Tenant farmers in Telangana urge Congress to include them in welfare schemes

Tenant farmers in Telangana allege neglect at the hands of subsequent state governments. Scores of tenant farmers from across the state gathered in Hyderabad to urge the Congress government to fulfil its promises and extend support to cultivators farming on leased land. The consultation meeting, organised by the Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission, saw farmers narrating their struggles. They also put across their demands that include the implementation of the Licensed Cultivators Act, 2011, before the upcoming Kharif season.

“We have been cultivating on lease for long. My husband died by suicide because he could not bear the burden of debt. We have not received any help or scheme from the government,” said Kuruva Manjula from Vikarabad district. “When Bharat Jodo Yatra took place in 2022, I met Rahul Gandhi. He assured help to tenant farmers. But even after the Congress government came, we have not received any farmers insurance, crop loans or any scheme.”

To highlight the issues being faced by the farmers, Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV), an NGO, organised a press meet post the consultation. The members of RSV pointed out that the Congress party in its 2023 Warangal Declaration and in the open letter by then TPCC president, Revanth Reddy, promised support to tenant farmers wile they were in opposition. They demanded that the government begin identifying tenant farmers under the 2011 Act and issue them loan eligibility cards (LECs) which would help them access credit and compensation in the past.

Ramakanth, a tenant farmer from Adilabad, said that under the earlier implementation of the 2011 Act, they were able to get loans and sell their produce at procurement centres. They rue that now money goes to landowners’ accounts as they are excluded from the entire process.

The farmers and the activists demanded three urgent steps. The first being revival and implementation of the 2011 Act, second is provision of crop insurance and loans to those with LEC cards, and finally extension of the Rythu Bharosa scheme to tenant farmers. The farmers allege that the flagship schemes of the government meant for farmers welfare doesn’t cover them.

RSV leaders pointed out that 75 per cent of farmer suicides in Telangana are by tenant farmers and the crisis cannot be tackled without recognising them. They also raised concerns about the Rs 500 paddy bonus being given by the government, which is not reaching most of the tenant farmers.  

India