RDSS extends financial aid to families of 17 farmer suicide victims in Vijayawada

The Rural Development Service Society (RDSS) extended financial assistance to 17 families of farmer suicide victims at a programme held in MB Vignana Kendram in Vijayawada, on Tuesday.

The event brought together affected families from Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur, Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts, who shared their hardships and struggles in accessing government support. RDSS secretary Gadi Srinu said each family was given ₹50,000 to help rebuild their lives through small income-generating activities such as dairy farming, livestock rearing, or tailoring.

Participants revealed that all 17 victims were tenant farmers, many without formal land ownership. They cited rising lease costs, crop losses, mounting debts, and harassment from private lenders and banks as key reasons behind the suicides. Families alleged that none had received ex gratia under GO 43, and several were denied widow pensions.

Farmer leaders, former Minister Vadde Shobanadreeswara Rao, termed the suicides a systemic failure and demanded that the government identify all such cases and extend financial assistance. They also called for issuing identity cards to tenant farmers without requiring landowner consent.

Leaders urged immediate policy action to prevent further distress and ensure justice to affected families.