s approach towards agriculture and its development must be appreciated. He demanded that all the States should implement programmes like Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima. He felt that setting up nearly 7,000 paddy procurement centres during the monsoon season, was no small feat.
“Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has proven his commitment towards farmers by writing to the Centre with regards to Minimum Support Price (MSP). All the States must start questioning the Central government on the MSP issue,” he asserted.
PT John, South Indian coordinator for Samyuktha Kisan Morcha, stated that pro-farmer schemes like Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima were very useful to all farmers. He said the farmer welfare schemes being implemented by the Chandrashekhar Rao government were a role model for the entire country and wanted them to be implemented in all the States.
K Shanta Kumar, chairman of Karnataka Farmers Federation, said the farmer schemes being carried out by the Telangana State government were beneficial to the farmers. He said it was commendable that Chief Minister Chadrashekhar Rao wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Central government against discrimination towards farmers and the agricultural sector. He stated that the farmers have been seeking to make Minimum Support Price statutory for all crops and appreciated the Telangana government for supporting the cause and raising its voice against the Centre’s lackadaisical attitude.
Tamil Nadu Farmers Associations leaders PK Deivasigamani and KM Ramagowda, lauded the farmer-friendly policies of Telangana government especially Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima where farmers which do not require any farmers’ contribution.
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