The Hindu Business Line : AP farmers on padayatra to Delhi to highlight agrarian crisis

Hyderabad, Aug. 17 Mr Vasanth, a 35-year-old engineering graduate-turned-farmer from Zaheerabad (Medak district), is one of the thousands of sugar farmers in the State who witnessed a severe crisis due to glut this year.

Joined by nine other farmers who represent the Zaheerabad Rythu Sangham, he has set off on a 1,800-km padayatra to New Delhi to carry the message to the President, Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister – that urgent measures are needed to solve the severe agrarian crisis in the country and save the farmers from committing suicide.

From July 29, the 10-member group has so far covered 640 km and reached the borders of Maharashtra.

“We will enter Madhya Pradesh tonight,” Mr Vasanth told Business Line over phone from Malkapur.

Christened Lal-Plato, Chalis Hazaar – Kisan Azadi Padayatra, the campaign is aimed at reminding the people of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the former Prime Minister who gave the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.’

Incidentally, the padayatra would reach Delhi on October 2, the birthday of Shastri and Mahatma Gandhi.

“The reference to the Greek philosopher Plato is to highlight his message that the State should act like a human body, where effective functioning of many parts make it work properly. We need to have a holistic approach to solve the agrarian crisis,” he said.

“Thousands of farmers must have committed suicide across the country since Independence. Though it is a great tragedy, the issue did not get the attention it deserved.”

The farmers, when they meet the President, Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister, would ask them to bring agriculture into the Concurrent List to ensure a combined responsibility of both the Centre and the States.

Seek autonomous status

“We will also ask for autonomous status for CACP (Commission for Agricultural Cost and Prices). They should keep the cost of cultivation in mind while they fix SMP (statutory minimum price),” Mr Vasanth said.

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AP farmers on padayatra to Delhi to highlight agrarian crisis