05-24-2004, 09:31 PM
<b>Farmers' suicides ...44 and counting</b>
Even as the number of suicides by farmers has surged to 44 within a week, causing the Government deep dismay and concern, the newly formed Cabinet in Andhra Pradesh was meeting here Monday evening to discuss the grim situation. Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, who reviewed the situation with senior officials, said the district collectors have been asked to verify each and every such incident in their respective districts and send their reports to the Government.
The latest incidents of suicide -- eight to be precise -- were reported from the districts of Guntur, West Godavari Nizamabad, Mahbubnagar, Khammam and Warangal on Sunday. In almost all the cases, the suicide was blamed on debt burden and crop failure, which had landed the farmers in a hopeless situation
Even as the number of suicides by farmers has surged to 44 within a week, causing the Government deep dismay and concern, the newly formed Cabinet in Andhra Pradesh was meeting here Monday evening to discuss the grim situation. Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, who reviewed the situation with senior officials, said the district collectors have been asked to verify each and every such incident in their respective districts and send their reports to the Government.
The latest incidents of suicide -- eight to be precise -- were reported from the districts of Guntur, West Godavari Nizamabad, Mahbubnagar, Khammam and Warangal on Sunday. In almost all the cases, the suicide was blamed on debt burden and crop failure, which had landed the farmers in a hopeless situation