Every victim family has the same story
Shankarpalli mandal, Ranga Reddy district. A place close to Hyderabad, full of resorts and farmhouses is also the place where small farmers and lease farmers’ are committing suicide due to agricultural losses. The zone has witnessed at least 7 farmers suicides since the formation of Telangana. So far the G-O 194 that government announced has not been implemented even with a single of the affected families. The families lost hope of getting any help from the government officials after repeated requests and receiving none.
Every victim family has the same story :
“When we go to the Sankarpalli Tahsildar office, they ask us to go the Chevella Division office. When we go to the Chevilla division office, they ask us to go to the Lakdikapul Collector office in Hyderabad. When we go to Lakdikapul, they ask us to go back to the Tahsildar. We can no more afford the transport charges to be travelling to and forth between the government offices.”
If this is the situation in offices close to Hyderabad, we can imagine the plight in remote villages, what they have to go through to connect to these offices.
On 26th Dec 2016, Narayana, Yadagiri (volunteers from local Rythu Swarajya Vedika) met with the families and promised to follow up on the pending ex gratia’s from the government.
Stories of some of these families.
Shankar Palli Mandal, Kothapalli village.
Owning just half an acre land , Serigudem Yadayya has being cultivating Cotton and Maize on leased land since 20 years. He also used to do shared cropping on annual leases (50% of crop) . The family went into a debt of INR 1,50,000. Unable to bear the burden of debt, Yadayya committed suicide on the 6–10–2015 by hanging himself. Yadayya is survived by his wife Anjamma and three daughters. Anjamma is currently receiving the pension. Tahasildar’s investigation was completed, but the family did not receive the Ex Gratia supposed to be given as announced by the government.
Vadde(BC) Jangayya who belongs to Anthappaguda village doesn’t have his own land. He has leased 2 acres for farming. He used to cultivate Maize. He was shocked with continuous loss since 4 years. His wife lakshmi has taken a loan of 35,000 Rs. from local SHG. Private debts rose to 2 lakhs. Unable bear the debts, Jangayya has committed suicide on 20–09–2015 by consuming pesticide. Government Thalasildhar has come for investigation and left. But so far ex gratia was not received by the family. Representatives from Telangana Jagruthi too have come and gone, but no help was received. Jangayya is survived by wife and 3 children. Eldest daughter goes for labour work. Second son too goes for labour. Third child Naveen is studying 9th standard.
Seriguda Anandam belongs to Golla community of Parveda village. He is a small farmer who owns 1 acre 20 guntas and has leased 3 acres of extra land. 1 acre’s tenancy is 10 thousand rupees. He had laid 3 bores in his own land, but unfortunately all failed. He cultivates Maize, Cotton and lost crop since 3 continuous years. He has taken a gold loan of 1 lakh rupees using his wife’s ornaments. He has got another crop loan too. Total debts have reached 5 lakh rupees. Unable to succumb to debts, Anandam has killed himself on 6–9–2016. This family was not even visited by Thahasildar till now. Anandam is survived by 2 children Aravind(1st standard) and Karthik(UKG).
Kummari Ashok belongs to Janawaada village and has got only 10 kuntas of own land. With a cost of 6K per acre, he has taken 4 acres on lease. This family has been cultivating on leased land since 18 years and are continuing. He has laid a bore in his own land, but that got failed. He used to cultivate Cotton, Maize,Onion. To invest on these crops, he has taken a loan of 3 lakh 50 thousand rupees from local people. Unable to bear the pressure from people who have lent money, he hung himself and suicided on 5–10–2015 in his own house. Thahasildar’s investigation is complete, but ex-gratia was not granted. Ashok is survived with 2 children Brinda Varshini(3rd standard), Phanindra ( 3 years ). His wife Ramadevi works as a daily labour.
Mallesam (Mudiraj caste) belongs to Podduturu village and has laid 2 bores in an acre of land which he owns. One bore has failed, but the other draws little water. He has laid Maize and planted few Teak Plants. Due to shortage of water maize crop and teak plants have dried up. Total debts have come to 2 lakhs. People who have lent money have started harassing. He sought his brother Ravi’s help. Ravi too doesn’t have money. Mallesam felt he can never come over his debts and took that one last step on 21–9–2016. He has consumed pesticide and committed suicide. Ex-gratia was not recieved so far.
