Kin of AP farmers who ended lives since 2014 to get ex gratia

Amaravati: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan announced immediate payment of ex gratia to the families of the farmers who committed suicide between 2014-19. He also reiterated his resolve to fight corruption at all levels in the administration.

Review Spandana (Response) in a video conference with district collectors, superintendents of police (SPs) here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that records of District Crime Record Bureaus reveal that a total of 1,513 farmers had committed suicide during the last five years (2014-19) but ex gratia was paid to only 391 families.

He asked the officials to collect data from their respective districts and ensure that the compensation of Rs 7 lakh each is paid to all the families who lost their breadwinner due to loss of crop, failure to get loans, indebtedness and other problems, after due identification. The collectors should respond immediately to the issue of farmers and tenant farmers to infuse confidence among them, he added.

He noted that his was a "people's government" and one "filled with humanity", and the governance should reflect this philosophy and made it clear that there should not be any complaint on the ex gratia issue.

Harping on corruption, Chief Minister said his thrust against corruption should percolate to the lower rungs of bureaucracy in a matter of two to three months. "We must be in a position to get positive reports on eradication of corruption. There have been instances of people complaining about corruption at mandal level which should be checked by the heads of revenue and police departments.