Telangana parties demand immediate rollout of tenant farmer recognition Act

Eight political parties in Telangana have jointly called on the State government to promptly enforce the Licensed Cultivators Act, 2011, and launch the process of recognising tenant farmers across the State. The demand was made at an all-party meeting convened by the Telangana Tenant Farmers Recognition Struggle Committee at the Sundarayya Vignana Kendram on Wednesday.

The parties urged the government to identify licensed cultivators during the current Kharif season itself, based on rules framed under the 2011 Act. They also pressed for issuing identity cards to such farmers, which would enable them to sell produce directly to government procurement agencies at Minimum Support Price (MSP). The joint statement further asked the government to complete preparatory work and issue a notification on the identification process before the Assembly session begins on September 7.

Representatives of the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Telangana Jana Samithi, and other Left and regional outfits signed the statement. Prof. Haragopal, speaking at the meeting, noted that tenant farmers have been among the worst hit by the agrarian crisis and require immediate institutional support.

Speakers pointed out that tenant farmers constitute over 36% of cultivators in Telangana, covering nearly 22 lakh families, and play a significant role in agricultural output. However, they have been increasingly left out of welfare schemes such as PM-KISAN, which are linked to land ownership records and OTP-based verification.

The leaders criticised the previous BRS government for stopping implementation of the 2011 Act after 2017. They reminded the Congress government of its pre-poll promises, including those made by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, to restore recognition for tenant farmers and ensure their equitable access to agricultural support systems.