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