Swadesh Manch links farmers suicides with govt policies

Hoshiarpur, Mar 23 (UNI) All India Swadeshi Jagran Manch today claimed that suicides by farmers in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and other states had a direct link with the anti-farmers policies being pursued by the government on the pertect of promoting globalisation.

The financial condition of Indian farmers had been affected badly and a majority of them are in debt and these circumstances have compelled many of them to commit suicide, Manch Convenor Murli Dhar Rao told mediapersons here.

He said according to information available with him, more than 65,000 farmers including 29,000 only in Andhra Pradesh had committed suicides during the past ten years.

He said the developed countries like Germany and the US were providing heavy subsidy to farmers on their agricultural produces, while the government of India was only providing nominal subsidy as compared to the developed countries.

Farmers were not getting even the cost price of their produces due to which their financial condition had worsened, he said.

Mr Rao said to discuss the problems confronting the farmers and to pressurise the government to provide equal subsidy to them. The Manch was organising Kisan Panchayats throughout the country. As many as 20 Kisan Panchayats have beeen held in various states so far.

He strongly criticised the government for having decided to import wheat. He said that this would adversely hit the farmers especially of Punjab.

UNI XC HS VN LS PC1748