State Legal Services to solve farmers issues in AP, Telangana

Emphasizing the need for optimal manpower support and infrastructure for proper functioning of the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha in Andhra Pradesh as well as Farmers Debt Relief Commission in Telangana to stop suicides by farmers and to deal with their problems, the High Court division bench has directed the AP and Telangana governments to make use of the services of their respective State Legal Services Authority in identifying the distressed farmers and give them benefits under the above schemes.

 The purpose of creating such schemes is to provide an integrated empowered institution that could plan, implement and look after the welfare and development of farmers. Identification of those in need of help from such institutions and their access to the concerned authorities can be easily obtained if the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 is put into operation.

The HC division bench, comprising chief justice TBN Radhakrishnan and justice V Ramasubramanian recently passed the order on a PIL filed by social activists Ram Reddy, K Siva, Pakala Srihari Rao, D Reddy and others urging the state governments to take necessary steps to prevent farmers from committing suicides.