TS Govt understated figures of suicides: Congress
Hyderabad, March 9 (INN): The Telangana Congress on Monday accused the TRS Government of downplaying the number of suicides committed by the farmers since the formation of Telangana.
Speaking to media persons at Council's Media Point, Deputy CLP leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir and MLCs Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy and MS Prabhakar alleged that the State Government has misled the Central Government and the High Court on the statistics related to farmers' suicide. Shabbir Ali claimed that on an average two farmers committed suicide since the formation of TRS Government in the State. However, the government has put the figure at below 100. He also alleged that the State Government did not extend any assistance to the families of farmers who committed suicide.
Quoting a study done by Rythu Swaraja Vedika, Ponguleti claimed that more than 700 farmers committed suicide in Telangana. He demanded that the State Government constitute a commission for a detailed study on suicides by farmers.
Earlier, replying to a question raised by Ponguleti and Prabhakar in the State Legislative Council during Question Hour, Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy informed that as many as 517 farmers committed suicide in Telangana since 2011. They include 184 suicides in 2011; 147 in 2012; 112 in 2013 and 15 suicides up to 1st June, 2014. After the formation of Telangana on June 2, 69 farmers committed suicide up to October 31st. He informed that this report was submitted to the Central Government during the last Parliament session. He also claimed that the State Government is providing Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia and Rs 50,000 for one-time loan settlement through GO Ms No 421 (Dated 01.06.2004) to the deceased farmer's family.
Not satisfied with the minister's reply, Shabbir Ali said that figures on suicides were understated and the Congress party could provide a complete list, with video and picture evidence, to the government on the actual number of suicides. He also demanded increase in the compensation from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
News Posted: 9 March, 2015
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