WARANGAL: The death of a cotton farmer at the Enumamula Market Yard on Thursday has led to severe criticism from the farmers and political leaders alike. They said the rules of the market are thrown to the wind to allow the traders and officials to have their way. They blamed negligence by the officials for the death of the cotton farmer.
The farmers wronged the district administration’s decision to not purchase the cotton if it has a moisture content of more than 15 per cent. The decision was taken recently during a meeting headed by Warangal Urban joint collector Dayanand with all the member of the market committee. “Such a decision has never been taken before. The farmers remain a neglected lot in the state for past four years,” lamented TDP senior leader Revuri Prakash Reddy.
“The state government lacks control of the market committees in the state. The Enumamula Market Yard has been under the control of the traders who make the rules and the farmers are compelled to follow them. The system of paying a different price for the different quality of cotton depending on the moisture content has been traditionally followed. What was the need for changing that?” he questioned.
BJP district president Rao Padma said the state government has been unfazed by the increasing number of farmer suicides in the state. The number has placed Telangana in the second place for states with most number of farmer suicides.
“It is shameful that the officials have asked a farmer to dry his produce for a few days before selling. Instead of purchasing the produce according to its quality, they are troubling the farmers. The people need to come together to dethrone such a government. The government must give Rs 30 lakh as ex-gratia and provide one of the family members with a job,” she demanded.
Palakurthy MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao handed over ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh from the Telangana government to Ravi’s wife Mutyalu. He also gave Rs 1 lakh as his personal help. The Warangal market committee gave a cheque of Rs 1 lakh. The market traders and employees raised Rs 2.20 lakh for the bereaved family.
