‘Tamil Nadu should take steps to prevent farmers’ suicide’

  “Hundreds of farmers suicides have been recorded in Tamil Nadu in a period of one year,” alleged Sai Reddy, All India President of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh.

Speaking to press here on Monday, he said the State stood third in the country in the number of farmers died by suicide.  

Urging the State government to address the issue, Mr. Reddy said that as the numbers highlighted the plight of the farmers in the country, the government should formulate policies and schemes to alleviate the farmers from the hardships they were facing. 

“Union government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana crop insurance have been of no benefit to the farmers in States like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The respective State governments should formulate plans to implement the schemes efficiently,” he pointed out.  

Though the BKS has been demanding a nil tax on agricultural produces, the GST tax reduction on all agricultural inputs like pesticides and farm machinery to 5% was welcomed.  

He added that the GST on agricultural pump sets and pipelines which suffered 18% GST should also be reduced to 5%. 

Mr. Reddy urged the Union government to address the nation-wide urea shortage which had been affecting the farmers across the States.  

Pointing out the Supreme Court judgement pertaining to increase the level of Mullaperiyar dam to 152 feet, he said that if the water level was raised as per the direction, the rain shadow districts like Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, among others would be benefitted.  

Worrying about the delay in paddy procurement in Cauvery delta regions, he noted that if the farmers’ long-pending demand of opening enough storage facilities was fulfilled, the farmers would not be pushed to store paddy on roads.  

“As we have found that insufficient lorry transport was one of the main reasons for the delay in procurement, the issue should be sorted out immediately keeping in mind the onset of northeast monsoon,” he noted.  

N.S. Parthasarathy, State president, BKS, said that though the former drought-ridden areas like Usilampatti in Madurai district was solved through the 58-channel scheme, similar schemes should be brought to address the water needs of areas like Kottampatti in the southwestern part of the district.

(Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling State’s health helpline 104 or Chennai-based Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050 or Speak2Us helpline 9375493754.)