When PM goes to Andhra, it’s pursestrings & heartstrings

Saying ‘‘I come from a farmer’s family and can understand your difficulty, pain and agony,’’ Prime Minister Manmoha...

Saying ‘‘I come from a farmer’s family and can understand your difficulty, pain and agony,’’ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today promised families of debt-burdened Andhra farmers who committed suicide that he would personally go into all farm-related issues.

Visibly moved, he announced the release of Rs 60 crore from the calamity relief fund, 1.82 lakh tonnes of foodgrains and assured employment in rural areas along with measures to augment credit flow to agricultural sector.

Visiting villages hit by a spate of suicides in this south-west district of the state, Singh said Rs 50,000 as compensation would be given to each family and a job to at least one member.

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Five schemes were also announced to improve living conditions in the area by providing drinking water, drainage and education.

Singh heard from widows and children their tale of woes and the extent to which debts had accumulated, the desperation forcing men to end their lives.

Most families said they lost their crops to hailstorms, monsoon failure and lack of power supply to draw water from borewells.

A woman told the PM she had debts of eight lakhs and no means to repay it.

YSR asks for Rs 360 cr

		• HYDERABAD: The Andhra govt on Thursday sought Central aid to help farmers in distress, including Rs 360 crore under the rain shadow area programme, release of 12.5 lakh tonnes of grains towards wage employment and declaration of moratorium on farm-related dues. The state wanted interest rate on farm loan reduced to 5 per cent and Rs 300 crore special line of credit from NABARD for farmers.

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