Sania Mirza, Jwala Gutta, Pragyan Ojha are now 'Farm Ambassadors' for Telangana

Hyderabad: Along with hiking compensation of farmers who committed suicide, the Telangana government has roped in prominent sports personalities from Hyderabad as ‘Farm Ambassadors’. Indian tennis sensation and World No 1 doubles player Sania Mirza along with badminton ace Jwala Gutta and cricketer Pragyan Ojha on Tuesday signed up for the cause to help families of the deceased farmers according to media reports.

The sporting stars will have to underline the situation farmers are faced with, in the state. Reportedly, Sania’s mother Naseema has given a cheque of Rs 3 lakh to Telangana Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha who runs the NGO ‘Telangana Jagruthi’.

Jwala also contributed Rs 1 lakh to help the farmers while Ojha said he will do his bit for the cause. Not only sporting stars but NRIs too have agreed to adopt farmers’ families as well according to Kavitha.

Recently, the Telangana government increased the ex-gratia payment for farmer’s suicides from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. This year has seen an increase in the number of farmer suicides in the state due to the failure of the Kharif and Rabi crops this season.