Suicide among farmers declining: Minister

Hyderabad, Jan 18 (UNI) Suicides by farmers have come down drastically in Andhra Pradesh due to to the pro-peasant policies implemented by the United Progressive Alliance UPA) Government at the Centre and the Congress Government in the state, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said today.

''When the Congress assumed office, the number of suicides was more than 100 per week. The number has come down to single digit since June last year,'' he told reporters here.

''We do not want to bury the unfortunate happenings under carpet like the previous TDP Government,'' Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao, who was also present, said, adding the Rajasekhara Reddy Government would extend all possible assistance and instill confidence among the farmers not not to resort to extreme step.

The Centre had provided Rs 9650 crore under a special package for 16 suicide-prone districts.

Highlighting the various farmer-friendly policies and schemes initated by the Government, including the irrigation initiative to bring under irrigation one crore acres, free power to peasants to energise 24 lakh pumpsets, stepping up of farm credit to 20,000 crore and waiver of Rs 1200 crore power tariff arrears, he said. The steps taken by the Congress Government had started yielding dividends.

When we came to power, 106 suicides were reported in May 2004.

The downtrend started since October 2004. Only one suicide has been reported this month, he said and added the budgetary allocation for farm and farm-related activities was Rs 18,300 crore as against a meagre Rs 6830 crore during the last year of the TDP regime.

UNI