Capital shame: 11 farmers killed self in Amaravati

HYDERABAD: Mounting debts forced 11 farmers in Andhra Pradesh’s capital region of Amaravati to commit suicide over the past two years, a fresh RTI has revealed, underscoring how farmers were left neglected in and around an area touted to be developed as a world-class capital.
Wives of deceased have not been getting widow pension
The deaths of dalit tenant farmers occurred in the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) jurisdiction of three tehsils and was kept under wraps by the previous TDP government, the RTI revealed, adding that farmers were unable to make up for losses incurred in chilli and cotton cultivation.A few more deaths have been reported in the core capital area, where parcels of land were not given for land pooling by farmers, records show.
The RTI reply from Thulluru sub-disvisional officer revealed that five farmers ended lives in Amaravati mandal, three in Thulluru mandal and three in Pedakurapadu mandal. Of the 11 cases, nine farmers consumed pesticide, while two hanged themselves.
“The suicide figures pertain to 2018 and 2019 while the government was boasting about world-class capital coming up in the area,” B Kondal Reddy of Rythu Swarajya Vedika told TOI.
“Six of the 11 farmers are Dalits, belonging to Mala and Madiga communities. Agrarian distress was right in the CRDA region, but no help was offered,” Kondal Reddy added.
According to an FIR issued after the suicide of T Venkateswara Rao (30), a farmer from BC community of Attalaru village in Amaravati, “For four years, Rao was in debt as he took farmland on lease. Due to abnormal weather conditions and inadequate yield, he incurred losses in agriculture. Disgusted with his life, he consumed pesticide as he couldn’t repay the moneylenders.”
T Roja, widow of Rao, who killed himself on May 17, 2018, is now a farmhand. She explained how they took 10 acres on lease and cultivated cotton and chilli crops, which failed. “After my husband died, I was left with Rs 7 lakh debt and an asbestos-roof house. The government didn’t pay ex gratia. We have been looking for help,” said Roja.
On Dec 20, 2017, Jakkaluri Chinna Yalamanda (35), a Dalit farmer and resident of Ramapuram in Guntur district, ended his life by consuming pesticide. “At 2pm he returned home and started vomiting. When I asked him why he was vomiting, he said he had consumed poison as he was unable to repay the loans. He died in a few minutes,” a sobbing J Yesumani, widow of Yelamanda, told TOI.
Though she had received Rs 2 lakh ex gratia from the government, she has not been getting widow pension. Two months later, her father-in-law too passed away.
S Narasimham, a local farmer rights activist, claimed 20 suicides have so far been reported from Guntur in 2019, including CRDA region and other neighbouring areas. Narasimham attributes suicides to crop failure due to cotton pink bollworm, debts and drop in chilli price. “In Borupalem, part of the core capital area, a farmer who didn’t give land for pooling and cultivated it, ended his life,” he added.
Asked about the deaths, YSR Congress MLA from Mangalagiri, Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, said in the core capital 29 villages have been included, but CRDA jurisdiction has 8,648 square kilometres. The CRDA Act says other parcels of land could also be taken for building the upcoming capital.
“Our government may announce Rs 12,500 input subsidy under the Rythu Bharosa scheme and nine-hour power supply during daytime and seed supply at the right time. We are also trying to issue tenancy cards,” he added.