CPM demands government to take steps to mitigate drought

Ongole: The plenary meeting of the Prakasam district unit of CPM demanded the state government to immediately take steps to mitigate drought in the district and allocate enough funds for the same, explained Prakasam district CPM secretary Punati Anjaneyulu.

In the meeting, the leaders explained that the district is suffering from the drought for the last five years and is facing a rain deficit of 55 per cent. They said that there is a drinking water scarcity in 772 villages as 952 tanks in the district are dried up completely.

They complained that while the agriculture labours are suffering from no work, the officials reduced the wages for the MGNREGS. They explained that five farmers have committed suicide in the last one month and demanded the government to provide solace to the farmers by ordering the lenders to not pressurise the farmers and provide new loans to stabilise them.

They demanded the government to see the subabul, eucalyptus, chickpea and tobacco get assured price. They demanded the government to provide loan eligibility cards to tenant farmers and bring out the Ongole dairy from problems.

They said that the outsourcing, contract, scheme workers, panchayat and municipal workers are not receiving salaries for the last three months and demanded the government to release them immediately to save their families from suffering.

They said that the ruling party leaders are pressurising the temporary employees to resign their jobs and demanded the government and officials to not disturb them as the jobs are not political appointments. They also demanded the government to control the demand for higher fees and donations from the educational institutions.

They demanded to provide better facilities in schools, hostels and hospitals for the benefit of the poor. They also demanded the police department to take necessary measures to control the crime in district and save girls, women and district public.

The CPM state committee member Y Siddhaiah, A Malyadri, district executive members Gv Kondareddy, Pentyala Hanumantha Rao, Chikati Srinivasa Rao, Sk Mabu, Kankanala Anjaneyulu, and others participated in the meeting.