On the third day of the 23rd State conference of the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham in Eluru, former state secretary V. Srinivasa Rao warned that the combined policies of the BJP-led Centre and the TDP-led state have turned development into a ‘mirage’ for farmers and rural communities.
Key Developments
- Farmers face threats from extensive land acquisition that has not resulted in industrial set‑up or job creation.
- Remunerative prices for crops are lacking, while corporate sectors receive higher subsidies.
- Cooperative institutions such as sugar factories, dairies and spinning mills have declined under successive governments.
- Solar power projects pay farmers only about ₹30,000 per acre per year, whereas private firms reap large profits.
- Proposed river‑linking projects are alleged to divert irrigation water for industrial use.
- The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls must ensure no eligible voter is excluded.
Important Facts
- Acquired farmland remains idle; Rao demands its return to cultivation if projects are not operational within six months.
- Farmers receive fewer subsidies compared to corporate entities, highlighting a skewed policy bias.
- Pending irrigation works need completion to safeguard agricultural water supply.
- Rao calls for a broader, village‑level farmers’ movement and active youth participation.
Exam Relevance
The statements touch upon several UPSC themes: agricultural policy and farmer welfare (GS3), centre‑state relations and the role of regional parties (GS2), land‑acquisition laws and their impact on livelihoods (GS3), cooperative sector decline (GS3), and electoral integrity through the SIR exercise (GS2). Understanding these issues helps answer questions on agrarian distress, policy bias, and democratic processes.
Way Forward
To address the concerns, the following steps are suggested:
- Accelerate the implementation of projects on acquired land; otherwise, revert the land to agricultural use.
- Re‑balance subsidy allocation to ensure farmers receive comparable support to corporate sectors.
- Revive and modernise cooperative institutions to strengthen rural economies.
- Ensure that river‑linking projects prioritize irrigation needs over industrial diversion.
- Complete pending irrigation infrastructure to guarantee water security for crops.
- Mobilise youth and village groups to create a unified farmers’ front capable of influencing policy.
- Monitor the SIR process to protect every eligible voter’s right.
These measures aim to transform the perceived ‘mirage’ of development into tangible progress for Andhra Pradesh’s farming community.