YSR Telangana Party leader YS Sharmila sent a truck with damaged crops to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to bring attention to the losses farmers in Telangana experienced due to untimely rains. The recent rains caused unprecedented losses and dealt a major blow to farmers’ hopes of a good harvest. Sharmila hopes that sending this truck will make KCR extend appropriate compensation to farmers during the election year.
The crop loss due to unseasonal rains has been estimated at around 10 lakh acres, but no official or MLA has visited the farmers or inspected the loss. Sharmila criticized the government for being too busy with other things, such as taking photographs in the newly built Secretariat that cost Rs 1600 crore, instead of helping farmers who had to raise loans at high interests or sell their spouses’ jewellery for crops. The YSRTP leader believes that the government should pay at least Rs 30,000 per acre as compensation and start paddy procurement immediately.
Sharmila also criticized KCR’s ‘Raithu bharosa and ab ki baar kisan sarkar’ catchwords, saying that the government doesn’t provide crop insurance, input subsidies, or help farmers when they need it most. She demanded that the government set up 7500 IKP centres on an emergency basis.
