Date:27/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/27/stories/2005042709480400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Farmers need help, not tips: Raghavulu

Correspondent

Congress accused of going TDP's way

VIZIANAGARAM: The CPI(M) State secretary, B.V. Raghavulu, has said all what farmers need from the Government is assistance and not awareness.

Speaking on the "Rythu chaitanya yatra" at a press conference at Parvathipuram on Tuesday, Mr. Raghavulu said farmers were fully aware of their problems. The Chief Minister would come to know of their levels of awareness if only he paid a visit to the Thotapalli project site, the Rajolibanda diversion scheme at Mahbubnagar and the chilli market yard in Guntur, he said.

Mr. Raghavulu said the Congress which came to power promising all help to farmers was now, much like the TDP, "deceiving" farmers in the name of awareness campaign.

Disturbing trend

Even as he launched "Rythu chaitanya yatra," the Chief Minister had instructed bankers to discourage loans to farmers raising commercial crops, he said. The TDP Government had encouraged farmers going in for such crops and neglected other farmers making them bankrupt. Recently, the Agriculture Minister, N. Raghuvera Reddy, asked farmers to diversify, a call the TDP Government gave in the past, he said and wanted the Government to clear the air in this regard.

He said the "Jala Yagnam" of the Government would displace 1.5 lakh farmers besides two lakh artisans and farm workers.