Hyderabad : Eight political parties on Wednesday urged the state govt to identify tenant farmers under the Licensed Cultivators Act, 2011, and complete the exercise before the assembly session begins on Sept 7.
The parties demanded that tenant farmers be identified during the current Kharif season in accordance with the rules framed under the 2011 Act and be issued identity cards. Citing various studies, the parties said tenant farmers constitute more than 36% of cultivators in Telangana and represent around 22 lakh families. Among those who signed a joint statement was Sunketi Anvesh Reddy, Congress representative and Telangana Kisan Congress state president.
They said these cards should enable direct access to govt welfare schemes, agricultural support programmes and other benefits. Prof G Haragopal, convener of the Telangana People’s Joint Action Committee, said tenant farmers were among the worst affected by the agrarian crisis and should be identified and provided support without delay. The parties said tenant farmers were now finding it increasingly difficult to access agricultural schemes, as eligibility for benefits was largely linked to land ownership records, digital databases and OTP-based verification systems.
The demand was made at an all-party meeting organised by the Telangana Tenant Farmers Recognition Struggle Committee at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram. The statement added that both the number of tenant farmers and the extent of land cultivated by them have increased over the years.