The RTC strike since the past two days has a telling effect on farmers, especially those who cultivate vegetables. A farmer from Peddamasanpally village in Toguta mandal is having difficulties in transporting his produce to markets at Kukatpally and Secretariat, which is usually the practice among farmers, owing to the RTC strike.
“Two buses go via our village to the markets carrying vegetables. These buses cover about 20 villages. But because of the RTC strike, we are unable to take our produce to the markets and as a result, we are losing anywhere between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,500. Also, consumers are forced to pay more for vegetables that they are elsewhere,” Sudharshan Reddy told The Hindu . He adds that the farming community will suffer further if the strike continues.
On the other hand, operators of private buses have increased the fare considerably. “We are forced to pay Rs. 150 to go from Medak to Balanagar which earlier was only Rs. 90,” says Murali, a resident of Medak town.
Meanwhile, the RTC staff intensified the agitation by organising ‘vanta varpu’ programme in front of the depots.
