ATSA extends financial aid to kin of deceased farmers

Warangal: Australian Telangana State Association (ATSA) has extended helping hand supporting the bereaved families of farmers, who have committed suicides in Telangana.

The ATSA has donated an amount of Rs 5,78,598 to the town-based Sarvodaya Youth Organisation (SYO) to extend financial assistance to the agrarian families, affected by the loss of their bread winners.

The kind gesture from the association came following a visit by the SYO secretary Pallepadu Damodar to Sydney in Australia in June 2016. During his visit, he explained Telangana community in Sydney about the poor conditions of farmers in the State.

Following suicides of farmers, their families become bankrupt, were forced to sell off their land holdings to clear the loans and later become labourers to make their ends meet. Sometimes the wives of deceased farmers also committed suicide, unable to bear the financial stress.

To address the issue, the SYO extended interest-free loan of Rs 50,000 to each of 80 widows in different villages in the district.

They were encouraged to take up livelihood activities like cattle rearing, running kirana shops, Damodar explained while urging Telangana community in Australia to extend their support to the cause.

ATSA president Kadire Jayapal Reddy, expressing concern at the distressing state of farmers, promised to support the affected families and organised a programme ‘Saya’ under the aegis of ATSA in Sydney in October 2016.

He made a presentation on the poor conditions of the farmers in Warangal. Drought conditions, fake seeds, lack of profitable price to agricultural produce, obtaining loans from private persons and increasing input costs have made life difficult for farming community.

The family condition worsens after the demise of the family head. They would be forced to make rounds of the government offices to receive compensation and if they receive compensation it goes towards clearing the loans and thus they again would be left without a penny, he lamented.

Responding to which the members of Telangana community in Australia have offered donations raising an amount of Rs 5, 78, 598. During a recent visit to Hyderabad Jayapal Reddy handed over the cash cheque for the amount to Damodar.

The ATSA president asked the SYO secretary to make efforts to encourage farmers to reduce input costs while saying that everyone should come forward to prevent farmer suicides.

Damodar thanked the association for their kind gesture and said it would help to bring a positive change in the lives of the deceased farmers’ families.