Kavitha stands by farmers, demands land rights

Telangana Jagruthi president Kavitha Kalvakuntla met with tribal and podu farmers in Bayyapur village of Nizamabad district on Sunday as part of her Jagruthi Jana Bata Yatra. During her visit, she consoled farmer Ramavath Prakash, who had recently attempted suicide after forest officials allegedly destroyed his crops, and assured him of full support.

Speaking to the media, Kavitha demanded that the government immediately issue pattas (land ownership rights) for podu lands. She said the farmers depend entirely on these lands for their livelihood and should not be subjected to harassment or crop destruction. “Destroying the farmers’ crops and threatening them is shameful. The government must protect farmers, not punish them,” she said.

Kavitha urged forest officials to stop intimidating farmers and called on the government to take swift action to resolve the podu land issue. She assured farmers that Telangana Jagruthi would continue its fight for their rights. “Please do not even think about ending your lives. We stand with you in your struggles. Stay strong, we will continue our movement until justice is done,” she said, offering them words of comfort and hope.

As part of her Jana Bata Yatra, Kavitha has been touring various villages across Telangana to understand the problems faced by tribal and podu farmers firsthand. She said the yatra’s goal is to build pressure on the government to resolve long-pending land rights issues and ensure security for farmers.

Farmer suicides in Telangana (Year-wise data):

• 2014 - 898 cases

• 2015 - around 1,400 cases (including tenant farmers)

• 2016 - 632 cases

• 2020 - 466 cases (total in the agriculture sector: 471)

• 2022 - 178 cases

• 2023 - 56 cases

Status of Podu land pattas (Ownership titles):

Telangana has about 11.5 lakh acres of podu land being cultivated by tribal and non-tribal farmers.

• In 2023, about 1.5 lakh tribal farmers received pattas for 4 lakh acres of land.

• By October 2025, titles have been issued for 2.14 lakh acres so far.

However, a large portion of podu lands remains without formal recognition. Out of 66 lakh acres of forest land, 11.5 lakh acres are classified as podu land. As of July 2025, 5.35 lakh acres of forest land had been encroached upon, and pattas for many of these lands are still pending. Roughly 7.5 lakh acres of podu land still await government approval for ownership titles.

Podu farmers under Rythu Bandhu scheme:

Under the Telangana government’s Rythu Bandhu investment support scheme, farmers cultivating podu lands are being provided financial assistance. About 1.5 lakh farmers cultivating 4 lakh acres now receive ₹10,000 per acre per year - ₹5,000 each for kharif and rabi seasons. However, thousands of farmers are still awaiting land rights to be eligible for this benefit.

Kavitha stressed that the government must act quickly to grant remaining podu land titles and ensure full financial and livelihood security for farmers who depend on these lands.