Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Losing hope

The editorial “Losing hope” (April 21) rightly says the massive loan waiver announced by the UPA government has done little for the farmers of Vidarbha. That even Rahul Gandhi’s plea to the government to widen the scope of the loan waiver, and appeals by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the farmers’ rally in Haryana to raise the land limit for the waiver, have remained largely on paper render the hopes of the needy farmers rather dim.

Urgent steps should be taken to tackle the vital issue of farmers’ livelihoods before the Finance Bill is passed.

C.S. Kulothungan,

Kancheepuram

It is shocking and shameful that over 125 farmers have committed suicide in the aftermath of the pompous announcement of loan waiver. There was no decline in the number of farmers’ suicides even after the Prime Minister visited Vidarbha. Why does it not appeal to the policymakers that their gestures are greeted only by withdrawal?

The poor farmers of Vidarbha seem to be twice cursed — by the gross official neglect and by the media euphoria that they are being showered with enormous charity.

S.V. Venugopalan,

Chennai

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