Rights Forums Charge Kin of Farmers Committing Suicide Denied Relief Under G.O.

Anantapur:Human Rights Forum (HRF) and Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV) have accused the state government of failing to implement G.O. 43, which mandates financial assistance and rehabilitation of families of farmers who commit suicide due to agrarian distress.

Releasing the findings of a joint fact-finding exercise conducted on June 27 and June 28, representatives of the two organisations said they visited 18 villages in nine mandals across the three revenue divisions of Anantapur district. They interacted with families of 18 farmers who committed suicide in recent years.

The fact-finding team comprised RSV state committee member B. Kondal, HRF state general secretary Y. Rajesh, HRF state secretaries B.N. Subbanna and G. Rohith, HRF Ananatapur district president Sasanka Mouli, and district general secretary D. Satyam Babu.

According to their report, none of the 18 families had received the ₹7 lakh ex-gratia promised under G.O. 43, despite reportedly being recognised as genuine farmer suicides linked to agrarian distress.

On the contrary, the organisations claimed that as many as 160 farmers died by suicide in the undivided district since the beginning of 2024. None of the affected families received financial assistance under the government order.

The fact-finding team attributed the suicides to repeated crop failures caused by inadequate irrigation, rising temperatures, pest attacks, and fluctuating market prices. It said farmers cultivating crops, such as cotton, chilli, tomato, and groundnut, have been burdened with high cultivation costs and mounting debts, with many borrowing from private lenders at exorbitant interest rates.

The organisations criticised officials for allegedly failing to follow the procedures prescribed under G.O. 43. They claimed that the mandatory verification committees at the mandal and divisional levels have not visited several bereaved families, resulting in delays in processing compensation. They highlighted the plight of widows who are yet to receive pensions or rehabilitation support.

HRF and RSV demanded immediate implementation of G.O. 43, prompt disbursal of ex-gratia to eligible families, creation of a dedicated fund to settle farm debts of affected families, a scientific policy on borewell drilling, and a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy, including a state-wide helpline for vulnerable regions, such as Rayalaseema.

Details of families visited:

Kuderu mandal: 1. Gutti Unnoorappa – Muddalapuram village, date of death 11-07-2024 2. Muppavarapu Niranjan Kumar – Kadadarikunta, 11-04-2026 3. Manamala Govindu – Karutlapalli, 14-04-2026, and 4. Jerripothula Narayanappa – P. Naranayapuram, 26-03-2025; Atmakuru mandal: 5. Harijana Kuntanna – P. Yaleru, 15-09-2025 6. Potte Naresh – Pumpanooru, 07-12-2024; Setturu mandal: 7. Golla Govindappa – Yatakallu, 03-06-2025; Kalyanadurgam mandal: 8. Toorpu Srikanth – Upponka, 17-09-2024 9. Bulli Yerrisamy – Borampalli, 02-02-2026; Beluguppa mandal: 10. Kuruva Yerrisamy – Kaluvapalli, 17-06-2024; Anantapuramu Rural mandal: 11. Allu Kesava Naidu – Sajjalakaluva, 10-03-2025; Garladinne mandal: 12. Kuruva Sudarshan – Illuru, 18-10-2025; Peddavaduguru mandal: 13. Illuri Seetharamudu – Miduthuru, 24-01-2025, 14. Rachepalli Ramanjaneyulu – Chintalacheruvu, 12-04-2025, 15. Valagonda Ramanjaneyulu – Muppallagutti, 07-04-2026 16. Nagendra – Krishtapadu, 11-05-2026; Pamidi mandal: 17. Nagireddygari Mutyala Reddy – Ramarajupalle, 12-05-2026, 18. Bellala Bala Nagendra Reddy – Neelalu, 05-05-2026.