Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham leaders demanded that the government provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the tribal people who are collecting forest produce in the agency areas.
The leaders condemned the police action on the tribal people in Rampachodavaram Revenue Division in East Godavari district, who are enforcing bandh in the State on Monday.
Speaking to mediapersons All India Kisan Sabha vice-president S. Malla Reddy said that rythu sangam leaders submitted a memorandum to the government a few days ago, the urging to provide MSP for tamarind, turmeric, chilli and cotton in the State.
As the government failed to respond to the plea, the farmers called for a bandh in the agency areas on Tuesday. The government which failed to provide MSP for the farmers, was suppressing the protests with arrests, he alleged.
The price of tamarind in the market was around Rs.50, but the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) was paying only Rs.10 per kg to the tribal people. The adivasis and scheduled tribes were collecting tamarind, honey and other products by facing much trouble in thick forests.
But, the government was not paying MSP for them. Sometimes, the tribal people were dying due to snakebite and attacks of wild animals. “We request the government to procure the produce through GCC only and provide MSP for the tribals,” said Mr. Malla Reddy. Already, the farmers launched agitations in Nizamabad, Nalgonda and Warangal districts seeking MSP for chilli and cotton. The rythu leaders would take up agitation in other districts in April seeking a fair price.
