The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded that Anantapur district be declared as drought-hit and the 31 mandals be designated as drought mandals.
The party’s district committee, in a press release on Wednesday, announced that protests would be held across the district on September 25 and 26 to highlight farmers’ distress, followed by a dharna in front of the Collector’s office on September 28.
As part of its 12-point charter, the party demanded complete waiver of crop loans, input subsidy of ₹50,000 per acre for farmers whose standing crops were lost, and ₹30,000 per acre for those who could not take up sowing in ayacut and upland areas. It also demanded that the Centre declare drought as a national calamity and announce a special package of ₹20,000 crore for Anantapur.
The party functionaries said that the district was reeling under severe drought, with crops withering in fields and drinking water and fodder becoming scarce.
