Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Saturday directed the district collectors to submit a preliminary report in 24 hours on suicides by farmers.
The Chief Minister said 25 farmers committed suicide in the state in the last 45 days even as the Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that 165 farmers ended their lives in the last 50 days as the state was reeling under a severe drought.
“I have a list of the farmers who committed suicide. The list has all the details like names and addresses of the farmers. The government may get an enquiry conducted and establish the facts,” Mr. Naidu said in the state Assembly on Friday.
Reacting to this, the Chief Minister asked the district collectors through a video-conference here today to send a preliminary report within a day to the government if any farmer committed suicide.
“Don’t wait for the post-mortem report or the forensic report and finally dispatch a report after a month or 45 days.
Ask the revenue divisional officer and deputy superintendent of police concerned to conduct an enquiry whenever a suicide is reported and send the report to the government within 24 hours,” the Chief Minister directed.
The ex-gratia package of Rs 1.5 lakh should also be handed over to the bereaved family immediately, he said.
Mr. Reddy said a helpline number 1100 will become operational in few days to address drought-related issues.
