Alur MLA Virupakshi Accuses Coalition Government of Neglecting Farmers' Welfare

Accusing the coalition government of failing to stand by farmers during difficult times, Alur MLA Busine Virupakshi on Friday alleged that the state's farming community was facing increasing hardships due to official neglect and inadequate support measures.

Speaking at a meeting held at the R&B Guest House in Alur, Virupakshi said the government was projecting itself as farmer-friendly but had not taken any major decision that provided meaningful relief to cultivators. Referring to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's repeated claims of being committed to farmers' welfare, he argued that the administration had yet to deliver concrete benefits to those dependent on agriculture.

The YSR Congress Party leader said farmers across Andhra Pradesh had suffered extensive losses over the past year due to both excessive rainfall and drought-like conditions in different regions. Despite widespread crop damage, he alleged that many affected farmers were still waiting for adequate compensation. He described the government's response to the crisis as disappointing, particularly at a time when cultivators were struggling to recover from financial setbacks.

Virupakshi also drew a comparison with the previous YSRCP government led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy , claiming that farmer welfare had received greater attention during that period. According to him, the earlier administration provided crop insurance at a premium of just Re 1 and ensured compensation for farmers who suffered losses due to natural calamities.

Criticising the current crop insurance framework, he said farmers are now required to pay premiums running into thousands of rupees, yet many do not receive adequate compensation when crops are damaged. He further claimed that concerns were growing among farmers over whether funds collected under insurance schemes were being utilized for their intended purpose.

Questioning the effectiveness of the existing system, Virupakshi said insurance serves little purpose if compensation does not reach farmers after crop losses. Highlighting the situation in Alur constituency , where a majority of residents depend on agriculture, he said poor rainfall this year had severely affected livelihoods and forced some families to migrate in search of employment.

Reaffirming his party's stand, Virupakshi said the YSR Congress Party would continue to fight for farmers' rights and press for stronger welfare measures to protect the interests of the agricultural community.