HRF, RSV Regret Politics Denying Relief In Farmers’ Suicide Cases
The team visited seven villages in three mandals of Gurazala division in Palnadu district and met families of nine farmers who had died by suicide in recent years.
Vijayawada:A joint fact-finding team of the Human Rights Forum (HRF) and Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV) demanded that the state government extend comprehensive financial aid and rehabilitate families of farmers who have committed suicide.
The team visited seven villages in three mandals of Gurazala division in Palnadu district and met families of nine farmers who had died by suicide in recent years. Team members gathered detailed information on the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the government’s response.
The team, comprising G. Balu, RSV AP state co-convener, B. Kondal, state committee member; K. Anuradha, HRF AP state executive committee member, Y. Rajesh, state general secretary and V.S. Krishna, HRF AP & TG coordination committee member; pointed out that G.O. 43, meant to provide relief and rehabilitation to families of farmers who have taken their own lives, remains largely unimplemented.
They pointed out that of the nine families they visited, only one had received financial assistance under the GO. In several cases, even after official recognition that the deaths are genuine farmer suicides due to agrarian distress, the families have received no compensation or support at all.
The HRF and RSV members regretted that disbursal of financial assistance has become deeply politicised, as several families have been denied compensation because they are not aligned with the ruling party. They lamented that the plight of widows in these families is even more distressing, not a single one among the eight has received a widow pension.
The fact finding team demanded that G.O. 43 be sincerely and comprehensively implemented to rehabilitate families of farmers who have committed suicide. The team demanded that the RDO-headed three-member verification committees immediately visit the affected families, complete the inquiry, and ensure prompt disbursal of financial assistance and rehabilitation support to families of farmers who have committed suicide.
The team members sought amendments to G.O. 43 to provide for one-time settlement of debts owed by farmers in distress.