<p>The Andhra Pradesh government, however, is neither denying nor confirming the “suicides at this stage” even as official teams have been asked to verify the facts following media reports.<br /><br />Referring to the reports, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said: “I am not denying it.<br /><br /> But, unless I get a confirmation its difficult to comment. One thing I can tell you, the (drought-like) situation is very bad and severe. No second opinion on it.”<br /> <br />Every suicide committed by farmers and reported either through media or complaints is looked into by a committee comprising Sub-Collectors / RDO, ASP / DSP and Assistant Director Agriculture, who visits such places to verify the incident, he said.<br /><br />If it is found that the suicide is farm-related, then the government immediately provides Rs 1.5 lakh relief package to the farmer’s kin, the Agriculture Minister said. With regard to the recent reports on farmers suicide, “unless I get confirmation, we cannot attribute it to drought-like situation,” Reddy said.<br /><br />The government, he said, is taking suitable measures to tackle the situation. “Whatever is required in the form of alternative seeds, employment generation and relief measures are underway on war-footing,” Reddy added.<br /></p>
<p>The Andhra Pradesh government, however, is neither denying nor confirming the “suicides at this stage” even as official teams have been asked to verify the facts following media reports.<br /><br />Referring to the reports, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said: “I am not denying it.<br /><br /> But, unless I get a confirmation its difficult to comment. One thing I can tell you, the (drought-like) situation is very bad and severe. No second opinion on it.”<br /> <br />Every suicide committed by farmers and reported either through media or complaints is looked into by a committee comprising Sub-Collectors / RDO, ASP / DSP and Assistant Director Agriculture, who visits such places to verify the incident, he said.<br /><br />If it is found that the suicide is farm-related, then the government immediately provides Rs 1.5 lakh relief package to the farmer’s kin, the Agriculture Minister said. With regard to the recent reports on farmers suicide, “unless I get confirmation, we cannot attribute it to drought-like situation,” Reddy said.<br /><br />The government, he said, is taking suitable measures to tackle the situation. “Whatever is required in the form of alternative seeds, employment generation and relief measures are underway on war-footing,” Reddy added.<br /></p>